The Chattooga County School System is asking parents and students to prepare for several transportation changes as the new school year begins, including bus detours caused by bridge restrictions and repairs.
With the first day of school just days away, motorists are being reminded to slow down, stay alert and obey Georgia’s school bus laws as Chattooga County students return to class on Friday, July 24.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the Gore community will hold its annual school prayer walk on Sunday, July 26, inviting families, educators, students, community members and other churches to take part.
The prayer walk will begin at approximately 5:15 p.m. at the CCEC Center and Chattooga County Schools Bus Garage.
The group will then visit the following schools:
Leroy Massey Elementary School — 5:45 p.m.
Trion City Schools — 6:10 p.m.
Summerville Middle School and the CO/AGC area — 6:40 p.m.
Chattooga High School — 7 p.m.
Lyerly Elementary School — 7:25 p.m.
Menlo Elementary School — approximately 7:56 p.m.
Organizers said all times are approximate, but the group plans to arrive as close as possible to the listed schedule.
Community members are welcome to join the prayer walk at their local school or travel with the group to each stop. Other churches are also invited to participate.
Families across Chattooga County will have an opportunity to meet teachers and prepare for the upcoming school year during Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, July 23.
The event will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Menlo Elementary School, Lyerly Elementary School, Leroy Massey School, Summerville Middle School, and Chattooga High School.
Students and their families are encouraged to visit their schools, meet teachers, tour classrooms, drop off school supplies, and learn more about the year ahead before classes begin.
School officials say Meet the Teacher Night is a great opportunity for students to become familiar with their learning environment and start the new school year with confidence.
Georgia DPH Urges Parents to Make Sure Students Are Up to Date on Immunizations Before School Starts
With the first day of school approaching for Chattooga County students, the Georgia Department of Public Health is encouraging parents to make sure their children’s immunizations and required health records are up to date before classes begin.
Trion High School is reminding students that locker and parking permit purchases will take place on Friday, July 24, at the back entrance of Trion High School.
Students must purchase lockers and parking permits during their assigned class time:
- Seniors: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
- Juniors: 9:30 to 11 a.m.
- Sophomores: 11 a.m. to noon
- Freshmen: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The cost is $25 for a locker and $30 for a parking permit.
School officials say students who have not completed and submitted their enrollment paperwork or tuition requirements will not be able to make purchases until those requirements have been met.
Because the enrollment deadline has passed and PowerSchool is temporarily offline for maintenance, parents needing to complete enrollment must fill out a paper enrollment form, which is available in the Trion High School office.
Students are also reminded to wait until their designated time slot before arriving to make purchases.
With the first day of school just a few weeks away, Chattooga County Schools has made school supply lists available to help families prepare for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Chattooga County Community Resource Center Director Maisha Ludy says the community has provided every item needed for this year’s Back to School Bash, several days before the event.
Ludy announced Monday that all requested school supplies and other needed items have been collected. She said that in six years of coordinating the event, the organization has never completed its supply collection this far in advance.
The annual Back to School Bash will be held Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chattooga High School.
The event will include free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, community resources and other activities for local students and families.
Organizers remind parents and guardians that children must be present to receive a backpack and school supplies.
Ludy thanked residents, businesses and organizations across the county for their generosity and support, saying the early response reflects the strength of the Chattooga County community.
Trion High School has announced important back-to-school dates for students and families.
Freshman and new student orientation will be held Wednesday, July 29, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Students and parents should meet at the high school gym. New students and freshmen will also be able to purchase lockers during orientation.
Locker and parking purchases for returning students will be held Friday, July 24, at the back entrance of Trion High School. Seniors may purchase from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m., juniors from 9:30 until 11 a.m., sophomores from 11 a.m. until noon, and freshmen from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m.
Students must wait until their assigned time slot to make purchases.
The Chattooga County Democratic Party recently presented a donation to support the annual Back to School Bash, an event that helps local students prepare for the upcoming school year with free school supplies and other resources.
State House District 12 candidate Holly Chaney joined the presentation and praised the community effort.
“This is one of the events that makes me so proud of our county,” Chaney said. “Maisha Ludy and Chattooga Family Connection do a terrific job helping our students start school with the supplies and support they need.”
The Back to School Bash serves students from both the Chattooga County and Trion school systems and is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, at the Chattooga High School Gym.
Pictured are (left to right) Pam Albert, First Vice President of the Chattooga County Democratic Party; Maisha Ludy, Coordinator of Chattooga Family Connection; and Holly Chaney, candidate for Georgia House District 12, which includes Chattooga County.