The first week back to school can feel like a big transition for students and families. To make it a little easier, we created a new “slow start” schedule so you can ease into the new school year gradually.

Last fall, our board approved calendars for the 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29 school years. These calendars were shaped with feedback we received from staff and families through a district survey. They were designed to support a smoother start while also moving our snow make-up days to later months.

Here’s what you’ll see during the first week:

• Three half-days at the beginning of the week
• An early release on Thursday (excluding kindergarten)
• A full day of school on Friday (excluding kindergarten)

This structure allows students and staff more time to build relationships, learn routines, review expectations, and adjust back to the learning environment after summer break. Research shows that gradual transitions like this can reduce stress and anxiety for students and better support our youngest learners. It also helps with transportation by allowing us to fine-tune our bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times.

You can view and download calendars for the next three years from our website. (Kindergarten students will follow a slightly different schedule; schools will share those details with families in advance.)

We hope this gradual start helps students and families begin the school year feeling confident, connected, and ready for a great year!