Parents of incoming freshmen are required to attend an orientation
session with their children before the first day of school. Classes
begin Wednesday, Aug. 21.
If parents don't attend, their children won't receive a class
schedule.
Administrators and staff will offer building tours, and discuss
attendance and discipline policies, the district's grading system,
student identification cards and security procedures during the
orientations.
"This is crucial to getting parents involved and helping them
understand our policies before issues arise," Dawkins said.
Arthur Hill students and parents may attend orientation sessions
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday or Friday, Aug.
16.
Saginaw High sessions are set for 9 a.m. to noon or 3 p.m. to 6
p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 16.
Students with last names that begin with letters A through H attend
Wednesday; students with last names that begin with letters I through
P attend Thursday; and students with last names that begin with
letters Q through Z attend Friday, Aug. 16.
The make-up session at Saginaw High is set for 9 a.m. to noon
Friday, Aug. 16.
For more information, call Saginaw High at 759-3577 or Arthur Hill
at 797-4815.
Saginaw High Principal Wilson Smith and Arthur Hill High Principal
John Paine will make arrangements for parents who can't make the
dates, Dawkins said.
Both high schools will have closed campuses this year for ninth
graders, who also will have a separate lunch period. Dawkins said the
closed campus is an issue of student and campus safety, as well as an
opportunity to participate in activities during lunch time.
Board of Education President James W. Woolfolk praised the decision
to conduct the parent/student orientation.
"This will not be smooth; it's a change and we'll get calls,"
Woolfolk said.
"But we can't set lower standards for ourselves. Wouldn't parents
have to attend if this was a charter school? Wouldn't parents have to
attend if this was a private school? Why should we be any different?"
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Corey Mitchell is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may
reach him at 776-9677.
