Lowcountry schools prepare to open

Here's your guide to getting your children to school next week.

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CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

What day does school start? -- Tuesday

What information do I need to register my child for school? -- Original birth certificate and Social Security card, if available; a state certificate of immunization and two proofs of residency (driver's license is not acceptable); for students new to the area, any records from previous schools, if available.

What time does my school start? What time does my school end?

District 1 (McClellanville)

-- St. James Santee 7:45 a.m./2:45 p.m.

-- McClellanville Middle 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.

-- Lincoln High 8:20 a.m./3:25 p.m.

District 2 (Mount Pleasant)

-- All elementary schools except for Pinckney elementary: 7:40 a.m./2:40 p.m.

-- Pinckney: 7:30 a.m./2:30 p.m.

-- Laing and Moultrie Middle schools: 8:20 a.m./3:20 p.m.

-- Cario Middle: 8:30 a.m./3:30 p.m.

-- Wando High: 8:20 a.m./3:35 p.m.

District 3 (James Island)

-- All elementary schools: 7:50 a.m./2:50 p.m.

-- Ft. Johnson Middle: 8:20 a.m./3:30 p.m.

-- James Island Middle: 8:30 a.m./3:40 p.m.

-- James Island Charter High: 8 a.m./3 p.m.

District 4 (North Charleston)

-- All elementary schools except Pepperhill: 7:50 a.m./2:50 a.m.

-- Pepperhill Elementary: 7:50 a.m./2:55 p.m.

-- Birney Middle: 8:30 a.m./3:40 p.m.

-- Brentwood Middle: 8:50 a.m./4:20 p.m.

-- Morningside Middle: 8:45 a.m./3:55 p.m.

-- North Charleston High: 7:05 a.m./2:05 p.m.

-- Stall High: 7:10 a.m./2:10 a.m.

District 9 (Johns Island)

-- All elementary schools: 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.

-- Haut Gap Middle: 7:20 a.m./2:20 p.m.

-- St. Johns High: 7:30 a.m./2:30 p.m.

District 10 (West Ashley)

-- All elementary schools except Orange Grove: 8 a.m./3 p.m.

-- Orange Grove: 7:55 a.m./2:55 p.m.

-- St. Andrews Middle: 8:50 a.m./4:05 p.m.

-- West Ashley Middle: 8:55 a.m./3:55 p.m.

-- West Ashley High: 7:15 a.m./2:15 p.m.

District 20 (downtown)

-- Sanders-Clyde: 7:30 a.m./2:30 p.m.

-- Fraser and James Simons: 7:45 a.m./2:45 p.m.

-- Burke Middle: 7:45 a.m./3:45 p.m.

-- Mitchell and Memminger: 8 a.m./3 p.m.

-- Burke High: 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.

District 23 (Hollywood)

-- All elementary schools: 8:10 a.m./3:15 p.m.

-- Schroder Middle: 8:45/3:55 p.m.

-- Baptist Hill High: 7:10 a.m./2:10 a.m.

Magnet schools

-- Clark Academy: 7:15 a.m./2:20 p.m.

-- Jennie Moore Elementary: 7:40 a.m./2:40 p.m.

-- Special Day School: 7:50 a.m./2:50 p.m.

-- St. Andrews Elementary, Ashley River Elementary and Montessori Community: 8 a.m./3 p.m.

-- Garrett: 8 a.m./3:05 p.m.

-- Military Magnet and School of the Arts: 8 a.m./3:30 p.m.

-- Buist: 8 a.m./3:10 p.m.

-- Charlestowne Academy and Charleston Progressive: 8:15 a.m./3:15 p.m.

-- C.E. Williams: 9 a.m./4 p.m.

-- Murray Hill Academy: 9:30 a.m./4:30 p.m.

-- Academic Magnet High: 8:15 a.m./3:20 p.m.

Where can I find my child's bus route? -- A list of bus routes was published in The Post and Courier on Aug. 15. Each school also should have students' bus routes.

Who do I call if the bus doesn't show up? -- Durham School Services, the new company running the district's bus service, has a hotline: 725-3170.

What is for breakfast and lunch on the first day of school? -- Breakfast: Kashi Mighty Bites cereal, buttermilk biscuit with jelly, banana, milk.

Lunch: Low-fat turkey corndog or low-fat chef's salad, mixed vegetables, fruit cocktail, 100 percent juice bar, apple, milk.

How much do the meals cost? -- Breakfast: Elementary, 75 cents; middle and high, 75 cents; reduced, 30 cents; adult, $1.40.

Lunch: Elementary, $1.65; middle and high, $1.75; reduced, 40 cents; adult, $2.75. Make checks payable to Charleston County School District food services. Parents should put their child's name at the bottom of the check.

Where can I find my child's supply list? -- Check with your child's school.

Which schools have uniforms or dress codes? -- In Charleston, 53 of the district's 80 schools have either uniforms or dress codes. Clothing restrictions vary by school. To find out what your child can or can't wear, call the school.

Where I can find more information? -- ccsdschools.com

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BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

What day does school start? -- Monday

What information do I need to register my child for school? -- Completed registration form, completed health form, child's birth certificate, child's Social Security card, two proofs of residency with street address, and immunization records. Registration forms can be found at berkeley.k12.sc.us/Guidance/registration.htm.

What time does my school start? What time does my school end?

-- Most elementary schools start at staggered times between 7:20 a.m. and 8 a.m., and dismiss between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Intermediate schools (grades 3-5) start between 7:35 a.m. and 7:50 a.m., and dismiss between 2:05 and 2:20 p.m.

-- Middle schools start between 7:55 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and dismiss between 3:15 p.m. and 3:37 p.m. High schools start between 7:20 and 7:55 a.m., and dismiss between 2:40 and 2:55 p.m.

-- Go to berkeley.k12.sc.us/school/BELLSCHEDULE.htm to see exact times for each school.

Where can I find my child's bus route? -- All schools should have a list of bus numbers and bus routes.

Who do I call if the bus doesn't show up? -- Call 899-8804 for Moncks Corner schools, 899-8915 for Cross schools, 820-3703 for Goose Creek and Hanahan schools, 820-4032 for Stratford and Sangaree schools, 567-8430 for St. Stephen schools.

What is for breakfast and lunch on the first day of school? -- Breakfast: Cinnamon raisin biscuit, Colby jack cheese, assorted cold cereals, doughnut holes, orange juice, fresh fruit, milk variety.

-- Elementary schools lunch: Italian entree, corndog, reduced fat chips, broccoli with cheese, sliced carrots, fresh fruit, frozen peach cup, breadstick, milk variety.

-- Middle/high schools lunch: Same as elementary schools but also with pizza.

How much do meals cost? -- Breakfast: $1. Lunch $1.50. Make checks payable to the Berkeley County School District.

Where can I find my child's supply list? For every school and grade level, go to berkeley.k12.sc.us/School/Supplies.htm.

Which schools have uniforms or dress codes? -- The Daniel Island School is the only Berkeley school with optional uniforms.

Where can I find more information? -- berkeley.k12.sc.us

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DORCHESTER DISTRICT 2

What day does school start? -- Monday

What information do I need to register my child for school? -- A utility bill listing parents' names and address, and a second, matching form of identification with the same names and address; a $20 registration fee per student used to purchase classroom supplies; for students new to the area, the child's birth certificate, a copy of the child's Social Security card, other health forms and immunization records

What time does school start? What time does school end?

-- Elementary schools start at 7:25 a.m. and dismiss at 2:10 p.m., middle schools start at 8:30 a.m. and dismiss at 4 p.m., and high schools start at 7:25 a.m. and dismiss at 2:55 p.m.

Where can I find my child's bus route? -- All schools should have a list of bus numbers and routes

Who do I call if the bus doesn't show up? -- Call the child's school, or the district's transportation office at 873-6196

What is for breakfast and lunch on the first day of school?

-- Elementary schools breakfast: Cheddar cheese omelet, scrambled eggs with grits, bacon strip and biscuit, toast with jelly, assorted cereal, assorted fresh fruit, variety milk and variety juice.

-- Middle schools breakfast: Blueberry muffin, sausage biscuit with jelly, creamy oatmeal, creamy grits, toast with jelly, assorted cereal, assorted fresh fruit, variety milk and variety juice.

-- High school breakfast: One strip of bacon, scrambled eggs, cheesy grits, southern style biscuit, lowfat yogurt and bagel with jelly, bananas, assorted cereals, variety milk and variety juice.

How much do meals cost? -- Breakfast: 85 cents. Lunch: Elementary and middle schools, $1.40; high schools, $1.50. Make checks payable to Dorchester County School District 2.

Where can I find my child's supply list? -- Lists are available at individual schools, or at various stores as such as Wal-Mart and Staples.

Which schools have uniforms or dress codes? -- No uniforms, contact your child's school for dress code information.

Where can I find more information? -- dorchester2.k12.sc.us

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DORCHESTER DISTRICT 4

What day does school start? -- Monday

What information do I need to register my child for school? -- Child's birth certificate, copy of child's Social Security card, immunization records and proof of residency with family's address

What time does school start? What time does school end?

-- All schools start between 7:35 and 7:55 a.m.; elementary schools dismiss at 2:30 p.m. and middle and high schools dismiss at 3 p.m.

Where can I find my child's bus route? -- All schools should have a list of bus numbers and routes.

Who I do call if the bus doesn't show up? -- Call the district's transportation office at 563-5921 or contact your child's school.

What is for breakfast and lunch on the first day of school?

Elementary/middle schools breakfast: Choice of cereal, graham crackers, choice of juice and milk. High schools breakfast: Same as elementary and middle schools but also with a sausage biscuit and honey bun. Elementary lunch: Corndog, French fries, mixed vegetables, apple slices, choice of milk. Middle/high schools lunch: Same as elementary schools, but also with pepperoni pizza.

How much do meals cost? -- Breakfast is free for all students. Lunch costs $1.25. Make all checks payable to Dorchester County School District Four

Where can I find my child's supply list? -- Supply lists are posted in local stores, with copies also available at schools.

Which schools have uniforms or dress codes? -- Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary is the only school in the district with optional uniforms, beginning this year. Contact your child's school for dress code information.

Where can I find more information? -- dorchester4.k12.sc.us.