Back-to-School Information, Orientations and Sports Clearances

Elementary and middle school offices reopen to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Options High School reopens to the public from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 22.

For school and attendance area information, visit http://bellinghamschools.org/attendanceareas or call 676-6400.

The first day of class for students in grades 1-12 is Tuesday, Sept. 4. The first day for kindergarten students is Friday, Sept. 7.  For school start and end times, please click here. Kindergarten entry conferences will occur at the start of the school year. If you have not received notification about your kindergarten appointment by Aug. 30, please check in with your elementary school.

All registered district families received a Family Handbook and Calendar in the mail in mid-August. Please click here to view an online version. Additional copies are be available at each school. The handbook/calendar contains important information about district and school programs, annual legal notifications required by federal and state law, and

• The school year calendar;  (Please note that the early dismissal schedule has been slighlty modified. Sept. 5 is now a regular school day for middle schools.)
• Application for free/reduced school meals;
• Student Rights and Responsibilities Form; the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook will be updated in mid-August
• Information about low-cost student health insurance;  
• Student Housing Form;
• Privacy form for opting out of release of student directory information for publicity purposes, student/parent directories and military recruitment (high school only); and
• SchoolMessenger information.

Online calendars for the district and schools are available on the district website at http://bellinghamschools.org/calendars When viewing a calendar, you can bookmark its location or create a shortcut on your desktop.

Bus Routes

Transportation has updated bus routes to safely serve students' transportation needs and operate as efficiently as possible. Transportation uses a computerized system to update pick-up and drop-off times as well as bus stops.  Routes are posted at http://bellinghamschools.org/transportation. In addition, route and stop information will be mailed after Aug. 24 to families of children that are eligible for transportation. Please check this information carefully because your child's bus pick-up and drop-off time, as well as your bus stop, may have changed from last year. We kindly ask that you do not call Transportation prior to receiving the bus routes in the mail. If you have not received your child's bus route information in the mail by Aug. 29 or you have questions after receiving it, please contact us at 676-6546.

Please visit "Families" on the district's website for the following information or click on the links below:
• Which school a child should attend based upon school attendance areas  
• School supply lists

For other school-specific information, contact your school or visit the school websites. For general district information, call 676-6400.

Elementary School Registration

Elementary school offices open Wednesday, Aug. 22. Elementary school (kindergarten through grade five) office hours beginning Aug. 22 are 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

Children eligible to attend kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before midnight Aug. 31.  Kindergarten-age students must show proof of birth date. In addition, the immunization law requires that on or before the first day of attendance, the school must be provided with proof of full immunizations, initiation of a schedule of immunization, or a certificate of exemption for each child.

For kindergarten information, visit our Kindergarten webpage, contact your neighborhood school or call 676-6512.

Middle School Registration/Orientation

Middle school offices are open to the public beginning Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Fairhaven's grade 6 orientation (C.U.B.S. – Caring, Understanding, Belonging, Support) is from noon to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 29.  Students in grades 7-8 may pick up their schedules and purchase planners during Grizzly Grab 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aug. 30.  There is a Meet and Greet for grade 7 and 8 families, noon to 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 31. 

Kulshan's grade 6 and new student orientation is from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 27  for those with last names starting with A-K, and from 1 to 3 p.m. for those with last names starting with L-Z.  Grades 7 and 8 student schedules will pick up schedules on the first day of school.

Shuksan's grade 6 student orientation is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 31.  Other grades will receive schedules the first day of school.

Whatcom's new grade 7 and 8 orientation is at 10:30 a.m.  Aug. 28. Whatcom grade 6 orientation is from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 29. Returning grade 7 and 8 students will have schedules mailed home the last week of August.

High School Registration, Orientations and Sports Clearances

Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum high school offices are currently open to the public and for taking appointments for registration for new students from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 10. Normal hours Monday through Friday resume Monday, Aug. 13.

New students should contact their individual high school to make an appointment to register. Registration packets are available at the main office of each high school.

Bellingham High School

Registration appointments for new BHS students can be made by calling 676-6470 ext. 7110 beginning Aug. 20. Students in grades 10-12 may pick up their schedules in the Student Services Office from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 27.  BHS counselors will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 27 and  between appointments on Aug. 28, to help students in grades 10-12.

Freshman orientation will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 29.   All incoming ninth graders are encouraged to attend. Freshman schedules will be available at the orientation. Grade 9 BHS parents/guardians will meet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 29 in the BHS theater. Counselors will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 29 and from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 31 to address any questions or concerns freshmen may have.
 
Bellingham Athletics
All students participating in Summer Athletic Programs and Fall Sports must complete the Sports Eligibility Packet. You will not be able to begin participation without the completed clearance form. This form includes: Parent Authorization, Physical Examination, Concussion Form, Medical Release, Insurance Information, Driver/Rider Permission, and the District Activities Code. All information must be completed in this packet prior to any activities. Physicals must be current (within the past 13 months) and a copy must be returned to the Activities Office. 

All fall athletes must clear through the ASB and Activities Office prior to their first practice of the fall season. This includes cross country, football, girls’ swimming, girls’ soccer, boys’ tennis and volleyball. 

Financial clearance will be 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15 for football and girls’ swim. First day of practice for football (grades 9 - 12) is Wednesday, Aug. 15  (Time TBD). 
First day of practice for girls’ swim will be 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20.

All other fall sports Financial Clearance will be 7 to 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20 and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21.  All athletes must clear on these dates and times prior to their first practice. 

The BHS Activities Office will open Tuesday, Aug. 28 for the school year.

Sehome High School

Appointments for new SHS students can be made by calling the main office at 676-6470, ext. 5205.  Appointments for new students start on Aug. 23 when the counselors return.

Schedule pick-up and school photos for grades 10-12 is on Aug. 28 with the following schedule:
All sophomores 2 to 3 p.m. in the cafeteria
All juniors 3 to 4 p.m. in the cafeteria
All seniors 4 to 5 p.m. in the cafeteria

Freshman orientation is 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 28 in the gym.  All incoming freshmen should plan to attend. Barbeque dinner to follow.

Sehome Athletics
Athletic Eligibility Packets are available in the Sehome High School main office or on the Sehome website.  Completed packets will not be accepted during the summer in the Main Office. Packets may be submitted on the clearance dates below in the Sehome High student lounge or in the Athletic Office after the clearance dates.

All sports clearances will run as follows:
Football: 9 a.m. Aug. 15, gear issued at 9:30 a.m., evening practice.
Cross Country: 8 a.m. Aug. 20, practice follows at 9 a.m. in the Mat Room, Sehome Gym
Girls’ Soccer: 9 a.m. Aug. 20, practice follows at 9:30 a.m. on Sehome soccer field.
Volleyball: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 20, practice follows at 10 a.m.
Boys’ Tennis: 10 a.m. Aug. 20, practice follows at 10 a.m. on Sehome tennis courts.
Girls’ Swim: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 20, meeting follows at 12 p.m., Sehome Room 104.

Squalicum High School

Registration packets for new SQHS students may be picked up at the main office any day during office hours and an appointment will be scheduled for the last week of August.

All Squalicum students report to school on Wednesday, Aug. 29 by grades according to the following schedule:
All freshmen at 8 a.m.
Athletes pictures at 10 a.m. 
All sophomores at 12:30 p.m.
All juniors at 1:30 p.m.
All seniors at 2:30 p.m.

Squalicum Athletics

Athletic packets are available in the main office at Squalicum and must be completed and submitted on these dates:
Football clearance: 12 to 4 p.m., Aug. 15
Volleyball clearance: 9 a.m. Aug. 20
Girls' soccer clearance: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 20
Cross country clearance: 10 a.m. Aug. 20
Girls' swim and dive clearance: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 20
Boys' tennis clearance: 11 a.m. Aug. 20

Options High School

Returning students will receive information by mail in mid-August.  The Options office is open for registration of new students beginning Aug. 22.  New students interested in attending Options may pick up application and enrollment materials at the campus, 2015 Franklin St., on or after that date. Application packets are also available at Central Services from the summer registrar.

New students will need to complete the application packet and attend the student orientation. Once the application is complete, new students will be informed of their acceptance. All adults/family/ parents are required to attend the parent orientation and back-to-school night at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5 for their student to remain enrolled or to finalize enrollment.