It’s the first day of school for many students across Maryland today. Students in Garrett and Alleghany counties went back to school last week after gaining waivers from the state. For the first time in more than 20-years, most schools are opening after Labor Day this year after Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order mandating a delay to the start of the school year until after the traditional end of summer.
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh will join City Schools CEO, Dr. Sonja Santelises, Senator Ben Cardin, and various school and community leaders, lawmakers, and other invited guests to kick off the new school year today, visiting schools to welcome students returning from summer break.
Also, Baltimore County Public Schools’ Interim Superintendent, Verletta White, plans to visit 14 schools this week to welcome students, teachers, and administrators to the new school year. During her first day visits today to Woodbridge and Arbutus elementary schools, White will be joined by Governor Larry Hogan, State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon, and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. School board members and other dignitaries are likely to participate in some of the visits.
There are new immunization requirements this year that may affect students up to the tenth grade in Baltimore City Schools. Students must be up to date with these immunizations PDF to be enrolled in and attend school. Children in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade must have two doses of chicken pox (varicella) vaccine. Students in 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade must have one dose meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine and one does of “Tdap” vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Follow this link:http://www.baltimorecityschools.org to learn more information about the new immunizations requirements or for information contact the Baltimore city schools, your child’s doctor or a city health department clinic.