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Back to school: what you need to know in Pasco

 
Times
Times
Published July 29, 2016

Need to register your student?

Parents of students entering a Florida school for the first time at any grade level should first contact their child's designated school for specific hours and days they are taking registration, and gather required documentation.

Don't know your child's designated school? Visit pasco.k12.fl.us and click on the box labeled "For Parents." In the gray box on the right, under the heading "General School Information," click on "School Boundaries."

You will need to bring the following required documentation:

• Current immunization records;

• Proof of a physical examination dated and signed by a licensed health professional within the last 12 months;

• A birth certificate or other evidence of age;

• Social Security number (if available);

• Proof of Florida residency, such as a utility bill or properly executed lease agreement;

• A copy of the student's last report card (if applicable);

• And legal guardianship records (if applicable).

Note regarding kindergarten: Students entering kindergarten for the first time must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1. Pre-Kindergarten, Head Start and Early Start programs are available for younger students.

Orientation days

County-wide orientation days will be held on Aug. 9 at all middle and high schools and Aug. 11 at all elementary schools. Middle and high school students will receive class schedules, bus stop information, free and reduced-price lunch applications, school clubs information. They also can pay any applicable fees. Elementary students and their parents or guardians will be able to meet teachers and receive information on bus stops, car drop-off procedures, free and reduced-price lunches, volunteer opportunities, and pay any applicable fees. For orientation times, contact your school or check out its website.

Special school orientations/open house dates

• Back to School Bash for students from Calusa Elementary, Chasco Elementary, Chasco Middle, Marchman Technical College and Ridgwood High, 8-11 a.m. Aug. 6 at Ridgewood High, 7650 Orchid Lake Road, New Port Richey. Features free backpacks, school supplies, clothing (while supplies last), school physicals, haircuts, inflatables, facepainting, games and more.

Anclote High: Shark Family Night/Open House, 5-6:30 p.m. Sept. 2.

Bayonet Point Middle: Sixth Grade Academy orientation, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Aug. 3 for students and 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Aug. 3 for Parent University.

Calusa Elementary: Open house, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 20.

Centennial Elementary: Open house, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 25.

Centennial Middle: 6th Grade Orientation, 6-7:45 p.m. Aug. 11.

Chasco Elementary: Open house, 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 7.

Connerton Elementary: Open house, 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 8.

Double Branch Elementary: Open house, 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 30.

Gulf High: Open house, 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 30.

Gulf Trace Elementary: Open house, 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 12-13.

J.W. Mitchell High: Mustang U freshman orientation and schedule pick-up. 8 a.m. Aug. 2. Parent University open house, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 23.

John Long Middle: Open house, 6-7 p.m. Sept. 22.

Land O'Lakes High, Open house, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 30.

Marchman Technical College: Open house, 4-7 p.m. Aug. 9.

Pasco High: Freshman orientation, 12-4:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Cambridge program registration, 8-10 a.m. Aug. 5.

Richey Elementary: Open house, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6 for grades K-2 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 for grades 3-5.

Ridgewood High: Freshman orientation, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 4. (class schedule pick-up from 3-5 p.m. for those who attend the full-day orientation). Open House, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 22.

River Ridge High: Freshman and senior early registration, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 3. Open house, 4-8 p.m. Sept. 2.

Sunlake High: Freshman orientation, 9 a.m. Aug. 5. Open house, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 8.

Sunray Elementary: Open house, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 3.

West Zephyrhills Elementary: Open house, 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 13.

Wiregrass Ranch High: Open house, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 6.

Woodland Elementary: Open house, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 1.

Zephyrhills High: Open house, 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 23.

Bus stop information

The Pasco County school system transports more than 35,000 students each day. Transportation services and maintenance are coordinated through five bus compounds located across Pasco's 868 square miles. Bus stop locations and times should be available at the schools on county-wide registration days (Aug. 9 for secondary schools; Aug. 11 for elementary schools). For up-to-date information, contact the bus compound that services your area or visit pasco.k12.fl.us/transportation/

West Bus Compound, 6125 Pinehill Road, Port Richey (727) 774-0400, (813) 794-0400, (352) 524-0400.

Northwest Bus Compound, 14500 Cobra Way, Hudson (727) 774-0540, (813) 794-0540, (352) 524-0540.

Central Bus Compound, 5346 Parkway Blvd., Land O' Lakes (727) 774-0520, (813) 794-0520, (352) 524-0520.

Southeast Bus Compound, 37820 13th Ave., Zephyrhills (727) 774-0500, (813) 794-0500 (352) 524-0500.

Physicals

A physical exam report completed within one year prior to enrollment is required for any student who has not previously attended school in Florida. Homeless students are the only exception to this rule. Florida Statute gives homeless students a 30-day grace period to comply. It must be completed and signed by a licensed health professional: medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner or chiropractor. The form may be from any state in the U.S.

Back-to-school services from the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County

Immunizations, school physicals and sports physicals are available at various locations. Immunizations are free. School physicals are $25; sports physicals are $30. Needed documentation: A parent or guardian driver's license, student immunization records and sports physical form (if applicable).

Special Back to School Immunization Clinics have been scheduled. Times and dates are as follows:

• Family Health Services Clinic, 13941 15th St., Dade City: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 30 for immunizations only.

• Family Health Services Clinic, 10841 Little Road, Building A, New Port Richey: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 6 for immunizations only.

• Family Health Services Clinic, 4717 Airport Road, Zephyrhills: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 6 for immunizations only.

For additional information or appointment days and times, call 813-364-5812.

Immunization requirements

The immunization record must show that the student has met the following minimum state requirements:

Pre-K (age appropriate doses as indicated: DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), polio vaccine, MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), Hepatitis B vaccine, Varicella vaccine (or date of disease), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (Prevnar) (Effective January 1, 2008 for children age 2 to 59 months).

Kindergarten through grade 7: 4-5 doses of DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); 3-5 doses of polio vaccine (last one after age 4); 2 doses of MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella); Hep B (3 Doses); 2 doses of varicella vaccine or date of disease (year) as verified by parent or healthcare provider.

Grade 7 only: 1 dose of Tdap vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis).

Grades 8-12: 4-5 doses of DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); 3-5 doses polio vaccine; 2 doses of MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella; Hep B (2-3 Doses); 1 dose varicella or date of disease (year); 1 dose of Tdap vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) if seventh-grade requirement has not been met.

Note: If your child has a medical or religious exemption and did not receive all required vaccinations for school, you are asked to review an information sheet from the Florida Department of Health-Pasco, which discusses your community responsibilities. To find it, visit pasco.k12.fl.us/parents, click on "Immunizations" in the gray box at right, and find the link in the text for "Vaccine Communication Letter."

Recommended adolescent vaccination:

• Meningococcal vaccine can protect against bacterial meningitis, which is a serious and highly contagious infection that can become deadly in a short period of time. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends dolescents receive initial vaccination at age 11 or 12 years, with a booster at age 16.

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine can protect against the types of HPV that cause most cervical or anal cancers. The CDC recommends that this vaccination be given to both boys and girls at age 11 or 12, in a series of three doses over a period of six months. Teens and young adults who have not yet received HPV vaccine or who have not finished the series of shots, should talk with their parents and/or the doctor about getting those shots now.

• Flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming flu season. Most people sick with the flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks. However, flu is unpredictable. The CDC recommends that everyone, six months of age and older, receive a flu vaccine each year. Preteens and teens should get a flu vaccine in the fall or as soon as it is available each year.

Immunization waivers

Students who are enrolling, and who have previously attended school in Florida, are allowed 30 days for their previous records to arrive. Schools will have the parent complete a 30-day waiver form. The parent or guardian agrees that when records from the previous school arrive, they must provide proof of immunization for their child if the vaccination record is incomplete or cannot be located.

Note: Thirty-day waivers are not applicable for first-time enrollees — such as kindergarten or prekindergarten students — or for Grade 7. Homeless students are the only exception to this rule. Florida Statute gives homeless students a 30-day grace period to comply.