back to school, 2014

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5 2014 Back to School

A Gulf Coast Newspapers PublicationPublisher: Sudie GambrellEditors: Jill Clair Gentry

and Destiny BrownDesign: Paige Renka

Gulf Coast Newspapers, LLC 251-947-7712

217 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535

2014-15 School Calendarpage 29

Baldwin County school directorypage 26

Frequently asked questionspage 20

Walk-in immunization clinicspage 14

Home organizing tipspage 18

Smarter school lunchespage 16

Free tax weekendpage 10

Uniform policypage 11

Getting back in the routinepage 12

Make the first week easierpage 8

Table ofContents

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Make the first week of school easier By Theresa CorbinContributing writer

When school is out of session, kids often get into a routine that summer seems to sum-

mon. They wake up late, play games and stay up late watching movies. You know the drill. It is summer’s path of least resistance, and it is per-haps healthy to recuperate from the rigors of the previous school year and prepare for the next.

However, when the school year comes back around, for most of us it often feels like we have to get our kids to go from zero to 60 in nothing flat, grinding gears along the way. This year doesn’t have to be the same old scramble to get ready and cope with a harried first week back.

Half of getting into the swing of thing happens with some tweaks to your summertime routine; the other half is simply getting organized. With a few small adjustments, the start of the school year can be a smooth tran-

sition.

Ease into earlier wake up times

The hardest part of the back-to-school schedule can be a frightening-ly earlier wake up call. This is a chal-lenge especially when we are waking up teenagers to get to their scholarly destinations on time.

The trick to make an earlier wake up time not seem so painful is to slowly adjust your children’s sleeping schedule. Have your children hit the hey increasingly earlier so they still get all the sleep they need. Then wake them up earlier and earlier according to their bedtime.

If change isn’t so abrupt, chances are it will be less painful.

Make it feel specialGetting back to school can some-

times feel like a drag for kids. You can keep them positive about the experi-ence by reminding your child that he or she is not just going back to school,

but going to a new grade level. And that means they are growing up, so why not celebrate?

Get your kids excited about the coming school year by letting them decorate their rooms for the grade they will be entering. Make grade number signs to hang on their door. Let them pick out one grade appro-priate educational decoration to hang in their room. You can get classroom decorations at any educational supply shop.

You can even have them write an introduction letter about themselves to their new teacher. Your child can include fun facts about him or herself, tell the teacher what subjects he or she likes, what his or her favorite thing they learned last year was and what he or she hopes to learn this year.

Make them feel special and excited about advancing.

Put everything in its placeA huge part of cutting through the

confusion and chaos of the first few


days back at school can be figuring out where everything is and where everything goes. Clothing and sup-plies are some things to think of when getting in ship shape for the back-to-school rush.

Get kids on board and organize closets for a quick dressing routine in the morning. Have a designated place to hang/store uniforms and other nec-essary garments for each day of the week so kids can check and be sure tomorrow’s outfit is clean and ready to go. Designate a place to put school shoes immediately when the kids come home so they are never lost.

Get your school’s checklist well in advance and make sure to double check that you have every item. Get the kids to organize all their supplies in their back pack. Then designate a book bag station so there is no crazed search party for a satchel when you should have been out the door five minutes ago.

Designate and organize homework stations

Whether your kids have their own desk or you have a communal place

where homework is done, make sure it is ready to go. Clear the homework area of any distractions ahead of time. Have a station where kids can restock with pens, paper, pencils, markers, glue and whatever else they need for homework or to bring to class.

It might be a good idea to have a calendar in the homework station. A visual reminder to kids of what is due and when tests are is a great way to keep your kids organized, not only for the first week of school, but through-out the school year.

Give your kids a space to do their homework that is free of distractions and stocked with school supplies.

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By Destiny [email protected]

Before school each year, Alabama holds its free tax weekend to assist with supplies and other back-to-school purchases. The sales tax break begins on Friday, Aug. 1 and will end at midnight on Sunday, Aug. 3.

According to revenue.alabama.gov, par-ticipating municipalities are Bay Minette, Daphne, Elberta, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Loxley, Magnolia Springs, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Robertsdale, Silverhill, Summerdale and Spanish Fort.

Shoppers will receive a 4 percent tax break plus the additional sales tax associated with the municipalities above. Most cloth-ing items and accessories will be tax free; however some items not included in the exemption are cosmetics, hair accessories, handkerchiefs, sewing supplies, protective and sporting gear, according to the Alabama Retail Association.

Parents can expect a tax break on comput-ers, software and accessories such as discs and printers during the weekend, in addition to traditional school supplies like binders, chalk, notebooks, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, tape, compasses, book bags, index cards, lunch box-es, markers, pens and pencils, protractors, rulers and scissors.

Other items include art supplies and instructional material (less than $30 each).

Most stores include supply lists for local schools along with uniform requirements. While the sales tax holiday may lead to busier aisles and longer lines, an approximate 10 percent bill reduction can help with your back-to-school finances.

Alabama holds Back-to-School free tax weekend Aug. 1-3

Tax Free ItemsCloThiNG iTEMS

($100 or lESS PEr iTEM)

n school uniforms

n belts, hats, scarves

n shoes, socks, boots

n coats, jackets, underwear

TEChNoloGy


n computers, printers

n software, computer disks

n printer ink and paper

n digital assistants

SChool SuPPliES


n binders, notebooks, folders

n chalk, highlighters, markers,

crayons, colored pencils

n book bags, lunch boxes

n calculators, compasses

n tape, glue, scissors

n pens, pencils, erasers

n protractors, rulers

n paper, index cards

n required textbooks

n globes, maps and other books

For a more comprehensive list visit

revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/WPHolidayQuickRefSheet14.pdf


It's hard to get into that back-to-school routine after all the summer fun. Here are a few tips to get back into the swing of things when the first day of school comes back around.

Before School • Have a “Before School” list of things to do before you

leave the house. The list can include daily to-dos like brushing teeth, making a bed or anything your family does before leaving for the day.

• Make yourself a key ring and hang it by the door. This will keep you from losing it and racing to find your keys in the mornings.

• Hang a “Don't Forget” list by the door and have the kids go through it every day before they leave for school to ensure they don't leave anything behind.

After School• Hang backpacks on hooks by the door.• Plan outdoor activities to get your kids outside.• Limit television time. Try to steer away from televi-

sion and other technology as after school leisure time.• Plan a time to complete homework and get into a habit

of looking over it to make sure it is correct.

Before Bed• Get into a habit of packing everything for next day.

Leave it at the door so it's ready to go for the next morning.

• Lay out outfits the night before to avoid chaos the next morning before school.

• Begin putting the kids to bed earlier as the summer comes to an end. This will make it easier to get up on those early mornings when the school year begins.

Getting into the back-to-school routine

Be sure you have completed this helpful checklist before returning for the first day of school.

4 Get school supply checklist4 Buy school supplies4 Get sized for and purchase school uniforms4 Purchase back-to-school clothes if needed that

apply to your school’s dress code4 Wash and iron all uniforms or back-to-school

clothes4 Purchase items for snacks and lunches 4 Purchase alarm clocks if needed4 Clean out lunch and snack cabinet/area4 Make daily schedule for before and

after school4 Set up back-to-school photos if available4 Make weekly menu plan4 Clean out car4 Have a safety meeting to go over safety

procedures for getting to and during school

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health Department offers walk-in immunization clinicsSubmitted by the Baldwin County health Department

The Baldwin County Health department is avail-able by appointment for back-to-school immunizations throughout the summer, but to accommodate high de-mand right before school starts, the health department will also hold walk-in clinics on these dates.

Bay Minette site at 212 Courthouse Square · 251-937-6935Monday, Aug. 4 · 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 5 · 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

robertsdale site at 23280 Gilbert Drive · 251-947-1910Wednesday, Aug. 6 · 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 7 · 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 8 · 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Monday, Aug. 18 · 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 19 · 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Wednesday, Aug. 20 · 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

By appointment onlyThursday, Aug. 21 · 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Friday, Aug. 22 · 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost will be a maximum of $15. However, there will be no charge if you present a Medicaid or Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card. Be sure to bring your card and your child’s vaccination history, if available.

Please call 251-947-1910 for an appointment or infor-mation. Visit bcbe.org/clinics.

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Smarter School LunchesBy Theresa CorbinContributing writer

W e all remember how school lunch helps to define a kid’s social rank in the class-room. Whether our classmates had school

lunch, lunch from home or a rockin’ lunch box really mattered. Today, lunch room choices, al-though improving, are not the greatest when it comes to nutrition. But in a lot of cases, the cheaper and faster school lunch may seem like the only op-tion for stretched thin parents.

It doesn’t have to be like that anymore. Help your kid climb that school yard social ladder and help yourself by saving time in planning. You can add nutrition to your kids’ lunchtime by following a few helpful hints to pack a phenomenal lunch.

EconomicsSteer clear of prepackaged lunch and snack items.

Prepackaged cheese and crackers seems like a great time saver, but you are just paying a high price for someone else to smear cheese on a cracker. Prepack-aged foods like Lunchables or snack cakes are an astronomical expense when you can do a lot of the

leg work for free at home. Instead of buying snack cakes, make a little extra

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brownie, cookie or cake batter for that after dinner treat. Use the extra to pack for school lunches. Make your own Lunchables at home with whole wheat crackers, non-processed meats and healthy sides. Homemade Lunchables are fun, better for your child and take seconds to assemble.

Buying in bulk is always friendly on the wallet. Instead of buying individual yogurts, buy a large tub of your child’s favorite yogurt flavor and separate single serving sizes into containers. You will save money and your child is more likely to waste less if you control the serving portion. Do this with any food that can be bought in bulk. You will be sur-prised by how much you save.

NutritionWe all know it is a challenge to get our kids to

eat right, especially when they face bad nutrition choices daily. And the cold, hard truth of the matter is that plain fruits and veggies will meet their end in the trash most of the time if kids are faced with less nutritious choices.

Don’t let them have a choice between good foods and junk foods. Instead, ask your kids to pick a fruit and veggie of the week. Help them learn about their fruit or veggie choice and let them find it in the grocery store. When they have more input in what kinds of healthful foods they eat, kids are often more likely to get good nutrition.

Also try jazzing it up for kid appeal by adding a

healthy dip to veggie sticks. A great dip for veggies can be made by blending cottage cheese and ranch dip mix in the blender. The outcome will produce a tasty ranch dip full of protein and lower in fat than regular ranch dressing.

Or try sending a smoothie frozen in a thermos to add more fruits to the lunch time fair. The smooth-ie will defrost by lunch time and be ready for your child to brag about at the lunch table.

SpeedAll these specialty items in the lunch pail keep-

ing kids’ interest take time in the morning that most parents just don’t have. What’s the cure? Make items in bulk. Mix and match items to pack the morning of so it’s not the same lunch every day.

On the weekend, plan ahead for the week. Make a list of things of lunch items and the ingredients needed. Prepare enough for the week, store in the fridge or freezer and morning lunch packing will be a breeze.

If the kids are old enough, you can even have them prepare the items and choose what they want to pack in their lunches in the morning.

Another great option is to make something for din-ner the night before that doesn’t need to be heated up. Make extra and pack it for school lunch. A cou-ple great dishes to do this with are: sub sandwiches, pizza or pasta salad. They don’t need to be reheated and who doesn’t love these dishes as leftovers?

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home organization tips for back-to-school 15

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52


Set up a family bulletin board to keep important memos organized throughout the week. Hang bulletin board on a wall somewhere every mem-ber of the family can see. Leave thumb tacks out of reach of small children.

Create a filing system in a drawer or box of important school papers. You can use labeled dividers to separate the different categories of papers.

Use blank envelopes to label lunch money envelopes for the kids to take to school. This ensures money won’t get lost on the way to school or during school hours before lunch.

Designate a quiet area in your home as the homework station. Kids won’t be distracted by surroundings and will be able to focus on their homework.

Create a snack basket of healthy snacks the kids can choose for an after school snack. Baggies of carrots and celery, granola bars, apples or other fruits and yogurt (keep refrigerated) are a few suggestions.

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Set up a storage area filled with extra school supplies, so if the kids run out at school, they can restock them at home without the rush to the store.

Instead of emptying out a new bag and refilling it for each after school activity or sport, give each activity its own bag so you know exactly which one to grab.

Mount hooks next to the door so kids can hang their backpacks on them as soon as they get home. This leaves less clutter in the house.

Get a shoe organizer from a local store and fill it with school supplies

that you have at home. This will make it easier to

find those needed items.

To make room for back-to-school clothes, go ahead and begin storing summer clothes away for the winter.

Designate a notepad for questions you need to ask the teacher at the next parent teacher conference.

Get a whiteboard calendar to function as your family calendar so every member knows what’s going on during the week.

Plan a day or two of the week that will be designated laundry days. Have kids leave their baskets in the laundry room and pick them up when they get home from school.

To ensure all borrowed items are returned to friends, the library, etc.; designate a return basket and empty at the end of each week.

Have a backpack clean-out every week to remove unneeded items for backpacks and binders.

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FAQs continued on page 22

The Baldwin County Board of Education answers

Frequently Asked Questions??? ?

?Courtesy of Baldwin County Board of Education

Online registration is underway now for returning students. Parents of new students will need to complete the PDF registration forms and take them to school office. Visit bcbe.org/registration for more information.

FirST DAy oF SChool For TEAChErS: AuGuST 11, 2014 FirST DAy oF SChool For STuDENTS: AuGuST 18, 2014

Q how and where do i enroll my child? When is summer registration?

A Students new to the district must be registered at the school. Parents/guardians must bring all necessary documents to the

school office for each child they wish to enroll. The counselor or the registrar at each school is responsible for student enrollment; please call the school to make an appointment with the appropriate person before arriving.

All students, whether new to the school system or previously en-rolled, are required to take part in any pre-registration activities the school may offer. During pre-registration, students may purchase P.E. uniforms, pay course fees, buy school yearbooks, rent lockers, pick up schedules, and visit classrooms. This list also includes events such as “Meet Your Teacher” days, which is an opportunity for parents and students to meet the teacher prior to the opening of school.

A list of all schools and their websites are available online at bcbe.org.

Q how important is it to attend open house events?

A Education is a collaborative effort between schools, parents, and the community at large. Open House events provide an

opportunity for your child’s teachers to share with you information specific to their grade level or course. Your presence is extremely im-portant; you will learn exactly what is expected of your child in each setting and be shown ways you can help them achieve success.

Q What information will i need to bring in order to register my child?

A Please bring the following documents with you for each child you wish to enroll:

1. Birth certificate2. Social Security card3. Two proofs of residence

One of these must be a recent utility bill with your Baldwin County address.

4. Withdrawal papers from last school attended, including transcript

5. immunization form All students are required by Alabama State Law to have an original certificate of immunization (IMM-50); copies are unacceptable. These certificates may be obtained

from your local physician or Baldwin County Health Department in Robertsdale. The Health Department may be reached at 251-947-1910. You will be required to complete an enrollment form for each student. These will be made available by the registrar or counselor when you visit the school.

Q What if i am not the legal guardian/custodian for a child? What do i need to do?

A To enroll a student in the Baldwin County School System you must have legal custody of the student. Delegations of

parental authority or powers of attorney will not be accepted. The enrolling guardian/custodian shall reside in the attendance zone in which enrollment is sought. The student being enrolled must actually reside with his/her guardian/custodian.

In addition to the matters noted in the preceding paragraph, it shall be the sole duty and responsibility of the enrolling guardian/custodian to provide all documentation otherwise required by the Baldwin County Board of Education as a prerequisite to enrollment.

Please see the School Guardianship Guidelines online at bcbe.org for complete details.

Q Which school my child should attend?

A On the home page of bcbe.org , click on the School Zone Locator button, read the disclaimer, press “enter” and then

type in your address to see the schools that serve your address. The web-based school locator page is provided as a fast-reference service. It is very important that you contact the schools it lists to ensure that the information is indeed accurate.

Q Do you allow a student to attend a school out of zone?

A In order to adequately project school facility needs in our rapidly growing county, currently the Board of Education only

allows a zone variance - the ability to attend a school outside of one’s own zone - in the case of extreme hardship, which is usually medical in nature. Zone variances are not granted for the sake of convenience. If you believe you are eligible for a zone variance due to extreme hardship, please contact the principal of the school you wish your child to attend first.

If the principal agrees that the student meets the requirements for eligibility for a zone variance, the parent must complete a Zone Variance Request Form provided by the school they are requesting to attend and attach a statement as to the necessity of the zone variance.

For additional information, please review the Zone Variance Guidelines before submitting your request.

*PlEASE NoTE: If a student has a zone variance, it is the responsibility of the parent to provide transportation for the child.


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FAQs continued from page 20

Q What is the procedure and criteria for placement in the district’s Gifted Education Program?

A Baldwin County Public Schools offer services for gifted and talented students in first grade through 12th grade. All par-

ents have the right to refer their child for the district’s Gifted Educa-tion Program. For more information on the referral process visit the “Gifted Referral Process” page in the Instructional Support section of bcbe.org.

Q Do you offer After School care?

A Baldwin County Schools offer After School Childcare at elementary, intermediate, some middle schools and two

high schools in the county. After School Childcare Programs serve students ages 5-12 at elementary schools; Middle and High school students may attend at their school campus, if the program is avail-able. All students must attend the After School Childcare Program on the campus of their day school. Busing of students is not an option. CASH is not accepted; payment may be made by check or money order; or online after registration. A complete list of ASCC locations and a registration form are available online at bcbe.org. Students may participate in the After School Childcare Program on a full-time or daily basis. Full-time students are those who attend the program three to five days per week; the fee for full-time is $35 weekly; the daily rate of $10 per day applies to one or two days per week. Parents must select the days when their children will attend at the time of Registration in order to assist the After School Department

in ensuring appropriate levels of staffing. Part-time students may attend only on those days the parents have pre-selected at Registra-tion as attendance days. Fees are charged based on Registration and are not influenced by attendance. Pre-payment for services is required. The discount for BCBE Teachers is $25 per week per child. The program operates from 3-5:30 p.m. and follows the school calendar. Parents must complete a registration form, pay the $20 non-refundable registration fee, and the first week fee - no fewer than three days prior to the first day of attendance in the program. Payments may be made online once a child is registered in the program. Registration cannot be paid online. However, payments made online must be made by Thursday midnight for the coming week. Parents may email their online payment confirmation to the Site Manager as proof of payment. Payments not made by Thursday midnight must be paid on Friday at the site of attendance. During the school year, parents should contact the school their child attends after 3 p.m. to register for the ASCC program. Parents may register their child for the After School Childcare Program at Early Registra-tion/Meet the Teacher day at the child’s school. An exception to the three day wait will be made for the first day of school if Meet the Teacher is not five days prior to the beginning of school. Questions during the summer may be directed to the After School Childcare Department, 251-972-8518.

Q how can i find out what school supplies are necessary?

A Required materials vary from school to school and from grade level to grade level. Many schools have supply lists

posted on their websites. You may also find lists conveniently placed in the school supply aisles at local stores such as Walmart and Tar-

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get. Supply lists are also available in each school’s office.

Q Can my child take a book bag to school?

A For middle and high school grades, the school system provides a backpack as part of its Digital Renaissance – the

school system supplies a Mac Air for each student. As for elementary students, each school sets its own policies regarding book bags; please contact your local school for complete information, or visit the school’s website.

Q Do you allow students to bring and use cell phones on campus?

A Check your school’s handbook for guidance.

Q What about the dress code? how strictly is it enforced?

A Baldwin County students are required to wear approved uniforms to school daily. For complete guidelines, see the

Uniform Policy on page 11.

Q What about lunches? Can i pay for lunches online? What can my child take from home for lunch?

A Baldwin County Schools’ cafeterias adhere to guidelines set forth in Baldwin County’s Wellness Policy on Nutrition and

Physical Activity. Nutritious meals are provided to students daily at

nominal cost to the parents. Each student is assigned an account number to use in the cafeteria; parents may pay in advance in order to allow their child to pay for their lunch by debiting from their ac-count. Checks made payable to the school may be sent by your child for this purpose. This provides an additional measure of safety for your child by alleviating the need to bring money to school for daily lunch.

If you prefer, you may use the Parent Account Management Sys-tem online to have funds credited to your child’s cafeteria account. Additional information will be sent home at the beginning of the school year to assist you in setting up a PAMS account.

Finally, children may bring a sack lunch from home to eat during their designated lunch time. Food is not allowed in the classrooms. Please inform the school administration if your child has special health needs.

Meal Prices for School year 2013-2014BREAKFAST:n All enrolled paid students K-12: $1.25n Reduced students K-12: $.30n Adult/Children Visitors: $1.75n Board of Education Employees: $1.50LUNCH:n All enrolled paid students K-8: $2 n All enrolled paid students 9-12: $2.25 n Reduced students K-12: $.40n Adult/Children Visitors: $3.50n Board of Education Employees: $3

FAQs continued on page 24


Q is bus service available in my neighborhood? What do i need to do to allow my child to ride the bus?

A The Transportation Department for Baldwin County Schools oversees the daily operation of more than 280 bus routes. All

Baldwin County students are provided transportation to and from school daily, regardless of their proximity to their local school.

There is one person at each school responsible for managing stu-dent transportation. Maps of each bus route are available to assist in determining which bus will be designated to transport your child. Please contact your local school prior to the beginning of school if you have additional questions.

Q What if i choose to take my child to school myself?

A Please contact your local school prior to the beginning of school to determine where you may safely drop off and pick

up your child. Each school has very specific traffic flow patterns for the safety of all of our students. You will also learn what time stu-dents may enter the building and when they will be deemed tardy to school.

Q What are the requirements for excused absences?

A The Early Warning Truancy Prevention program provides guidelines which are followed by all Baldwin County schools

for acceptable reasons for absences. They include:

1. Pupil is too ill to attend school. A physician’s certificate may be required after four consecutive absences due to illness.

2. Inclement weather as announced by local news media that makes it dangerous for students to attend school.

3. Legal quarantine.4. Death in the immediate family.5. Emergency conditions determined by superintendent

or principal.6. Absence to observe traditional religious holidays of local,

national, or international origin, when verified by the student’s minister or religious leader.

For complete information on Baldwin County’s attendance policy, please visit bcbe.org.

Q What are the procedures for checking a student in late to school, or checking a student out early?

A Parents or guardians must check their child out through the front office of the school. No child will be allowed to leave

campus without the express consent of their parent or guardian. Early checkouts are discouraged; however, in the case of a medical necessity, it is requested that a doctor’s note is submitted to the office the next day.

Q My child requires a special medical procedure to at-tend school. is there a nurse at my child’s school? if

not, where can i find assistance?

A Baldwin County Public Schools have a Registered School Nurse and/or a Licensed Practical Nurse assigned to each

school. In the majority of our schools there is a Licensed nurse assigned to the health room. You may contact the school office personnel at your child’s assigned school and they will provide you the name and number of your assigned school nurse. The Supervi-sor of Health Services may also be contacted for assistance at 251-239-4327. If your child requires a special medical procedure, please contact the Supervisor of Health Services or your assigned school nurse before the planned date of enrollment. This will allow the nurse adequate time to plan for your child’s arrival and ensure a smooth transition to your new school. For more information, please review the Health Services Section of bcbe.org.

Q My child receives medication daily. Will there be someone at school to safely assist with his or her medication?

A Your child will receive medication daily from a licensed nurse or a trained medication assistant. All medication assistants

receive a maximum of 12 hours medication training before permis-sion is granted to assist with medication. The medication curriculum was designed by the Alabama Board of Nursing and the Alabama State Department of Education and is monitored periodically by the registered school nurse. A parent authorization/physician prescriber form must be signed before a child may receive prescription medica-tion. If your child receives medication only three times a day, we request that medication be given at home.

Q What if your child received special education services at their previous school?

A The Baldwin County Board of Education will continue to provide special education services to students who transfer

into the district with an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP). To help make this transition as smooth as possible, it is important to provide a copy of your child’s most recent IEP and evaluation at registration, if the information is available. A special education teacher will then contact the parent/guardian to set up a meeting to develop a temporary IEP to be used until special education records are received from the student’s previous school.

Q What about fees? how do i pay them?

A Fees are set by your local school. Please contact your local school or check the school’s registration information for

details. Registration fees currently cannot be paid online.

Q how can i check my child’s grades online?

A All Baldwin County schools use the iNow school informa-tion system for recording grades and attendance. At the

beginning of the school year, you will be provided with a user id and password for each of your children who are enrolled in school. You may then access online grades by going to the website for your child’s school, clicking on the online grades icon in the upper left panel, and entering the user id and password. You will be able to view your child’s grades for each course, along with attendance and discipline records.

Please protect this confidential information. Should you misplace it, you must request it in person from the school registrar. No pass-words will be provided over the phone.

FAQs continued from page 23


Q Who should i contact if i have a problem?

A If you feel that your child is having difficulty in any particular class, please contact the teacher to schedule an appoint-

ment. If the problem is occurring outside the bounds of a particular classroom, e.g., on the bus or in the cafeteria, please contact the principal.

Q Where can i find the phone number and the principal’s name for the school my child will attend?

A A list of all Baldwin County Schools is available on pages 26-29 as well as online. The online list provides phone numbers,

principal’s name, and links to each school’s website.

Q how do i get a copy of the school’s calendar?

A The official calendar is available on bcbe.org as well as page 29 of this publication. All schools in the system follow this

schedule for holidays, grading periods, and exam schedules.

Q What about summers and holidays? What programs are available for my child?

A Summer activity opportunities abound for students all over the county. Our school facilities are used for athletic clinics,

conditioning exercise classes, and summer music and art instruction; you can find dates for these activities on this website or on the local school’s website. Academic programs such as Camp Invention are also hosted by our schools.

Baldwin County Schools work in conjunction with YMCA of South Alabama to make summer activities readily available. There are two branches of the YMCA in Baldwin County. The Bounds Family YMCA is located in Daphne at 8051 Whispering Pines Road. They may be reached at 251-626-0888. The Snook Family YMCA is located in Foley at 2560 South Pine Street. They may be reached at 251-970-3003.

Every school works closely with its surrounding community to help ensure that children continue to grow and learn during their summer vacation and holiday breaks. City libraries sponsor summer reading programs and computer classes, while city recreation de-partments provide swimming, tennis, softball, soccer, and basketball activities. Competitive city leagues also offer students the oppor-tunity to compete throughout the school year in a wide variety of sporting events.

Q Where can i find more information online about Bald-win County Public Schools?

A See the icon labeled “Parents & Students” in the lower right section of the BCBE homepage that will take you to school

information (e.g., school calendar, attendance zones), district docu-ments and forms, educational resources (e.g., the Alabama Virtual Library and the Alabama Learning Exchange or “ALEX”), and links to various departments and programs (e.g., programs such as After School, Environmental, Migrant, etc.). Individual links included will direct you to online tutoring, iNow (check grades, attendance, or discipline reports on your child), online lunch payments, and other valuable resources.

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Baldwin County Public Schools Administrative Complex2600 N. Hand Ave., Bay Minette251-937-0306

DiSTriCT 1

Baldwin County high 1 Tiger Drive, Bay Minette 251-937-2341 baldwincountyhighschool.com

Bay Minette Elementary800 Blackburn Ave., Bay Minette 251-937-7651 bayminetteelementaryschool.com

Bay Minette intermediate600 Blackburn Ave., Bay Minette251-580-0678 bayminetteintermediate.com

Bay Minette Middle 1311 W. 13th St., Bay Minette 251-580-2960 bayminettemiddle.com

Delta Elementary 10251 Whitehouse Fork Road Extension, Bay Minette 251-937-3657 deltaelementary.com

North Baldwin Center for Technology 505 W. Hurricane Road, Bay Minette251-937-6751 nbctschool.com

Perdido School23589 County Road 47, Perdido 251-937-8456 perdidoschool.com

Pine Grove Elementary 43980 Pine Grove Road, Bay Minette251-937-0453 pgelementary.com

Stapleton Elementary 35480 Harriot Ave., Stapleton 251-937-2038 stapletonelementary.com

DiSTriCT 2

Daphne East Elementary26651 County Road 13, Daphne251-626-1663 daphneeast.org

Daphne Elementary 2307 Main St., Daphne251-626-2424 daphneelementary.com

Daphne high 9300 E. Lawson Road, Daphne251-626-8787 daphnehs.com

Daphne Middle1 Jody Davis Circle, Daphne 251-626-2845 daphnemiddleschool.com

W.J. Carroll intermediate 1000 Main St., Daphne 251-626-0277 wjcintermediate.com

DiSTriCT 3

C. F. Taylor Alternative School 19150 Wilters, Robertsdale251-947-4415

Central Baldwin Middle School 24545 Highway 59, Robertsdale251-947-2327 centralbaldwinmiddle.com

Elsanor Elementary 23440 U.S. Highway 90, Robertsdale251-947-5401 elsanorschool.com

loxley Elementary 4999 S. Magnolia St., Loxley251-964-5334 loxleyelementary.com

robertsdale Elementary 1 Cub Drive, Robertsdale251-947-4003 robertsdaleelementary.com

Baldwin County School Directory

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robertsdale high 1 Golden Bear Drive, Robertsdale 251-947-4154 robertsdalehigh.com

rosinton Elementary 19757 County Road 64, Robertsdale 251-964-5210 rosinton.com

South Baldwin Center for Technology 19200 Carolina St., Robertsdale251-947-5041 sbctschool.com

Silverhill Elementary 15800 Fourth Ave., Silverhill 251-945-5188 silverhillelementary.com

DiSTriCT 4

Elberta Elementary 25820 U.S. Highway 98, Elberta 251-986-5888 elbertaelementary.com

Elberta Middle 13355 Main St., Elberta 251-986-8127 elbertamiddle.com

Foley Elementary 450 N. Cedar St., Foley 251-943-8861 foleyelementary.com

Foley high 1 Pride Place, Foley 251-943-2221 foleyhs.com

Foley intermediate 2000 S. Cedar St., Foley 251-943-1244 foleyintermediate.org

Foley Middle 200 N. Oak St., Foley251-943-1255 foleymiddle.com

Magnolia School 1 Jaguar Loop, Foley251-965-6200 magnoliaschoolk6.com

Summerdale School 400 E. Broadway St., Summerdale251-989-6850 summerdaleschool.com

Swift Consolidated 6330 Bon Secour Highway, Bon Secour251-949-6422 swiftschool.org

DiSTriCT 5

Gulf Shores Elementary 1600 E. 3rd Ave., Gulf Shores 251-968-7375 gsesdolphins.com

Gulf Shores high 600 E. 15th Ave., Gulf Shores 251-968-4747 gs-hs.com

Gulf Shores Middle 450 E. 15th Ave., Gulf Shores 251-968-8719 gsmsdolphins.com

orange Beach Elementary 4900 Wilson Blvd., Orange Beach251-981-5662 orangebeachelementary.com

DiSTriCT 6

Fairhope Elementary 408 N. Section St., Fairhope251-928-8400 fairhopeelementary.com

Fairhope high 1 Pirate Drive, Fairhope251- 928-8309 fairhopehs.com

Fairhope intermediate 1101 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope 251-928-7841 fairhopeintermediate.com

Fairhope Middle 2 Pirate Drive, Fairhope 251-928-2573 fairhopems.com



J. larry Newton School 9761 County Road 32, Fairhope251-990-3858 jlnewtonschool.com

DiSTriCT 7

rockwell Elementary 10183 U.S. Highway 31, Spanish Fort251-626-5528 rockwellelem.org

Spanish Fort Elementary 30900 Highway 225, Spanish Fort251-626-9751 spanishfortelementary.com

Spanish Fort high 1 Plaza de Toros Drive, Spanish Fort 251-625-3259 spanishforttoros.org

Spanish Fort Middle 33899 Jimmy Faulkner Drive, Spanish Fort 251-625-3271 spanishfortmiddle.com

PrivATE SChoolSAlabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy18930 Baldwin County 28, Foley251-989-2333 www.gccacademy.org

Bayshore Christian School23050 U.S. Highway 98, Fairhope251-929-0011bayshorechristian.org

Bayside Academy 303 Dryer Ave., Daphne251-338-6300 basideacademy.org

Central Christian School 17395 State Highway 104 W.,Robertsdale251-947-5043 ccssaints.com

Christ The King School 1503 Main St., Daphne251-626-1692 ctheking.org

Eastern Shore Christian Academy 9078 Lawson Road, Daphne251-621-8229

Marietta Johnson School 8 Marietta Drive, Fairhope251-928-9347 fairhopeorganicschool.com

open Door Christian School20774 Baldwin County 12, Foley251-943-1693 opendoorchurchfoley.com

Saint Benedict School12786 South Illinois St., Elberta251-986-8143

St. Patrick School 23070 State Highway 59 N., Robertsdale251-947-7395 gulftel.com/stpatrickschool

South Baldwin Christian Academy6900 Alabama Highway 59 S., Gulf Shores251-967-2688 southbaldwinca.org

victory Christian Academy20511 Baldwin County 12, Foley251-943-7684 victorylifechurch.net

CollEGES/ uNivErSiTiESFaulkner State Community College1900 S. U.S. Highway 31, Bay Minette251-580-2100440 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope251-990-0444

Fortis College914 N. McKenzie St., Foley251-970-1460fortis.edu


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huntingdon College1903 Main St., Daphne251-626-7877huntingdon.edu

university of South Alabama- Baldwin County 10 N. Summit St., Fairhope251-928-8133myusabc.org

united States Sports Academy1 Academy Drive, Daphne251-626-3303ussa.edu

South Alabama Beauty College906 N. McKenzie St., Foley251-943-3366

oNliNE DEGrEE ProGrAMSColumbia Southern university21982 University Lane, Orange Beach1-800-977-8449columbiasouthern.edu


AuG. 18............................................................................First day of schoolSEPT. 1..............................................................................labor Day holidayoCT. 13-17..........................................................................................ExamsoCT. 17.................................................End of first quarter, noon dismissalNov. 11......................................................................veteran's Day holidayNov. 26-28........................................................Thanksgiving holiday weekNov. 26..................................................hurricane makeup day (if needed)DEC. 15-19............................................................................................ExamDEC. 19.............................................End of second quarter, noon dismissalDEC. 22-31......................................................................Christmas holidaysJAN. 1-2.................................................Christmas/New year's Day holidayJAN. 5................................................................................Teacher workdayJAN. 6..................................................................................Students returnJAN. 19...............................................................................King/lee holidayFEB. 16-17.....................................................................Mardi Gras holidayMArCh 9-13.......................................................................................ExamsMArCh 13........................................End of third quarter, noon dismissalAPril 3.....................................................................................Good FridayAPril 6-10...............................................................................Spring breakMAy 18-22.........................................................................................ExamsMAy 18....................Graduation (Baldwin County, Foley and Spanish Fort)MAy 19.........Graduation (Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores and robertsdale)MAy 23...........................................last day for students, noon dismissalMake up Days for Bad Weather – 11/26, 12/22, 12/23

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