News & Information

Elementary and middle school offices are now open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Options High School is open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.

The first day of class for students is Tuesday, Sept. 8. Please check with your elementary school for kindergarten assessment schedules the first three days of school.

All registered district families should have received a Family Handbook in the mail in mid-August. Additional copies are available at each school. The handbook contains important information about district and school programs, annual legal notifications required by federal and state law, and:

• The school year magnet calendar (sponsored by the Whatcom Educational Credit Union);
• Application for free/reduced school meals;
• Information about low-cost student health insurance;
• AM bus schedules (PM and kindergarten bus schedules are currently in development and will be posted online). Please note that many bus stops and routes have changed per the Budget Savings Plan adopted in March 2009;
• Student residency form;
• Privacy form for opting out of release of student directory information for publicity purposes, student/parent directories and military recruitment (high school only); and an
• E-news registration form.

The handbook and magnet were mailed in mid-August in a recyclable wrapper. To view the online version of the handbook now, please click here. Please note that as a cost-savings measure, the Family Handbook is printed in black-and-white and includes a list of important dates and events, rather than a month-by-month calendar this year because families are receiving the magnet calendar.

Every school now also has a new online calendar that is continuously updated: please click here. When viewing a calendar, you can bookmark its location or create a shortcut on your desktop. More information about how to use the calendar will be available in the fall.

Please visit "Families" on the district's Web site for the following information or click on the links below:
• Which school a child should attend based upon school attendance areas 
• Kindergarten information
• School supply lists
• Bus information

For other school-specific information, contact your school or visit the school Web sites. For general district information, call 676-6400.

Elementary School Registration

Elementary school offices open Monday, Aug. 24. New students should pick up registration packets at their neighborhood schools. Elementary school (kindergarten through grade five) office hours beginning Aug. 24 are 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

Children eligible to attend kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before midnight Aug. 31.  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.
For kindergarten information and schedules, visit http://www.bham.wednet.edu/families/familieskindergarteninformation.htm,  contact your neighborhood school or call 676-6512.

Middle School Registration/Orientation

Middle school offices are open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Fairhaven will hold grade 6 orientation (C.U.B.S. – Caring, Understanding, Belonging, Support) from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 2.

Kulshan will hold registration for students not already registered by grade on the following dates: grade 6, Aug. 27;  grade 7, Aug. 28; grade 8, Sept. 1 . Student schedules will be mailed home the first week of September.  Additionally, schedules may be picked up the first day of school. Grade 6 orientation will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 4.  Grade 6 parents are invited to an informal orientation and question-and-answer session from 11 a.m. to noon on Sept. 4.

Shuksan grade 7 and 8 family night and tours of the new building will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2.  Grade 6 family night and tours will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.  Grade 6 student orientation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 4.  Other grades receive schedules the first day of school.

Whatcom 's grade 6 transition day will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 2.
Student schedules will be mailed home the first week of September.

High School Registration, Orientations and Sports Clearances

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.   On Sept. 1, students in grades 10-12 may pick up their schedules in the Student Services Office.  Also, on Sept. 1, BHS counselors will be available to help students with any schedule issues between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

Freshman orientation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 3.  All incoming ninth graders are encouraged to attend. Freshman schedules will be available at the orientation.  Administrators and counselors will be available until 3 p.m. to address any questions or concerns freshmen may have.  Ninth grade BHS parents/guardians will meet at 11:30 a.m  in the BHS Theatre.

Bellingham Athletics

Athletes must turn in a completed sports clearance packet to the Activities Office prior to their first practice on the day they clear.

BHS football clearance for grades 9-12 is scheduled with coaches from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 18,  in the Activities Office.

Athletic clearance for all other BHS fall sports is at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 24.
See the BHS Web site for additional information and practice schedules.

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. 27 when the counselors return.

Orientation will be held on Sept. 1 with the following schedule:
All sophomores 2 to 3 p.m. in the cafeteria
All juniors 3 to 4 p.m. in the cafeteria
All seniors 4 to 5 p.m. in the cafeteria
All freshmen 4 p.m. in the gymnasium, barbecue dinner follows orientation

Sehome Athletics

All sports clearances take place in the student lounge.
Junior varsity and varsity football clearance is at 8 a.m. Aug. 19.
Freshmen football clearance is 8 a.m. Aug. 19 or 10 a.m. Aug. 24.
Volleyball and cross country clearance is 8 a.m. Aug. 24.
Soccer clearance is at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 24.
Tennis clearance is at 9 a.m. Aug. 24.
Swimming clearance is at 11 a.m. Aug. 24.

Squalicum High School

Registration packets for new SQHS students may be picked up at the main office any day during office hours and an appointment will be scheduled for the last week of August.

All Squalicum students report to school on Sept. 2 by grades according to the following schedule:
All freshmen at 8 a.m.
All sophomores at 12:30 p.m.
All juniors at 1:30 p.m.
All seniors at 2:30 p.m.

Squalicum Athletics

Athletic packets are available in the main office at Squalicum and must be completed and submitted on these dates:
Football clearance: 10 a.m. Aug. 19
Volleyball clearance: 9 a.m. Aug. 24
Girls' soccer clearance: 9:30 a.m. Aug. 24
Cross country clearance: 10 a.m. Aug. 24
Girls' swim and dive clearance: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 24
Boys' tennis clearance: 11 a.m. Aug. 24

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. 24.  New students interested in attending Options may pick up application and enrollment materials at the campus, 2015 Franklin St., on or after that date. Application packets are also available at Central Services at the reception desk during the summer.  

New students will need to complete the application packet and attend the student orientation.  Once the application is complete, new students will be informed of their acceptance.  All adults/family/ parents are required to attend parent orientation for their student to remain enrolled or to finalize enrollment.