On August 6, bells will ring and halls will fill as students return to school from a two-month summer break. Pike County schools are ready to go and a series of orientations will begin this week.

At Goshen High School, sixth and seventh grade orientation is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym. GHS Principal Gene Nelson said teachers will be on hand to answer questions and show students their new classrooms.

"For sixth graders this is a new experience," he said. "They will have teachers here to help them find their classrooms."

Nelson said students will not be able to register for classes on Thursday.

"Thursday is not a night to register," he said. "We won't be set up for that."

He said most of the students have already registered and the only students who need to come in are those who are new to the system. Nelson said students will be able to register next week at the high school.

New students need to bring proof of residency, the withdrawal from their previous school, a medical form verifying vaccinations, a social security card, a birth certificate and a report card or transcript from the previous school.

Unlike Troy City Schools, Nelson said he has not been directed to require each student, new and old, to provide two forms of proof of residency.

"We haven't been directed to do that," he said. "It is a requirement, though, to have a physical address."

He said that once the E-911 addresses are enforced in the fall, the school will only use that address as a mailing address-unless the mailing address is a PO Box.

Goshen Elementary School will have its parent orientation August 5 at the elementary school. First-time students also need to provide the following forms before they can be officially enrolled: a vaccination slip, a social security card, a birth certificate and two proofs of residency.

Proof of residency can include property tax records, mortgage documents or a property deed, apartment or home lease, utility bill, driver's license, voter precinct identification, automobile registration or homeowner's insurance policy. All the required forms are necessary for new students on any grade level.

Pike County High School will have an open house for parents the first week of school. Principal Terry Casey new students can register the week before school or the first day of school.

Pike County Elementary School will hold orientation August 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Banks Primary School and Banks Middle School will hold orientation July 31. Students new to Banks Primary will meet at the school from 6-7 p.m. Orientation for fourth and fifth grade students is from 7-8 p.m. in the round building at the middle school.

New teachers aren't left out when it comes to back-to-school meetings. New teacher orientation is July 31 at 8 a.m. in the board room. Institute is August 4 at 8 a.m. at the Cattleman's Building. The morning half of institute will include discussion on Amendment 1.