BACK TO SCHOOL 2011: What You Need to Know

The first day of school for students entering grades 1 through 9 is Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, and there's a bunch of changes this year. Among them:

• Melrose High School and the Winthrop School both have new principals— and .

• Each elementary classroom will , and the FOSS science kits will be rolled out to every classroom as well.

• , and at the elementary schools, rollout of web-pased reading and math programs.

• Assistant principal from the middle school, which is also getting a .

Starting next week, Melrose Patch will bring you individual previews of each school. Bookmark this page as we link each school name below to the preview article once it publishes:

• Hoover Elementary School

Here's all the Back to School and First Day of School information that you need to know:

Elementary Through High School

School hours are:

• Grades 1-5: 8:15 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.

• Grades 6-8, : 7:40 a.m. – 2:03 p.m.
  • On Tuesday, Aug. 30 (only):
  • All students in grade 6 should report to the auditorium.
  • All students in grade 7 and 8 should report to their homerooms.
  • Homeroom and Team assignments will be mailed home over the summer.

• Grades 9-12, : 7:45 a.m. – 2:09 p.m.
  • All students in grade 9 (only) should report to the main lobby of the high school on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
  • Students in grades 10 through 12 will report for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
  • All students in grades 9-12 should report to their homerooms for a full day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
  • Homeroom assignments will be posted in the main lobby of the high school.

Kindergarten

August 30 and August 31: Kindergarten screening, by appointment only, will take place at the assigned elementary school. Screening appointments will be sent via the mail. If you do not receive an appointment letter by Aug. 12, please call Denise Jones at 781-462-3257.

The first day of classes for ALL Kindergarten students will be Sept. 1.  See the schedule below for times:

Full-day K:

• Thursday, Sept. 1: 8:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6: 8:15 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Half-day K:

• Thursday, Sept. 1: 8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6: 8:30 a.m. – 11:05 a.m. (morning session)

Melrose Public Schools are closed on Friday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day.

Early Childhood Center at the Franklin School

On Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 6:30-8 p.m., the Early Childhood Center (ECC) will hold "Great Start," a parents-only introduction to the center.

On Thursday, Sept., 1 from 9-11 a.m. the ECC will hold a "Sneak Peek" night for both parents and their children.

All programs will begin the week of Sept. 6 on the weekday designated by program type. Welcome letters with specific start of school information will be mailed during August.

Contact the at 781-979-2260 with questions. Limited spaces are still available in certain programming options.

Education Stations After School Program

The first day of Education Stations, the Melrose Public Schools after school enrichment program, for children entering grades 1 through 5 is Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011.

The first day for kindergarten students will be Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The program will not operate on Friday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 6 as schools are closed in observance of Labor Day.

Pre-registration is required; information can be found on the Melrose Public Schools website www.melroseschools.com (click on the Education Stations link), or by emailing EducationStations@melrose.mec.edu or by calling 781-979-2147.

Other Back to School Information

Please visit the Melrose Public Schools website at http://www.melroseschools.com/welcomeback/ for additional information regarding the start of school.

Many of the forms that are typically sent home on the first day of school that provide the district with required data collection information are posted there. Please take the time to navigate this site, complete the required forms and have them ready to be returned to school with your child on the first day.

If you have any questions, contact the Parent Information Center at 781-662-2000 and press #1.