While students might begin looking forward to the long, lazy days of summer, parents and administrators across the county have set their sights on next fall.

Tuesday, May 09, 2000

While students might begin looking forward to the long, lazy days of summer, parents and administrators across the county have set their sights on next fall.

Kindergarten registration and new student orientations are scheduled or have begun at all Lawrence County schools as an opportunity to make transitions less difficult for incoming youngsters.

"At this function, the students and parents can visit with other students and parents and meet their teachers and other faculty members," said Debbie Moore, South Point Elementary kindergarten teacher.

South Point Elementary will have a new student registration and orientation today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school.

Attending the orientation evening assists both parents and the students who will enter school this fall, Mrs. Moore said.

"It’s definitely helpful for the new students," Mrs. Moore said. "They’re much more comfortable on their first day if they attend the orientation because they are not coming to a strange environment and they have met their teachers."

Additionally at South Point, planned activities will be hosted by local fire departments and law enforcement agencies, she said.

"They try to make it fun for the students and interesting and helpful for the parents," she said. "There will be fire trucks for the students to look at and learn about and the parents can have their children fingerprinted while they are here."

Also planned are a school bus informational video and refreshments.

The orientation is an exciting event for students who already have tackled their first year of school, too.

"School is not scary," said 5-year-old Hannah Kelley. "It’s fun because you play with blocks."

Other students are ready and willing to lend a helping hand to members of the incoming class.

"Mrs. Moore will tell us what to do and then we will tell them what to do," said Cody Houchin, 6, as he built a tower at the block station. "We can help."

Assisting her friend, Cody, at the block station, Kaitlyn Christian, 6, talked of other favorite activities the new students would experience.

"They will like the coloring because it’s fun," she said. "School is like that … fun."

For Micah Lucas, 5, school is about learning. The new kids will like that, she said.

"I learn about how to tell time," she said. "The other kids will learn that, too."

Rock Hill Elementaries No. 2 and No. 3 also have registration events planned, with Rock Hill Elementary No. 2 scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 9-10 and Rock Hill Elementary No. 3 scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 11-12.

Helpful items for parents to bring on registration night include:

– Student’s birth certificate.

– Student’s vaccination records.

- Custody cards, if applicable.

– Social Security card.