Changes required for school immunizations

For better or worse, the summer of 2009 is nearly over. Humble ISD is preparing to open its doors to students in four weeks, on August 24, with an approximate projected enrollment of 34,500. This number reflects an increase of nearly 600 students over last year. In order to provide appropriate facilities to its increasing population, the district is opening its sixth high school, Summer Creek High School, and its 25th elementary school, Lakeshore Elementary.

New for this year is a change to the immunizations required for attendance. District representative Jamie Mount said that the modifications are “particularly important to students in Kindergarten and seventh grade.” Beginning on Aug. 1, students entering kindergarten will be required to have received two doses each of the hepatitis A, varicella, and measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Seventh grade students will be required to have one dose each of the meningococcal vaccine, as well as the tetanus, diptheria and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. Seventh graders will also be required to have a received two doses of the varicella vaccine. Students in grades eight through 12 will be required to have a booster dose of DTaP if they have not received a vaccination within the previous 10 years.

As with every school year, parents should be prepared to fill out a stack of forms. Humble’s Director of Public Information Karen Collier explained that Humble ISD discontinued online student registration last year when the district transitioned to a new software package for maintaining student records. “At this time, families are completing registration forms in writing and submitting the information to the schools,” said Collier. “We do plan to offer online registration in the future and are currently working with the software company on this issue.”

New student forms are available at the districts Web site, www.humble.k12.tx.us. Returning students will receive paperwork from their schools. Dates and times for picking up and returning paperwork, open houses, back-to-school orientations and more can be found on the district Web site and in the district newsletter “Your Schools.”

Collier encourages parents to sign up to receive messages through the districts information system. “The Your Schools Insider parent communications system has been invaluable in keeping our parents connected to the schools,” she said. “If you have received e-mail, text, or telephone alerts about school closings, then you know the power of electronic communications systems. But we use the system to communicate more than just emergency information. At a recent national conference, Humble ISD was asked to share best practices on using the system to respond to rumors in the community. We use the system to track rumors as patrons use the system to ask questions or ask for comments about something they have heard. We provide responses from district administrators in the Fact or Fiction category of the Web site in real time. This keeps us more in the know about rumors and gives us more control in spreading correct information. Our parents have come to expect such open communication from Humble ISD, and the Your Schools Insider system has been a tremendous asset in helping us achieve our purpose.”

Additionally, all Humble ISD schools participate in Home Access Center, which allows parents to view grades online. The system will be available again when school starts.

The next summer session begins June 3, 2010.