Back to school Published Aug. 6, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Daryl Knee 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe school year begins Aug. 26 here. There are many items parents should know about before beginning another year in the school system. "It's overwhelming," said Chi Anne McGrew, 52nd Mission Support Group school liaison officer. "You go from a laid-back summer to hit-the-ground-running at the end of August. It makes life easier to (register) early and get it out of the way. When you prepare early, school supplies will still be available and it'll be a little easier on the pocket." Below is a list of helpful information, tips and tricks to make the school year a success. Registration Registration must be completed beforehand to allow DoD Education Activity time to hire the necessary teachers or instructors. The ratio of child to student is generally 20:1, meaning that if parents wait until mid August to register, the school system may not have the right number of teachers. Classroom size will increase, resulting in less one-on-one instruction. The items needed for registration include, but are not limited to, transcripts, copy of records or grades, special-needs paperwork, teacher records, birthdate verification via passport or birth certificate, immunization records, official orders with child authorized. If hand carried, the records or grades cannot be used for official records until a sealed transcript is released from the previous school. Reduced Lunch Program All DoDDS schools within the Eifel School District offer a healthy lunch every school day for your children. Studies have demonstrated that healthy meals may positively impact your child's learning. In order to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals offered at the schools, DoDDS, AAFES, and the School Liaison Office offer free or reduced price lunch for qualified families under the United States Department of Agriculture. Contact the School Liaison Officer for more information and qualifications of this program at DSN 452-6942 or 06565-61-6942. Sports Physicals Students who participate in sports programs must ensure their sports physicals are current through the end of the sports season. To renew a sports physical, parents can contact the 52nd Medical Group at DSN 452-8333 or 06565-61-8333 and schedule an appointment. 2013-14 School Year Important Dates (More detailed school calendars are available at individual school websites.) Aug. 26 - Begin first quarter and first semester. Spangdahlem Middle School Open House. Aug. 30 - Furlough Day Sept. 2 - Labor Day Federal Holiday Sept. 4 - Kindergarten students first day of school Sept. 5 - Bitburg Elementary School Open House Sept. 9 - Furlough Day Sept. 12 - Bitburg Middle-High School Open House Sept. 13 - DoDEA Training: All schools early release Sept. 16 - Furlough Day Sept. 19 - Spangdahlem Elementary School Open House Sept. 23 - Furlough Day Sept. 30 - Furlough Day Oct. 11 - No school Oct. 14 - Columbus Day Federal Holiday Oct. 26 - ACT Testing Oct. 31 - End of first quarter Nov. 1 - No school for students, teacher work day Nov. 2 - SAT Testing Nov. 4 - Begin second quarter Nov. 7 - No school for SES and BES, parent-teacher conferences Nov. 8 - No school Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Federal Holiday Nov. 28 - Thanksgiving Federal Holiday Nov. 29 - Recess Day Dec. 6 - BES, SES and SMS early release Dec. 7 - SAT Testing Dec. 12 - Accelerated withdrawal date Dec. 14 - ACT Testing Dec. 23 - Begin winter recess Dec. 25 - Christmas Federal Holiday Jan. 1 - New Year's Day Federal Holiday Jan. 6 - Instruction resumes Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Federal Holiday Jan. 23 - End of second quarter and first semester Jan. 24 - No school, teacher work day Jan. 25 - SAT Testing Jan. 27 - Begin third quarter and second semester Feb. 3 - No school Feb. 14 - BES, SES and SMS early release Feb. 27 - President's Day Federal Holiday March 21 - No school April 3 - End of third quarter April 4 - No school for students, teachers work day April 7 - Begin spring recess April 14 - Instruction resumes, begin fourth quarter May 3 - SAT Testing May 15 - Accelerated withdrawal date May 23 - BES, SES and SMS early release May 26 - Memorial Day Federal Holiday June 12 - End of fourth quarter and second semester June 13 - No school for students, teachers work day. Last day for nonadministrative educator personnel Websites http://www.spang-es.eu.dodea.edu http://www.spang-ms.eu.dodea.edu http://www.bitb-es.eu.dodea.edu http://www.bitb-hs.eu.dodea.edu http://www.facebook.com/spangdahlemslo http://www.dodea.edu/Europe http://www.dodea.edu/budget/index1.cfm