Columbia County gets ready for school

Classes resume Monday at Columbia County public schools. Here are some things parents and students might need to know:

WEATHER

Monday will be sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

SCHOOL HOURS

- Elementary schools start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.

- Middle schools start at 7:35 a.m. and end at 2:40 p.m.

- At Evans and Harlem high schools, classes begin at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.

- Grovetown High starts at 7:40 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m.

- Greenbrier High starts at 7:47 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.; zero period starts at 6:43 a.m.

- Lakeside High classes begin at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m.; zero period starts at 6:50 a.m.

SCHOOL ZONES

For parents new to Columbia County, the school system's Web site -- www.ccboe.net -- provides a listing of school zones based on neighborhoods. To see it, click on "parent resources," then "school admission requirements" and finally on "check school zones." To discover where a pupil is zoned based on the street address, call (706) 541-0650. A newcomer's guide also is available on the Web site under "parent resources."

BUS QUESTIONS

Visit www.ccboe.net, click on "find your bus stop" on the home page, and enter your home address and your child's grade level to find bus numbers, routes, and pick-up and drop-off times. A school bus hotline also is available at (706) 541-2729.

LUNCH PRICES

Elementary school lunch costs $2. Middle and high school lunches cost $2.25. To apply for free or reduced lunch, call (706) 541-0257.

CHANGES

The first day of school features the opening of Grovetown High School. At 250,000 square feet, Grovetown High also is Columbia County's largest school. It is located at 2010 Warrior Way, off Chamblin Road, in Grovetown.