Columbia Early College High School will begin the  2018-19 academic year on Wednesday, August 15, Dr. Travis Twiford, interim superintendent, reminded parents on July 27.

The advanced start date is being implemented to better accommodate those students who are enrolled in the early college program. The new schedule more closely matches the schedule of classes at Beaufort County Community College.

Classes at Columbia Middle School and Tyrrell Elementary School will begin on Monday, August 27.

Open House will be held at Columbia High School on August 13 at 6 p.m., Tyrrell Elementary School on August 22 at 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Columbia Middle School on August 23 at 4-7 p.m.

Again this year Tyrrell County Schools are qualified to participate in the Community Eligibility Program, which means that all students in the school system may receive free breakfast and lunch.

As part of their planning for the Tyrrell County Schools 2018-19 year, district administrators and school principals will participate in a retreat on August 1 at the central office.

Board attorney Ken Soo will speak about changes in school laws, and Leann Winner from the North Carolina School Board Association will present legislative updates.

Departmental updates will be presented by Cynthia Debreaux, Dr. Jana Rawls, Shelia Cumiskey, and  Audrey Curles.

The annual Opening of School Breakfast for all school system employees will be held on Friday, August 10, in Columbia High School’s cafeteria beginning at 8 a.m.

Dr. Twiford also reported that the Tyrrell County Schools summer meals program, which served prepared food to individuals ages 18 years and younger, provided 2,721 breakfast meals and 3,092 lunch meals to the children of the community during June and July.