DYER BROOK, Maine — Thanks to several grants, when students at Southern Aroostook Community School return to classes this fall, they will have new backpacks filled with supplies.
Superintendent Jon Porter said the district has received free backpacks for all students who attended SACS last year.
“These backpacks are provided to our students from Ruth’s Reusable Resources with funding from UNUM, Texas Instruments and L.L. Bean,” he said. “Backpacks will include a binder, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, markers, a notebook, pencils, a pencil sharpener, erasers, pocket folders, a report cover and a ruler.”
Students may pick up their backpacks from the school offices the week of Aug. 26, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., or they can simply wait until the first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 3, for all students in grades K-12.
In-service days for faculty and staff are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 28, and Thursday, Aug. 29. There will be new staff orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Porter added that the district has once again received a federal grant to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for elementary students outside of the usual breakfast and lunch programs. These items will be offered at varying times in the classrooms.
Parents of children entering pre-kindergarten will receive a call regarding date and time for “Link Up Day.” There will be registration for new students 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 20 and 21, at the school
For the 2019-20 school year, full price lunches per day will be $2.35 for students in K-5; $2.45 for students in grades six-eight, and $2.60 for students in grades 9-12. Full price for school breakfast for pre-K-sixth grade is 50 cents, while grades seven-12 is $1. Lunches will include a choice of milk and extra milk is priced at 30 cents each.
Adult meal prices are $1.25 for breakfast and $5.25 for lunch. Also, applications are made available for families to determine their eligibility for free and/or reduced meals.
Bus pickup times will be approximately the same as last year, but Porter said students may not be on the same buses they rode last year. Parents are asked to have their children ready a few minutes early on the first few days of school, between 6:50 and 7 a.m., and plan to have them board the bus that stops at their house.
Student dismissal will be at 2:20 p.m.
For additional information, call the school at 757-8206 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
