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Back-to-school information for 2025-26; Family Block Party scheduled for Aug. 23; first days of school

A Message from the Department of Communications and Community Relations

We hope your family is having a wonderful summer! We look forward to welcoming you back to Bellingham Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year.

Here is some important information for the coming school year, including key dates and back-to-school events for all families and schools!

First days of school 

The first day of class for students in grades 1-12 is Tuesday, Sept. 2. This is a full day for all grades. For school start and end times, and for the middle and high school A/B day calendar, please visit our calendars webpage. 

The first day for kindergarten and Promise kindergarten is Thursday, Sept. 4. This will be an early dismissal Thursday schedule for all elementary grades: 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The first day of preschool is Friday, Sept. 5 on its regular schedule.

Community Transitions and the Family Partnership Program will send information directly to families about orientations, conferences and start of classes.

Back-to-School Family Block Party, August 23
Bellingham Public Schools will host a Back-to-School Block Party, a resource fair for all district families, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Avenue.

School and community partner tables will provide important resources for starting the school year. The event will include signups for Operation School Bell, a program of the Assistance League of Bellingham (ALB) that supplies new school clothes for students. Hoagland Parmacy will run an onsite vaccine clinic. There will also be first come, first serve sports physicals and haircuts, and more. More information will be communicated the week prior to the event.

Thank you to the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, the Project Neighborly Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation, BECU, Molina Healthcare and PeaceHealth for supporting this community event. We look forward to seeing you and your children there. Service animals only are allowed at the event.

August hours for schools and District Office

New families can register their children online and assistance is available at buildings that are open over the summer, including the District Office at 1985 Barkley Blvd.

The District Office is open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday through Aug. 14. District Office regular hours — 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday — resume on Monday, Aug. 18.

For school and attendance area information, visit bellinghamschools.org/attendance-areas or call 360-676-6400 until schools reopen. Click here for school contact information.

High school offices:

  • Until Aug. 14, Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum high school offices will be open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays.
  • Beginning Monday, Aug. 18, BHS, SHS and SQHS will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Options High School office opens on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
  • All school offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 20 for the annual administrative assistant meeting

Elementary and middle school offices:

  • Elementary and middle schools reopen to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18 until the first day of school.
  • All school offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 20 for the annual administrative assistant meeting.

Calendar and handbook

All registered district families will receive the 2025-26 Family Handbook and Calendar (Spanish) to their homes in August. Additional copies will be available in school offices. The handbook/calendar contains important information about district and school programs, annual legal notifications required by federal and state law, and the following information:

General Information 
Please visit Families on the district’s website for the following information or click on the links below:

For other school-specific information, contact your school or visit the school website.  Schools will also be sending their own back-to-school information, so make sure you have updated your communication preferences in the district’s communication platform called ParentSquare. ParentSquare is an app-based, web-based system that enhances two-way communication. Find out more online at bellinghamschools.org/parentsquare.

For general district information, call 360-676-6400.

Bus Transportation: stops, times and routes
Routes will be posted at bellinghamschools.org/transportation by Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Transportation is currently updating bus routes to safely serve student transportation needs and to operate as efficiently as possible. Eligible riders will receive an email notification when bus routes and times have been set for 2025-26. Preschool and special education transportation information will be mailed home mid-August.

Please check this information carefully because your child’s service area, bus route number, bus stop, and pick-up and drop-off times may have changed from last year. We encourage all eligible bus riders to take the school bus home on the first days of school to learn how.

Please call Transportation after Aug. 20 if you have any questions about bus transportation.

Elementary Schools
Elementary school offices reopen Monday, Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. until school starts.

Elementary schools will share “meet and greet” information and fall open house information soon.

Middle Schools 

Middle school offices reopen to the public Monday, Aug. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. until school starts.

Some information about middle school orientations and open houses is below. Look for communication from your school confirming these dates and times.

Fairhaven Middle School

  • Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28
  • New to FMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 27
  • Curriculum Night for all grades – 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18

Kulshan Middle School

  • Grade 6 student orientation – 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28
  • New to KMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 28
  • Fall Open House – 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11

Shuksan Middle School

  • Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28
  • New to SMS grade 7 and 8 student orientation – 3 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28
  • Back-to-School Night – 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 25

Whatcom Middle School

  • Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28
  • New to WMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 28
  • Back-to-School Night – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25

High Schools 

Starting the week of Aug. 18 high school offices will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Options High opens on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

High school orientations, open houses and athletic information are listed below by school. Look for communication from your school confirming these dates and times.

Bellingham High School

  • Freshman orientation — 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25, with optional lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
  • New student orientation — 9 to 10 a.m. Aug. 25
  • Athletics: BHS fall sports clearance information can be found here.
  • Fall Open House — 6 p.m. Sept. 18

Options High School
Returning students will receive information by mail in mid-August. New students interested in attending Options may fill out the application, which is available online. Once the application packet is complete and returned, prospective students will be scheduled to meet with the principal to determine next steps.

  • Ninth grade and new to OHS student orientation — 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 27
  • New and returning student and family open house — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16

Sehome High School

  • Freshman orientation – 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aug. 25, with optional lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m.
  • New student orientation tour – 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 25
  • Fall Back-to-School Night — 6 p.m. Sept. 10
  • Athletics: SHS fall sports clearance information can be found online.
  • Appointments for new (unregistered) SHS students: call 360-676-6470, ext. 5205.

Squalicum High School

  • Freshman and new orientation – 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 25, with optional lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Fall Back-to-School Night – 6 p.m. Sept. 17
  • SQHS fall sports clearance information can be found online.
  • Online registration is encouraged, but registration packets for new (unregistered) SQHS students may be picked up at the main office any day during office hours. A registration appointment will be scheduled prior to the start of the school year.
  • All Schools