Jefferson County schools gear up for approaching first day with upcoming events

Jefferson County school districts are gearing up for the new school year with back-to-school events this week, including a 100-year anniversary celebration for the Chimacum School District.

Sept. 8 is the first day of school in Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene and Brinnon school districts.

Port Townsend and Chimacum districts will hold back-to-school events this week.

Clallam County classes begin this week.

Classes will resume today for Sequim students, Wednesday in Forks and Thursday for the Port Angeles, Crescent and Cape Flattery school districts.

Chimacum

Cowboy Day will be held all day Thursday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Chimacum School District and the entry of the class of 2019 — the 100th graduating class.

Cowboy Day begins with Chimacum High School registration and ends with a centennial anniversary party at 6:30 p.m.

Registration will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday for all students, including Running Start, the Pi Program and Focus Program.

Registration activities include paying fees, getting a 2015-16 school identification card, taking school pictures, turning in annual paperwork, applying for free or reduced lunches, arranging for parking permits and purchasing an ASB membership and the yearbook.

Freshmen register at 8 a.m., sophomores at 9 a.m., juniors at 10 a.m. and seniors at 11 a.m. in the high school commons.

A freshman orientation will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday after freshman registration.

The orientation will include school tours, activities and information for new students.

Freshman parent orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Room 200.

The district is phasing in a closed campus policy, eliminating off-campus lunch breaks for students.

In 2015-16, seniors will be eligible to apply for off-campus permits, but in 2016-17, there will be no off-campus permits issued.

The centennial anniversary party begins at 6:30 p.m. at Chimacum High for past and present students, families and the community.

“Everyone is welcome to come,” said Superintendent Rick Thompson.

The party will be held in the newly renovated gymnasium.

Port Townsend

New student registration for all Port Townsend schools is held by appointment via 360-379-4523.

Port Townsend High School registration was held Monday.

Freshmen orientation will be held today from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the high school.

Blue Heron Middle School will hold a teacher meet-and-greet from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at Blue Heron, 3939 San Juan Ave.

Grant Street Elementary, which serves children in kindergarten through the fifth grade, has new hours this year — 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The grades 1-8 will begin Sept. 8.

Kindergarten classes will begin with half-days Sept. 10 and 11.

Quilcene

The Quilcene School District does not hold a back-to-school event before the first day of school.

Registration for new students is open during office hours at 294715 U.S. Highway 101.

For more information about new student registration, phone 360-765-3363.

Brinnon

The Brinnon School District, which has kindergarten through eighth-grade students, does not hold a back-to-school event before the first day of school.

The district has hired Patricia Beathard as the new superintendent-principal for the 2015-16 school year.

Beathard replaces Wally Lis, who served as part-time superintendent for both the Brinnon and Quilcene school districts as a cost-savings measure taken by the districts during the economic slump and state budgetary cutbacks.

Lis remains as superintendent at the Quilcene School District.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.

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