Local schools get ready for new academic year

After a busy summer for many area schools, staff and students are preparing for the start of a brand new academic year next week.

Ironwood

Ironwood Area Schools will start its first year of Luther L. Wright as a K-12 facility with classes beginning Tuesday.

Sleight Elementary students will start at 7:55 a.m., with classes ending at 3:05 p.m.

Norrie Elementary and L.L. Wright's middle and high school classes will begin at 8 a.m., with Norrie classes being held til 3:10 p.m., and LLW's running to 3:15 p.m.

For more information, visit ironwood.k12.mi.us or call 906-932-0932.

Hurley

Students at the Hurley K-12 School will also have their first day of classes Tuesday beginning at 8:05 a.m.

Elementary students will be dismissed at 3:12 p.m. and junior high and high school students will end classes at 3:15 p.m.

School officials said the high school students have all received new MacBook computers, new floors have been installed in the fifth-grade classrooms and the school has a couple new associates in the elementary programs.

In addition, the school has implemented an eighth hour for high school students.

For students with academically adequate grades, a hall pass is awarded and students can go to various classrooms. For others, the eighth period is used as a study hall.

For more information, visit hurley.k12.wi.us or call 715-561-4900.

Bessemer

Bessemer's schools will begin classes Tuesday, with Washington Elementary running from 8 a.m. to 2:55 p.m., and A.D. Johnston High-Middle School operating from 7:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

"I think we're ready to go," said Dave Radovich, Bessemer district administrator. "It's exciting to see staff in the building. There are some kids wandering around looking, trying to figure out what they're going to do or where they're going to be. It's always an exciting time of the year. People are ready to come back."

For more information, visit bessemer.k12.mi.us/ or call 906-667-0802.

Wakefield-Marenisco

Classes at Wakefield-Marenisco normally run from 7:55 a.m. to 3:13 p.m. but will start the first day Tuesday at 10 a.m. for students.

Superintendent Cathy Shamion said teachers will have a two-hour in-service prior to the beginning of classes.

"We're ready and we're looking forward to it," she said, adding that staff are excited for the school's second computer lab, which will feature 30 Chromebooks for students to use. The new lab isn't completed yet, but will be shortly, Shamion said.

"The only new staffing we have is Mr. Steve Boniface, who will be teaching the seven through 12 band," Shamion said. "He's the band director at Bessemer so we'll be sharing his services."

For more information, visit wakefield.k12.mi.us or call 906-224-7211.

Ontonagon

The Ontonagon Area School District begins its 2014-15 school year Wednesday, Sept. 3, with a full day of classes.

Junior-senior high school (grades six through 12) will run from 8 a.m. to 3:32 p.m., with the K-5 elementary school going from 8:05 a.m. to 3:23 p.m.

Free breakfast will be served the first day to all students. The hot lunch program will be available, or students may bring a bag lunch.

School officials noted the junior-senior high school is a closed campus.

Parents are also asked to provide the office with contact information for emergency notifications. Parents or guardians who wish to be contacted with just one manner of contact, such as only email or a phone call, for example, are asked to identify the number they wish to be contacted.

For more information, visit oasd.k12.mi.us or call 906-813-0614.

Watersmeet

Students will begin school in Watersmeet at 12:22 p.m. on Tuesday, following an in-service day for teachers.

Normal school hours begin at 8:10 a.m., with the K-6 students dismissed at 3 p.m. and the seventh-12th graders let out at 3:05 p.m.

District Administrator George Peterson III said staff members were happy the school has made some improvements on the state's Top to Bottom list over the previous school year.

"There's always room for more improvement and we're looking forward to doing that again this year and giving our students the best opportunities we can," he said.

For more information, visit watersmeet.k12.mi.us or call 906-358-4504.

Mercer

Mercer School District will hold their first day of classes on Tuesday, as well.

Students will begin their day at 8 a.m. for a morning meeting with school administrators to discuss upcoming events and other topics.

Classes for all students will follow and students will be dismissed at 3:20 p.m.

For more information, visit mercer.k12.wi.us or call 715-476-2154.

Ewen-Trout Creek

Ewen-Trout Creek schools will begin on Tuesday with classes running 8 a.m. to 3:22 p.m.

Superintendent Loren Vannest said the school has TRIG (Technology Readiness Infrastructure Grant) classes scheduled for teachers to educate them on the technology.

He said the staff is excited for the upcoming year.

"We got them each a new computer and overhead projector in each classroom so they can start utilizing this technology," Vannest said, adding the school purchased a number of new textbooks and has the best fund balance its seen in a number of years.

For more information, visit etc.k12.mi.us or call 906-988-2364.