Columbia elementary’s Back-to-School Bash to offer new twist

At Columbia elementary’s “Back-to-School Bash” on Aug. 15, students will see the lobby’s new mural, painted by art teacher Noel Newquist. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Columbia Elementary School’s Open House for 2013-2014 will offer a different angle this year.

The open house “Back-to-School Bash” on Aug. 15 will include refreshments, like popcorn and snow cones. “We are going to try something a little different. We are adding bounce houses” to entertain the students, media specialist Stephanie Nguyen said.

For new students, a “Learn About Columbia” session will be held from 4 to 4:30 p.m. in the media center. “If you’re a new student to the Columbia family, you can meet with the administration and tour the building at this time,” Nguyen said.

Also in the media center, kindergarten families will meet at 4:30 p.m. for an orientation session.

For all returning and new students, classrooms will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. At the same time, outside activities and attractions will be underway.

Presentations will be given in homerooms for all children. First-graders and students with developmental delays will have a presentation from 5 to 5:15 p.m.

Other presentation times are for second grade from 5:20 to 5:35 p.m.; third grade, 5:40 to 5:55 p.m.; fourth grade, 6 to 6:15 p.m.; fifth grade, 6:20 to 6:35 p.m.; and sixth grade, 6:40 to 6:55 p.m.

Mark McCrory is principal at Columbia. Brett Chapman is assistant principal for the ASTROS (Always Striving to Reach Our Stars).

The Columbia campus will see improvements this year with the addition of two soccer fields. Madison City Schools has set a ceiling of $100,000 from the general fund to apply to the project, which involves a partnership with the City of Madison for engineering study and land developer and former school board member Don Spencer Jr. for fill dirt.

A supply list for each grade is available at ces.madisoncity.k12.al.us. For more information, call 256-430-2751.