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First Day of School brings a mixture of joy and sadness
Homework due Aug. 8
Brown family
In this file photo from 2023, the Brown family arrives at Blandford Elementary for the First Day of School. From left, August, 6, (first grade), parents Nick and Jackie; and Asa, 3. (Photo by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

It’s an odd mixture of joy, anxiety, exhilaration, and sadness.

The First Day of School brings joy to a five-year-old entering Kindergarten; joy also to teachers hoping to see “their” kids again; maybe anxiety for the sixth-grader going to middle school, exhilaration to the student who’s finally a high school senior; and sadness to the moms and dads watching their babies grow up way too fast.

But before parents walk their kids to the bus stop, or drop them off at the car line, or allow the newly licensed teen drive to high school, there’s a lot of preparation to do -- as in shopping.

School supplies, uniforms, and clear backpacks to be exact.

The Effingham County School District has a whole slate of activities for students and families before school begins so the First Day of School can run as smoothly as possible.

The First Day of School is Aug. 8.

Elementary schools and enCompass Academy will hold their Open Houses Aug. 5 from 4-7 p.m. Middle schools, both high schools, Crossroads Academy and Effingham College and Career Academy will hold their Open Houses Aug. 6 from 4-7 p.m.

Here is a list of helpful links from the ECSD website:

·       If you are new to the county and you need to register your student for school, click on: https://www.effinghamschools.com/our-district/central-registration-center.

·      

school supplies
School supply lists by school and grade are available at: https://www.effinghamschools.com/family-students/back-to-school/school-suppliesbackpack-info

·       ECSD is asking all families to complete the free/reduced price meal application, which is used for reduced-price school meals and a variety of other things, including reduced testing fees and school district funding. Applications are available online and at schools. Click on https://www.nlappscloud.com/District.aspx#loaded to apply.

·       Bus routes will be available for parent viewing by Aug. 1.

·       Click on the ECSD website Back-to-School page at https://www.effinghamschools.com/family-students/back-to-school to view an electronic version of the Parent/Student handbook and a quick reference guide to school uniforms. Follow ECSD on social media for the latest updates, resources, and important dates.

·       For help buying or selling gently used school uniforms, check out the “Effingham County Schools Uniform Swap” Facebook page. The group asks that uniforms you want to sell or swap be clean with no missing buttons or broken zippers.