Armed with teacher assignments and class schedules, thousands of lake area students will be rushing off to school this week as districts welcome them back from summer break.
By the end of the week, all lake area districts and students will be getting used to the routine of being back in the classroom.
Macks Creek students will be starting their first full week of school. The district started the fall semester late last week.
While school staff and administration look after students when they make it to campus, motorists are being reminded to be on the lookout and be prepared to spend additional time on their commute.
As students wait along bus routes, parents drop kids off at school and young drivers take the wheel, there will be more traffic along routes especially before and after the school bell rings.
In anticipation of a change in traffic patterns, signs have been posted along major highways to remind people that the start of school is here.
Besides safety concerns, state law requires motorists to follow a few rules of the road when they approach school buses. If a school bus is stopped and displaying warning signals while loading or unloading children on a two-lane road, drivers must stop when meeting or following behind the bus. On a four-lane highway drivers are only required to stop when following the bus.
It’s not just near school buses drivers need to stay alert. More kids will also be riding bikes or walking along the road to go to and from school and taking part in extracurricular activities.
Camdenton and Versailles start classes Monday. School of the Osage begins on Wednesday while Climax Springs and Eldon students head back to classes Thursday.
Contact this reporter at charisp@lakesunleader.com