Schools

Gwinnett Readies for School Starting

Many schools will hold open houses Aug. 4 for students to visit schools and meet teachers.

Gwinnett County Public Schools students will have the opportunity to visit their schools and classrooms, meet their teachers, and pick up information about the 2011-12 school year during the week of Aug. 1-5 prior to the first day of school Monday, Aug. 8.

While many Gwinnett schools plan to host open houses on Thursday, Aug. 4, parents and students are encouraged to check school websites for dates and times of such activities as picking up schedules, acquiring lockers and parking spaces, paying for school lunches, joining the PTA, etc. School websites may be accessed online at www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us. Click on the Schools tab and then on the name of the school.

Here are registration guidelines issued by Gwinnett County Public Schools:

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Registration available online:

This school year, many Gwinnett schools will offer parents the opportunity to register and conduct other school transactions online through MealpayPlus. These online activities may include making payments for school lunches, fees and contributions, and viewing and electronically signing school forms. About 90 schools will offer online registration ahead of time, cutting down on the need to fill out forms during the school visits. Schools will communicate directly with their parents on registration activities. If a family does not have Internet service at home, a school may make accommodations at the local school.

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Registration for new Gwinnett students:

Newcomers who are registering with Gwinnett for the first time should call their local schools for details regarding registration hours, testing for placement, and procedures. Parents unsure which school their child will attend should call the GCPS Department of Planning at 678-301-7085. Current GCPS students who are moving from one grade level to another – for instance, a rising 6th grader or a rising 9th grader – do not need to re-register at their new middle or high school.

Documents needed for registration:

Proof of authorized person enrolling student – The following persons are authorized to enroll students: Parent (natural or adoptive), legal guardian, foster parent appointed by a state agency, or sponsor for approved international exchange program. This person should present one of the following: driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or other official photo identification.

An official document showing proof of student’s age – The person authorized to enroll the student has the option of presenting either a birth certificate or a federal, state, county, or school document with date of birth. (Examples of this second option include hospital-issued birth record, military I.D., valid driver’s license, passport, adoption record, religious record, school transcritp, or affidavit of age sworn by parent/guardian or other authorized person accompanied by a certificate of age signed by a licensed, practicing physician that states the physician has examined the child and believes the age, as stated in the affidavit, is substantially correct).

Proof family lives in Gwinnett County attendance zone – The person authorized to enroll the student must show one of the following: Non-contingent sales contractcurrent lease/rental agreementmost recent income tax return, current paycheck stubcurrent residential property tax statement or billcurrent warranty or quick claim deedcurrent home purchase agreementcurrent homeowner’s insurance policyor third-person affidavit of residency (notarized residency affidavit*).

In addition, one of the following must accompany the document above: Current gas bill, current water bill, or current electric bill.

*If the student’s family is residing in the home or apartment of another individual, the following is necessary for enrollment: Notarized Residency Affidavit (available at school) including the signature of person with whom the family is living and the apartment manager’s signature (if applicable). In addition, the person with whom the family is living must show proof of residency using the documents mentioned above.

(Documents presented for residency verification must include the same address as the accompanying utility bill. The bill must have the name and address of the enrolling parent/guardian. A telephone bill is not acceptable. A contingency sales contract is not acceptable. Exception: A deed without an address is acceptable if accompanied by two utility bills (excluding telephone bills) with same address in attendance zone).

A valid Georgia certificate of immunization (Ga. Health Dept. Form #3231, revised March 2007 or later) – The form must be completed by the health department (www.gwinnetthealth.comor a Georgia physician. A medical exemption should be noted on Form #3231 with a current date of expiration. A form may be requested from the school for religious exemption.

Evidence of vision, hearing, and dental exams (Ga. Health Dept. Form #3300) – This form is available from the health department or a physician/dentist. Letters from appropriate healthcare professionals and out-of-state certificates are acceptable, if completed within the last 12 months and stapled to the state form.

Previous school records – Report cards or official school transcript, withdrawal form from previous school, discipline records for students enrolling in grades 7-12. For more information on documents needed for registration, visit the school system’s website at www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us.


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