GALVESTON — Superintendent Lynne Cleveland estimates that no more than half of the public school district’s students will return when classes resume today.

“I’m hoping for 60 percent — that’s about 3,500 students,” she said. “We’re very excited about having them back, and we know they’re ready to get back to a normal routine. The principals and staff have been working hard to get these schools ready.”

The schools were closed before Hurricane Ike hit the coast.

On Tuesday, principals and teachers focused on helping students cope in the aftermath of the storm, rather than on academics, Cleveland said.

The district has borrowed a curriculum developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It includes activities to help children use a natural disaster as a learning experience.

Students will learn about the science and history of hurricanes. They’ll also write essays to help them cope with their emotions, Cleveland said.

Cleveland said teachers have been instructed to let children have time to talk about personal problems and to share their experiences with their classmates.

All students will be asked to fill out a form detailing their needs, such as clothing, school supplies and food.
Some children who were enrolled at heavily damaged schools will attend different schools — at least for a while.

Eight school were up and running on Tuesday. Four schools are still too damaged to open, which means students had to be shifted to other campuses.

All bilingual and prekindergarten students who attended Burnet Elementary School will attend Oppe Elementary School, 2915 81^st St. All other Burnet Elementary School students will attend Parker Elementary School, 6802 Jones Drive.

Scott Elementary School students with last names beginning with the letters A through L will report to Rosenberg Elementary School, 721 10 ^th St. All others will report to Morgan Elementary School, 1410 37 ^th St.

All students enrolled in the school’s life skills program should call Mary Patrick, executive director for special services and early childhood education, for special arrangements. The number is 409-766-5172.

All Central Middle School students will attend Weis Middle School, 7100 Stewart Road, and all students who attended Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School, if they are living on Galveston Island, will attend Weis Middle School if they are in grades five through eight. All others should contact Terri Watkins at 409-766-5141.

Since many students lost their clothing in the storm, the schools will relax the school uniform polices for the first two weeks of school.

On the first day back, students will receive a sheet of paper asking what their needs are, including school supplies, counseling or clothing. Students who need clothing will receive it through the school.

The district will pick up students who are scattered across the mainland and island at 6:45 a.m. to ensure all students have a way to school.

Students living in the Red Cross shelter will catch a bus at 51^st Street near Alamo Elementary School, 5200 Ave. N ½.

The buses will also stop at seawall hotels where many island families have been staying. Students living in La Marque or Texas City will be picked up at Wal-Mart, 6410 Gulf Freeway in La Marque, or at Mall of the Mainland, 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in Texas City, at 6:45 a.m.

Regular bus routes will be provided for students living east of Ferry Road and west of 99^th Street, as well as students who live in the Teichman Road area.

All other students are urged to find a ride to the island school closest to where they are living where a school bus will pick them up and drop them off at the campus they should attend.

The public school district lost almost all its buses, which were waiting on standby for the city to use them, if necessary, during an evacuation. The buses were destroyed by the tidal surge.

Houston public school district loaned the district 50 buses to use during the year. The Anahuac public school district also donated a 72-passenger bus.

The school district will provide free breakfast and lunch for all students for the first two weeks of school.

Despite losing power for days, the school will be able to serve hot meals and cold milk, said Jennifer Douglas, nutrition director.

The school district is offering free day care for its employees and students at San Jacinto Elementary School, 1110 Moody Ave. The day care, open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., will accept children between 6 weeks and 3 years old.

For information, parents should call Patrick at 409-766-5172.