The first day of classes for SBISD’s 32,000 new and returning students will be Monday, Aug. 25. Prekindergarten students who attend campus-based programs will also begin classes on this day.

At the district’s Schools for Early Learning, prekindergarten pupils and their parents will attend orientation only from 9:30-11 a.m. on Aug. 25. The first full day of instruction at the Schools for Early Learning will be Tuesday, Aug. 26.

SBISD Administration Building offices are open 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday through Aug. 7. Beginning Aug. 11, these offices return to regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 713-464-1511.

New student registration

New student registration will be held at all schools from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 14-15, and also on Tuesday, Aug. 19. On Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 20-21, new student registration will be held from 8 a.m. until noon only on all district campuses.

Campuses may hold additional registration hours on an individual, campus by campus basis. For more information, please contact your neighborhood school.

Only students new to SBISD or SBISD residents, who have moved within SBISD and will attend a different school than the previous year, must register for classes. A parent or legal guardian must be present to enroll students who are less than 18 years old. Enrollment requirements include:

• Immunization record certified by a doctor or public health official
• Transcript or report card from the last school attended
• Birth certificate or other document suitable as proof of a child’s identity
• Proof of residence (lease agreement, mortgage payment book, district tax bill, utility bill with correct name and address, or a notarized statement to verify that the child lives at the residence listed)

More information may be found at www.springbranchisd.com. Or call 713-464-1511, ext. 2467, for other questions about elementary or secondary registration.

Immunizations

All students, including prekindergarten and kindergarten students, should receive age-appropriate health immunizations. Immunization requirements are set by the Texas Department of State and Health Services and are subject to change on an annual basis. There are not changes in immunization requirements for the new school year.

To receive the most current and accurate information possible, please contact your pediatrician or the school nurse at your neighborhood campus.

In August, the seond annual Spring Branch Community Health Fair will provide free immunizations, adult health screenings, and free school supplies in one convenient location. This health fair will be held from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Spring Branch Family Development Center, 8575 Pitner Road. This event will be held rain or shine.

Children who attend this event are eligible to receive Back to School supplies. Please bring your shot records or a note from your school nurse indicating which childhood immunizations are needed.

This health fair is presented in collaboration with the school district, Spring Branch Family Development Center, and numerous partners. Sponsors this year include Memorial/Rotary International, the City of Houston, Texas Children’s Health Plan, the National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO) and WalMart.

Spring Branch Community Health Center, 9325 Kempwood, also offers low-cost immunizations, based on family income and need. Health Center hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. For details, please call 713-462-6565.

Breakfast and Lunch

More than 5 million breakfasts and lunches are served each year by SBISD’s Child Nutrition Services.  For the year ahead:

• Breakfast and lunch prices will not change for the 2008-2009 school year. Breakfast will cost 75 cents; reduced-price breakfast costs 30 cents for students whose families meet eligibility criteria.
• Lunch will cost $1.30 at elementary schools and $1.45 in the middle and high schools. For families who meet eligibility guidelines, reduced-price lunch will be 40 cents. A la carte menu items are available for purchase at most school locations.
• SBISD families are encouraged to use prepayment options for meals. Cashiers will accept cash or checks on site, but families may also pay for meals online or by telephone by using a credit or debit card, or checking account. The PayPAMS, or Parent Account Management System, may be accessed at www.PayPAMS.com, or by calling 1-888-994-5100.
• Weekly menus are posted in the secondary schools and sent home at the beginning of the school year with elementary students. Menus and nutritional information are also posted on SBISD’s website.

Schools for Early Learning

Registration for the full-day prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds will be held at the neighborhood Schools for Early Learning from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 14-15, and also Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 19-22

A first-day orientation for students and their parents or guardians will be held at all neighborhood Schools of Early Learning from 9:30-11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25. The session is designed for families to meet teachers, learn about the curriculum and visit classrooms. The first full day of classes for these students will be Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Students who meet certain eligibility guidelines may attend tuition free. Tuition will remain at $4,500 for the school year and is collected in nine monthly payments of $500. For details, call 713-365-4360 or visit the district website at  www.springbranchisd.com and then follow the page links to Early Childhood Information and the Prekindergarten Brochure.

Transportation

SBISD provides free transportation to and from home campuses for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. Local tax dollars support this service.

Detailed bus route information will be posted before school begins on the district’s Transportation Department website. To access this site, go to www.springbranchisd.com, then follow the link to Community Information, Transportation, and then Bus Routes. On this page, residents may type in a street address and find a bus route and estimated pick-up or drop-off times.

Families may also call or visit their neighborhood schools beginning with Back to School registration on Thursday, Aug. 16, to obtain bus information.

New students must register and have their address verified before gaining permission to ride a school bus or be placed on a school bus route. Route stops and times are subject to change due to traffic or construction. To be seen and picked up, all students should be at their designated bus stop 10 minutes before estimated bus arrival. For more information, call 713-365-5250 or email Maria Campos at maria.campos@springbranchisd.com.

Emergencies/Shelter in Place

Should emergency conditions such as severe weather or a safety-related crisis occur, it may be necessary to close SBISD schools or shelter in place. When school is closed due to bad weather, radio and television stations will be notified as soon as possible. For detailed information on Shelter in Place procedures, please contact your neighborhood school principal or administrator.