Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Stephens Memorial Hospital, along with the Breckenridge Police Department, the Student Health Advisory Council and Sacred Cross EMS, collected school supplies on Friday, July 28, with plans to distribute them as needed in Breckenridge schools. Additionally, SMH will be hosting the Snow Cones and School Supplies Back-to-School Bash on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the lobby of the hospital’s business office, located across the street from the main entrance of the hospital, at 207 S. Geneva St.

Donations of money and school supplies were accepted at the Fill the Bus booth on Friday, July 28, at Walmart. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

At the Bash, they will be giving out free drawstring backpacks with school supplies in them. Solaris Hospice will also be handing out free Snow Cones, and Breckenridge Medical Center will provide information regarding vaccines that are needed for students heading back to school.

SMH and the BPD will continue to collect school supplies to be donated to Breckenridge Independent School District through donation boxes set up in various location. There are donation boxes in the SMH front lobby, 200 S. Geneva St.; at the hospital’s Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, 202 S. Hartford St.; at Breckenridge Medical Center, 101 S. Hartford St; and the Breckenridge Police Department, 210 E. Dyer St. The school district will distribute the school supplies as needed.

Back-to-School Activities

The first day of school for Breckenridge students will be Tuesday, Aug. 8, but some teachers and staff are already at work getting ready for the 2023-24 school year.

The following activities have been scheduled for Breckenridge students:

Tuesday, Aug. 1

BHS schedule pickup
Students going into the 11th and 12th grades can pick up their schedules at Breckenridge High School between 9 a.m. and noon Aug. 1.

Wednesday, Aug. 2

BHS schedule pickup
Students going into the 9th and 10th grades can pick up their schedules at Breckenridge High School between 9 a.m. and noon Aug. 2.

BJHS schedule pickup
Incoming 7th and 8th graders can pick up their schedules between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Breckenridge Junior High School.

Back-to-School Bash
On Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., Stephens Memorial Hospital will host a Snow Cones and School Supplies Back-to-School Bash in the lobby of the hospital’s business office, located across the street from the main entrance of the hospital, at 207 S. Geneva St. At the Bash, they will be giving out free drawstring backpacks with school supplies in them. Solaris Hospice will also be handing out free Snow Cones, and Breckenridge Medical Center will provide information regarding vaccines that are needed for students heading back to school. Click here for more details.

Bronco Roundup
Bronco Roundup for incoming 6th graders only will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at Breckenridge Junior High School.

Thursday, Aug. 3

Meet the Teacher
Breckenridge’s East and South elementary schools will host Meet the Teacher night from  5 to 7 p.m. at each school on Thursday, Aug. 3. Students will receive their homeroom teacher assignments and their schedules for the year.

Tuesday, Aug. 8

First Day of School
The Breckenridge Independent School District’s first day of school for the 2023-24 academic year will be Aug. 8.

Tax-Free Weekend

Although it’s scheduled for a few days after Breckenridge’s first day of school, the Texas “sales tax holiday” can save shoppers money on clothes and school supplies from Aug. 11 through Aug. 13.

During those days, the State of Texas will exempt sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.

Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at www.TexasTaxHoliday.org.

During the sales tax holiday, you can buy most school supplies, footwear and clothing (sold for less than $100) tax free. You do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate. The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.

There are items that do not qualify for the the exemption, including accessories, such as hair clips, jewelry, purses, etc.; specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear, like golf cleats and football pads, etc.; electronics, including computers and software; and a few other items. For detailed lists of which items are exempt from the sales tax, click here. It’s important to note that the list of clothing items includes both those that are exempt and those that aren’t; only the items designated with an “E” are exempt and included in the sales tax holiday.

During the annual sales tax holiday, qualifying items can be purchased tax-free online or by telephone, mail, custom order or any other means (including in-store purchases) when either the item is both delivered to, and paid for by, the customer during the exemption period; or, the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

Texas’ sales tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999. The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $136 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday.

Millie Cantrell accepts a school supply donation at the Fill the Bus booth on Friday, July 28. Donation boxes are set up at Stephens Memorial Hospital, the Breckenridge Police Department, Breckenridge Medical Center and the hospital’s physical therapy center. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: On Friday morning, July 28, a Fill-the-Bus booth was set up in front of Walmart, collecting money and school supplies for local students. Pictured, from left, are Suri Alvarado, Dedi Harvey, Millie Cantrell (in front), Melissa Palacios, Eva Cantrell, Marcy Rokicki and Jake Mullen. Donation boxes for school supplies are set up at Stephens Memorial Hospital, the Breckenridge Police Department, the hospital’s Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, and at Breckenridge Medical Center. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)