SR3 Parent Connection

The start of a new school year is always exciting, and after months of planning and preparation, we are just days away from welcoming our students back to Savannah R3.

Over the past few weeks, our schools have come back to life. Teachers have been preparing classrooms, our support staff has been getting buildings and buses ready, new employees have joined the SR3 Family, and families have filled our campuses for Back-to-School events. On Tuesday, our entire staff came together for our annual Welcome Back Rally, and the energy and excitement for the year ahead were easy to see.

Of course, much of the work to prepare for a new school year begins long before August. Our Maintenance and Technology teams have been busy throughout the summer tackling projects across the district. Families may notice improvements to several of our parking lots, while Savannah Middle School received updates to its fire alarm system, along with many other repairs and improvements throughout our campuses. Our Technology team has also been preparing thousands of new Chromebooks to roll out to students across the district this year.

A tremendous amount of work happens behind the scenes each summer, and I am grateful to the staff members who spent the past several months making sure our schools are ready.

Now, we're ready for the most important part: our students.

When students walk through our doors Wednesday morning, our goal is for each of them to know they are welcomed, supported, and ready to learn. Whether they're walking into kindergarten for the very first time, starting their senior year, or somewhere in between, a new school year brings new opportunities, new challenges, and a fresh start.

Our mission at Savannah R3 is to create a district where every student thrives, No Matter What. That work happens every day in classrooms, cafeterias, buses, offices, playgrounds, athletic fields, and everywhere in between. It takes great teachers and staff, but it also takes strong partnerships with our families and community.

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, I want to thank you for the trust you place in us each day. We don't take the responsibility of educating and caring for your children lightly, and we are grateful to have you as our partners in that work.

Enjoy these last few days of summer, take plenty of first-day pictures, and know that when Wednesday morning arrives, we'll be ready to welcome your students.

Here's to a great year, Savannah R3.

~ Dr. Brian Hansen

We know the first morning of school is a big one — especially for our youngest Savages (and sometimes even more so for their grown-ups!).

As a reminder, parents and guardians cannot walk students into the building on the first day of school. Our staff will be ready and waiting to greet students, help them find their classrooms, carry the giant box of school supplies, calm first-day nerves, and make sure everyone gets where they need to go.

Back-to-School events gave families a chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and explore the building together. On Wednesday morning, it's time for our students to take that next step.

Get the hugs, pictures, and “have a great day!” in before they reach the doors — and we'll take it from there. 💛

You know the picture is coming. New shoes, new backpack, maybe a slightly forced smile... and hopefully everyone made it out the door on time. 😂

We've created First Day of School signs for every grade level, PreK–12, ready to download and print for Wednesday morning.

Grab your student's sign below and snap that obligatory first-day photo! Then share your pictures in the comments of our First Day of School Facebook post or email them to communications@savannahr3.com. We can't wait to see those first-day smiles!

Bus routes for the 2026–2027 school year are now available! Routes are posted without student names, so families will need their student's six-digit Student ID number to locate their stop and route information.

A few first-week reminders:

• Plan for delays. Routes can run up to 30 minutes behind during the first week as drivers and students settle into the new routine.
• Students who were not registered for transportation before July 1 may not appear on a route yet and may not be added until after Labor Day.
• BusZone provides families with bus location and transportation updates throughout the school year.

Use the buttons below to view bus routes or learn more about BusZone.

Between grades, school messages, bus information, and everything else, it can be hard to remember what each app does. Here's the quick version:

TeacherEase
Your student information hub. Use it for grades, attendance, lunch balances, fees, registration, contact information and district/school email notifications.

SchoolStatus Connect
Our district's two-way communication platform. This is where teachers, coaches, sponsors and school groups can communicate directly with students and families. Messages can reach you by text, email or in the app, based on your preferences.

BusZone
For bus-riding families. Use BusZone to track your student's bus and receive transportation updates and delay notifications.

Savannah R3 App
The district website in your pocket — an easy way to find calendars, menus, news, events and other district information.

• Android: http://bit.ly/2YU4YCA
• Apple: https://apple.co/35BGFvS.

Do I need all four? Nope! Which apps are useful to you will depend on your student and how you prefer to receive information.

When you hear Free & Reduced Meal Application, it's easy to assume it's only about breakfast and lunch — but there's more to it than that.

Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals may also be used to determine eligibility for other programs, benefits or reduced fees, depending on your family's individual circumstances. Just as importantly, this information helps Savannah R3 qualify for funding and resources that support students across our district.

That's why we encourage families who may qualify to complete an application — even if your student doesn't regularly eat school meals.

Applications are confidential and can be completed through your TeacherEase Parent Portal. And remember, if your family's financial circumstances change during the school year, you can apply at any time.

Click the picture below to learn more about the program, view current income guidelines, and find application instructions.

Results from last spring's MAP and End-of-Course (EOC) assessments are now available.

Savannah R3 will provide individual student reports to families during Parent-Teacher Conferences this fall. We find conferences are a great opportunity to share these reports, giving families a chance to review results alongside conversations about their student's progress and the school year ahead.

Parents and guardians may request a copy of their student's individual test results from their child's school at any time.

We'll share more information about Parent-Teacher Conferences as they get closer.

A new school year comes with questions — and sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing who to ask. Here's a quick guide to help you start in the right place.

Classroom, assignments, or your student's progress?

Start with your child's teacher.

Attendance, schedules, student records or general building questions?

Contact your child's school office.

Bus route, stop or transportation question?

Contact Durham School Services.

Lunch balance, student fees or TeacherEase questions?

Your child's school office is a great place to start.

SchoolStatus Connect question?

Start with your child's teacher, coach, or sponsor.

Not sure where your question belongs?

That's okay! Contact your child's school office, and they'll help point you in the right direction.

There's a lot of information in this newsletter, but there's even more on the Back to School section of our website. And if you still can't find what you are looking for, give us a call! All of our campuses are open during regular school hours.