The first day of the 2008-2009 school year for the Watauga County Schools will be Thursday, August 7th, a regular, full-length school day on the new calendar. Regular bus routes will run and lunch will be served at all schools.
Incoming freshmen at Watauga High will have a day of orientation starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5th in the gym. Lunch will be served on orientation day. Students will be dismissed from the high school at 2:45 p.m.
Student fees for the new school year remain unchanged at $5 for preschool pupils, $7 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and $8 for sixth through eighth grade students. General fees for high school students are $11.50, with additional fees depending on the student’s classes.
Regular lunch prices will be $1.80 for preschool through third grade, $1.90 for fourth-eighth grade, $2.05 for grades 9-12 and $3 for adults. Reduced price lunches remain 40 cents for all eligible students. Breakfast is available for a regular price of $1.05 for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, $1.35 for students in grades 9-12, and $1.50 for adults. A reduced price breakfast is 30 cents for all eligible students. Applications for free and reduced price lunches will be provided to all parents as part of the parent information packets provided by each school. Applications can also be requested from Susan Trivette at 264-7190.
The after school program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade will operate on the first day of school. Students must be registered for the program before they can attend. Registration will be available on the morning of August 7 and on the evening of August 6. Exact hours for after school registration at each site will be announced shortly and will be posted online at www.watauga.k12.nc.us.
An after school program for students in grades 6-8 is offered by Western Youth Network (WYN), For information on that program, please call Angela Grimes at 264-5174 or visit the WYN website at www.westernyouthnetwork.org.
A Watauga County Schools wall calendar for the 2008-09 school year was mailed to parents starting July 22. The one page school calendar for 2008-09 can be viewed online through the “calendar” link on the Watauga County Schools website at www.watauga.k12.nc.us. This online calendar will be updated during the school year as changes occur due to school closings for inclement weather or other factors.