CALENDAR INFORMATION

August 11, 2004

Bellingham Students Head Back to Class Sept. 8

Students will begin classes at Bellingham Public Schools on Wednesday, Sept. 8.  For bus route information, visit http://www.bham.wednet.edu/events.htm.    For information about which school a child should attend, call 676-6512 or 676-6520, or view attendance areas at http://www.bham.wednet.edu/district/attendance.htm

All families who have children registered in the Bellingham School District will receive a Back to School mailing containing important information, bus routes, food service information and the school calendar.   Families may pick up a copy from the school or District office if they have not received one by mail by Aug. 30.

Student Registration, Orientation

All school offices will reopen Wednesday, Aug. 18, for information and new student registration. New students should pick up registration packets at their neighborhood schools.

Elementary schools: Kindergarten through fifth grade – Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18, school office hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Children eligible to attend kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before midnight Aug. 31, 2004. 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.

Middle schools: Sixth through eighth grades – Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18 school office hours are at:

•  Fairhaven, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m.

•  Shuksan, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

•  Whatcom, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

•  Kulshan

Registration packets can be picked up in the Kulshan school office beginning Aug. 18. Actual registration will be held for new students by grade from

9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

Sixth grade Aug. 31

Seventh grade Sept. 1

Eighth grade Sept. 2

Orientation for Kulshan sixth graders is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7.

High schools: Ninth through 12th grade – 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

Appointments for new BHS students can be made by calling 676-6575, ext: 7110.

Students in grades 10-12 may pick up their schedules in the Activities Office as follows:

8 to 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30

8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31

Students in ninth grade will have lunch and meet teachers, pick up schedules and tour school from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Ninth grade parents or guardians will have a meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the BHS Theatre on Sept. 7.

BHS Athletics

Athletes must turn in a completed sports clearance packet to the Activities Office prior to their first practice:

Football (Grades 10-12)                                                                                       

Football and volleyball clearance for grades 10-12                         7 to 9 a.m.                 Aug. 18

First day of football and volleyball practice for grades 10–12          After clearance          Aug. 18

All Other Fall Sports and Grade 9 Football

Athletic clearance for fall sports, including ninth grade football          7 to 9 a.m.                 Aug. 23

First day of practice for fall sports                                                   Call Athletic Office     Aug. 23

Sehome High School

Appointments for new SHS students can be made by calling the main office at 676-6481. (Appointments for new students start on Aug. 26 when the counselors return.)

Registration will be held on Aug. 31.

All Freshmen                     9 a.m. to noon                       Lunch provided

All Sophomores               12:30 to 1:30 p.m.                  Cafeteria

All Juniors                        1:30 to 2:30 p.m.                    Cafeteria

All Seniors                       2:30 to 3:30 p.m.                    Cafeteria

SHS Athletics

Athletic clearance for football and volleyball                   8 to 10 a.m.              Aug. 18           Student Lounge

Athletic clearance for all other sports                             9 to 11 a.m                Aug. 23          Student Lounge

Squalicum High School

Appointments for new SQHS students can be made by calling the main office at 676-6471. Students report to school on Sept. 1 by grades according to the following schedule:

All Seniors                9 a.m.

All Juniors                10 a.m.

All Sophomores       11 a.m.

Freshman orientation for parents/guardians and students                 1 to 3 p.m.

SQHS Athletics

Athletic packets are available in the main office at Squalicum.

Football clearance                    9 a.m.               Aug. 18

Volleyball clearance                 10 a.m.             Aug. 18

Other sports clearance             8 a.m.               Aug. 23

Options High School

Returning students will receive information by mail in mid-August.

For new students, the Options office is open for registration beginning Aug. 23. New students interested in attending may pick up application and enrollment materials at the campus, 2015 Franklin St., on or after that date. New students are accepted on a space available basis and must attend and successfully pass a three-day orientation class to continue in the program.