Rufus Carlock knows that some 650 students will return to the hallways of Adams County Christian School in a matter of days.

But not to worry – officials with ACCS and six other school systems in the Miss-Lou are prepared for the 2001-02 school year, and they may even have some surprises in store.

ACCS has made several changes in its curriculum this year such as increasing the requirements for graduation.

&uot;Beginning with this year’s ninth-grade the Carnegie units needed for graduation will increase from 20 to 22,&uot; Carlock said.

The school also improved its facilities hoping to make a leaking roof a thing of the past.

&uot;We’ve put a new complete roof on the high school and junior high building this summer,&uot; Carlock said.

At Trinity Episcopal Day School, school officials are also planning to expand, said Principal Dr. Delecia Carey.

The school plans to build an athletic field house behind its main building.

The building would include a weight room, locker room space and a whirlpool and may be completed by February, Carey said.

But one change at the school affects students as soon as classes begin next week.

Fifth- to eighth-grade students will begin an enrichment rotation on study skills, current events, computers, religion, Latin and art. The students will switch to a new class every six weeks.

&uot;If we can expose these middle school students to a lot of different things … then we’re providing something for them to help develop their creativity and their critical thinking skills,&uot; she said.

The school also hired two new math teachers and two new kindergarten teachers this year, Carey said.

Father Bob Zawacki, of Holy Family School, said one item on his school’s agenda is to replace the school’s convent which was destroyed by fire earlier this year, along with other renovation.

As for a computer lab that existed in the convent, &uot;we’ve got a mobile lab … to take up for the space,&uot; Zawacki said.

Cathedral School will begin classes next Thursday with at least one change – a new administrator.

Kate Cole, a retired principal from West Elementary School, will take over as elementary principal and assistant administrator.

She replaces Cathy Cook who left Cathedral to serve as the assistant superintendent for the Catholic Diocese in Jackson.

The Natchez-Adams School District will also welcome new staff this year, including Tommy Molden, the new ninth-grade principal. He replaces Bobby Brown who was promoted to high school principal.

Other changes include adding student resource officers or police officers to the high school, middle school and alternative school campuses and expansion of the Classworks Gold curriculum software to the high school campus, said Mary Kate Garvin, assistant superintendent.