School doors open Tuesday for students

With a new school year set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, area school districts are preparing for their students’ return. Teachers in Tecumseh, Clinton and Britton Deerfield returned this week for training and classroom set-up.Tecumseh School District starts the 2015-2016 school year with a few changes for families. “Our start and end times are a little bit different,” said Superintendent Kelly Coffin about the biggest difference from last year.The school day for high school students begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:41 p.m. Tecumseh Middle School students now have a day that runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Elementary students in the district begin at 8:35 a.m. and end their day at 3:40 p.m.The athletic fees for Tecumseh students have also changed for the new school year. The pay to participate fees at Tecumseh High School are $100 for one sport and $65 for a second sport. To participate in two or more sports is a total cost of $165.Pay to play for Tecumseh Middle School students is $70 for one sport and $40 for a second sport. Students playing two or more sports pay a total cost of $110.The Tecumseh Board of Education now meets only one time per month on the second Monday at 7 p.m. Previously, the board met twice a month. If a second meeting is necessary, the board will meet on the fourth Monday of the month.The first day of school on Tuesday at Tecumseh High School is a staggered start. Incoming freshmen and Link crew members will have a full day with lunch.Returning students begin the first day of school at 12:10 p.m. and will not be served lunch.Clinton Community Schools have no new procedures set for students and their families.The focus for the year will be integrating the new technology, according to Supt. David P. Pray. The district received a grant that will provide a computer for the use of each student in the district.Integration of the computers will be gradual, with students bringing them home in December or January, according to Pray. The district is still working out details, including how the computers can be safely transported between school and home, as well as setting up insurance.Clinton has received direction and assistance on the integration process from districts who have already worked through the process.“We’ll be training teachers and students on the use of them,” Pray said. “We will have special meetings to train parents on the computers. We’ve thought hard about the best way to proceed.”Britton Deerfield (BD) Schools will implement a mentor program for its students this year. Staff members will be assigned students from grades kindergarten through 12 to watch over and be their point person.BD High School Principal John Eisley received a grant to implement the program at the high school. Mentors to the high school students will have eight students to work with through the year, two students in each grade.Students will also have the chance to work as mentors. There will be special training for staff and students on how to be good mentors.A new elementary mathematics series will be implemented in both the Britton and Deerfield buildings this year. “We are really excited about this series,” said BD Supt. Charles Pelham. “The teachers are very pleased.”Heather Perez, executive director of Communities in Schools of the Tecumseh Area (CISTA) believes there are several ways for families to prepare their students for a successful school year.The proper amount of sleep for children is key to success in school. Starting every day with a good breakfast is also important, according to Perez.She encourages families to contact CISTA if they need assistance in providing school supplies for their children. “We worked with Wacker Chemical to gather school supplies for at-risk kids,” said Perez.CISTA also can set up eye exams and provide clothing for families. During the school year weekend meal assistance is also available for students.Student safety is also very important, according to Pelham. “Parents have to be careful dropping off their students,” Pelham said. “We hope they drop their students off in the proper area.”Successful students have families who know what is happening at school. Assisting with organization, helping navigate homework, and being in contact with the teacher are all part of how parents can help children do well in school.“Be active in your child’s education,” said Pray. “Talk to kids at night about how their day went.”“It’s really pretty simple stuff,” Perez said.More information can be found on the schools’ websites: www.bdschools.us for BD, www.tps.mi.us for Tecumseh, and www.ccsweb.-clinton.k12.mi.us. CISTA’s website is www.cistecumseh.org.

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