The new school year is just around the corner with classes beginning on Sept. 5.

To assist students in starting their new year, open houses, orientations and welcome conferences have been scheduled throughout the Fort Dodge Community School District.

A preschool open house will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 31, at Riverside Early Learning Center. Preschool teachers will be calling parents/guardians to schedule in-home visits. Preschool classes begin Sept. 11.

Welcome back conferences will be held for all TK through fourth-grade students Aug. 31, between noon and 8 p.m. Each student’s family will have a scheduled 20-minute time slot to meet with his or her teacher. Letters will be mailed out by Aug. 18, indicating teachers and conference times. Students should bring their school supplies to their conference so they are ready for the first day.

Fifth Grade Orientation will be Aug. 30 and Aug. 31, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Dodge Middle School. Fifth-grade students and their families will be assigned a 20-minute conference time with one of the student’s core teachers. Current FDMS student leaders will be available to provide building tours and assist with lockers. Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies to prepare their locker for the first day of classes.

FDMS will host orientation events for sixth- through eighth-grade students and their parents/guardians to meet the teachers and drop off school supplies using the following schedule: sixth grade on Aug. 29, seventh grade on Aug. 30 and eighth grade on Aug. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please use the student’s last name to determine which 30-minute slot to attend:

Last name A-E :5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Last name F-L : 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Last name M-Q: 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Last name R-Z : 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During orientation, all parents and students will learn more about how Google Chromebooks will be utilized for student learning at FDMS. Staff will visit with families about expectations for appropriate care and use of the Chromebooks and share some learning opportunities that will be unlocked with increased access to technology. Chromebooks will be distributed to seventh- and eighth-grade students at orientation. To receive their Chromebooks, students must be registered for school and have both the technology usage and damage protection plan forms turned in. In order to participate in the damage protection plan, the $30 fee must be paid at the Central Administration Building by Friday.

A FDMS fall sports sign up meeting will be held for seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the middle school auditorium. This will include cross country, football and volleyball. Required paperwork will be passed out during this meeting. Students must have a current physical on file in order to participate. Practice for middle school fall sports will begin on Aug. 21.

Fort Dodge Senior High will host freshmen orientation from 8 p.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 31. Orientation will help freshmen students be “in the know” on the first day of school by providing an opportunity to meet the teachers and staff, navigate getting to classes, lockers and lunch, and giving insider tips from both teachers and students.

The new 1:1 initiative at FDSH means each student will receive a Chromebook to use at school and home to assist with academic learning.

The following schedule will be used for distribution of the devices from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the FDSH science rooms: Aug. 21 seniors, Aug. 22 juniors, Aug. 23 sophomores and Aug. 24 freshmen.

If a student is unable to attend on the assigned day, he or she may attend on one of the other dates. High school students must also be registered for school and have both the technology usage and damage protection plan forms turned in. The deadline to enroll in the damage protection plan is Friday.

For those interested, the damage protection plan is $30 with a $5 discount available for those parents/guardians who watch the online training video available under NEWS at fdschools.org.

Questions regarding back to school events can be directed to the individual schools or the Central Administration Office at 576-1161.