It won't be long until the parks will be empty –– swings idly moving in the breeze. The Aquatic Center will all too soon be empty –– no screaming, sliding or splashing in the blue water. Big yellow buses will soon be seen running up and down the roads –– children waiting by the curb to board them.

It's back to school time again –– so soon.

Nodaway County school districts are preparing for the first day. New themes, open houses, PTO meetings and registration are underway.

The first day of school at Maryville R-II is Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Steve Klotz, principal at Eugene Field, said registration Thursday, Aug. 8, was steady –– busier in the late afternoon and evening. Teachers were in meetings and training sessions, so other professionals helped at the registration tables.

An open house at Eugene Field is planed from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18.

"It's exciting to see the kids come back for registration," Klotz said. "It's nice for us to see them meet their teachers and get excited to come back to school."

Northeast Nodaway will be first off the starting line this year –– school starts in Parnell and Ravenwood Thursday, Aug. 14.

Parent's night will be Monday, Aug. 11. Parents and children are invited to visit classrooms at the following times: kindergarten and first grades, 6 to 6:30 p.m.; second and third grades, 6:30 to 7 p.m.; fourth, fifth and sixth grades, 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Parents' night for preschool children will be from 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Northeast Nodaway's PTO purchases all supplies for the students except gym shoes and kindergarten nap mats. Students are encouraged to bring these items to the open house.

The first day of school at Jefferson C-123 is August 19. Principal Jane Walters said the theme for the year is "We elect to do our best."

"We want to focus on making good choices –– choosing to do our best," Walters said. "We thought this would be a good theme with 2008 being an election year. We plan to implement the theme into our character traits throughout the year."

South Nodaway will be bucking into a new year with a Western theme for 2008. Principal Darby Bauman said they want to get off to a "rip roaring" start this year –– she has the wanted poster up and is waiting for the students to arrive.

Posses will be formed for the Monday morning meetings –– with sheriffs, deputies and cowpokes. They will be developing brands, getting to know one another, working on character traits and building trust.

"Monday morning meetings is a time for celebration," Bauman said. "We talk about  birthdays, families with new babies, marriages, what we're thankful for and accomplishments. It's a time to brag and laugh."

Open house in Guilford –– for preschool through sixth grade –– will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18 with the first day of school being Tuesday, Aug. 19.

"The open house is a time for parents and students to come in and talk to the teachers," Bauman said. "The kids are encouraged to bring their school supplies and put them away during open house."

Bauman said the open house is a "come and go" type of event, but there are scheduled times when teachers will meet with parents. The schedule for the evening is as follows: first grade, 6 p.m.; second grade, 6:20 p.m.; third grade, 6:40 p.m.; fifth and sixth grades, 7:20. Teachers of preschool and kindergarten students will visit their students before school starts, so there will be no scheduled time for them to meet at open house.

Nodaway-Holt staff is ready to go. Principal Ethan Sickels said they will begin working on specific character traits from the beginning. The word for August is responsibility.

School starts at Nodaway-Holt Aug. 19. Open houses are  planned for Thursday, Aug. 14, Friday, Aug. 15, and Tuesday, Aug. 26.

The schedule for the classroom preview is as follows: Aug. 14 –– Preschool, 3 to 5 p.m., Kindergarten, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; first grade, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Aug. 15 –– second grade, 6:30 to 730 p.m. Aug. 26 –– third grade, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; fourth grade, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., fifth grade, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sixth grade open house is to be determined.

West Nodaway elementary students will be walking into a Sea of Learning this year  –– preparing to "catch a wave" –– when school starts on Aug. 20. By the end of the school year, if the Rocket students accomplish their reading goals, a luau is in the plans.

Parents and students are encouraged to take advantage of the sneak peek from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18, at the elementary school –– meet the teachers and bring school supplies.