Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

Now that the excitement of summer vacation is almost over, area schools are preparing for the 2008-2009 school year which starts on Wednesday, August 13 for South Ripley and Milan, and August 12 for Jac-Cen-Del schools.

Due to rising costs, the school lunches have increased at South Ripley and Milan. South Ripley students can expect to pay $1.25 for breakfast. Lunches at the jr./sr. high school will be $2.10 with elementary students paying $1.85. Milan Elementary students will pay .95 cents for breakfast and $1.35 for lunch. The middle school and high school will charge $1.00 for breakfast and $1.40 for lunch.

South Ripley schools
Despite rumors to the contrary, the construction at South Ripley will not delay the start of school. As reported in the Thursday, August 24 edition of The Versailles Republican, the project is about three weeks behind due to the bad weather. But Hal Kovert, architect for the project, has assured the school board that the contractors are working to make up for lost time.

Students attending South Ripley can register on Friday, August 8 from 12 noon to 7 p.m.; Monday, August 11 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and then from 12 noon until 3 p.m.; and on Tuesday, August 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bookstore will also be open on those days.

South Ripley Elementary will hold a kindergarten orientation on Wednesday, August 6 at 9 a.m. for all kindergarten students, which will last about an hour. It is recommended that an adult attend with the child, and that no younger siblings attend this session. Any questions regarding all day kindergarten should be directed to South Ripley Elementary at 689-5383. Any child not registered for kindergarten for the 2008-2009 school year should do so as soon as possible by calling the elementary office.

Students entering the 7th grade can attend an orientation set for Thursday, August 7 at 6 p.m. This will be held at the elementary cafeteria due to construction at the jr./sr. high school. “This will be an opportunity for 7th graders to receive schedules, get locker assignments, and meet the 7th grade teachers,” noted Joyce Druba, who can be contacted at 689-5303 for additional information.
An open house will be held at the South Ripley Elementary School on Tuesday, August 12 from 6-8 p.m. Here, parents will meet their child’s teachers and discover what will be taught during the year.

Milan schools
Registration for Milan students begins on Tuesday, August 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 6 from 12 noon until 7 p.m. The middle school and the high school will also hold registration on Thursday, August 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to elementary Principal Jane Rogers, an open house will be held on Monday, August 11 beginning at 6 p.m. Kindergarten orientation will be held on Tuesday, August 12 from 10 a.m. until noon. Parents are requested to attend with their child to meet the teacher and have lunch.

Something new for the middle school is an open house for the 5th and 6th grade students. According to middle school Principal Marty Layden, parents and students are encouraged to attend on Tuesday, August 12 at 6 p.m. “This will give the parents an opportunity to meet the teachers, and the students to tour the school,” said Layden. Parents are reminded to bring all paperwork that was sent to them over the summer.

Jac-Cen-Del schools
Jac-Cen-Del students will begin school one day earlier, on Tuesday, August 12. Elementary students can register starting August 1 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Registration for the 7th through 12th grades begin on August 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on August 6 until 6 p.m.

Kindergarten orientation will be on Monday, August 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for session one, and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for session two. Parents or guardians should attend one session.

According to elementary Principal Leanne Phillippe, teachers will explain expectations and discipline. Both parents and students will tour the school. The transportation director will discuss bus safety and rules. Parents and students will also be introduced to staff members. “This is a great way to take away the first day of school jitters,” said Phillippe.

Parents and students entering 7th grade are encouraged to attend orientation on Monday, August 11 at 6 p.m.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO A new three-way stop on Benham Road at the entrance to South Ripley schools is something new this school year. The signs were just installed last week with Versailles Town Marshal Joe Mann saying they have been policing the road heavily and warning people. However, soon the warnings will be tickets that will cost money and points off your license. The signs will help with the traffic once school begins and the heavy construction traffic that is already in place. School officials feel it will be a safer approach. The speed zone on Benham Road near the school is 35 mph and when the lights are flashing, it is 25mph.