All Carter County students soon will say goodbye to summer break and hello to school supplies, homework assignments and reunions with friends.
Elizabethton School System Director Corey Gardenhour is excited to welcome new and returning Elizabethton High School students to a campus full of change.
“All of the students I have seen this summer have smiled when I have asked them about returning to school,” Gardenhour said. “This is a positive sign.”
By making children a priority, Gardenhour said there is a lot of positive energy surrounding the city school system.
“Elizabethton will be paid back tenfold for their investment,” he said. “The new facilities are a symbol of progress and an investment in the future of our town. I wholeheartedly believe that this investment will help children stay in school and graduate. Graduates will equal ready workers to build our town for the next generation. We cannot wait for students to come back and use our new facilities.”
Just as students are expected to be proactive in their studies, the school system makes preparations for its upcoming school year every November, Gardenhour said.
“The faculty meets to see what classes are going to be offered and starts gathering a list of possible students for the high school,” he said. “Middle school teachers spend time preparing students for what it will be like in high school. Teachers from EHS go to TAD to individually sit down with parents and students to help them make possible schedules. These visits go on until April or May. Once the requests are compiled, the EHS staff work on the master schedule and student schedules up to the first day of school.”
Gardenhour hopes an orientation for EHS freshman and new students on Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. in the gym will make their transition easier.
“Freshmen are starting that final push to be college or career-ready,” Gardenhour said. “There is a feeling for them that it is time to buckle down and start making some life choices. Freshman are used to the demands the curriculum will have on them, but the high school offers so much more opportunity to grow in different areas. It can be overwhelming for students to make choices such as picking a path of study. This really sets them on course for their future.”
The orientation often involves a tour of the school, time to talk with teachers and counselors and students receiving their schedule, he said.
“Principals usually always make parents and students aware of special events, procedures, rules and regulations,” Gardenhour said. “The overall goal for orientation is to have parents and students make the transition to the first day of school. We want parents to see the staff members and interact with people who can help them with different issues if they arise. I think orientation also brings parents together as a group. Raising children is not easy. Anytime we can have parents interact with each other, it helps. Parents are often are a support system for each other. We want to provide a time for them to come together and talk about their kids.”
Orientations are not limited to the high school, he said.
“All schools have orientation or parent nights where parents are invited into the school,” Gardenhour said.
The first official day of school for city students will be Thursday. This is an abbreviated day, which means students grades K-5 will be in school 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and grades 6-12 will be in school 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The first full day of school for city students is Aug. 10.
All schools in the Carter County School System will be having registration Aug. 12.
During registration, students will be able to get a list of classes, paperwork for enrollment and other important things needed for school.
Parents are encouraged to check with each county school about orientation dates.
The first full day of school for county students will be Aug. 17.
For more information about county schools, call 547-4000. For more information about city schools, call 547-8000.