Attention, all students and families new to the Lawrence school district:

Teachers are taking roll. Homework is being assigned. Classes are under way.

Now.

“We’ve had families in here enrolling, and they think they have two or three weeks before school starts,” said Kim Young, who runs the district’s new Welcome & Enrollment Center at 110 McDonald Drive. “They think they’re early.

“We tell them school’s started and they say, ‘WHAAAT!'”

This week’s early start for school — Wednesday, Thursday or today, depending on your grade level — evidently is catching more than a few folks by surprise.

While enrollment already is up by six students at Langston Hughes School, more will be sure to arrive in the days — even weeks — ahead.

“More will trickle in, just because we’re starting so early,” said Principal Jackie Mickel, who has 518 students. “People from out of state typically don’t think we start until after Labor Day.”

Hillcrest School’s enrollment climbed to 373 students Thursday, up by 42 from last August. Of the newcomers, 20 were expected: the English as a second language students transferring in from Cordley School.

Now, with Kansas University classes still waiting to start, Hillcrest figures to see class sizes increase a bit more.

“We’ll get at least a handful of new kids in the next couple weeks,” said Principal Tammy Becker, who has 16 classroom teachers, just like last year. “Lots of new faces.”

Some missing faces quickly caught the attention of personnel at Quail Run School.

“We had to make some phone calls yesterday to find out where some students were,” said Principal Debbie Tann, who verified that at least four had been unaware that school had started, while others remained out on family vacations. “We did surprise some folks, but they’re here today.”