Philomath School District students will head back to class on Aug. 31 — a start date that falls before Labor Day this year — Superintendent Susan Halliday announced in a letter to families earlier this week.
The district announced a new transportation provider, a new communication platform and continued free meals for all students as it prepares to open its doors for the 2026-27 school year.
Online registration is now open — returning students will need ParentVUE portal access information, which schools will send directly to families, while new students can create a ParentVUE account to register.
The district also highlighted the ParentVUE mobile app, available free for Apple and Android devices from Edupoint Educational Systems. Families are advised to confirm the app has “(NEW)” in its title and lists Edupoint as the developer before downloading.
On-site registration will be held Aug. 19 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Clemens Primary School, Philomath Elementary School and Philomath Middle School. Blodgett Elementary School registration will also take place at Philomath Elementary that day. Philomath Academy registration is online only.
Philomath High School registration runs on a staggered schedule — new students by appointment Aug. 17-18, seniors in the morning and juniors in the afternoon on Aug. 19, and sophomores in the morning and freshmen in the afternoon on Aug. 20.
The district will again participate in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision, meaning breakfast and lunch will be free for all Philomath students. The free meal covers a student’s first breakfast and lunch each day; students will be charged for seconds and those who only want milk without a meal will still need to pay for it. Kings Valley Charter School does not participate in the district’s nutrition program, so its students are not included in the free-meal agreement.
The district has partnered with First Student for busing this year. Representatives from the company will be on hand at in-person registration events Aug. 19-20 to answer questions.
Families who did not request busing during online registration are asked to contact Transportation Coordinator Dawnelle Davis via email by Aug. 14 as the district needs to finalize routes before school starts. Late requests could delay bus service for a student.
The district is switching to ParentSquare for school-to-home communication, a platform that will supplement and, in some cases, replace existing systems. Parents will be able to receive notifications by email, text or app, select a preferred language for automatic translation, and message teachers directly. Families will receive an email invitation to activate their ParentSquare accounts using the same contact information already on file with their school.
The district also reminded families that cellphones are not permitted during the school day. Parents needing to reach a student should call the school office.
Most schools will ease into the year with a modified first week:
- Monday, Aug. 31 — Blodgett Elementary (kindergarten only), Philomath Elementary (second grade only), Philomath Middle School (sixth grade only) and Philomath High School (ninth grade only) hold an early release schedule. Philomath Academy holds a drop-in day from 9 a.m. to noon for students to pick up a Chromebook. Clemens Primary School and Kings Valley Charter School are not in session.
- Tuesday, Sept. 1 — All students at Blodgett Elementary, Philomath Elementary, Philomath Middle, Philomath High and Philomath Academy attend a full day. Clemens Primary will conduct student assessments by appointment. At Kings Valley, grades 6-12 hold a full day while kindergartners have assessments.
- Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3 — All schools except Clemens Primary will have full school days. On Sept. 2, CPS will conduct student assessments by appointment. On Sept. 3, CPS students with last names beginning with A-K will be in class on an early-release schedule.
- Friday, Sept. 4 — All students in all schools follow an early release schedule. At CPS, students with last names beginning with A-K will be in class.
- Monday, Sept. 7 — No school for Labor Day.
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 — All students in all schools return to a full school day.