August 2024

Get your student’s immunizations up to date before school starts! Thurston County is hosting a free clinic from 4:00–7:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, at North Thurston High School. They will offer all school-required and recommended vaccines for students 3–18. Walk-ins are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, but appointments are available. More information on the Thurston County website.

Want to learn more about our K-12 online school? Join us for a Summit Virtual Academy information night at 5:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, at the NTPS District Office (305 College Street NE).

Register to attend

Is your student riding the bus this year? All bus riders must register to ride the bus by Friday, August 16, to ensure they have a seat for the first day of school. Registration form and information.

Register Now

Reminder: NTPS is moving to the SMART tag mobile app, so families can monitor student bus activity and receive alerts on their cell phones.

Learn more about SMART tag

Did your family participate in the South Sound Reading Foundation’s summer reading challenge? Way to go! Celebrate by turning in your child’s form and picking up the prizes at one of the following locations: 

• 12:00–3:00 pm on Thursday, August 22, at the NTPS District Office (305 College Street NE). 
• 9:00 am–1:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays or 2:00–5:30 pm on Wednesdays at the South Sound Reading Foundation office (2830 Willamette Drive NE, Suite A). 

The SmileMobile dental clinic is back in Lacey! The dental team serves babies, children, teens, and pregnant/postpartum people on Apple Health or uninsured. Now taking appointments for August 26-30. The clinic will be parked at Mountain View Elementary (1900 College Street SE). Call 1-888-286-9105 to make your appointment today! Details and info.

The first day of school for your NTPS student depends on their grade. Elementary families are invited to Family Connections meetings on the days before their student’s first day. Find your school’s start and release times on our website.

• Wednesday, September 4: First day for grades 6-12
• Friday, September 6: First day for grades 1-5 (Family Connections meetings September 4-5)
• Monday, September 9: First day of kindergarten (Family Connections meetings September 4-6)

What are Family Connections meetings? Teachers schedule these one-on-one sessions with your family to learn more about your student's needs and to help get the year off to a great start. 

Attend your school’s open house! Open houses are a great opportunity for students and families to get to know the school space and learn about services including specialists, school meals, counseling, and more. Dates will be scheduled and announced by your school. 

Spots are still available for 3- and 4-year-old students in our preschool classrooms at Meadows, Mountain View, Pleasant Glade, and Woodland Elementary Schools! Learn more about NTPS Preschool.

Each year, our district theme offers a common focus for the school year. For the 2024-25 school year, the NTPS theme is Joy of Learning!

Every day in our schools, we see students experiencing the joy of learning. While learning should be rigorous and challenging, it should also be joyful. Meaningful learning opportunities foster curiosity and a joy of learning while developing academic and social skills to meet high standards.

The 2024-25 printed calendar, which will be available at your school this fall, includes some examples. Starting in September and throughout the school year, we will roll out short videos that highlight additional examples of the joy of learning around the district. We will also spotlight some of our talented employees who support the joy of learning in our schools!

View our annual legal notices, service announcements, procedures, and Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook information.

Read District Notices

Need a quick list of back-to-school tasks and information? Visit our online Back to School Checklist! Get info on the first day of school, bus registration, supply lists, and more. This page is updated frequently with the latest information, so check for updates often!

Back to School Checklist

We’ve updated our district and school websites with a fresh look and feel! Changes include better navigation for all screen types, improved search, and simplified design. Take a look around!  

Have feedback? Submit your suggestions to our web team!  

Thanks to funding from state and national school nutrition programs, 17 NTPS schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in the 2024-25 school year! 

Five NTPS schools will have paid breakfast and lunch service in the 2024-25 school year. Families at these schools can still qualify for free meals! 

All families should complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Educational Benefits Application (formerly the Free & Reduced-Price Meals Application) this school year, even if your school provides free breakfasts and lunches to all students. Download the PDF form or get a paper application from your school and return it to the office starting August 19.  

Completed applications from all families provide important funding for all NTPS schools. Families that complete the application can also qualify for additional benefits like waived school fees and summer food assistance. 

Free backpacks and school supplies will be available later this month for families in need while supplies last. We are grateful to our partners at Little Red School House for helping ensure every student starts school with pride! Interested families should contact their schools toward the end of August. 

During the NTPS Summer Scholars program:  

• Preschool students do fun activities that build social and academic skills.
• Elementary students are working on math and English language arts.
• Middle school students engaged in a fun STEM camp.
• High school students engaged in history and biology to photography and commercial arts classes to catch up, get ahead, and explore new subjects.

Visit our district’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more examples of learning and fun in our schools!

Each year, we update our Strategic Plan, which provides a roadmap for our work to ensure all students are empowered and future-ready! The plan defines student outcomes and related accountability measures. We regularly update the NTPS Board on our progress. Thank you to the students, parents, staff, community members, teachers, and district administrators who provide input on the plan.  

Summer is a busy time for construction work around the district! We are making parking lot and bus loop improvements at Komachin and Nisqually Middle Schools, completing secure entrances at several elementary schools, and continuing the modernization efforts at River Ridge High School and the Raj Manhas Activity Center. We also are completing the installation of a portable at Horizons Elementary School and making HVAC improvements at Meadows Elementary. Learn more about how we are Building our Future.