School bells start ringing next week

OTHELLO — Ah, summer — sunny weather, no homework, kids can do whatever they want — and then school starts, and summer is over.

And summer is over next week, at least for kids in Grant and Adams counties. The first day of school varies by district, but in every district it’s sometime next week. Othello schools open Aug. 28 for all students except kindergarten; Aug. 31 is the first day for kindergarten kids.

August 28 is the last day for preschool registration, with the first day of preschool scheduled for Sept. 1. Parents can register at the district’s Early Childhood Center, 1335 Ash St. Children must be at least 4 years of age to enroll in the district’s preschool, and parents must provide a birth certificate.

School starts Aug. 28 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, the preschool through sixth grade parochial school in Ephrata.

Ephrata schools open Aug. 29 for all first grade through high school students. Parents of Grant and Columbia Ridge elementary students are invited to an open house Aug. 28; that’s also the date of the open house at Ephrata Middle School.

The first day of school for Ephrata kindergartners is Sept. 1. Kindergartners attend either Columbia Ridge or Grant elementary schools, and parents will meet individually with teachers Aug. 29-31.

School also starts Aug. 29 at Moses Lake Christian Academy, at least for secondary students. Elementary classes start Aug. 30.

Wilson Creek students and families are being invited to “Back to School Night” from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Aug. 29. Parents can meet teachers and staff, and school administrators and teachers will talk about expectations and commitments for the school year. August 30 is the first day of school in Wilson Creek, and it’s an early release day.

Most students in Moses Lake go back to school Aug. 30, including all elementary students and all students at Endeavor and Frontier middle schools. August 30 is the first day for sixth graders at Chief Moses Middle School and freshmen at Moses Lake High School. August 31 is the first day for Chief Moses seventh- and eighth-graders, and MLHS sophomores, juniors and seniors.

All Soap Lake parents and students are invited to a school open house and community dinner, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 29 in the Soap Lake Elementary cafeteria, 410 South Ginko St. School doors open in Soap Lake Aug. 30 for all students.

School starts Aug. 30 in Warden.

The school bell rings in Quincy Aug. 30 for all students.

Parents of students at Mt. View and Pioneer elementary schools are invited to the building open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 28. The Monument Elementary open house is from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28. Other school open house events will be announced. Seventh-graders get orientation from the eighth-graders on seventh grade “Web Day,” scheduled for 8 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 29. Eighth-graders show seventh-graders around the junior high school and give seventh -graders tips on how to succeed in junior high.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.