School registration ongoing for IUS students

Published Aug. 7, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Believe it or not, even though the temperatures may be rising and the days are still long, summer is ending and the start of the next school year is only a few weeks away.

Here at Incirlik AB, that means parents need to remember to register their children for school.

"Registration is ongoing, and if they have school aged children get them registered as soon as possible," said Raymond Herrera, Incirlik Unit School administrator officer.

Registration for all grades will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in IUS High School room 102.

Seda Yaleinkaya, IUS registrar, said it is important for parents to register children as quickly as they can so the school can get the correct amount of teachers so classes would not be overwhelmed.

By Department of Defense Education Activity regulations, there can be a maximum of 18 students to one teacher for kindergarten and first grade and 24 students to one teacher for second through 12th grade.

"If they are new they need to bring their PCS orders," said Yaleinkaya. "If they were in a school prior to attending IUS they need to bring their school records and updated shot records. If they are in kindergarten or first grade they need to bring a copy of their birth certificate, and for ninth grade and above a copy of their passports."

"We also have a registration package that they can pick up and either fill out here or take it home to fill out and bring back with all the required documents," Yaleinkaya continued.

Parents who have children starting Kindergarten should be aware that their child must be the age of five by Sept. 1, 2013, in order to begin the upcoming school year.

First through 12th grade students will begin Aug. 26. Kindergarten and first grade will begin Sept. 4, and the Sure Start program will begin Sept. 12.

Those arriving after the school semester begins should register their children as soon as they can.

"If you register before 10 a.m. when school is in session, your child can start the next school day," said Herrera. "If you register after 10 a.m. your child can start the second school day."

Parents can also register for other school programs while registering children for classes.

"They will also be given the opportunity to register for bus transportation," Herrera said. "If they live in Eagle or Falcon Housing and they're in kindergarten to eighth grade they may apply for bus transportation."

Phantom Housing is within one mile of the school and by DoD directives is considered a walking area, continued Herrera. There is however consideration to extend bus service to Phantom Housing residents on a space-available basis.

The other program parents will be able to register for is the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

"The school lunch program is an AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchanges Services) program, not a DoDEA program," Herrera said. "However, DoDEA has been asked to send information to sponsors and any questions about the school lunch program should be sent to AAFES."