The 2024-25 school year starts Wednesday, Aug. 14.

High school student orientation and registration sessions are this week. Central Valley High School held its annual Taking Flight orientation for freshmen yesterday and will continue today for sophomores, juniors and seniors from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ceres High School held its “Dog Days” registration yesterday for freshmen and continues today for all other grade levels from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The orientation gave students a chance to have their student ID photos taken and pick up schedules, Chromebooks and buy PE clothes, student body cards and yearbooks. Designated juniors and seniors acted as “ambassadors” to help guide freshmen around the campus and familiarize themselves with staff members. They also did team-building exercises.

The Ceres Police Department is cautioning drivers to beware of the start of school and to be extremely careful, especially in the areas around Ceres’ numerous school campuses.

To help families and students prepare for a new school year, the Ceres Unified School District’s Family Resource Center is hosting a Back-to-School Bash from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, August 8 at 2503 Lawrence Street, Ceres.

The district has partnered with Flawless Hair Salon and Headquarters Barbershop to provide vouchers for free haircuts for enrolled students (hair must be clean and dry).

Limited supplies of backpacks and shoes will also be available at the event, along with shaved ice, a balloon artist and other activities.

Families may pre-register for haircut vouchers by calling the Family resource Center at 209-556-1559.

The new school year starts with a new district superintendent. Denise Wickham retired on June 30, leaving the district in the hands of Amy Peterman.

Peterman is believed to be the first CUSD superintendent who is a product of the Ceres school system. Formerly named Amy Beaver, she attended Caswell Elementary and Mae Hensley Junior High before going onto Ceres High School where she graduated in 1991.