Warren County students begin school Tuesday morning

Warren County students will climb aboard buses this morning, as classes begin for about 5,400 pupils. File photo/ Norma Jean Shaw

FRONT ROYAL – About 5,400 Warren County students will attend classes today, as Warren County Public Schools kicks off its 2017-2018 school year.

It has been a busy summer for WCPS officials. Along with hiring staff and preparing the new Warren County Middle School for opening, there was a renaming ceremony for the former Warren Middle School as it was changed to Skyline Middle and the major remodel of Ressie Jeffries Elementary school, which began before school closed for the summer break. Superintendent Greg Drescher said recently.

Families with students in different grades may have to adjust to different schedules, as the county school system is introducing staggered start times this year.

Middle schools and high schools will start at 8 a.m. and end at 2:35 p.m.; the elementary school will start at 9 a.m. and end at 3:35 p.m.

According to school officials, the new times reduce the number of buses and bus drivers the division needs to operate daily.

Bus schedules are available at wcps-trans.wcps.k12.va.us/liveweb/webquery/.

In a recent media release, Front Royal Police Department Interim Chief Bruce E. Hite encouraged motorists to exercise caution and adhere to the rules of the road governing  school buses and pedestrians as the 2017-2018 school year begins.

Hite said the police department’s crossing guards will direct traffic at designated crosswalks on N. Royal Avenue and E. Criser Road for the safe crossing of children going to and from school. Officers will also monitor the new crosswalk area of Leach Run Parkway leading to the new Warren County Middle School.

The FRPD encourages everyone to practice the Town of Front Royal’s S.T.O.P.S (Smart Towns Observe Pedestrian Safety) campaign message:

PEDESTRIANS

• Wear light colors and reflective clothing at night
• Cross at crosswalks, whenever possible. Mid-block crossing in NOT recommended
• Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT and over the shoulder for turning traffic before crossing

MOTORISTS/BICYCLISTS

• STOP for pedestrians who have entered crosswalks (marked and unmarked) while
  awaiting signal changes and at non-signal areas. Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT before
  crossing.
• DO NOT BLOCK CROSSWALKS when awaiting a signal change