Important Back to School Information for East Hampton Parents

East Hampton Superintendent of Schools, Judith A. Golden, reminds parents and the entire community that students begin the 2011-2012 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Selected Board of Education policies and procedures will be available on the new East Hampton Public Schools website http://www.easthamptonps.org. 

The elementary schools will start at 8:40 a.m. and dismiss at 3:10 p.m. The Middle School will start at 8:05 a.m. and dismiss at 2:35 p.m. The High School will start at 7:35 a.m. and dismiss at 2:15 p.m.

Parents should register students new to the East Hampton Public School System prior to Aug. 16, if possible. Registration Forms are available on the web at: http://www.easthamptonps.org. School offices are open for registration(s) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. School officials urge parents to register students as soon as possible. They should present transfer information, the child’s most recent report card, a full-size birth certificate, social security number, an up-to-date immunization record and a completed physical examination form (available in each school’s main office). Parents will be required to provide proof of residency with a utility bill or other form of verification of current residency. New registrations will not be processed on the first day of school.

Bus routes will be published in the Rivereast and the Middletown Press in their “Back To School” issues and on Patch. This information will also be posted on the main doors of all the schools. Bus changes received by Friday, Aug. 19, will be made for the first day of school. Changes in student transportation location requests will be accepted after Aug. 19 but will not go into effect until Monday, Sept. 12.

The cafeteria will begin serving lunches at Memorial Elementary School, Center Elementary School, East Hampton Middle School and East Hampton High School on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Hot lunches at the High School and Middle School will cost $2.75 and hot lunches at the elementary schools will cost $2.50. The cost of milk will be $.40.

On opening day, Memorial Elementary School students will enter the building upon arrival at school. Students in kindergarten and first grade will go into the cafetorium to meet their teachers. Second and third grade students will be escorted directly to their classrooms.  Busing information will be reviewed with each child in his/her classroom to ensure accuracy. Parents should contact the school immediately with any requested changes in pick-up or drop-off locations.

The morning kindergarten and preschool begins at 8:40 a.m. and dismissal is at 11:12 a.m. The afternoon session begins at 12:38 p.m. and dismissal is at 3:10 p.m.

On opening day, weather permitting, students at Center Elementary School will remain on the playground until the bell rings. At that time, students will line up according to their teachers in the designated areas and they will be escorted by their teachers to their new classrooms. In the event of rain, students will meet in the gymnasium.

Schedules for all Middle School students will be mailed during the middle of August. All busses will be greeted and students will be escorted, as needed, to their first period classes.

Schedules for all High School students will be mailed during the middle of August. Any parent or student who has a question about his or her schedule should call the guidance office at 860-365-4031 to arrange an appointment with a counselor. High School students will receive a final schedule with study hall locations on the first day of school. Students will be directed to their homerooms where schedules will be distributed.

Parents are reminded that Connecticut State law requires every pupil in the public schools to have a physical examination prior to enrollment.  Parents must have their child’s physician perform these examinations.