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Nolin previews school year
By Leigh Anne Butler
As summer wraps up, Tallassee City School (TCS) teachers and administrators are preparing to welcome students back to class on Thursday, Aug 8.
TCS employees started back to work last Thursday in efforts to get the new academic school year off to a good start. As students get back to academics, athletics and the arts, TCS employees are focusing on a good start to help students flourish throughout the entire school year.
“As an administrator, planning for the school year really begins in January, about the time you get back from Christmas break,” Superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said regarding starting a new school year. “You know you still must finish the existing school year off strong, but your mind shifts to what kind of tweaks I am going to do next school year. It’s kind of like, you come to practice before the season. You practice, you practice, you practice, and you are finally ready to play the game. That’s a sports analogy, but that is kind of how it is. We’re just ready to get it going.”
A district-wide open house is slated for Monday, Aug. 5. Students and families can meet with teachers, visit classrooms, get to know the school and receive school and transportation information. Open house schedules are slated for Tallassee Elementary School from 2-5 p.m., Southside Middle School from 3-6 p.m. and Tallassee High School from 4-7 p.m. A freshman orientation for all 9th grade students and parents will be held in the Tallassee High School Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m.
All returning TCS students must complete a returning student registration that is available in the PowerSchool parent portal. Students must complete this registration to receive their iPad. Tallassee Elementary School students will receive their iPads on the first day of school. For Southside Middle School and Tallassee High School students who missed iPad pickup last week, iPads will be available for pickup during Open House. Pickup will be in the computer lab for SMS students and the library media center for THS students. A $50 technology fee will be reinstated this year for THS students only.
THS students who still need a parking pass may inquire about availability in the office at open house. There is a $40 fee and application that must be completed.
Students will need a copy of their driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance and tag information to complete the application.
All TCS student schedules and homeroom assignments are available for parents and students to view in the PowerSchool portal. Schedules will also be available during open house.
Tallassee Elementary School will implement a staggered start for Pre-K and kindergarten classes. Half of the class will attend the first day of school and the second half will attend the second day of school. Students with last names beginning with A-J will begin on Thursday and students with last names beginning with K-Z will begin on Friday. All Pre-K and kindergarten students will attend school beginning Monday, Aug. 12. Staggering start times will help students become better acquainted with routines and procedures in a smaller group setting and will offer more personalized interaction between students and teachers.
Tallassee High School will be implementing the use of Yondr pouches for cell phones and other personal electronic devices this school year.
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Open House at the all-new THS last year
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“The Yondr pouches are designed to securely store cell phones and smart watches and prevent any distractions during class,” Drew Glass, principal of THS detailed in a letter addressed to parents on the school’s Facebook page. “This initiative has been successful in other organizations, and we believe it will greatly benefit our students by promoting a more engaged and present environment.
“This is just a tool to enforce the policy that we have had for years,” Nolin detailed. “Our policy specifically states that a cell phone should be in the off position and in a book bag from the start of school to the end of school.”
“This is a neoprene pouch that has a locking mechanism in it. When the kids come in during first period, they will have a five-minute administrative period where they take their phone and smartwatch and put them in their pocket and lock it up. The teacher will do a check and then the students will stick it in their bag. During last period, each teacher has a magnet that will unlock the pouch at the conclusion of class.”
Season tickets for Tallassee High School football games went on sale for those who had reserved seats last year on July 24. The cost is $65 for all four home games excluding playoff games. The remaining reserved seats will be open for purchase on Aug. 7.
For more information, visit www.tcschools.com. |
