SCHOOL BELLS SET TO RING
Monday marks the first day for area students

One century ago, Will Cobb and Gus Edwards penned the lyrics, "School days, school days. Dear old golden rule days."

Their 1907 classic, "School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)" is a welcome refrain to many parents as they prepare to send their young ones back to classes on Monday morning.

Austin, Cameron County and Coudersport schools all open their doors for the new school year on Monday. All three schools will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3, in observance of Labor Day.

Austin Area School

Austin Area School District will open to students Monday morning at 7:45. Dismissal is at 2:58 p.m.. Enrollment has dropped to approximately 230 this year, down 15 from last year.

Three-year-old preschool students need to arrive at 7:45 and are dismissed at 10:15; four-year-old students attend from 10:15 to 2:58.

The district will welcome new teacher Megan Wiltrout, a Coudersport High School graduate who will teach math at the secondary level. Sharon Hough, who taught in a part-time capacity last year, has been brought on fulltime assuming the IST duties of long-time teacher Julia Kolat, who retired.

Teachers are working on a contract that began July 1, 2005. It expires June 30, 2009.

Bus schedules remain the same. Breakfast is 80 cents for grades K-6 and 90 cents for grades 7-12. Lunch is $1.25 for grades K-6 and $1.35 for grades 7-12. Meal discounts are available for those who are income-eligible.

Anyone with questions should contact the school office at 647- 8603.

Cameron County

School opens to about 820 students in the Cameron County Area School District Monday. Woodland Elementary School hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. High school students are to report to their home rooms by 7:55. Dismissal is at 3:10.

Elementary school breakfasts are 85 cents; lunches are $1.35. At the high school, breakfast costs 90 cents and lunch is $1.45. Reduced-price and free lunches are also available.

High school homeroom assignments are:

Grade 12, last names ending with A through C, Welch 140; DJ, Andrews 137; K-O, Pontzer 149; P-Z, Fragale 142.

Grade 11, A-E, Bresslin 143; F-H, Glosek 129; I-P, Bailey 150; R-W, Mountain 96.

Grade 10, A-C, Darr 154; DG, Meisel 122; H-M, Kuhn 126; P-W, Ace 124.

Grade 9, A-C, Gaulk 152; DK, Grovanz 158; L-Reed, Schwer 100; Reynolds-W, Bennett 155.

Grade 8, A-F, Bowes 112; GP, O'Connor 108; R-Z, Garzel 109.

Grade 7, A-Driscoll, Deppen 159; Dunkle-K, Sloppy 106; LR, Holjencin 102; S-W, Meier 104.

Joining the school faculty this year are: John Pontzer, high school English, succeeding Larry McGraw, who retired; and a third music teacher, C. Adam Brooks.

A new policy prohibits students' use of cellphones, MP3 players and other electronic devices during regular school hours.

Coudersport

Students in the Coudersport Area School District will report for classes at the regular time.

At the elementary school, doors open at 7:30, the tardy bell sounds at 8:05, and classes begin at 8:10. Lunches at the elementary school cost $1.35; breakfasts are 85 cents. On Monday's lunch menu: pizza, green beans, fresh fruit or applesauce, cookie and milk. Free and reduced-price lunch forms will be sent home with students on Monday.

All students, including those who are new to the district, need to have money deposited into their cafeteria accounts. Checks should be made payable to: Coudersport Elementary Caf. and/or Coudersport HS Caf. and sent to either Elementary Cafeteria, 802 Vine Street, Coudersport PA 16915, or High School Cafeteria, 698 Dwight Street, Coudersport PA 16915.

High school home room assignments are as follows:

Grade 12, last names starting with A through Ga, Ms. Gee B108; Ge-L, Mr. Klingaman B119; M-Z, Mr. Bishel B122.

Grade 11, A-Chi, Mrs. Sunderland B107; Cr-K, Mr. Fink B125; L-Z, Mr. Klepfer B127.

Grade 10, A-De, Mrs. Stager A128; Di-Ka, Mrs. Woodard A130; Ke-Re, Mr. Andrews A108; Re-Z, Mr. Merrick A129.

Grade 9, A-Ea, Mr. Stone A217; El-Kea, Mr. Davis B131; Kel-Re, Mrs. Arbogast A12; Ro-Z, Mr. Zaun A123.

Grade 8, A-E, Mr. Wilkinson A220; F-Maj, Ms. Dubots A212; Mar-Sno, Ms. Croft A221; Sny-Z, Mr. Robinson A210.

Grade 7: A-D, Mrs. Barber A222; E-K, Mrs. Kusmierz A224; L-R, Mr. Sherry A225; S-Z, Mr. Hathaway A211.

Among the changes at the high school is a new random drug-testing program for all students involved in extracurricular activities.

Teachers are working under a new employment contract approved last month, extending through 2009-10.

Cassandra Arbuckle has joined the faculty. She replaces fifth-grade teacher Linda Castano, who retired.