Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | MyConnection 1B
2014
Back-to-School
www.times-herald.com/special
Changes in Coweta for 2014-2015 school year By Celia Shortt celia@newnan.com As the 2014-2015 school year begins in Coweta County, both students and teachers will be facing several substantial changes when school starts on Aug. 6. Two of those changes are at East Coweta High School and Evans Middle School, where students will have some surprises once they return to school, as both facilities are undergoing major renovations. The ECHS renovation began last summer and will continue through the 2014-2015 school year and conclude the summer of 2015. “The students and teachers, everybody’s just been incredible,” said ECHS Principal Evan Horton of the project. “No one has missed a beat.” Last summer and during the school year, the ECHS field house was renovated, and more than 200 parking spaces and 23 classes were added, as well as renovating the east side of the campus. Another major part of the renovations is a new, larger cafeteria, along with a bigger kitchen. “We gained a good bit of space” in the cafeteria, said Horton. “The improvements are just amazing.” Work on ECHS’ cafeteria and kitchen began at the end of last school year. The cafeteria staff worked out of temporary kitchens for the last six weeks of school. “They did a phenomenal job of serving our kids every day,” added Horton. With all the changes at ECHS last year, Horton is looking forward to the students being able to enjoy the upgraded facilities. “I’m excited for everyone to get back to school because they will be able to see the difference,” he said. “Everyone will be touched in some way or form by the improvements.” “The staff are just cooperative,” he added. “They fell in with this. We challenged each other to make it easy. They made this easy.” Horton acknowledges that the renovation project would not only have been possible without the teamwork of the staff, but also the teamwork with the whole school system.
“No one missed a beat,” he said. “The facilities people at the county level do such a good job with planning and preparing. They’ve been great to work with.” This next year, the west side of the campus will be renovated. For Evans Middle School in Newnan the students and employees returning for the 2014-2015 school year will be dealing with major changes, as a new two-story modern facility is being built on the site of the previous 1974 building. “[The main building] served us well for many years, but it is in serious need of repair and renovation,” said Coweta County School Superintendent Dr. Steve Barker before the project began. “It is more cost effective for us to tear it down and rebuild on that site.” When the school year starts on Aug. 6, Evans Middle School students will return to a different-looking campus, as the 1974 building was torn down right after summer started. For this next school year, staff and students will utilize mobile classrooms and a system of covered walkways. Both were installed before the end of last school year so students and parents could acclimate to the changes. Parents and students were also able to try out the new traffic patterns which would be implemented once the school year starts. “We are planning for the upcoming school year to go as smoothly as possible with little or no disruptions,” said Melissa Wimbish, principal of Evans. “We will continue to create and modify transition patterns for arrival and dismissal and also during the school day.” This summer, renovations were also done to the remaining portions of the facility. Those will be completed in time for school to start. “Just the thought of having a new building is exciting,” said Melissa Wimbish, principal of Evans Middle School. “I know the staff and students will take pride in the shiny waxed hallways, freshly painted walls, and newly renovated restrooms.”
East Coweta High Prinicipal Evan Horton showcases the school logo at the field house.
Photos By Celia Shortt
Tal-kno sub-contractors work on the windows for the renovation at East Coweta High School.
Coweta dress code guidelines
Linda Benoist LPN gives Jackson Basinger his immunizations last year at the Coweta County Health Department as he was preparing to start the pre-kindergarten program.
New immunizations required for returning seventh graders By Celia Shortt celia@newnan.com Two new immunizations are required for Coweta County’s new and returning students. Both the Tdap and Meningitis vaccines are now required for students who were born after Jan. 1, 2002, and entering seventh grade. Both vaccines are also required for any student new to a Georgia school. A new entrant is a student entering any school in Georgia for the first time or one who is entering after being absent from a Georgia school for more than 12 months or one school year. Dana Scales, nurse manager for Coweta County Board of Health, said both these vaccines are usually administered around age 11 to 12, “which is why we’re focusing on those.” To get both these vaccines and the others required for school, parents can bring their kids to the Coweta County Health Department at 70 Hospital Road in Newnan. Its hours are from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. To make an appointment or for more information, call 770-254-7400. The vaccines are also available from private physicians. “Appointments for back to school needs are highly encouraged,” said Scales. “Fridays we do accept walk-ins, however, the wait time is heavily dependent upon the volume of clients being seen that day for the same or other services.” “A parent or legal guardian must be present throughout the duration of your child’s appointment,” she added.
For those who are new to Georgia and coming to the health department for school immunizations, they must bring documentation of all the prior immunizations, their child or children have received to date. The health department can also perform the hearing, vision, and dental screenings children need to register for school. After the screening and/immunization, the health department will provide the parents with the necessary certificates for school registration – a 3231 immunization certificate and/or a 3300 hearing, vision, dental certificate. A child’s private physician can also perform these back to school needs. Students who are transferring from another school in Georgia should have the necessary certificates from their previous schools. If time is needed to obtain those certificates, parents can request short-term waivers during registration. However, children whose parents who do not file the certificates by the end of the waiver period may be withdrawn from school. Standard immunization requirements for students in Pre-K - 12th grade: • Hepatitis A – two doses • Hepatitis B – three doses • MMR – two doses • VZV (chickenpox) – two doses • Pneumonia – up to age five • HIB – up to age five • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Polio given after fourth birthday • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Meningitis after 11th birthday.
Each Coweta County school is responsible for setting and enforcing a dress code for students, and the school’s principal or other duly authorized school official shall determine if a student’s attire or grooming meets reasonable and appropriate guidelines. Parents and students should consult their school’s student handbook or call the principal for information regarding specific dress code requirements in their school. However, the following standards are generally common to each school: Elementary School Dress Standards Students should wear clothing that is clean and suitable for school activities, keeping in mind weather conditions and good taste. Shoes must be worn at all times. Pants are to be worn at the waist and fastened securely.
The following are not to be worn at school: 1. Halter-tops, tank tops, fishnet tops & midriff blouses 2. Excessively large or baggy clothing 3. Tops and dresses with spaghetti straps 4. Muscle shirts 5. Shirts that advertise alcohol, tobacco, or drugs 6. Short shorts and skirts (Your index fin- ger should touch the hem of the shorts) 7. Shorts covered by a full-length shirt 8. Bicycle pants or shorts 9. Clothing with open holes above the knee 10. Clothing that is suggestive, advocates disobedience to society or causes a possible disruption to the school 11. Clothing or attire with statements or symbols which might be deemed offensive to others, violent or of a threatening nature 12. Shoes with cleats and/or wheels (heelys) 13. Hardware chains 14. Caps, hats, visors, any other headgear, and sunglasses 15. If a student chooses to wear shorts or a skirt, the shorts or skirt must be of appropriate length. The appropriate measurement will be determined when the student is standing erect, hands by his/her side, fingertips not extending below the hem of the clothing, maintaining modesty at all times. Biker shorts, spandex apparel, excessively formfitting shirts, shorts, pants, or skirts are not allowed.
Middle School Dress Standards In the interest of having a safe, orderly school, which minimizes distractions and maximizes the learning environment, a dress code has been established for all middle school students in the Coweta County School System. Every middle school student is expected to dress and be groomed in accordance with acceptable standards of cleanliness and modesty. Students may wear dresses, blouses, shirts, or any other types of clothing appropriate to the sex of the individual that does not violate the intent of the dress code.
The dress standard is as follows: 1. If a student chooses to wear shorts or a skirt, the shorts or skirt must be of appropriate length. The appropriate me a s u rement w i l l b e deter m i ne d when the student is standing erect, hands by his/her side, fingertips not extending below the hem of the clothing, maintaining modesty at all times. Biker shorts, spandex apparel, excessively form fitting shirts, shorts, pants, or skirts are not allowed. 2. All shirts, blouses, and dresses must have sleeves. Shirts and blouses must not be excessively long and should not be a safety concern or a disruption. If a shirt is too long, it must be tucked. Clothing should not expose areas of stomach, side, or back. Oversized clothing is not allowed. 3. Pants must be appropriately sized for width and hemmed to a safe length. Underwear should not be visible. Pant size should not hinder ability to move about easily and safely. Pants must be
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