The start of the new school year is a time of excitement and nerves. At SPS, we tailor the first day of school by grade level to give every student the best start.

• Kindergarteners: Kindergarteners begin school on a "staggered start." Half of the school's kindergarten class will attend school Wednesday, September 4, then have the day off when the other half attends Thursday, September 5. All kindergarteners are out of school Friday, September 6 while class placements are decided. Then all kindergarteners attend school in their new classrooms Monday, September 9, and begin following the regular elementary calendar! Your school will reach out to you to let you know which day will be your kindergartener's first day.

• Grades 1-5, 6 and 9: The first day of school is Wednesday, September 4.

• Grades 7-8, and 10-12: The first day of school is Thursday, September 5.

The full academic calendar is linked below.

2024-25 Academic Calendar: View, download and print the 2024-25 academic calendar for elementary schools and secondary (middle and high) schools. No school and early release days for the year can be found on the calendars. *A3, The Academy of Arts and Academics, has its own calendar.

School Supply Lists: We've partnered with TeacherLists again this year, providing the option of one-click online shopping. Thanks to a generous donor, Maple Elementary students do not need to purchase supplies this year.

SPS Enrollment: Every year, families are required to provide proof of address as they complete Enrollment and the Annual Student Review in ParentVue. This is also a good time to update items like health and custody information. Making sure we have all of your updated contact information in ParentVue is key - the school and District use this information to contact you about your student, and provide you with necessary information, including inclement weather and emergency updates.

Register for Bus Transportation: Eligible students who will be riding the bus need to register each year. Registration for 2024-25 is now open! Don't delay - more families registering sooner = fewer necessary adjustments to routes and times at the start of the school year.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus: Breakfast and lunch are free for every SPS student every school day in 24-25! Download the MealViewer app to see all of our menus and choices.

Immunizations: To register for school each year, you must be able to show that your child has received at least the first dose in any required vaccine series or the proper documentation to claim an exemption. The deadline for Oregon students to receive all required vaccinations is the third Wednesday in February, every year. Your health care provider or the Springfield Schools Health Center can help you determine which vaccines your student needs before the February deadline.

Student Medications: Families needing to check in medications to their school should plan to do so in person during the first days of the school year. Only medications that are needed while at school are allowed (no vitamins or once a day medications that can be taken at home.)

• Medications must be brought in by the parent/guardian in the original container.

• Prescription medications must have RX label, including inhalers and Epi-pens. If inhalers need to be carried on the student at all times, a doctor's note indicating that that student is capable of safe, self-administration should be provided to the school.

• Medications must have appropriate instructions on the bottle. The school is not allowed to give medications for off-label uses or different dosages than recommended.

The Thurston High School Child Development Center (THS CDC) is an affordable, quality preschool open to the community. Children between the ages of three and five are cared for and taught by professional staff and Thurston High School students enrolled in the Child Development Program. The THS CDC operates during the school year (closed over the summer) and follows the Thurston High School academic calendar. Contact THS CDC Coordinator Dara Tuulik at 541-744-6478 or dara.tuulik@springfield.k12.or.us to enroll.

Willamalane fall registration begins on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 8 a.m. To preview fall classes and programs, including Kids Club, no school days, youth sports, and more, visit willamalane.org/activities. If you're signing up for camp, after-school care, no school days, or preschool, make sure to complete your School Year Pass 24-25 before registration day. Additionally, Spanish-speaking staff will be available in advance of registration day to help answer questions at Bob Keefer Center on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 5-7 p.m.

Project Hope's annual Back to School Giveaway has shoes, socks, backpacks and supplies for K-12 students enrolled at SPS. Every student must have a ticket and be present at the event to receive supplies.

• Ticket reservations begin Monday, August 19 at 7:00 a.m.
• Visit the Project Hope Eventbrite to reserve a ticket.
• Giveaway will be held Saturday, August 24 from 1:00 - 5:30 p.m.
• Maple Elementary School, 2019 J Street

Everything is better when we work together! 🤝

SPS invites you, our families, and members of the community to be a volunteer in our schools. Volunteering in schools helps build stronger schools and a more connected community! Even one hour a week enriches our schools and has a lasting positive effect on every student, every day.

Click on the button below to start your volunteer application!

As summer begins to wind down, families have a limited window to secure essential food assistance through the new Summer EBT program. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. According to the Oregon Dept. of Education, thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify.

• Application deadline is Sept. 2, 2024. Once benefits are received, you have 122 days to use them.
• Visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328) to verify eligibility and apply.

SPARK Camp 2024 buzzed with activity, Olympic spirit and academic enrichment throughout the month of July. At this free camp, over 1,200 elementary and middle school students spent their days engaging in art, PE, time with friends and even water play on hot days. Academic instruction with an emphasis on literacy and language arts helped combat the "summer slide" loss of academic skills, setting these students up for an easier start to school in the fall. All with a free breakfast and lunch and transportation every day included! Many thanks to our staff that made SPARK camp so engaging and enriching for our students and to our community partners that provided activities including the Springfield Public Library and Lane Arts Council.

The conversion of the main athletic fields at Thurston High School and Springfield High School to artificial turf will be completed in time for fall sports, as crews put the finishing touches on in August.

The Springfield Board of Education approved the funding at their February 12, 2024 meeting and construction began in May. The premium topsoil recovered from the fields will be used to improve green spaces around the District.

The request to convert the fields to artificial turf came from both high schools and community groups. Converting to artificial turf will allow other students and groups to utilize the field year round including soccer, band, lacrosse, cheerleading, as well as physical education classes.

When is a summer break not a summer break? When you work for a school district facilities and custodial department! Besides the completion of the new turf fields at THS and SHS, projects completed during the summer months include:

• HVAC upgrade projects are completed and all of our schools now have air conditioning! The air in our schools will now be cleaner and more comfortable for all students and staff to focus on teaching and learning.
  
• The main gym floors and THS and SHS have been refinished, ready for PE instruction and champion competition.
• Roof replacement at Centennial Elementary and roof repair of ice storm damage at Thurston Middle School.
• Custodial staff waxed floors and made schools shiny and clean to start the year.
• Dishwashers replaced in the kitchens of Yolanda, Walterville and Brattain Campus.
• Installation of new ALICE gates at SHS and THS, enhancing student safety.
• Construction of a berm at Walterville Elementary to protect against future flood damage.
• Completing work orders at all schools.

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Springfield Public Schools prides itself on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Bullying and harassment have no place in our schools.

As a commitment to that pledge, we’ve made it easier to report instances of harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence online.

At the top of every school web page, you’ll find a link titled “Safety Concern.” This directs users to two options to report being unsafe at school.

And as always, you can share a concerning incident with a truted adult by messaging them or talking face to face.

No matter which option you choose, our dedicated team of principals, counselors and staff are alerted of the report. They’re ready to investigate every report and take appropriate action to address the issue.

The SPS equity statement reflects the District's mission of serving every student, every day.

The statement stands as an affirmation of the District’s commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging and will guide our continued efforts to support the vision of SPS as a place where students want to learn and staff want to work.

Springfield Public Schools board meetings are available for anyone to watch live or on-demand on the district's Vimeo channel. View the calendar of upcoming board meetings. A Spanish interpreter is also available during in-person board meetings.

In accordance with public meeting law and Oregon HB 2560, the school board will be providing remote access through live streamed meetings to our community.