Schools expecting 2750 students

By Sherri EllingtonBuses will be rolling as school begins Monday, Aug. 4, after an open house is expected to draw crowds Friday, Aug. 1 from 2-6 p.m. Some of the 2,700 to 2,750 expected students have already gotten a taste of school.Last Thursday and Friday 140 rising freshmen attended a special Jumpstart Transition and Picnic Celebration. Assistant principal Catherine Brown and ninth grade chair LeslieAnne Williams welcomed the students. They were given schedules and met teachers in their assigned classes.Prior to lunch, students took part in a mini-pep rally coordinated by band director An’Cheyl Green. In four afternoon breakout sessions, groups signed up for clubs with club organizer Kristen Chafin, engaged in a locker-tag relay with upperclassmen Juliette Henry and Shelby King, received information about school procedures with science chair Lori Gordy, `and set goals with fine arts chair Michelle Thaxton.The locker challenge ended Friday with ninth grader Henry Pearce winning $20 with a fastopen seven second finish. Friday began with a What-to-Wear (or Not) Parade led by senior class president Olivia Layton.After hearing from principal Matt Adams and assistant principals Brown and Todd Shipp, students engaged in a scavenger hunt to help familiarize them with the building. Upperclassmen assisting included Shelby King, Juliette Henry, Leah Cochran, Libby Templeton, Olivia Layton, Sophie Layton, Mo’Naye Hepburn, Ayara Dixon, Lauren Shrader and 2014 graduate Mackenzie Dyer.Chorus director LaToya Fletcher challenged students to put their best foot forward starting on day one. After a debriefing session, students and parents were treated to a picnic lunch prepared by members of Barnesville’s Kiwanis Club.’The high school Trojan family once again welcomes the class of 2018,’ said Adams.For the coming year, holidays include Labor Day on Sept. 1, fall break Oct. 6-10, Thanksgiving break Nov. 24-28, Christmas break Dec. 22-Jan. 4, 2014 with a half day for students Dec. 19, MLK Day on Jan. 19. Feb. 16-20 are calendar reduction days, March 16 is a professional learning day and spring break is April 20-24.The last day of school will be May 22 with an early release. Graduation is set for May 23 with post-planning May 26-28.