New Laws Effective September 1, 2009

**All passengers in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Age and location do not matter.

**Use of cell phones in a school zone is in effect. Hands free devices may be used. Local authorities can only enforce the new restrictions if signs announcing the ban are posted at the beginning of each school zone. Cumby has their signs posted for no cell phone use in the school zone areas.

**Drivers Ed students behind the wheel instruction will increase from 14 hours to 34 hours. Students will also have to take a driving skills test in addition to the written test.

**Motorcycle riders will not be allowed to bring any child under the age of 5 with them on their bike unless they are placed into a side car.

**There is a new booster seat requirement for kids in vehicles, it’s no longer kids under five but it’s kids under the age of eight, or shorter than 4’9″.

**HB 339: Prohibits teens under 18 from texting or talking on a cell phone while driving.

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Using Hand-Held Cellular Device in School Zones is Illegal

Effective Sep 1, 2009, it is illegal to use a hand-held cellular device while driving in any school zone in the state of Texas. Please help keep our kids safe. Comply with the law.

Gifted and Talented Program

All students have been notified of acceptance into the GT program for the 2009-2010 school year. If you received a letter of acceptance, please return the permission form for your child to participate. The program will get rolling around the 2nd week of school for elementary. Jr. High GT classes will begin the first day of school. Testing for the 2010-2011 school year will be held in the spring and notification will be posted on the school website.

Some Friendly Reminders for the start of a new school year:

School will be starting soon for the State of Texas and there will be kiddos walking, riding bikes, getting on and off buses, and out of cars with eagerness to start a new year. Please remember to watch the school zones for children. There should be no texting or cell phone usage in the school zones to help protect our precious students. Awareness and caution is the responsibility of all adults during the school days.

Education should be fun!!!!!!

Make helping your child learn hard subjects by making it fun for them to learn.  Involve yourself in their learning and search out many fun activities on the web..homework at night could be a lot less of a pain for everyone.

Question to Ponder…..