SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS, DEAR OLD GOLDEN RULE DAYS

Students and teachers are getting geared up for the school year as the lazy days of summer give way to energetic school days.

In the two weeks before school begins, many students can be seen taking their final swims of the summer and going to bed early at night in preparation for their new schedule. Parents start thinking about back-to-school sales and school registration, and teachers begin dusting off books and designing bulletin boards for their classrooms.

The first day of school is just around the corner for many schools. The third week in August is the traditional kickoff for area schools, but some districts are trying to outthink Mother Nature by starting school up to five days earlier. For instance, many of the more rural districts, like Meadow Heights, are starting earlier to get an early lead on snow days that could shut down the district during the winter.

Some districts, like Jackson, are introducing new buses this year that sport everything from Fiberglas crossing arms in front to new beige floors that make buses look cleaner. Other districts, like Nell Holcomb, have nearly completed or completed construction projects.

Following is a list of the start dates and times for area schools. Some schools will only be in attendance for a partial session the first day. Others have new school times that parents should be aware of.

Area schools begin dates and times

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY:

Cape Girardeau Public Schools:

All schools start Aug. 27

-- Central High School 7:45 a.m.

-- Central Jr. High 7:45 a.m.

-- L.J. Schultz 7:40 a.m.

-- Alma Schrader 8:15 a.m.

-- Franklin 8:15 a.m.

-- Charles C. Clippard 8:15 a.m.

-- Jefferson 8:15 a.m.

-- May Greene 8:15 a.m.

-- Washington 8:15 a.m.

Notre Dame High School

Aug. 19, 8 a.m.

St. Mary's Cathedral Grade School

Aug. 21 7:50 a.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Grade School

Aug. 21 7:50 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran School

Aug. 25, 8 a.m.

Cape Christian School

Aug. 20,

First - sixth grades 8:30 a.m.

Morning kindergarten 8:15 a.m.

Afternoon kindergarten noon

Eagle Ridge Christian School

Sept. 2, 8:15 a.m.

Jackson Public Schools

All schools start Aug. 20

-- Jackson High School

-- R.O. Hawkins Jr. High

-- Jackson Middle School

-- Gordonville Elementary

-- Millersville Attendance Center

-- North Elementary

-- Orchard Drive Elementary

-- Primary Annex

-- West Lane Elementary

St. Paul's Lutheran School

Aug. 18, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Immaculate Conception

Aug. 20, 8 a.m.

Nell Holcomb School

Aug. 20, 8:15 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools

All schools start Aug. 18

Delta Schools

Aug. 20, 8:10 a.m.

SCOTT COUNTY:

Scott City Schools

All schools start Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m.

kindergarten, 6 a.m. - 8 a.m., 7 - noon

Chaffee Schools

All schools start Aug. 20

High School 8:05 a.m.

Elementary 8 a.m.

Thomas W. Kelly Schools

All schools start Aug. 21, 8;10 a.m.

Oran schools

All schools start Aug. 20, 8:25 a.m.

Kelso C-7

Aug. 21, 8 a.m.

Sikeston Schools

All schools start Aug. 18

-- High School 8 a.m.

-- Elementary schools 8:30 a.m.

Scott County Central

Aug. 18, 8 a.m.

St. Augustine

Aug. 20, 7:50 a.m. - 2 p.m.

St. Joseph

Aug. 19, 8 a.m.

Guardian Angel

Aug. 18, 8 a.m.

BOLLINGER COUNTY:

Meadow Heights Schools

All schools start Aug. 15

New school hours 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Woodland Schools

Aug. 18, 8:20 a.m.

Leopold Schools

Aug. 15, 7:40 a.m.

Zalma Schools

All schools start Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m.

PERRY COUNTY:

Perryville Schools

All schools start Aug. 18, 8 a.m.

St. Vincent School

All schools start Aug. 20

-- High School 8 a.m.

-- Elementary 7:45 a.m.

Altenburg

Aug. 18, 8:15 a.m.

STODDARD COUNTY:

Advance Schools

All schools start Aug. 20

-- High School 8:10 a.m.

-- Elementary 8:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

Marquand-Zion Schools:

Aug. 20, 8:20 a.m.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY:

Charleston Schools

Aug. 20, 8:20 a.m.

East Prairie Schools

Aug. 20, 8 a.m.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS:

Shawnee Schools

All schools start Aug. 22

-- Junior-Senior High 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

-- Shawnee North and South schools 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Egyptian Schools

Aug. 19, 8:18 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Meridian Schools

Aug. 19, 7:50 a.m.

Cairo Schools

All schools start Aug. 19

-- High School classes from 7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

-- Parents must accompany children for registration for Emerson Elementary, Bennett Elementary and Cairo Junior High.

Century Unit Schools

All schools start Aug. 22

-- High School 8:10 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

-- Middle School 8:10 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

-- Elementary School 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.