Over the next few weeks Miss-Lou children will gather their books and pencils and prepare for school.

Seven school systems in Concordia Parish and Natchez will begin the 2001-02 school year this month and school officials are busy preparing for the arrival of students.

&uot;We’re just trying to put the finishing touches to everything now,&uot; said Rufus Carlock, superintendent of Adams County Christian School.

ACCS will begin classes Aug. 13, with an estimated enrollment of 650.

Across Adams County, Trinity Episcopal Day School will begin classes next week on Aug. 9.

&uot;We’re all ready,&uot; said Principal Dr. Delecia Carey.

She expects to have about 315 students this year.

&uot;We’re excited. We’ve got some great new teachers on board, and we think we’re going to have a great year,&uot; Carey said.

Millicent Mayo, public relations coordinator for the Natchez-Adams School District, said about 5,100 students will also begin classes at the public school system’s seven campuses on Aug. 9.

&uot;I’ve been out to some of the schools and they’re all working in their classes,&uot; Mayo said. &uot;It looks like everybody’s about ready.&uot;

In Louisiana, the Concordia Parish School District will begin classes Aug. 20 and Huntington School will begin classes Aug. 15.

&uot;We’re just getting our plans (together) to have a nice uneventful start of the school year,&uot; said Emily Guida, the elementary supervisor at Huntington School. &uot;We’re ready to go and looking forward to a good year.&uot;