On Monday, Aug. 23, more than 10,000 students, some with more enthusiasm than others, will say goodbye to summer, load up their backpacks and return to classes for the fall semester at Tomball Independent School District.

According to district spokesperson Staci Stanfield, more than 10,200 students have enrolled in the district this year, up from 9,838 over last year’s first day numbers.

This year, Tomball ISD is taking a one-year hiatus from opening a new school. In 2008, the district opened Canyon Pointe Elementary near the southern border of the district, followed by Creekside Forest Elementary in the northeast portion in 2009.

Pictured, Creekside Forest Elementary third grade teacher Tiffany Greening prepares her classroom for the first day of classes at Tomball ISD, Aug. 23.

Submitted Photo

Those schools were funded by the $198 million bond district voters approved in 2007.

However, 2010 will only mark a short break in school openings for Tomball ISD. In August 2011, the district is scheduled to open Tomball Memorial High School, located near Canyon Pointe Elementary. Tomball Memorial’s opening will house high school students in the southern portion of the district and at least initially, send both Tomball High and the new campus in the 4A classification, down from 5A.

While no new schools will be opening this year, Tomball ISD will unveil the newest addition to the district, a $2.5 million Ag Barn, built on Shaw Road.

The barn will provide a new facility for students to raise animals for the FFA program. According to information provided by the district, the Ag Barn “will house steers, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys and rabbits.”

Tomball ISD is also asking parents to be aware of the Tomball Police Department’s Traffic Safety Plan Initiative for Quinn Road, where traffic congestion between Tomball Junior High and Tomball High School is traditionally heavy, especially during the first days of the year.

Among the initiatives Tomball PD is enforcing is no student drop-off along Quinn Road. In addition, there is no stopping, standing or parking along the roadway between Tomball High School and Tomball Junior High.

Tomball PD and the school district have designated specific drop-off points for parents to utilize that are located in the front of each school.

“Parents who have children attending both schools may drop off their children at either campus,” the district stated in a release. “The student must then use the crosswalk to access his/her school.”

In an effort to “greatly minimize congestion,” parents will only be able to make right turns when leaving the campus drop-off areas.

Perhaps the biggest change to the school system this year are amended bus routes throughout Tomball ISD. Earlier this year, the district initiated an online program, called Infofinder, which helps parents access information about the district’s bus routes.

Parents can access Infofinder by logging onto tomballisd.net and by then clicking in the upper right corner of the homepage, then on “Bus Route Information.” If a parent does not have access to the Internet, they can call the Transportation Department at 281-357-3193.

Meanwhile, students already anticipating their first day off from classes won’t have to wait long. The first scheduled holiday for Tomball ISD is set for Monday, Sept. 6, when the district will take the day off in observance of Labor Day.

Students will also have off Monday, Oct. 11 for a staff development day, with the Thanksgiving break shortly thereafter, Nov. 24-26.

The Christmas and New Year holiday break is scheduled for Dec. 20 through Jan. 4, 2011.

For more information about Tomball ISD, its school and to download a 2010-11 instructional calendar, visit tomballisd.net.

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