With the University of Montana already in session, Missoula County Public School District One schools will also begin the 2019-2020 school year this week.

Communications Director Hatton Littman said the first full day of school is Tuesday for Seeley Swan High School and then Missoula schools begin their classes later in the week.

“On Wednesday the 28th kindergarten through 9th grade students have their first day of school, and then on Thursday the 29th the 10th through 12th grade students have their first day,” said Littman. “We offer this perennial advice for parents as the school year begins. Start getting your kids back on a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at a reasonable time so they can wake up in time to have a good breakfast and catch the bus, or walk or ride their bikes to school in time.”

Littman said have a regular dependable routine is a key foundational element for student success.

“It’s also a good time to make sure your student’s immunizations are up-to-date,” she said. “That helps to maintain a healthy student population within the school district, and it’s also required by law. If you’re a family that doesn’t immunize your students, you must have a religious exemption form on file every single school year.”

Littman said almost all students will start the year with a regular school day, with some exceptions.

“Kindergarten students do attend on a half-day schedule,” she said. In general it’s about 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. with lunch after that. We do have early release every Thursday and students are released an hour early on Thursday because we have professional staff time on Thursday afternoons."

Littman said there are new programs for younger children.

"Last year we were able to start an early kindergarten program in addition to our preschool program and those schedules are a little different," she said. "Students that are attending preschool at the Jefferson Center, their first day of class isn’t until September 11th, but those families are really involved in the program and know the schedule.”

Littman reminds students who drive to school to be respectful of other people’s property in the school parking lots or if they park on the street, because a school parking permit is a privilege, and can be revoked if abused.

Get more details on the MCPS website.

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