When Does School Start in Sammamish & Issaquah?

School is fast approaching, even before summer seems to really have begun.

Here are some things to know if you have students in school in Sammamish or Issaquah schools.

Issaquah School District

If you're getting ready for school in the Issaquah School District, classes begin on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Elementary students: Lime green enrollment verification postcards were mailed to elementary families on July 16. The district asks parents to follow the instructions on the lime green cards or at this web link below to verify your elementary student's enrollment in an Issaquah elementary school. You’re also invited to take the annual Elementary Parent Survey before August 3. (Note: this is for any parent with a kindergartner through fifth-grader last school year).

If you have a new kindergartener this year, transportation staff is now available (beginning on July 23) to take your reservation for the “Come, ride along!” tour leaving from Issaquah Valley Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 7 or 8. Students will board a school bus, learn bus etiquette, and take a short ride. Call Transportation July 23-27 at 425.837.6330 to sign up for this very fun event.

Middle-school families: Between Aug. 13 and midnight Aug. 19, every middle school will use an online process for Back to School Check-In (BTSCI). You will verify enrollment, print required forms, pay required fees, join PTSA, donate to Issaquah Schools Foundation, and add money to your student’s lunch account. The online BTSCI process will be available through your Family Access account (and on the district website's Family Access page). You will need to use your parent/guardian account—not a student account—to log in to complete the August BTSCI process. (Note: Some middle schools will still have “in-person” business days but will want as many families as possible to complete the August online process before those business days. Watch for specific details from your school.)

High school families: Registration and Scheduling Verification Process (RSVP) is for high school families. It opens Monday, Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 19 at midnight.  All of those taking-care-of-business-day items (enrollment confirmation, schedule verification, payments, forms, etc.) are more accessible and convenient using RSVP. The online RSVP process will be available through your Family Access account (and on the district website's Family Access page). You will need to use your parent/guardian account—not a student account—to log in to complete the August RSVP process. Watch for specific details from your school. Middle- and high-school families: Stay tuned because your annual Middle and High School Parent Survey will open August 6, with a link on the District homepage.

For district families in need of help with school supplies, find information on the district's collaborative program with the Issaquah Food Bank here.

Lake Washington School District

The Lake Washington School District will have a "staggered start" on Tuesday, Sept. 4, for newly transitioned secondary students, and all students attend classes starting Sept. 5. (See the LWSD tandem calendar here.) The transition day to the district's new grade configurationwas originally set for the end of the year, but extensive snow makeup days caused the district to postpone that to the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

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To get more information about registering for Lake Washington schools, visit the district's home page. If your neighborhood school is closed for the summer, you can register at the LWSD District Office.

Still need to register for kindergarten in the Lake Washington Schools? The district is expanding its full-day kindergarten program this year. Learn how to register your child for kindergarten and how to help your child succeed in their first year of school.

Eastside Catholic

will hold a variety of orientations Monday, Aug. 27 (see the full schedule here), and classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 28. For parents of students participating in fall sports, there's a mandatory parent orientation Aug. 14.

And for everyone, Eastside Catholic will host Garth Stein at the culminating event of on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Editor's note: Information from the Lake Washington and Issaquah school districts and Eastside Catholic School.