St. Joseph School District parents: You have a lot to do within the next two weeks.

Register your children for school. (Be prepared to pay more at registration than you did last year.)

Get your children immunized for school. (Or fill out a medical or religious exemption form.)

Make sure your children are ready for the switch from summer to school. (It might be hard to perfect this one.)

School starts Monday, Aug. 25, and middle school and high school registration begins this week, while elementary registration is the following week.

School administrators urge parents to contact their respective schools to find out registration details.

One detail will likely be consistent from school to school.

“Everything has gone up everywhere,” said Robidoux Middle School assistant principal Precious Kurth, referring to rising costs.

For example, Robidoux charged $18 last year for the combination of three items — book deposit, locker deposit and student handbook. This year, it will cost $20.

As in the past, the Buchanan County Health Department will extend its hours to give students required immunizations free of charge. For the next three weeks, the department will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Friday, Aug. 22, it will stay open until 6 p.m. The health department at Patee Hall, 904 S. 10th St., can be reached at 271-4636.

New this year, the Health Express will offer an immunization at a school site. The van will offer the DT (diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine at Central High School, 2602 Edmond St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 18, 19, 25 and 26.

Children typically receive the vaccine before kindergarten and then need it again after 10 years.

Donna Wilson, youth health coordinator at Heartland Health, said having the van at a school site could help prevent the issue of children showing up to school without the necessary shots.

“Short of putting a vaccine in the water, this makes it as accessible and easy to get as humanly possible,” Ms. Wilson said.

Eileen Duty, the school district’s director of health services, said she hopes parents prepare children for the upcoming schedule change.

“We want families to set a plan of action. Set an earlier time for bed and a wake-up time that will work for the school year. We want them to practice the routine,” Ms. Duty said.

Nancy Hull can be reached

at nancyhull@npgco.com.