2024-25 Back-to-School Guide

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The first day of school is Tuesday and it is NOT an early release day. School will be operating on a regular schedule on Tuesday (see school hours below).

View/download the 2024-25 one-page academic calendar here (updated in August!).

Why don't kindergarten students attend the first week of school?

Our elementary schools participate in the Kindergarten Family Connections - also known as Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) transition process.

During the first week of school for the District, kindergarten students and their guardians will be invited to the school to have an individual meeting with their kindergarten teacher. During this meeting, the teachers get to know more about your child. There will also be some time for your child to see and learn specific routines of their classroom.

Kindergarten parents can expect to hear from their child's teacher in late August (after class lists are finalized).

We want to invite our families and community to celebrate with us and help us welcome students back on the first day of school which is:

• Tuesday, September 3 (grades 1-12)
• Friday, September 6 (kindergarten)

• Parents, family members and community members are invited to help us welcome students outside our schools before school starts on the first day of school.
• Please carpool if you can as parking is a challenge on the first few days of school.
• Welcome Crew members will line up outside of the main entrances of our schools to greet students as they arrive (principals will provide guidance on where to stand!).
• Welcome Crew members do not need to be an approved District volunteer for this one-time event.
• Welcome back signs, pom poms and noise makers are welcome and encouraged!
• Please - no pets (thank you!).
• Please arrive at school 15 minutes before the start of school (see start times above).
• Once school starts, you will be on your way to get on with the rest of your day!

We are excited to announce that we are implementing a new school-to-home communication tool called ParentSquare! ParentSquare allows parents to get all district and school notifications in one place and view only what’s relevant to their student(s!).

As a registered parent/guardian, you can:

• Choose how you want to receive messages from the school and district (phone, email, text, and/ or app notification). We will still do occasional 'robo calls' too!
• Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6 p.m.
• Communicate in your preferred language
• Comment on school postings to engage with your school community
• Direct message teachers, coaches, staff, and other parents
• Participate in group messages from schools and teachers
• and more... all from your desktop or mobile device!

ParentSquare will be used for all District and school communication. Many of our teachers will be switching to ParentSquare, and it will replace Remind for teacher/coach/club adviser communication with families and students/athletes. You may already be familiar with ParentSquare as many of our neighboring Districts are using it - or are also implementing it this fall!

This week, all parents in the District will receive an invitation via email or text to activate their ParentSquare account. We hope you'll take a moment and set up your account. The video below provides a quick overview of ParentSquare, and we've got additional information, training links and resources on our website to help you get started!

Last week, all families should have received an email inviting you to complete our Annual Back-to-school Check-in process or ABCs. It should take about 15 minutes (or less!) to complete the process for each child in your household.

The ABC process must be completed for all students in the district - including both previously enrolled as well as newly registered students.

Please log-in to Skyward and take a few moments to complete this important process for your student(s) ASAP. Thank you!

Questions about this process? Need help with your Skyward log-in? Please contact your student's school or click here.

The Bremerton School District recognizes that the school day is a critical time for students to engage deeply in learning, build meaningful in-person relationships, and fully participate in the school community. Research shows that excessive phone use and social media distractions can significantly impede students' ability to focus, retain information, and develop essential social skills. By implementing a phone- and social media-free environment, we are fostering an atmosphere where students can be fully present, reduce anxiety linked to online interactions, and thrive academically and socially without the pervasive pressures of digital devices.

This fall, our secondary schools will implement new expectations for mobile device use. This change will help students stay focused and free from the distractions and pressures of digital devices during the school day.

• Deepen their understanding of subjects

• Strengthen connections with peers and teachers

• Develop essential communication and collaboration skills

• Explore their creativity and passions

As a District, we are calling this important initiative "Mind Over Mobile." Bremerton High School, Renaissance High School, and Mountain View Middle School will soon share their specific Mind Over Mobile expectations with students and parents, which will take effect on the first day of school. We recognize that adjusting will take time and are committed to supporting students during this transition.

Thank you for your support as we work together to build a safe, productive, and distraction-free learning environment for all students.

Information is available on the District website about school and community back-to-school events. Schools will also be communicating more details about their events with families.

School supply lists are posted on the District website, and www.TeacherLists.com.

Families are invited to log in to Skyward and find out their child's classroom teacher after 5 p.m. on Friday, August 30. Click here for instructions on accessing Skyward!

Schedules are now available in Skyward. Class schedules will be available during 6th grade orientation (on August 26 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.) and at the Meet & Greet on Thursday, August 29, 4-6:30 p.m. (all grades). Printed schedules will also be available for students on the first day of school.

Schedules are live now Skyward and in Career Planner. Students can pick up their schedules during Summer Knight Days Orientation August 26, 27 & 28.

Orientation for new/returning students is mandatory and will be Tuesday, September 3rd from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Advisors to schedule appointments with individual students after orientation. Student schedules will be set when students meet with their Academic Advisor the following week.

RHS Back-to-School BBQ: September 3, 12-1:30 p.m.
After orientation, RHS is hosting an all-campus BBQ with games and food.

New students: A registration packet is required prior to orientation or getting a schedule and starting the school year. If there is a reason you are unable to turn in a registration packet prior to the Sept 3rd orientation, you may not be able to start at RHS until Term 2.

Check out our before- and after-school childcare options for each elementary school and Mountain View Middle School.

All school meals (breakfast and lunch) will be available for all students for the 2024-25 school year at no charge.

More information, including breakfast and lunch menus, is available on our website BremertonSchools.org/Meals.

There is a "quick link" to this page on all District websites.

Elementary schools: The doors open for students at 8:55 a.m. Breakfast will be offered in every classroom at the beginning of the school day at no charge. Breakfast will not be offered prior to the start of the school day.

Mountain View Middle School: Doors open for students at 7:50 a.m. Breakfast will be available in the cafeteria to all students at no charge. Students who arrive after breakfast can pick-up a “grab-and-go” breakfast to eat during first period.

Bremerton High School: Unless enrolled in “0 hour,” the doors to BHS open for all students at 6:50 a.m. Breakfast will be available in the commons/cafeteria to all students beginning at 7 a.m. Students who arrive after breakfast can pick-up a “grab-and-go” breakfast to eat during first period.

Renaissance High School: The RHS Campus opens for students at 7:40 a.m. Breakfast will be available for all students at no charge.

Our schools are participating in a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This program allows all children in the District to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge.

However, some education programs we provide are funded with state dollars and require us to submit aggregate financial data to the state. We will no longer be collecting free and reduced-price applications every year. Instead, we will be collecting Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit Application (CNEEB) forms. This form helps us collect household information for all students attending CEP schools. Without this information, the Bremerton School District could lose important state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to.

All families will have an opportunity to fill out a CNEEB in Skyward as a part of the annual ABCs process. If you are unable to complete it there, you can get a paper copy from your child's school, or print and fill out the form on the District website.

Families that are interested in receiving the Summer EBT (S-EBT) must have an approved current year CNEEB on file.

We’re excited to offer no-cost meals to all students and appreciate your help. If you have any questions, please contact Alexis Esquivel-Sawyer at 360-473-4717 or Ashley Guerrero at 360-473-4716

Do you know someone with a student who is entering kindergarten this fall? Please encourage them to register their student ASAP so we can get our students assigned to a classroom and scheduled for a Kindergarten Family Connections visit with their teacher!

Families can register online, at their neighborhood school, or at the District office (134 Marion Ave. N., Bremerton 98312).

We invite you to visit our website for information on our Jump Start to Kindergarten program for young learners who will be enrolled in the Bremerton School District next fall.

We will be running the same bus routes (with a few minor adjustments) that we ran in the spring. Some routes are still combined.

Route F is returning to Armin Jahr this fall! This route had previously been combined with Routes B and D due to our ongoing bus driver shortage.

All bus routes are updated and posted on the District website.

Please check your bus route before the first day of school as some bus stop times may have changed slightly. Please have your student arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes ahead of their scheduled stop time.

Please keep in mind that buses may be late or early the first couple of weeks of school as students continue to be added and routes are adjusted.

Questions about bus routes? Call the transportation office at 360-473-0507.

Families with students assigned to Special Education routes will be contacted by the transportation team with information on your student's route. If you do not hear from us by August 30, please contact the transportation office at 360-473-0507.

For safety reasons, a parent/guardian must be present when a kindergarten student is dropped off at a bus stop. In the event that there is not a parent/guardian to meet the kindergarten student, the bus driver will communicate to the transportation dispatcher and continue on the route with the student on board. The dispatcher will contact the parent/guardian who will need to make arrangements with the transportation dispatcher regarding where they can meet the bus along the route to retrieve the student from the bus.

Stopfinder is the all-in-one, easy to use app for viewing & sharing your student’s transportation schedule.

We recommend that all kindergarten parents/guardians download this app so you know when to expect your student at their stop (since our buses can run late due to unforeseen circumstances).

With StopFinder you can:

• View the location of your student’s bus and know when it will reach your student’s stop.

• Securely share your student’s schedule with caregivers.

• Receive notifications and updates related to transportation.

• Receive location notifications based on GeoAlert regions you create for your student.

• Send private messages to the Transportation Department.

Click here to download the StopFinder app or visit BremertonSchools.org/transportation for more information.

We are in need of substitute bus drivers. Please visit our website to learn more and apply!

• Parents/guardians are required to complete a Network/Internet Acceptable Use Agreement form for students to use District technology. This form is a part of the Annual Back-to-school Check-in (or ABC) process in Skyward.

• K-6 students will have access to Chromebooks during class time.

• Bremerton High School and Renaissance High School students will be assigned a Chromebook to carry back and forth.

A link to our 2024-25 Student & Family Rights & Responsibilities Handbook is included in the ABC process on Skyward. You can view or download a copy at anytime on our website at BremertonSchools.org/Handbook.

Our campuses, including our athletic facilities, are closed to the public during school hours. For student, staff and visitor safety, the gates surrounding our buildings are locked during the school day and access to the school is through the main entrance only. The gates are unlocked after school hours.

For information on facility rentals, please visit our website at BremertonSchools.org/FacilityRentals.

• Before entering the school, visitors must have their ID scanned by the Bremerton School District's visitor management system "Raptor." Learn more here.

• If a visitor is experiencing any symptoms of illness, they should not enter the school facility.

Students are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles from home. If your student does not have access to a reusable water bottle, please contact your child's school.

Teachers, staff and students should consistently use proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette while at school and on school buses. To help reduce the spread of illnesses, staff and students should:

• Frequently wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

The District will provide approved alcohol-based hand sanitizers for all school facilities.

The Peninsula Community Health Services clinics at Mountain View Middle School and Bremerton High School provide services to Bremerton School District students (Preschool - 12th grade) and staff. PCHS can bill most insurance companies. Learn more at BremertonSchools.org/Clinic.

Gaggle Therapy is a free, confidential option to connect with a therapist online and on your schedule. Bremerton School District students and staff can meet with a therapist for weekly video or phone therapy sessions. Parents or staff can refer students, or students age 13 and older can self-refer! Click here to get started!

As your child returns to school, it is important to make sure they are up to date on all their required vaccinations for the 2024-25school year. Students who do not meet the immunization requirements for school entry could be excluded from school, per Revised Code of Washington (RCW 28A.210.120).

COVID vaccinations are recommended and encouraged but not required for students.

For more information about immunization requirements, visit the Washington State Department of Health website or contact your child’s physician.

If your child is sick - even with mild symptoms - please keep your child home from school and notify your child’s school that your student is ill.

Chronic illnesses

If your student’s symptoms are related to a chronic condition, contact the school and follow school policies for chronic condition management.

Other serious illnesses

Please contact your health care provider immediately about serious illness, including any fever of 100.4°F or higher.

To help protect all students, please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with any of these diseases:

• Chickenpox
• COVID-19
• Diphtheria
• E. coli diarrhea
• Hepatitis
• Measles
• Mumps
• Pertussis
• Rubella
• Salmonella
• Scabies
• Shigellosis
• Tuberculosis
• another disease as requested

The school will protect your private information as required by law. RCW 70.02, Washington’s Health Care Information Access and Disclosure Act.

Notify school staff if your student requires medication during school hours. Follow school protocols for medication at school. Unless otherwise instructed, if your student’s illness requires antibiotics, the student must have been on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school. Antibiotics are not effective for viral illnesses such as COVID-19.

If a student is already in the building and has a fever of 100.4°F or begins to show symptoms of COVID-19, the child’s parent/guardian or emergency contact(s) will be notified immediately. The child will wait in a room away from other students/staff until the student can be picked up and taken home.

If your child is out for an extended illness, please contact your child’s teacher or principal for support and answers to your questions

The Bremerton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Garth Steedman at 360.473.1031 or the Section 504 Coordinator, Mark Mayfield at 360.473.4702. Mailing address: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312.

Email: communications@bremertonschools.org
Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Phone: 360-473-1000
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2024-25 Back-to-School Guide v 2.0. Updated 8/26/24.

Photo: West Hills STEM Academy end-of-the-year kindergarten picnic.

Feedback about the Back-to-School Guide? Please contact Communications@BremertonSchools.org.