Parents begin to gear up for start of school

Saturday, July 23, 2011
Registration begins Aug. 5; School starts Aug. 17.

Registration for the fall semester of the Mountain Home School District will begin in two weeks, Aug. 5, with school scheduled to start Aug. 17.

Aug. 5 is the date all students in elementary schools, both new and returning, will register. Registration will be held at the schools.

New students will begin registering at Mountain Home High School, Mountain Home Junior High and Hacker Middle School on Aug. 9.

On Aug. 10, returning students in the 9th and 12th grade at Mountain Home High School will register.

Returning high school students in grades 10 and 11 will register Aug. 11.

In addition, all returning students in grades 5-8 at Hacker Middle School and Mountain Home Junior High School will register on Aug. 11.

Parent night open houses will be held the evening following the first day of school, on Aug. 17, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Mountain Home Junior High and from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Mountain Home High School.

Parents of new students are required to bring a copy of their child's birth certificate and a copy of their shot records documenting all the required immunizations as required by Idaho law. In addition, parents of students changing school buildings -- for example, those going from East to Hacker Middle School -- need to bring a copy of their child's shot records.

Academic fee schedules for students have not changed from last year, but there was a slight increase in school lunch program fees. The fees for this year, as listed on the School District 193 website (www.mtnhomesd.org), are:

Mountain Home High School

Activity Card -- $30. Must be purchased if the student is in choir, band, student council, drama, debate or any sport. It is nonrefundable.

Yearbook -- $50 (optional).

Class Dues -- $2, non-optional.

Agenda -- $2, non-optional ($5 for a replacement)

Construction class -- $10 per semester, in addition to project costs.

Art class -- $15 per semester per class.

Foods and Nutrition class -- $20 per class.

Fashion Design class -- $5 per class.

Career and Personal Development class -- $5 per class.

Automotive Technology class --$10 per class.

Industrial Maintenance class -- $10 per class.

Advanced Biology class -- $10 per class.

P.E. classes (general) -- $10 for the first semester.

Photography class -- $10 per class.

Job Shadowing -- $15 per class.

Zoology class -- $15 per class.

Drivers Education -- $145 per class; Premium $160 (during school hours).

Band rental -- $25 per semester.

Mountain Home Junior High School.

Agenda -- $3.

Activity card -- $7.50.

Art class --$10 per class.

P.E. uniform -- $15 (not required).

Academic Comp. -- $10.

Hacker Middle School

Agenda -- $2 per year.

Grade 5 Exploratory class -- $10 per year.

Grade 6 Exploratory class -- $20 per year.

If books and/or materials are lost or damaged during the year, the student is responsible and will pay for the cost of the replacement or repair.

Some classes currently listed on the school district' website, where fees are required, were cut when the district was forced to slash its budget this spring.

The daily food service costs for the next school year are:

Elementary Breakfast -- Full price $1.

Secondary Breakfast -- Full price $1.25.

Breakfast -- Reduced price $0.30.

Elementary Lunch -- Full price $1.85.

Secondary Lunch -- Full price $2.10.

Lunch -- Reduced price $0.40.

Adult breakfast -- $1.50.

Adult Lunch -- $3.

Milk -- $0.40.

Monthly tickets may be purchased at reduced rates and parents also may be able to qualify for the district's free and reduced-price lunch program. Contact the district or the child's school for more information.

The Mountain Home School District also requires that all students and parents or guardians sign a network use procedure agreement before the student is allowed to use a computer and/or the internet.

The signed agreement is kept on file and carries over from year to year for grades 5-12. If a parent or guardian wishes to make a permission change, they must contact their child's school. Agreements for grades K-4 must be signed each school year.

The district has available at its website a PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Using a unique User ID and password, parents and students can access real-time information, including attendance, grades and detailed assignment descriptions, and even personal messages from the teacher. Contact your child's school for a user ID and password.

Transportation is provided to students who live at least one and one-half mile from school, or for those students who require transportation as part of a specialized program. Due to high traffic in some areas, the district has authorized safety bus routes. Call First Student at 587-8045 for more information.

Students with a valid Idaho license may drive to the high school. Check with school officials for rules regarding that privilege and parking.

The immunization laws have been changed this year.

Under Idaho law, to enter or transfer into public or private schools, all children in preschool and grades K-12 must meet immunization requirements at registration and before attendance. No child can attend school without proof of immunization status.

Children born on or before Sept. 1, 1999, need a minimum of the following vaccinations:

* First dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, or MMR.

* Third doses of Polio and Hepatitis B.

* Four dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis, or DTaP.

Those born between Sept. 1, 1999, and Sept. 1, 2005, need a minimum of the following immunizations:

* Second dose of Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

* Third doses of Polio and Hepatitis B.

* Fifth dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis unless the child received their fourth dose at age 4 or older.

Children born after September 1, 2005, need a minimum of:

* Fifth dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis unless the child received their fourth dose at age 4 or older.

* Second dose of Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

* Fourth dose of Polio, although the fourth dose isn't necessary if the third was administered when the child was at least four years old with at least six months time passing since the previous dose.

* Third dose of Hepatitis B.

* Second does of Varicella, or chickenpox, although a child's history of chickenpox, documented by a physician or licensed health care professional, meets the requirement.

* Second dose of Hepatitis A.

Seventh grade immunization requirements for the 2011 to 2012 school year include the following vaccinations:

* First dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis, or Tdap.

* First dose of Meningococcal

Meanwhile, preschool-age children only need age-appropriate immunizations with the required vaccines.

In addition, state law allows a parents and guardians to claim an immunization exemption for their child for medical, religious or personal reasons. All exemptions must be documented on the official state form provided by the Department of Health and Welfare (call 334-5931 for more information).

A medical exemption requires the signature of a licensed physician and certification the child has a medical condition which prevents them from receiving required vaccinations.

The law doesn't allow parents or guardians to claim an exemption because the shot record was lost or incomplete or because they didn't contact their physician or clinic for a copy.

For more information, parents should contact the state Department of Health and Welfare at 334-5931 or online to www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov under the health link.

Comments
View 4 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Goodness...$50. for a year book? Certainly things have not gone up in price THAT much.

    -- Posted by ItsJustMeAgain on Sat, Jul 23, 2011, at 11:02 AM
  • It was $62 for high school....My kid didnt get one. Thats rediculous.

    -- Posted by mhg4316 on Tue, Jul 26, 2011, at 1:40 PM
  • *

    werborg........ are you speaking of Mr. Longhurst? Mr. Longhurst is a great guy. I got to know him while he was at the High School. I'm sure there is a misunderstanding in what you are accusing him of allowing.

    -- Posted by BassmasterJ8 on Wed, Jul 27, 2011, at 9:34 PM
  • I AGREE... $50 IS PRETTY PRICEY-

    NO, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS!!! WHY IS IT SO MUCH?

    AFTER PURCHASING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHES, SHOES, AND PAYING FOR OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, I'M AFRAID MY KID WON'T BE GETTING A YEARBOOK THIS YEAR... HOPE WE CAN AFFORD SCHOOL PIC!

    -- Posted by ANGELMCDOWELL on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 8:53 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: