School begins — NHS freshman ‘jump start’ will be Aug. 19
NLJ file photo from the Northeast Wyoming Science Fair at Newcastle High School on Jan. 29 — Photo by Walter Sprague
Newcastle High School students are gearing up for a new school year, which starts Aug. 19 for freshmen and Aug. 20 for older students.
In the Aug. 19 “Freshmen Jump Start,” which will run from 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., students will meet their teachers, learn about NHS, and find and attend all of their classes, says a letter Principal Bryce Hoffman wrote to families. NHS will provide lunch, and students will eat on campus that day. Parents can attend an informational session from 8:10 to 8:40 a.m. about graduation, Eastern Wyoming College and Hathaway scholarships.
Hoffman told the News Letter Journal that as of Aug. 11, the school will have 222 students: 48 freshmen, 67 sophomores, 57 juniors and 50 seniors. He said he hopes the school will see more enrollments in the coming week; at the beginning of the last school year, the count was 234.
All students must register with the district online, at wcsd1.org/apps/pages/Online_Registration, and complete forms, Hoffman said in his letter to parents. If they have already completed registration in a previous year, they can log in to their existing accounts. The online registration process helps the office have everyone’s current contact information, and it must be completed before the first day of school so students can be prepared from the first period of their first school day, according to Hoffman.
Families can also use computers in the NMS office if they can’t do it at home or if they need help, he explained. Students who are new to the district must also go to the high school office to complete registration.
Laptop and locker checkout began Aug. 11, and lockers are optional for all grade levels, according to Hoffman. The laptop fee is $25. Class fees are $20 for physical education uniforms, $25 for metal fabrication and $20 for culinary arts.
Parents can also sign up for text message alerts from the district by texting “Yes” or “Y” to 67587. Hoffman said in his letter to families that they should also check their email and the school’s Facebook page for information and updates. Families should ensure their information is up-to-date on PowerSchool.
The NHS office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but it will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 for district-wide meetings and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15 for training, the letter said.
School pictures will take place Oct. 15, according to the letter.