This start guide includes the top ten things you need to know to be ready for the 2022-2023 school year, including:

1. New parent communication tool this year - you must create an account to receive school communication
2. School Calendar
3. Open Houses/Back to School Dates
4. Student Safety
5. GROW Programming (childcare)
6. Immunizations
7. Technology
8. Transportation
9. Visitor/Background Checks
10. School Lunch

*You will find additional information included below the critical top 10 things to know to get started.

The first day of school: August 4, 2022

Labor Day
September 5 / no school

Fall Break
October 10-14 / no school

Thanksgiving Break
November 23-25 / no school

Winter Break
December 21-January 2 / no school

Martin Luther King, Jr Day
January 16 / no school

Teacher Day
January 17 / no school

February Break
February 20-24 / no school

Spring Break
March 31-April 7 / no school

Last Day of School
May 25

Commencement
June 4

Link to full school calendar on district website can be found here.

E-Days

*E-day instruction may be used for emergency (weather/power outage) school closure situations. This will be communicated by all channels as soon as known on impacted school days.

Open House information

State law stipulates that school children’s medical records must show that required immunizations have been completed by the 20th day of the school year. That day is August 31, 2022. The CoVID-19 vaccine is not one of these mandatory immunizations as of this writing.

Information regarding immunization requirements for 2022-2023 can be found here. Parents of children whose immunizations are not up to date should contact their health care provider or the Boone County Health Department to schedule an appointment for the necessary immunizations. Some pharmacies also carry the necessary vaccines.

Children who do not have up-to-date vaccination records by August 31, 2022, will not be allowed to return to school until the proper immunization information is on file. If parents object to immunizations, a written objection must be on file in the school office by that date. This must be updated yearly. Students who have appointments with their health care provider after August 31, 2022, must present proof of the scheduled appointment in order to remain in school. Please contact the health clinic at your school with any questions or concerns.

ZCS school nursing services are provided by St. Vincent/Ascension Health. Need a health care provider? Visit getstvincentcare.com.

During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times. Examples include:

• Classroom Guest Speakers
• Classroom Special Events
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

We ask that all visitors schedule an appointment to meet with teachers, counselors, administrators and all other staff members so that we may best serve everyone.

Visitors other than parents/guardians must be prearranged and organized through the main office. ZCS thanks all volunteers for their generous support of our youth and schools. Thank you, too, for supporting assurance of student and staff safety by completing and paying for a volunteer background check.

Background Checks for Volunteers

We value partnerships with our families and always welcome parents, guardians and community members to serve as volunteers in our schools. Each ZCS building covers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. Examples include:

• Field Trip or After Prom Chaperones
• Tutors
• Volunteer Coaches
• Classroom and Library Helpers
• Field Day and Jog-A-Thon Volunteers
• Book Fair and Athletic Ticket Sales

During the school day, all volunteers are expected to sign in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must sign a Nondisclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check. All necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view mandatory videos and fill out required forms found on the Volunteer/BRAVO website.

The volunteer will pay the fee for the full background check which will expire after five years. The link to apply for the full background check can be accessed on the Volunteers/BRAVO link on the ZCS main webpage. For more information, contact the Volunteer/BRAVO Coordinator.

When making lunch selections, we encourage you to remind your children that for both nutritional and economical value, it is best to select five components as part of the their meal. Food components include: meat (protein), grain (bread), fruit, vegetable and milk. Lunch tray items may contain at least three different food components, one of which must be either a fruit or a vegetable.

At the elementary and middle school levels, students may choose a meat, grain, fruit, two veggies and a milk for a complete lunch.

At the high school level, students may take the same as the above but include two fruits.

Lunch prices for the coming school year are:

• $1.40 for breakfast
• $2.65 for elementary lunch
• $2.85 for secondary lunch

General back-to-school cafeteria notes can be found here.

Application for meal/textbook assistance is posted on the ZCS website at the bottom of the page here.