Back to school – students start new session this month

In upcoming weeks, school-age youths will be returning to the classroom to begin a new session.

Start dates are as early as Aug. 11, and as late at Aug. 18.

Rusk ISD and Troup ISD are the first districts to begin this year – on Aug. 11 – and have the following activities planned:

Rusk – A freshman orientation for the RHS Class of 2025 will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at the high school Ag building, where lunch will be provided. To learn more, contact [email protected].

At Rusk Junior High, students may pick up class schedules from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4-5. Meanwhile, a Meet the Teacher event is slated from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at the junior high campus.

Troup – Mark your calendars for Monday, Aug. 9, when students in sixth grade and below are part of special events: two Meet the Teacher sessions will be held at the elementary campus from 10 a.m. to noon, as well as from 4-6 p.m., while a sixth-grade orientation will be held from 5:30 -6:30 p.m. at the middle school gymnasium.

In Wells, the school district will host a Meet the Teacher event on Monday, Aug. 9, with elementary students meeting at their campus, while middle school and high school students meet in the new gym, where stations will be set up to help with online registration, nurse forms and more. School starts on Thursday, Aug. 12

Jacksonville ISD begins the new school year on Tuesday, Aug. 17. JHS Freshman Camp will be held from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at the school. A Meet the Teacher event is slated Monday, Aug. 11 at Nichols Intermediate, with fifth grade gathering at 5 p.m. and sixth grade at 6 p.m. The JHS Tribe Powwow begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at the Tomato Bowl, where this year’s student athletes and members of performing groups, such as the Cherokee Charmers, will be introduced to the audience. This year’s district convocation will not be held, as part of a precautionary measure due to the COVID surge in the community, according to officials.

Meanwhile, Alto and New Summerfield districts kick off their new school year on Wed., Aug. 18.

In Alto, tickets for the 2021 Yellowjackets season go on sale Aug. 4-18 for past season ticket holders, while new season ticket purchases begin Aug. 19. Season tickets can be purchase at AISD administration building between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, the building will be closed Aug. 16-17 for district-wide training.

This year’s ’Jacket Family Kick Off will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at the back elementary parking lot, which will be set up with bounce houses, refreshments, fan gear and music. A Meet the Teacher event begins afterward, at 6:45 p.m. at ’Jacket Stadium.

New Summerfield's Returning Student Registration for K-12 is Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 4-5, from 1 to 5:30 p.m., in the Elementary Media Center. Parents need their Parent Portal login and email to can check, change and confirm contact information for each student.

New students to the district may stop by school offices between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the next two weeks to enroll for school. The local Meet the Teacher night will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 16.