With just two weeks left before the start of the 2011-’12 school year, Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School (WMPCCS) will hold its annual back-to-school “Gear Up” for three full days – from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday-Friday, July 27-29 to better accommodate working families.

“Gear Up” provides families an opportunity to pick-up class schedules, purchase mandatory student uniforms, pay fees for bus, food services, class dues ($3) and student activities ($2) and sign up for athletics (Cross Country and Volleyball) before school formally begins for all of the school’s 6th-8th graders on Mon., Aug. 1.

“To prevent families from having to take time off from work – and to minimize long lines to purchase and pick up mandatory student uniforms, we expanded “Gear Up” to three full days,” said WMS CEEO/Principal John Colson.

All families are urged to drop by at the time most convenient for them to take care of back-to-school business.

To further expedite things, families may come by campus before July 27 to order and pay for student uniform T-shirts so they are ready for pickup during “Gear Up.”

However, purchasing new shirts is not essential. Students may wear the same uniforms they had last year if they still fit. Also, there’s a close-out sale in progress of a limited supply of shirts at $3 and $4 each while supplies last. (The only sizes remaining in this close out sale are Youth Mediums and Adult Larges.)

New shirts for the 2011-2012 school year are $7 each, or families may purchase a package of five uniform t-shirts for $30, which is the same price as was charged the last two years. Included in the five-pack are two royal blue Pa’ahana shirts, two new gray Pa’ahana shirts, and a black shirt featuring the scenic pu’u (hills) of Waimea.

Families coming to “Gear Up” may also sign students up for free after-school Homework Help+ (tutoring), which is held immediately after school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bus transportation is provided for tutoring students on the same basis as when provided after the regular school day.

Also during “Gear Up” students may sign up for cross-country and volleyball after-school athletics. Both sports will be co-ed. Coaches have not been named, however, Warren Tamaye is assuming the role of athletic director overseeing all athletic activities at WMS.

The one-way gravel entry drive on the back (or south) side of the WMS campus will again be used to maximize student safety during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. The one new addition to the procedure will require all car drop-offs and pick-ups to take place at the cafeteria to improve student safety. Families are asked to continue to exercise extreme caution when driving on campus to optimize student safety.

For more information, call WMPCCS at 887-6090 Ext. 222.