Creek View Elementary Invites Next Year's Kindergarten Class to Visit

The school's 'Kindergarten Safari will be April 24 for a tour of the school, cafeteria and a school bus.

Creek View Elementary is holding their annual “Kindergarten Safari” open house on Wednesday, April 24, at 8:15 a.m. for all incoming Kindergarten students, with parents, for the 2013-2014 school year.  Students will visit a kindergarten classroom, board a big yellow Fulton County School Bus, and walk through the cafeteria line for milk and cookies. Registration information and materials will be distributed at the open house.  Registration for new Fulton County students for the 2013-2014 school year will be held on May 1 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. or May 2from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. When is your school holding its Open House? Post them here on Alpharetta-Milton Patch in the announcements.

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Question of the Week: How Much Have You Spent on 'Back-to-School?'

With school districts across the metro area now officially back-to-school, we begin a series of weekly questions, which, today, is focused on the subject of spending.

With the school year now officially underway, many parents have spent countless hours at local stores helping their students find the right pencils, perfect "first day" outfits and fill school supply lists. The National Retail Federation projects that parents of children in grades K-12 will spend nearly $689 on their children's back-to-school needs, almost $85 more than last year. Georgia shoppers didn't pay sales tax on any back-to-school items within a certain dollar amount this past Friday and Saturday. But some criticized the tax holiday as being too little, too late. Bringing us to our questions of the week:

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How to Use Patch this School Year

Five things principals, educators, PTA members, parents and students need to know.

The school year is approaching, and Alpharetta-Milton Patch will be there to cover all the big news for all of our schools. But we can’t do it without your help. To make sure you get the most out of Patch this school year, we invite you to get active in the news-gathering process. There are five things you can do to make sure your school and its students get all the coverage they deserve from Patch: You can also become a blogger and share your school's news directly with Patch readers on a regular basis. To find out more about using Patch this school year, just email bob.pepalis@patch.com.

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When Do Classes Begin at My School This Year?

Although some private schools already have started classes, Fulton County Schools start up on Monday. Here are school opening and closing times.

CORRECTION: What was listed as school opening times is really the schedule for class starting times. Schools will open much earlier than class start times. For instance, Haynes Bridge Middle School Principal Lauren Seidman pointed out that her school's regular opening is at 8:20 a.m., and early arrival students come to the school as early as 7:50 a.m. Summer really isn't over, but school is back in session on Monday, Aug. 13 for Fulton County students. For students bemoaning the end of summer, just be glad you aren't in Cherokee County, where school went back in session on Aug. 1. It wouldn't do to be late to school on the first day back, so Patch presents these class start and end times as listed on the Fulton County Schools' website. (…

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Reminder: Georgia Sales Tax Holiday Friday, Saturday

For the first time since 2009, Georgia shoppers will not have to pay state and local sales and use taxes on back-to-school items.

Students in Fulton County return to school Monday, Aug. 13, so if you still have a few more back-to-school items to purchase you are in luck this weekend. Georgia's sales tax holiday on back-to-school items is set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10 and 11. The last time Georgia had a sales tax holiday was in 2009. According to the Department of Revenue, sales tax will be suspended on general school supplies with a sales price of less than $20 per item, clothing (including shoes) worth $100 or less, and computers and computer accessories with a sales price of $1,000 or less. Do you still have any back-to-school shopping left to do? Will you be taking advantage of this weekend's sales tax holiday? If so, what are you looking to purchase? Tell …

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Alpharetta, Milton Schools Hold Welcoming Events Week Before Classes

Cambridge High in Milton plans its first open house on July 24.

Fulton County schools will have back-to-school events to welcome families for the 2012-13 school year on Aug. 8, 9 or 10, though most appear to be on Aug. 9. Just four days later on Monday, Aug. 13, classes will begin for approximately 93,200 students in 101 schools throughout the county. The school system's Communications department said parents should verify dates and times with their child’s school as information could change after the following list is published. Those who are registering new students should review the school system’s registration requirements for documents needed for admission. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Alpharetta Sneak-a-Peek : Aug. 9, 9-11:30 a.m. Curriculum Nights: Grades K-1 – Aug. 9, 6-7:30 p.m…

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Orientation has Milton High Students in School a Week Earlier

Parents, set your child's calendar for the week before school starts on Aug. 13 for orientation

School's out for summer, and the first day of the 2012-2013 school year isn't until Aug. 13. But students attending Milton High School will need to go back for a few hours on one day during the previous week for orientation. Yes, that's two months away, but it's better to write it down now than forget about it until it's too late. As Milton High's website puts it, "In an effort to ensure Milton students are ready to learn on the first day of school, specific orientation dates have been scheduled for the new school year as follows:" Wednesday, Aug. 8 – 8:15am to noon – Seniors  Wednesday, Aug. 8 – 1pm to 3pm – Sophomores Thursday, Aug. 9 – 8:15am to noon – Juniors Friday, Aug. 10 – 8:15am to noon – Freshmen Schedules Students who have …

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North Fulton Community Charities Delivers Supplies, Smiles

The Back to School fair at North Fulton Community Charities unites the community.

The Back to School Health and Wellness Fair, sponsored by North Fulton Community Charities, brought out hundreds of North Fulton families for some free fun and school supplies on Saturday morning. At first glance, the jumping castles, games, free prizes and appetizing food made it look like a small carnival had come to town and set up tents in the North Fulton Community Charities parking lot. But one look past the fair confirmed the main attraction was definitely school supplies. A long line of families waited patiently to choose backpacks full of school supplies. The line snaked around several caution cones and almost went from the building entrance to the road. While waiting, families could partake in anything the fair offered: from free…

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Frugal Family

Get Free Supplies And Clothing Discounts Before School Starts Up On Monday

Here is a list of cheap supplies and clothing deals for your weekend shopping trip.

School is back in full swing next week and this weekend is sure to be busy with all of the last minute back to school shopping. The deals for supplies are great again as local stores and chains get shoppers ready for a new school year. If you are shopping on Friday or Saturday, here are some deals you should check out. Staples has some deals that end Saturday. Sharpie markers are 25 cents for a 2 pack. Simply Poly Binders are 25 cents each. Staples Mini Composition Books are 25 cents for a 2 pack.  Staples one subject spiral notebooks are 10 cents.  Staples Pencil boxes are 50 cents. Pencil Sharpeners are 50 cents each.  High Sierra Backpacks are 50 percent off.  Target has a large back to school section with some great deals through …

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