Tacoma Public Schools

Breakfast and lunch are offered at no cost to Tacoma Public Schools students all year.

Download our menu app so you know what’s being served every day: https://bit.ly/3qEjTTE

31 years of doing what's Wright!

Recently retired Truman Middle School Campus Security Officer Clarence Wright was honored for his decades of service to Tacoma Public Schools by TPS Safety & Security Director, Mike Rupert.

Thank you, Mr. Wright. It won't be the same without you!

Wondering what supplies your child needs for school this year? Check your school’s website, under the “about” menu.

Get more back-to-school information here: https://bit.ly/3qEjTTE

Help keep your child healthy at school by ensuring they are fully vaccinated, have current health care plans on record, and give updated medical orders to their school.

Find links to forms and more information in our back-to-school checklist. https://bit.ly/3qEjTTE

If your child plans to take the bus to school, please download the free transportation app, My Ride K-12. You can access secure data for bus stop location, route and pickup times.🚌

Search for Tacoma Public Schools and register for an account. After you confirm your email, log in again and add/link your child. You will need to know their student ID.

Bus routes are expected to be available soon.

The first day of school is Monday, Sept. 9, for most Tacoma Public Schools students.

We are so excited to see everyone!

Take a look at our back-to-school checklist to help you and your child feel prepared for the school year. https://bit.ly/3qEjTTE

MOVING DAY: Bryant Montessori teachers are in the building! It's exciting to see the new Bryant come to life as staff unpack and turn their new school into a welcoming, engaging place for their students and families.

Save the date for a community open house on Oct. 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. More details to come.

The first day of school is around the corner, and we are so excited to see our students.

Schedule for the first day:
🍎 Grades 1-12: Monday, Sept. 9
🍏 Kindergarten & TTK: Thursday, Sept. 12
🍎 Head Start, ECEAP & Peer Inclusion Preschool: Monday, Sept. 16

All schools begin one hour later on Wednesday mornings except when noted otherwise. Check your school's calendar and bell schedule for more details. The first late start day is Wednesday, Sept. 11.

See our online calendar and download printable versions: https://bit.ly/TPS_calendar

Unleashing your creativity is actually a great way to inspire meaningful conversations at home. Try kicking it off by answering these questions:

-Describe a time when you felt most creative. What were you doing? How did you feel when you were in flow of creativity?
-Do you think creativity is a skill that can be learned or is it something you're born with? -What are some challenges you face when trying to be creative?
-Do you feel creative when you are on social media? How do you feel?
-Have you ever had a creative idea that you were afraid to share?

Find more questions about getting creative here: https://bit.ly/3VOSQ4N

REGISTER FOR BEYOND THE BELL AND CLUB B: Families can start to register now for after-school activities for their elementary and middle school students.

Log in to the Compass: TPS Family App to select programs at https://compass.tpsapps.org/

-Beyond the Bell, for elementary school students, offers flexible pricing. When you register, you will see three payment options. Please select the best option based on your family’s current need.

-Club B, for middle school students, is free to families.

Registration runs on a staggered scheduled for elementary. Get more info here: https://bit.ly/3Z7t7GG

Check out this helpful post from Tacoma Public Utilities. If you're interested, apply by Sept. 2.

You have about a week left to apply for a $200 credit on your power bill from the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program.

These funds are available to customers whose annual income does not exceed 150 percent of the area median income, as listed in the table.

Applications must be filled out and signed by someone on the Tacoma Power account no later than September 2, 2024. Visit https://bit.ly/3SuhS7m to apply.

🌟 A huge THANK YOU to the incredible team of doctors from Madigan Army Medical Center for their amazing support at our recent free sports physical event at Silas High School! 🌟

Their dedication to our students is truly inspiring—they completed over 350 sports physicals, ensuring our student-athletes are ready to take on the upcoming season. But that’s not all! They also made a generous $3,000 donation to the school’s InvestEd fund to help cover student athlete participation fees.

We are so grateful for their commitment to our community and their continued partnership in supporting our students’ success both on and off the field. Together, we’re getting better every day!

FRANK FANS: Stewart Middle School Panther staff and a flock of fans celebrated First Student bus driver Frank Shephard for receiving the 2024 Outstanding Driver Service Award from the National School Transportation Association. Shephard accepted the honor at the NSTA annual meeting in Nashville.

Stewart Principal Don Crider organized a local recognition for Shephard, who drives students to Stewart as part of his daily route.

Thank you, Mr. Shephard, for getting so many students to and from school safely over the years. We look forward to another year with you!

We’re thrilled to announce that the new Bryant Montessori School is nearly complete—just in time for the first day of school! 🏫✨ A few finishing touches around campus such as grind and overlay right-of-way work and topsoil and planting around the campus to finish up the landscaping work. The future is bright as we prepare to open the doors to students on the first day of school Sept. 9.. Get ready for an amazing year ahead!


D/B team: Skanska USA and TCF Architecture

For more Bryant construction updates follow https://www.tacomaschools.org/departments/pc/school-construction/current/bryant

We can't wait to have students back in our buildings! This week was a great start, with students entering 6th and 9th grade attending Jump Start, where they learned the ropes for their first year of middle or high school.

The first day of school is quickly approaching for all of our students. Here's what that looks like:

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
-Grades 1-12: Monday, Sept. 9
-Kindergarten and Transition to Kindergarten (TTK): Thursday, Sept. 12
-Head Start, ECEAP and Peer Inclusion preschool: Monday, Sept. 16

BELL SCHEDULE CHANGES
-High school will start at 8:15 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.
-Middle school will start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m.
-Some elementary schools will start at 8:40 and end at 3:10; some will start at 9 and end at 3:30 p.m. See your school’s website for your child’s start time.
-Community Based Transition will start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

FIRST LATE START DAY: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11
-All schools start one hour later on Wednesdays except when noted otherwise. Check your school’s calendar and bell schedule for more details.

TALKING THE TALK: Making some tweaks to the way you talk to yourself could go a long way toward increasing empathy and appreciating yourself.

-What is the first thing you typically say to yourself when you make a mistake? Anything you want to change about that?

-How does your self-talk differ when you're facing a challenge vs. when you're celebrating a success?

-Have you ever noticed a pattern in your self-talk? Are there certain phrases or words you use often?

-How does your self-talk affect how you feel?

Find more questions about examining self-talk here: https://bit.ly/3VOSQ4N

Stadium High School’s new groundskeepers are GOAT'ing above and beyond. 🐐 A team of goats began working today, munching on overgrown vegetation above the famed Stadium Bowl. They will be at the school the next week or two, and we ask that you stay baaa-ck, giving them plenty of space. Who needs lawnmowers when you've got these eco-friendly eating machines on the job? 🐐🌿Thank you Evergreen Goat Rental

Communities in Schools - which supports Tacoma students - is asking for your help. They need supplies to stuff 2,000 more backpacks so all of our students have what they need for the first day of school.

HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED:
-Spiral notebooks and loose leaf paper with college ruling
-Highlighters and colored pencils
-1-inch binders and binder dividers

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS NEED:
-Spiral notebooks with wide ruling
-Composition books with wide ruling
-Scissors
-Small bottles of glue
-Markers
-Two-pocket folders

If you can donate, please bring supplies to Oakland High School at 3702 McKinley Ave E., between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on any weekday through Monday, Aug. 26.

Donations are also welcome. Text 'school supplies' to 26989 to give.

Amazing things happen through partnership! Last spring TPS and Gesa Credit Union launched a partnership and earlier this week, TPS received the first donation totaling $20,000. Learn how the community can support this work: bit.ly/3AsDqeq

Big things are happening on the Oakland High School historical renovation project! 🏫Workers will soon start adding extra wall layers in the attic, 2nd and 3rd floors in the historical 1912 building. On level 1, they’re already working on the electrical lines. The outside is getting fixed up as well, with masonry repairs and new window frames. In September, workers will start to pour new concrete.

In the 1957 portion of the site, the crew is working on ceiling frames and filling in walls as they prepare to frame the inside walls at the entrances. New concrete is going in, too.
It’s all coming together to create an amazing space for our students!


Follow for more construction updates https://www.tacomaschools.org/departments/pc/school-construction/current/oakland
D/B Team: BNBuilders and TCF Architecture

Summer Late Nights programs are closed Friday, Aug. 16, while kids and staff take a field trip to watch a Tacoma Rainiers game. ⚾️⚾️⚾️

There are still two weeks of Summer Late Nights left! Give it a try starting Monday, Aug. 19.

https://www.tacomaschools.org/departments/summer-learning/summer-late-nights

PRACTICING HUMILITY: Humility is like being a team player, even when you're good at something. It's about knowing you're awesome, but not bragging or acting like you're better than others. It's also about being open to learning and growing, even when you think you already know everything.

-When is a time you could have bragged, but instead were humble?
-Can you be proud of yourself and still be humble?

Try those questions and more to build trust, communication and empathy in your family.

Find more questions about discovering humility here: https://bit.ly/3VOSQ4N

Check out this free back-to-school event happening on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a .m. - 1 p.m. at Eastside Community Center. Students can get free school supplies, personal care items, health screenings, haircuts and more! 📗🩺🪥

🌟 Join us for the Tacoma Police Department’s Kid's Health & Safety Fair! 🌟
📅Date: Saturday, August 24th
📍 Location: Eastside Community Center, 1721 East 56th Street
⏰Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
🎒Theme: “Back to School Readiness”

🎁 Check out these amazing giveaways from our sponsors/community partners:
• Bicycle Helmets
• Live Music by Acoustic DJ Serge Timacheff
• Seattle Kraken gear
• Bicycles
• Games
• Tacoma Stars goodies
• Backpacks (With School Supplies)
• Personal Care Bags
• T-Shirts
• Under Garments
• 1000 Pairs of Socks
• New Coats
• On-site Dental Cleanings
• Chiropractors
• Barbers
• Eye Screenings by Optometrists
• Ask A Doctor
• Health Screenings
• Personal Care Items (Deodorant, Toothbrushes, etc.)
• Valuable Resources From Around Tacoma
• Nikes
• Converse
• NBA Team Socks
• NBA Sweats and Jackets
• New Levi’s (Jeans)
• Workout Clothes
• And Much More!
Don't miss out on this incredible event! See you there! 🎉👟📚

FAVORITE MOMENTS: “I think Jen’s story is probably my favorite. I loved sharing the amazing and unique work that she is doing at IDEA and highlighting a staff member who did not take a traditional path to becoming an educator. Many of our staff were professionals in other fields before making the change to teaching, and Jen’s prior career has proven to enrich the learning experience of students.” – Katie

Read Jen’s story: https://bit.ly/47WM4g1

As TPS team members work to prepare for the upcoming school year we’re taking time to look back and share moments and stories that brought us joy last school year.

JUMP START FOR 6TH & 9TH GRADERS: Students entering middle school and high school can get a leg up by attending Jump Start this month. Jump Start helps incoming 6th and 9th graders transition smoothly into the academic and social environment of a new school.

6th Grade Jump Start
Sites: Baker, First Creek, Giaudrone, Gray, Hilltop Heritage, Hunt, Mason, Meeker, Stewart, Truman (No Jump Start for Bryant)
Dates: Aug. 19-20, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

9th Grade Jump Start
-Sites: Foss, Lincoln, Mt. Tahoma, Silas, Stadium
-Date: Aug. 20, 2024 (one day only)
-Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Transportation will be provided from current elementary or middle school.

Learn more about Jump Start: https://www.tacomaschools.org/about/newsroom/story-detail/~board/2023-2024-school-year/post/mark-your-calendar-for-6th-and-9th-grade-jump-start-in-august