By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

Area public schools will be back in session as early as this week, and there are some important changes parents need to be aware of before dropping students off for their first day back.

In Joplin, the completion of the new East Middle School building will cause some shuffling. School starts Wednesday, Aug. 19, in Joplin. Students who previously attended class or were scheduled to start middle school at the old South Middle School building at 310 W. 22nd St. will attend class this fall in the new East Middle School at 4594 E. 20th St.

Students from Duenweg, Duquesne, Eastmorland, Kelsey Norman and McKinley elementaries who are entering middle school will also attend East Middle School this fall.

Students who previously attended North Middle School at 102 Gray Ave. will attend school this fall in the old South Middle School at 310 W. 22nd St. In addition, students from Columbia, Emerson, Jefferson, Royal Heights and West Central who are entering middle school this fall will start at the old South Middle School.

Students previously attending Memorial Middle School will stay in that building this fall. The feeder schools for Memorial are Cecil Floyd, Irving and Stapleton elementaries.

Joplin’s start times will also change this fall to a staggered schedule following a Board of Education decision earlier this year. Elementary schools will start earlier, at 7:45 a.m., and let out at 2:45 p.m. Middle schools and the high school will start later, at 8:30 a.m., and get out at 3:30 p.m.

Students can still enroll at individual Joplin school buildings. Information: 625-5200.

Carthage

Carthage students will also have some changes the first day of school, Aug. 20. Students moved into the new Carthage High School building at 2600 S. River earlier this year. They will return to classes this fall in that building. Junior high students will begin class in the old high school at 714 S. Main for the first time this fall. And middle school students will start class this fall in the old junior high building at 827 E. Centennial.

Columbian, Fairview and Mark Twain elementary schools and Carthage Middle School will run 8 a.m. to 3:07 p.m. each day. Pleasant Valley and Steadley elementary schools will run 8:11 a.m. to 3:18 p.m. The other schools will run 7:55 a.m. to 3:07 p.m.

Carthage is still enrolling students. Information: administrative office, 359-7000.

Carl Junction

The start date for Carl Junction schools is Aug. 19.

Superintendent Phil Cook said one of the major changes is an earlier start time for elementary students. Elementary schools will now start 15 minutes earlier to make the start time for all Carl Junction school buildings 8:05 a.m.

Students can still enroll for classes in Carl Junction at the K-1 North school building at 206 S. Roney St. Information: 649-7026.

Webb City

Students in Webb City will head back to class Aug. 19. The district will continue its moderate staggered-start schedule of junior and high school starting at 7:45 a.m., middle school starting at 7:55 a.m. and elementary schools starting at 8 a.m.

Superintendent Ron Lankford said the biggest change this fall will be the completion of 25,000 square feet of new construction and another 38,000 square feet of renovations at the high school.

Students will finally get to use their new 14,000-square-foot high school library this fall.

Webb City is still enrolling students for classes. To enroll, visit the office of the building the student will attend, or call 673-6000.

Neosho

Neosho schools will start class Aug. 13. Efforts to reach school officials for details were unsuccessful.

Lamar

Lamar schools will start back up Aug. 17. All the buildings start class at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. except for East Primary, which starts at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m.

Students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade can get a sneak peek at their classrooms during Snoop Night from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Orientation for high school freshmen is 6 p.m. Monday at the high school.

Lamar is still enrolling students at all of its buildings. Information: (417) 682-3527.

Pittsburg, Kan.

Orientation for Pittsburg sixth-graders is 7:50 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the middle school. Incoming freshmen will have orientation from 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. the same day at the high school. All students start back Aug. 14.

The big change in Pittsburg schools this year is moving kindergarten classes from Meadowlark to each elementary school. The first week of kindergarten classes will run 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. After that, classes will end at 3:15 each day.

Pittsburg is still enrolling students at each building. Information: (620) 235-3100.

Miami, Okla.

Students new to Miami High School may enroll for classes Friday. School across the district starts Thursday, Aug. 20.

Miami is still enrolling students at its Board of Education office. Information: (918) 542-8455.

Private schools

College Heights Christian School is offering a new option for preschool when students come back to class Aug. 18. The new program expands the 4-year-old preschool program to five days a week, said Misty McNally, administrative assistant. There is still a three-day option. The preschool program for 3-year-olds consists of two days per week. The preschool program runs 8:10 a.m. to noon.

College Heights classes for primary students will run 8:10 a.m. to 3:05 p.m., and secondary classes will run 8:05 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

College Heights is still enrolling for classes at the school, 4311 E. Newman Road. Information: 782-4114.

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin will start Aug. 24. Classes for all grades will begin at 8 a.m. and run to 3:10 p.m.

The school holds open enrollment all year long at its location, 3401 Newman Road. Information: 781-5124 or visit tjeffschool.org.

Joplin Area Catholic Schools will head back to the classroom Aug. 18. Efforts to obtain information about the new school year were unsuccessful.