Issue date: August 26, 1998

It's back to school next week for many It's back to school next week for many (August 26, 1998)

It's back to school next week for most students in local public elementary schools, signaling the end of their last days of summer vacation.

High school students at Menlo-Atherton, Woodside and other schools in the Sequoia Union High School District have a one-week reprieve. So do kindergartners through eighth-graders at Woodside Elementary. School starts for them after Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The Almanac's special "Back to School" section, with information on what's new at local elementary and high schools, will appear next week in the Sept. 2 issue.

Early start

Starting earlier this year are schools in three neighboring elementary school districts:

**Menlo Park district: Laurel, Encinal, Oak Knoll and Hillview Middle schools start Monday, Aug. 31.

**Las Lomitas district: Las Lomitas and La Entrada schools start Tuesday, Sept. 1.

**Portola Valley district: Ormondale and Corte Madera schools start Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Traditionally, local schools have started after Labor Day. But because Labor Day arrives later this year (the second week in September) and because days may be added to the school year under a new state budget, districts elected to start classes earlier. A later start would have meant that the school year wouldn't end until the third week in June.