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Tips for getting ready for school in Hernando County

 
Published July 31, 2014

Getting ready

Hernando County parents can find more back-to-school information at hernandoschools.org. Here are a few highlights.

Registration

Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten. To register for the first grade, students must be 6 and have proof of completing kindergarten. If the child did not attend a public school kindergarten, parents should present a report card or completion letter from the director of the private school.

Identifying a school

Families can contact the Hernando County School District's transportation department at (352) 797-7003 to confirm the school their child is zoned for. Parents will need to provide both the street address and the nearest cross street of their home.

Parents interested in enrolling their child at a school other than their zoned school will need to complete a student reassignment form, available at any school or the district office. They'll be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

New to Florida?

If this is the student's first time enrolling in a Florida school, he or she will need to provide:

• A birth certificate (for kindergarten and first-grade enrollees; please bring the official document, not the hospital certificate).

• A physical completed by a licensed physician dated no earlier than Aug. 1, 2014.

• An immunization record.

• Proof of residency, either in the form of a rent receipt, home contract, utility bill with the name of a parent or guardian on it, or notarized statement from the family member with whom the student resides.

• A copy of the student's most recent report card, if applicable, or name and phone number of the most recently attended school.

New to Hernando?

If the student is coming to Hernando County from another Florida school district, he or she will need to provide:

• A birth certificate (for kindergarten and first-grade enrollees; please bring the official document, not the hospital certificate).

• Proof of residency, either in the form of a rent receipt, home contract, utility bill with the name of a parent or guardian on it, or notarized statement from the family member with whom the student resides.

Buses

Transportation officials are continuing to update school bus routes and pickup times. Detailed bus route information is expected to be available the week of Aug. 11 and can be found on the district website, hernandoschools.org (select "District Offices," then "Transportation").

Bus stops are not listed for students enrolled in special programs, such as AYP, Career Academy and TOPS, and students with special needs.

Parents should remember that during the first week of school, buses often run late. Also, all bus stops and times are subject to change.

Parents who have questions or do not have computer access can call the district transportation office at (352) 797-7003.

Food service

The school district's food and nutrition department offers breakfast and lunch at all county schools.

The regular cost for breakfast is $1 for elementary students and $1.25 for secondary students; the cost for lunch is $1.90 for elementary students and $2.20 for secondary students.

The cost is 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch for all students who receive reduced-cost meals.

Menus can be downloaded from each school's Edline page under "Links" or by visiting schoolmenu.com/directory/fl/hernando-county-school-district/.

Parents can set up lunch accounts for students. Access to online accounts is available at mylunchmoney.com. Parents can set daily and weekly spending limits, and view student meal purchases.

Email reminders are sent out when balances get low. Payments may be made securely through the website or directly to school. Balances carry to the next school year.

Call the food and nutrition department at (352) 797-7028.

AUGUST

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