Welcome Guide 2026-2027

We are excited to welcome all students back to school!

Important Dates

September 1 First day of school (Grades 1-12)
September 4 No school, Labor Day
September 7 No school and all offices closed, Labor day
September 8 First day of school (Kindergarten and preschool)
2026-2027 K-12 Academic Calendar (access the calendar in other languages)
2026-2027 Preschool Academic Calendar
2026-2027 School Bell Schedules

A young girl in a %22First Day of School%22 shirt smiles at the camera in the foreground, while a busy school hallway with students and a staircase fills the background.

School Resources

Back-to-School and Orientation Events

EARLY LEARNING CENTER	DATE	TIME
Session 1	9/2	10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session 2	9/2	12:30 - 2:30 pm
Session 3	9/2	3:00 - 5:00 pm

ELEMENTARY	DATE	TIME
Brookdale	8/27	5:30 - 7:00 pm
Central Avenue	8/27	5:30 - 7:00 pm
Christensen	8/27	3:00 - 5:00 pm
Collins	8/27	5:30 - 7:00 pm
Elmhurst	8/27	4:30 - 6:00 pm
Harvard	8/27	5:30 - 7:00 pm
James Sales	8/27	5:30 - 7:00 pm
Midland	8/26	4:30 - 6:00 pm

MIDDLE SCHOOL	DATE	TIME
Ford New Student Orientation	8/27	4:00 - 6:00 pm
Ford Back to School Night	9/17	5:30 - 7:30 pm
Keithley New Student Info Night	8/20	5:30 - 7:30 pm
Keithley Back to School Night	8/26	5:00 - 7:00 pm

HIGH SCHOOL	DATE	TIME
Franklin Pierce Freshman Kickoff	8/18	5:30 - 7:30 pm
Franklin Pierce Back to School Night	9/17	6:00 - 7:30 pm
Washington	8/25	3:30 - 5:30 pm

GATES High School will host a family night closer to November.

HELC	START	END
AM session	8:00 am	11:30 am
PM session	11:30 am	3:00 pm

ELEMENTARY	START	END
Brookdale	9:35 am	4:05 pm
Central Avenue	9:35 am	4:05 pm
Christensen	8:55 am	3:25 pm
Collins	9:35 am	4:05 pm
Elmhurst	9:35 am	4:05 pm
Harvard	8:55 am	3:25 pm
James Sales	8:55 am	3:25 pm
Midland	8:55 am	3:25 pm

MIDDLE SCHOOL	START	END
Ford	8:00 am	2:35 pm
Keithley	7:25 am	1:55 pm

HIGH SCHOOL	START	END
Franklin Pierce	8:15 am	2:45 pm
Washington	7:25 am	1:55 pm
GATES	7:20 am	1:50 pm

Right At School will be offering before and after school care at all elementary schools in the Franklin Pierce School District, except for Elmhurst (see below). Please visit www.rightatschool.com for further information, including registration and safety protocols.

Enroll in Right at School Before and After Care

YMCA

YMCA will be offering before and after school care at Elmhurst Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year. Please visit the YMCA Child Care website to learn more about the program and register.

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and Lunch Information

Franklin Pierce Schools provides lunch and breakfast for all students at no cost.

It is our desire to provide students with the safest possible food environment. Please contact your school nurse or visit the Nutrition Services webpage to obtain the appropriate form. We will work with kitchen staff to make sure your student has a nutritious meal each day that is safe for them to eat.

FPS Nutrition Services Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4:00 pm

nutrition@fpschools.org

A white telephone icon is centered within a teal circle.

(253) 298-4618

Menu Information

Bus Information

Bus Information

To learn more about your child's bus route including pickup and dropoff times, please visit E-Link (after August 18) and use the following login information:

Username: guest

Password: guest

Bus Bulletin

This year, we are happy to introduce Bus Bulletin as a tool for students, parents and caregivers. The Bus Bulletin notification system will notify parents and students when there are bus delays, substitute drivers, and/or a bus change.

Students who ride a bus are automatically enrolled in this system. If your student rides a bus, please save 253-237-8313 as Bus Bulletin's number - That is where texts and phone call notifications will come from.

FPS Transportation

Mon-Fri 7:00 am-4:30 pm

transportation@fpschools.org

(253) 298-3865

FPS Bus Routes

Community Resources

Community Resources Information

Franklin Pierce Schools partners with a variety of organizations and services to provide additional support to students and families. Resources range from food and health resources to mental and physical health resources. In addition to learning more about FPS partner organizations, students and families are encouraged to connect with school staff to learn of available services.

Additional Resources:

Family and Community Partnerships Office Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm

aprice@fpschools.org

(253) 298-3000

Community Resources

Health and Safety Precautions

Required Immunizations

Did you know that students are not allowed to attend school in Washington state without record of the proper immunizations?

Hepatitis B
DTap
Polio
MMR
Varicella

Need to access free immunizations?

Click here to view upcoming immunization clinics.

Free immunization clinics are also offered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD).

Need additional information about immunization exemptions?

If your family believes you should be exempt from immunization requirements based on religious or philosophical reasons, please complete a Certificate of Exemption Form and turn it in to the school nurse.

School Supplies

Preschool and K-8 Students:

Franklin Pierce Schools will be providing pencils, erasers, pens, notebooks etc. Families will be responsible for providing a backpack and binder (for some grade levels).

If families need assistance please contact your student's school office or counselor.

Grades 9-12 Students:

Franklin Pierce supply list
Washington supply list - will be available on or before August 14
GATES students do not need any additional school supplies

Academic Calendar

Bell Schedules

School Directory