If you’ve got a kid in New Franklin R-1, the summer countdown just tipped into its last stretch. The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 25 — and the week before it is busier than most people realize, so here’s what’s actually on the calendar between now and then, straight from the district’s own site.
Sixth-grade orientation and schedule pickup for grades 7 through 12 already happened last week, so if your student is new to middle or high school and missed it, it’s worth a call to the office rather than waiting for the first bell. Middle and high school families can reach the district at 660-848-2314; elementary is 660-848-2112; and the superintendent’s office is 660-848-2141.
From here, the calendar looks like this:
- Aug. 17–20: Teacher professional development days — no students in the buildings yet, so this is still summer-schedule for kids.
- Aug. 19, 6 p.m.: School board meeting.
- Aug. 20: Elementary Open House, 4–6 p.m., plus an athletic parent meeting the same evening. This is the one to circle if your student is in elementary school — it’s the last real chance to meet the teacher and see the classroom before the first day.
- Aug. 24: One more teacher work day/professional development day, still no students.
- Aug. 25: First day of school.
None of this is complicated, but it’s easy to lose track of a Wednesday-evening open house buried in the last slow week of summer. If Aug. 20 is the only date you write down, that’s the one that matters most for getting an elementary-age kid ready to walk in the door five days later knowing where their classroom is.
For anything specific to your student’s school, grade, or bus route, the district’s website is the place to check, or call the numbers above — a small district like New Franklin R-1 tends to actually pick up the phone.