First Abbreviated Day Helps Putnam Students Get Familiar With New Environment

Putnam Schools kicks off the school year with an abbreviated day Thursday, with schools set to dismiss at 10 a.m.

Communications Supervisor Hannah Davis said the system has this in place to help students get introduced to their schools and teachers. She said it’s particularly helpful for those students who are at a new school or new to the Putnam County School System.

“There will be opportunities for students to come in, become familiar, look around, go to classrooms, fill out paperwork and those compliance forms that we have everyone fill out every year,” Davis said. “So those are very important things allowing our families to just come in and have those couple of hours to see their new schools.”

Davis said that the day also helps faculty and staff collect and organize student information before the first day of school. She said that this practice is particularly important at the elementary level because of transportation lists and other safety measures.

Davis said her best piece of advice for families new to this practice is to take advantage of the day and the resources at their disposal.

“Ask the questions, never feel like you’re a bother, ask the teacher,” Davis said. “This is an opportunity where if your family member is able to go and ask those questions. If you’re a higher schooler going in and getting your schedule and picking up supplies, don’t be afraid to ask the questions, they’re there to help and get you ready for the first full day of school. So we want all this to be a great transition to a new exciting school year.”

Davis said that this 10 a.m. day is one of two allowed in the 180-day school year calendar. She said the other abbreviated day comes on the last day of school.