By Arwyn Rice
Peninsula Daily News
Students will be returning to Jefferson County schools in the coming weeks for pre-season athletics workouts, band camps, high school registration, school portraits and other back-to-school preparations.
Some students and parents will return to major changes in their districts, while others will arrive to comfortably familiar surroundings.
Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene and Brinnon school districts all will reopen Sept. 3, just after the long Labor Day weekend.
But football practice starts Aug. 21, and other fall sports practice is set to begin Aug. 26 for all schools.
Quilcene
Quilcene School District has undergone some major changes over the summer.
When Quilcene students return, they will see several major changes in the district, including a new high school principal, a newly “closed campus,” new Wednesday 2 p.m. early release schedules, the addition of an all-day kindergarten, and the loss of the district’s preschool program.
The campus was closed by the Quilcene School Board in July after it was informed of ongoing problems with students who left for lunch or break, and were tardy to class or didn’t return to class, according to Schools Superintendent Wally Lis.
In previous years, juniors and seniors who had no history of problems had been allowed to leave campus for break time, lunch or between classes.
There was no single trigger event for the new policy, but an ongoing pattern of student behavior, Lis said.
Now, all students, including those who are 18-21 years old, may not leave campus during school hours, even to visit their cars in the parking lot, and must bring their own lunch, or purchase a lunch at the school cafeteria, according to the district’s new policy.
Students who attend Running Start classes at Peninsula College or a skills center can receive off-campus passes.
The Olympic Community Action Program Early Childhood Services preschool will not be offered for the 2013-14 school year.
The district learned this summer that funding for the preschool was dropped due to declining enrollment.
For more information on the preschool closure, phone the ECEAP Sequim Office at 360-582-3700.
Quilcene district offices are open 8 a.m. to noon, Mondays through Thursdays until school starts, for new student registration.
Port Townsend
Port Townsend school offices will reopen Aug. 21
The district’s back-to-school schedule begins with Port Townsend High School parents fall sports orientation, at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at the high school library.
A sports physical clinic will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 and Aug. 27 at the high school health clinic.
High school students will receive their schedules from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26.
The registration event will be followed by a 4 p.m. freshman parent orientation.
Freshman student orientation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 28.
New student registration will be available at the high school beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 27, continuing through the beginning of school.
Blue Heron Middle School’s back-to school registration event will be from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 29
Grant Street Elementary class lists will be posted at 3 p.m. Aug. 27.
Kindergarten screening will take place at Grant Street Elementary 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 21.
Chimacum
Parents and students in the Chimacum School District also will see changes in their district, with a new all-day kindergarten program and three of four top administrators new to the district.
Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart, Chimacum Middle Principal Stuart Prince and Chimacum Elementary Principal Cassandra “Sam” Rosenbloom were hired this summer.
High School Principal Whitney Meissner resigned from her dual role as high school and middle school principal in order to focus more closely on just the high school.
School offices will open for registration Tuesday, Aug. 20. Registration packets are available now in the district office.
Chimacum High school “Cowboy Day” will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28, when students can pick up schedules, get their pictures taken and pay fees. Guidance counselors will be available.
Freshmen orientation also is scheduled for Aug. 28, but the time has not yet been announced.
Families will be getting a letter with information, and it will also be posted on the district website, Stewart said.
Chimacum Middle School “Eagle Day,” for students to pick up class schedules, will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 29.
The middle school “Back to School Night” will begin at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 29.
Middle school sports begin Wednesday, Sept. 4, with sports physicals available Aug. 19, 21, 26 and 28.
Phone the Jefferson County Public Health Department for an appointment at 360-385-9400.
Chimacum Elementary School’s office will reopen Aug. 21
A clothes swap, to exchange outgrown, gently used children’s clothing, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 at Chimacum Elementary.
Class lists will be posted at 4 p.m., Aug. 30, for first through the fifth grades at Chimacum Elementary and at Chimacum Creek Primary schools.
Chimacum Creek Primary will feature three full-day kindergarten classrooms, Stewart said.
“We have been funded to provided free full-day for all kindergartners,” he said.
The first day of school for kindergartners will be Friday, Sept. 6.
Kindergarten parents will receive appointments for student assessments, to be completed Sept. 3-4.
“Kindergarten class assignments will not be determined until Sept. 5,” said Mark Barga, principal of Chimacum Creek Primary.
The school is planning an evening event Sept. 5 in order for kindergarten students and parents to meet teachers, but no time has been determined, Barga said.
Brinnon
Brinnon School District offices will be open for new student registrations Monday.
The entire staff will return to Brinnon this year, and is preparing for the district’s new all-day kindergarten program, said Lis, who also is the superintendent for Brinnon.
The school will not post class lists.
“The staff is notifying students individually,” Lis said.
A new early-release schedule will be instituted this year, he said.
The new schedule will send students home at 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.
Students will have lunch, then be released for the day, Lis said.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.