Among the approximately 240 students expected to hit H.G. Olsen Elementary School on the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 23, are, from left, Jackie King, R.D. Alcorn, Molly Moats, Nathan Lorrain, Ian Johnson, Hannah Ramsden, Lucie Shaw (peaking from beind the sign), Delaney Moss, Alex Moss, Thomas Ramsden, Taylor Alcorn, Zach Parker and Dave Moats Jr. Total district enrollment is expected to be between 550 and 600. STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER A new school year that begins in Port Aransas on Monday, Aug. 23, will impact more than just students, parents and teachers.

SCHOOL ZONES

Lower speed limits are in effect in the morning, during the lunch break and after school in school zones around the schools.

The school zones are on Alister Street from Avenue C north to Beach Street, from Beach Street south on Station Street to Avenue C, and east on Avenue C to Alister Street.

Motorists should take note of the posted hours and speed limits. Flashing lights alert motorists to the zones on Alister Street.

ATTENDANCE

With about 73 cents of every tax dollar collected leaving the district for distribution to property-poor districts, every funding avenue is critical, and the school district receives state funds for every student in school. Students who miss school must bring a note signed by the parent telling the reason for the absence. Notes signed by students, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 or older.

Only seven excused absences will be accepted from parents. After seven absences, only medical/ dental or school nurse notes will be accepted for any absence to be considered excused.

The guidelines are in the new student handbook that students will get the first day of school. Parents will be asked to sign a confirmation that they have read the handbook.

BUS SCHEDULE

School buses will transport many students to and from school. The route begins at Mustang Island State Park at 6:30 a.m. and follows a route along State Hwy. 361 to Beach Access Road 1A, where the route turns toward South 11th Street. The bus gets to South 11th Street at 7 a.m. and goes roughly along South 11th Street, hitting Station Street and Avenue G at 7:22 a.m. Then the bus goes to Ross Avenue, Channel Vista and Oleander Street before ending at the schools at 7:40 a.m.

In the afternoon, busses start at the school at 3:25 p.m. and reverse that route, getting to Mustang Island State Park at the end of the run by 4:45 p.m.

The bus route map and schedule are on the district’s Web site, http://portaransas. tx.schoolwebpages.com. Go to Parent Connection, then Parent Information. The map can also be downloaded.

Each of the three Port Aransas ISD campuses operates on a slightly different schedule, and the first day of school is a day all its own.

H.G. OLSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The first day of school starts at 8 a.m. in the elementary gym for an orientation.

On a daily basis, classes begin at 8 a.m. and students will be considered tardy after the 8:05 a.m. bell rings.

Pre-kindergarten students in the morning class will be released at 11 a.m. Afternoon pre-k classes begin at 12:15 p.m. and end at 3:05; first- through fifthgrade students are released at 3:15 p.m. The lunch schedule at the elementary school is staggered, with kindergarten students breaking from 11 to 11:30 a.m., first grade having lunch from 11:10 to 11:40 a.m., second grade from 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., third grade from noon to 12:30 p.m., fourth grade from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. and fifth grade from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

BRUNDRETT MIDDLE SCHOOL

Students at the middle school will meet in the cafeteria on the first day to meet the new staff and principal.

The first bell will ring at 7:55 a.m., and the “Welcome Back” begins at 8 a.m. after the tardy bell rings. Those bells will signal the start of each school day throughout the year.

Sixth grade students break for lunch from 11:20 to 11:55 a.m., while seventh- and eighth-grade students have lunch from 12:09 p.m. to 12:44 p.m.

The school day ends for all middle school students at 3:20 p.m.

PORT ARANSAS HIGH SCHOOL Each student’s schedule was mailed to parents and should have arrived early this week. Questions about schedules should be brought to the attention of the office; schedule changes are still possible during the first week of school.

School starts at 7:45 a.m. with tutorials, which last until 8 a.m.

“Zero hour” – various elective courses, such as theater arts and sewing, that aren’t part of the core subjects – starts at 8 a.m.

Students who aren’t taking these electives who get to school before 8:51 a.m.should report to the upstairs cafetorium for supervised study hall.

School officially starts with the first period at 8:51 a.m.

High school students break for lunch at 11:20 a.m. and return to class at 11:56 a.m.

Classes dismiss at 3:20 p.m.

Tutorials are scheduled from 3:20 to 3:45 p.m. for students needing assistance in other subject areas.