MLSD encourages families to prepare early for 2026-27 school year

MOSES LAKE — With the first day of school less than a month away, Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging families to begin preparing now by reviewing transportation information, updating student records and establishing routines that will help students transition back into the classroom successfully.  

The district has centralized key back-to-school resources through its online Back-to-School Hub, which includes enrollment information, school supply lists, transportation updates, calendars, and registration details for each school.  

Students in grades one through five, sixth grade, ninth grade and all Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center programs will begin classes Sept. 2. Students in grades seven, eight and 10-12 will return Sept. 3, while kindergarten students will begin on a staggered schedule Sept. 8-10.  

District officials said families should carefully review start dates because not all students will report on the same day.  

Ryan Shannon, the district's director of public relations, said transportation is one of the most important items families should address before the school year begins.  

"I think one of the biggest things is that if you are a family that utilizes our transportation services to get to school and to return home after school, I think that it would be important for them to check out the bus route information, make sure that they know where the stop is, what the pickup time and the drop-off times are," Shannon said.  

Bus route information is available through the district's Back-to-School Hub as of Tuesday. The district is also encouraging parents to save transportation contact information, including the transportation office phone number at 509-766-2676 and email address at [email protected], in case questions arise during the school year.  

In addition to transportation details, district leaders are asking families to review changes to elementary school schedules. Elementary students will now begin classes at 10 a.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, reflecting the district's decision to increase instructional time by 30 minutes per day. Students will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Secondary schools will continue with a 2:45 p.m. dismissal time and will begin classes at 8:50 a.m. on Mondays and 7:50 a.m. Tuesday through Friday.  

Shannon said another critical step is ensuring student information is current within the district's Skyward system.  

"We want to make sure that we have within our Skyward system the most up-to-date contact information," he said. "If we don't have up-to-date information, obviously that impacts our ability to communicate with families."  

Parents are also encouraged to verify emergency contacts, approved pickup individuals and medical information before classes begin. Shannon said schools will have staff available to assist families with updates and questions throughout the registration period.  

Schools across the district will host registration and back-to-school events later this month.  

Those events provide opportunities for students and families to meet staff, pick up schedules, purchase activity cards and complete registration paperwork. Frontier Middle School's annual Spartan Kickoff Days, for example, will allow students to obtain schedules, physical education uniforms, ASB cards and school merchandise before classes begin, Shannon said.  

As students prepare to return to the classroom, district leaders are placing a renewed emphasis on attendance and academic engagement.  

"I think one of the things that you're going to see us talk about is attendance," Shannon said. "We want the kids in school and attendance is a priority."  

He said families can support student success by discussing academic goals, establishing homework routines and creating spaces at home that minimize distractions. According to Shannon, regular attendance helps students develop habits that contribute to long-term academic achievement.  

"Regular attendance helps out with developing your routine," he said. "It helps with setting regular habits for long-term academic success."  

District officials are also urging parents to begin reintroducing school-year routines before the first day of classes, including consistent sleep schedules and regular morning routines that can ease the transition from summer break.  

For students feeling nervous about returning to school or attending a new campus, Shannon emphasized that those feelings are common.  

"It's natural," he said. "Know that they're not alone in that."  

He encouraged students to focus on the opportunities that school provides, including reconnecting with friends, building relationships with teachers and participating in school activities.  

"The staff is excited to see them there," Shannon said. "We want our kids to understand that we are that environment for them."  

The upcoming school year will also mark the reopening of Groff Elementary School — a milestone district officials have been preparing for throughout the summer. Students who had been temporarily attending classes at other schools will return to their campus this fall after extensive work to prepare the building for reopening.  

A family open house is scheduled for Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m., giving students and parents an opportunity to tour classrooms and meet staff members before the start of school.  

Later that evening, the district will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house at 7 p.m., allowing residents to view the facility and celebrate its return to service.  

"That's a huge thing for us," Shannon said. "The opportunity to reopen Groff to its families and its students and really showcase that facility."  

As summer winds down, Shannon said the district's message to families is simple: enjoy the remaining weeks of vacation but start preparing now for a successful year ahead.  

"We're excited to welcome everybody back," he said. "We've been actively preparing throughout the summer for what the 2026-27 school year will look like. We're preparing, and we just can't wait to get going."  

Families can access the district's Back-to-School Hub for registration information, school supply lists, transportation updates, schedules and other resources. 

    Groff Elementary will be opening back up to students this September after being closed last year. A family open house is scheduled Aug. 31. Later that evening, the district will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community open house at 7 p.m.