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 2026-27 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 to 12 is Monday, Aug. 31. This is a full day for all grades.

Please visit our calendars webpage to find:

• school start and end times
• middle school A/B day calendar
• BHS, SQHS and SHS A/B/C day calendars
• Options High School quarter calendar

The first day for kindergarten, Promise kindergarten and preschool is Wednesday, Sept. 2. Family conferences will be scheduled for Aug. 31 or Sept. 1 ahead of the first day.

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

Early dismissals in 2026-27

New this school year, every Thursday will be an early dismissal for all grades. The dismissal times are as follows: elementary dismissal remains at 12:20 p.m., middle school dismissal changes to 2 p.m. and high school dismissal changes to 1:15 p.m.

August hours for schools and District Office

New families can register their children online. Enrollment 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. 13. District Office regular hours — 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday — resume on Monday, Aug. 17.

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.

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. 17 until the first day of school.

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. 17, BHS, SHS and SQHS offices will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Options High School office reopens on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Please note: All school offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 19 for the annual administrative assistant meeting.
 

Back-to-School Family Block Party, Aug. 22

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. 22 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 Whatcom School Partners (formerly called Operation School Bell), a program of the Action League of Bellingham (ALB) that supplies new school clothes for families. There will also be onsite sports physicals, haircuts and child immunizations. Expect more information about the Block Party the week prior to the event.

Thank you to the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, the Project Neighborly Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation, the Action League of Bellingham, BECU, Molina Healthcare, PeaceHealth, Family Care Network and Hoagland Pharmacy for supporting this community event.

 

Calendar and handbook

All registered district families will receive the 2026-27 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, important annual notifications, and much more.
 

General Information 

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

• School supplies
• Which school a child should attend based upon school attendance areas 
• The school year calendar and school schedules;
• Information on school meals; and
• Information on Skyward Family Access 

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 Thursday, 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 2026-27. Preschool and specialized transportation information will be emailed to families in 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.

 

Orientations and fall open houses

Elementary Schools

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

Middle Schools 

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.  Thursday, Aug. 27
• New to FMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 11 a.m. to noon, Monday, Aug. 24
• Curriculum Night for all grades – 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17

Kulshan Middle School 

• Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
• New to KMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
• Fall Open House - 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17

Shuksan Middle School 

• Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
• New to SMS grade 7 and 8 student orientation – 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
• Back-to-School Night – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Thursday, Sept. 24

Whatcom Middle School 

• Grade 6 student orientation – 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27
• New to WMS grade 7 and 8 orientation – 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Thursday, Aug. 27
• Back-to-School Night – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24  

 

High Schools 

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 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.  Optional lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m.
• New student orientation — 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28
• Fall Open House — 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1
• Information about BHS athletics and activities is online.

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. 

• OHS New Student Orientation — 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26 
• Fall Open House — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16

Sehome High School 

• Freshman orientation – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24; Optional lunch from noon to 12:30 PM. Transportation provided. 
• New student orientation tour – 1 to 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 24
• Fall Back-to-School Night — 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9
• 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 orientation – 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28
• New student orientation – 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 28
• Fall Back-to-School Night - 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16
• 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.