The first day of school is fast approaching — Aug. 11 for Demopolis City Schools — and before that day arrives, students and parents alike will need to know what to get and when to get it.

The first thing that spending parents will need to know is the annual Tax-Free Holiday will be held from Friday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Aug. 8. During that time, participating stores will allow people to buy items without paying the sales tax. For every $100 bought, that is a savings of $9.

WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Westside Elementary School is getting ready for the 2010-11 school year to begin, and announced a number of details that students and parents will need to know.

Kindergarten will have an open house on Monday, Aug. 9, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Parents are asked to park near the ball fields or on the street, not in the school traffic lanes, which may be used to drop people off.

Early parent pick-up for kindergarteners will be at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 11-13,

The kindergarten supply list includes eight 8-count boxes of Crayola crayons, five bottles of Elmer’s white school glue, one pair of Fiskars blunt scissors, one large package of regular-size pencils, one small supply box or bag, two bottles of waterless soap (like Germ-X or Purell), one liquid soap, two boxes of Kleenex, two first-grade ruled writing tablets, one journal or composition notebook (not spiraled), one container of Clorox wipes, two rolls of paper towels and one box of quart-sized Ziploc bags. Girls need to bring one package of dry erase markers, while boys need to bring one package of colored copy paper.

Donations of gallon-sized Ziploc bags, assorted construction paper and white cardstock are appreciated.

The open house for those in the first grade will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the school cafeteria. Parents are asked to park near the ball fields or on the street, not in the school traffic lanes, which may be used to drop people off.

The supply list for first-graders includes two boxes of 24-count crayons, one pair of Fiskars safety scissors, one package of No. 2 pencils, two bottles of Elmer’s school glue, two plastic folders with brads and pockets, one supply box or pouch, two primary writing tablets, two packages of colored copy paper, one container of Clorox wipes, two bottles of Germ-X, two boxes of Kleenex and one roll of paper towels. The school requests that no rolling backpacks be brought to school.

Donations of construction paper, white copy paper, white cardstock, dry erase markers, washable markers, Formula 409 spray, Ziploc bags and liquid soap are appreciated.

The open house for those in the second grade will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

The second-grade supply list includes two boxes of 24-count crayons, three plastic folders with brads (red, blue and green), one pair of student scissors, two packages of pencils, one package of erasers, one school pouch, two boxes of Kleenex, two bottles of Germ-X, one bottle of liquid soap, two packages of colored paper (not cardstock), two containers of Clorox wipes, two packages of white copy paper, two bottles of Elmer’s glue, one roll of paper towels. The school requests that no rolling backpacks be brought to school.

U.S. JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

U.S. Jones Elementary School will have an open house on Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria.

The third-grade supply list includes one 1-inch or 1-1/2-inch binder; one pack of notebook dividers, one pack of colored copy paper, one pack of construction paper, one box of Crayola crayons, one glue stick, one bottle of Elmer’s glue, two packs of wide-ruled notebook paper, one pack of No. 2 pencils, one pair of Fiskars scissors, one package of 4-count large black dry-erase markers, two vinyl clasp folders, two boxes of tissue, one bottle of Germ-X, one roll of paper towels, two bottles of Clorox wipes, one can of Lysol disinfecting spray and one school box or pouch for crayons. The school requests that no Trapper keepers or rolling book bags be brought to the school.

The fourth-grade supply list includes one 1-inch or 1-1/2-inch clearview binder, one pack of notebook dividers, two packs of loose-leaf paper, one pack of colored copy paper, one pack of construction paper, two packs of No. 2 pencils, one pack of crayons or colored pencils or markers, one bottle of glue, one pair of scissors, one crayon box or pouch, two boxes of Kleenex, two rolls of paper towels, two bottles of hand sanitizer, one can of spray disinfectant, two boxes of Clorox wipes and one pack of large black Expo markers. Boys are asked to bring Expo board cleaner fluid, while girls are asked to bring liquid hand soap. The school requests that no large binders, rolling book bags or spiral notebooks be brought to the school.

The fifth-grade supply list includes one box of crayons, one pack of markers, one pack of colored copier paper, two bottles of glue, two glue sticks, two packs of sharpened pencils, one pair of scissors, three packs of wide-ruled paper, two clasp folders with pockets, one pack of Post-It notes, one roll of Scotch tape, one box of baby wipes, one box of Clorox wipes, one can of disinfectant spray, two bottles of Germ-X, one pack of black Expo markers, three rolls of paper towels, one pack of highlighters, one three-ring binder, four composition notebooks and three boxes of Kleenex. Boys are asked to bring a box of gallon-sized Ziploc bags, while girls are asked to bring one box of quart-sized Ziploc bags.

DEMOPOLIS MIDDLE SCHOOL

Demopolis Middle School will have its schedule pick-up on Friday, Aug. 6. Sixth-graders are asked to come between 9 and 10:30 a.m., seventh-graders are asked to come between 10:30 a.m. to noon and eighth-graders are asked to come between 1 and 2:30 p.m.

An open house will be held at DMS on Monday, Aug. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The school is putting in new flooring in “the new building,” including the cafeteria and the hallways.

DEMOPOLIS HIGH SCHOOL

Demopolis High School will have its schedule pick-up on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Wednesday, Aug. 4. Seniors are asked to come on Aug. 3 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., while freshmen are asked to come on Aug. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Juniors are asked to come on Aug. 4 from 8:30 to 10 a.m., while sophomores are asked to come on Aug. 4 from 10:30 to noon.

Students are asked to report to their homerooms on the first day of school — Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 7:55 a.m.