We’re Getting Ready! Are You?

Welcome to the 2024-2025 Back to School Checklist for students and families of the Chehalis School District. Whether you’re new to our district or a seasoned veteran, use this handy guide for all questions back to school.

Important Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year

You can find important dates throughout the school year on the Chehalis School District Calendar (https://chehalisschools.org/calendars/) or on the calendar on on the main web page of your student’s school. Here are some important dates to know for the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year:

  • Aug. 1 – W.F. West High School (grades 9-12) athletic office re-opens to the public
  • Aug. 1 – W.F. West (grades 9-12) athletic fees may be paid online or in person at the W.F. West Athletics Office. Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8) athletic fees may be paid online. CMS athletic fees may be paid in person when the school office re-opens on Aug. 22.
  • Aug. 5 – Transportation office re-opens to public
  • Aug. 5 – Registration for returning members begins at Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County. CLICK HERE for more information about care options offered by our community partners.
  • Aug. 8 – W.F. West High School (grades 9-12) office re-opens to the public
  • Aug. 12 – Registration Opens for Bethel Church Before- and After-School Programs. CLICK HERE for more information about care options offered by our community partners.
  • Aug. 12 – Registration for new members begins at Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County. CLICK HERE for more information about care options offered by our community partners.
  • Aug. 13 – Last day to check out materials during Summer Library Hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Orin Smith Elementary and James Lintott Elementary
  • Aug. 14 – James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2) office re-opens to the public
  • Aug. 14 – James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2) classroom assignment letters go into the mail
  • Aug. 20 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. final Summer Library Hours at Orin Smith Elementary and James Lintott Elementary. Any materials that were checked out need to be returned.
  • Aug. 20 – Families can begin filling out Free & Reduced Lunch Applications for 2024-2025. Check with your student’s school office or Chehalis School District Office (360-807-7200) to see if an application already exists for your family for the 2024-2025 school year. CLICK HERE to get started after Aug. 20
  • Aug. 20-21 – Readiness Days at W.F. West High School (grades 9-12). During their scheduled time, students may pick up schedules, pay fees and get important information about the school year. Schedule: Aug. 20 8-10 a.m. is for 12th graders, Aug. 20 10 a.m. to noon is for 11th graders, Aug. 20 1-3 p.m. is for 10th graders. Freshman Link Day – a mandatory gathering for all incoming freshmen – is Noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 21. CLICK HERE for more information.
  • Aug. 21 – First day of practice for W.F. West Football. CLICK HERE for more information on sports at W.F. West.
  • Aug. 22 – Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8) office re-opens to public
  • Aug. 24 – First day of practice for all Chehalis Middle School fall sports. CLICK HERE for more information about athletics at CMS.
  • Aug. 26 – Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) office re-opens to public
  • Aug. 26 – Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) classroom assignments available to view on Skyward Family Access for families that have completed required Annual Renewal Forms. CLICK HERE to fill out forms.
  • Aug. 26 – First day of practice for all W.F. West fall sports besides football. CLICK HERE for more information about athletics at W.F. West.
  • Aug. 27 – 6 p.m. in the W.F. West High School (grades 9-12) Commons –  mandatory all-sports meeting for incoming 9th graders and students new to Chehalis School District
  • Aug. 28 – 3-6 p.m. Parent Orientation for Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5). Read more HERE
  • Aug. 29 – Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8) Open House. During their scheduled time, students may pick up their schedules, tour classrooms and meet teachers. Schedule:8:15-10:15 a.m. is for 8th graders; 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. is for 7th graders; 3-5 p.m. is for 6th graders; and 5 p.m. meeting for families of incoming 6th graders and students who are new to CMS. CLICK HERE for a back to school message from Principal Chris Simpson.
  • Aug. 29 – 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bethel Church Before- and After-School Open House at old Olympic School, 2057 SW Salsbury. CLICK HERE for more information about care options offered by our community partners.
  • Aug. 30 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Boys & Girls Club Before- and After-School programs open house at Robert Balmelli Clubhouse, 2071 Jackson Highway, Chehalis. CLICK HERE for more information about care options offered by our community partners.
  • Sept. 3 – First day of classes for all incoming 3rd through 12th Graders
  • Sept. 3 – Scheduled Conferences for incoming 1st and 2nd graders and their families. Your child’s teacher will call to schedule a conference for September 3rd. Placement letters will go out on the 14th. If you do not receive a call by August 27th, please call James Lintott Elementary ( 360-807-7215)
  • Sept. 3-5 – Scheduled WAKids Conferences for incoming Kindergarteners and their families. Call James Lintott Elementary (360-807-7215) after Aug. 14 if you are not yet scheduled for a WA Kids Conference
  • Sept. 4 – First day of classes for all incoming 1st and 2nd Graders. No PAWS day early release. All schools on regular schedule. CLICK HERE for schedule.
  • Sept. 5 – School Picture Day for W.F. West (grades 9-12)
  • Sept. 6 – First day of classes for all incoming Kindergarteners
  • Sept. 10 – 6:30 p.m. Chehalis PTO Meeting at Olympic Library for families of students from James Lintott (grades K-2) and Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5). CLICK HERE for more information.
  • Sept. 11 – First PAWS 90-minute early release of the 2024-2025 school year. CLICK HERE for schedule.
  • Sept. 16 – School Picture Day for James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2)
  • Sept. 17 – School Picture day for Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Sept. 19 – School Picture Day for Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5)

Register New Students

Do you live within the Chehalis School District boundaries and need to register a student for the 2024-2025 school year? Our online registration system is now open! We encourage you to register your student prior to the first day of school in order to avoid waiting in line. CLICK HERE to get started.

Choice Transfers

Do you live outside the Chehalis School District boundaries and want your student to attend Chehalis Schools next year? Choice transfer paperwork is due every year for both new and returning students who live outside the Chehalis School District boundaries. CLICK HERE to learn more or use the QR code below to go to the Choice Transfer portal.

Habla Espanol?

If you need assistance with Spanish language translation of our registration forms, call Cecilia Jimenez at Cornerstone at (360) 219-3657 to schedule an appointment.

Annual Renewal Forms

If your student attended Chehalis Schools last year and is returning this year, please fill out Annual Renewal Forms which you will find on your main page when you log onto Skyward Family Access. These forms take only a few minutes to complete and allow you to review your family’s contact information, emergency instructions and communication preferences so we can better serve you. Remember, in the event of an emergency, the contact information listed in Skyward Family Access is what we will use to contact you, so it is important you update your information if your phone number or email address changes.

CLICK HERE to complete your Annual Renewal Forms.

Having difficulty logging in to Skyward? Contact Janis Dobyns at jdobyns@chehalisschools.org.

Find Your Student’s School Supply List

CLICK HERE for James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2)

CLICK HERE for Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5)

CLICK HERE for Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8)

CLICK HERE for W.F. West High School (grades 9-12)

Need Help Getting Supplies?

Having the right supplies can help a student have a strong start to their school year. If your family is having difficulty paying for school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year, Cornerstone can help. Call (360) 219-7267 or CLICK HERE to learn more about how Cornerstone can help your family with a variety of needs.

Two-Tier System

The Chehalis School District uses a two-tier schedule for our four main schools:

PAWS Schedule

Almost all Wednesdays in Chehalis Schools, we have a 90-minute early release for Professional Academic Work for Success (PAWS). During these days, our staff have time for professional development, organization and communication with families. Wednesday, Sept. 4 is not a PAWS day schedule. The first PAWS day for the 2024-2025 school year will be Wednesday, Sept. 11.

On PAWS schedule days:

  • W.F. West (grades 9-12) has classes 7:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.
  • Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8) has classes 7:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
  • Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) has classes 8:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.
  • James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2) has classes 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CLICK HERE for the District Calendar for the 2024-2024 school year for a complete list of PAWS days and other special schedules.

Before- And After-School Care Options

Both Bethel Church and Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County are offering before- and after-school care options for Chehalis families for the 2024-2025 school year. CLICK HERE for more information about these offerings from these community partners.

W.F. West High School Schedules

Class schedules for students at W.F. West High School (grades 9-12) will be available at Readiness Days Aug. 20-21 CLICK HERE for schedule. You and your student will not be able to view their schedule on Skyward until you complete their required Annual Renewal Forms, so get those filled out now so you your student can access their schedule as soon as it is available. CLICK HERE to get started.

Chehalis Middle School Schedules

Schedules for Chehalis Middle School students will not be finalized until the Open House on Aug. 29. Please be aware that any schedule you view before Aug. 29 is not finalized and no requests for schedule changes will be accepted until after Aug. 29. CLICK HERE for a schedule for the CMS Open House. You and your student will not be able to view their schedule on Skyward until you complete their required Annual Renewal Forms, so get those filled out now so you your student can access their schedule as soon as it is available. CLICK HERE to get started.

Orin Smith Elementary Classroom Assignments

Families at Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) will be able to view their student’s classroom assignment through Skyward Family Access starting Monday, Aug. 26. This information will only be available to view if you have completed your online registration forms (for new students) and required Annual Renewal Forms (for returning students). Both new student registration and returning student annual renewal forms are open now. Make sure you complete them early so you are ready to view your student’s classroom assignment when it becomes available.

James Lintott Elementary Classroom Assignments

Letters with classroom assignments for all students at James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2) will go into the mail on Aug. 14.

Register Your Kindergartener

Online registration for 2024-2025 Kindergarteners is now open! Kids must be 5-years-old by Aug. 31. We encourage you to register your student prior to the first day of school in order to avoid waiting in line. CLICK HERE to get started.

Be Kindergarten Ready

What does it mean to be Kindergarten ready? Kindergarten readiness means children have the appropriate social, academic, and behavioral skills for success at school. It takes family, school, and community to create a safe, supportive, and caring environment for learning. Lintott Elementary takes pride in creating a warm, friendly environment where the success of students is a priority. Lintott staff have created a Kindergarten Readiness Guide which gives a list of social, academic, and behavioral skills to help your child be better prepared for the start of kindergarten. Click the image below to take a look:

Want to know more information about being ready for Kindergarten? CLICK HERE to read the Friday Connect newsletter “Let’s Get Kindergarten Ready!”

Back to school readiness doesn’t just mean making sure you buy enough pencils and glue sticks. The weeks leading up to the beginning of a new school year are a perfect time for families to help their students prepare mentally and physically for school. Want to know what you can do to help your student be Back to School Ready? Check out these great tips.

Establish A Routine

Helping your student create a routine that will help them feel prepared for school is a great thing to do in the weeks leading up to the first day of school. Getting enough sleep (CLICK HERE for information from the CDC), establishing a morning and evening routine and even just designating a place in the house for important school papers can all help students feel ready to take on the school day.

For younger students, parents can start students off on the right foot by helping them set a bedtime, create a bedtime routine, talking about expectations for school and even role playing in preparing for school.

  • CLICK HERE for a Back to School Checklist from PBS
  • CLICK HERE for a First Week of School Worksheet from PBS

Older students should be involved in setting a routine, so parents’ role may be to start with a conversation. W.F. West Assistant Principal Christine Voelker gave us the following suggested questions to get your student thinking back to school:

  • What time do you plan to get up tomorrow and what do you plan to wear?
  • Do you have a place to store your school supplies so they’re in one place in the morning? (In the case of kids who have more than one household, think about having a backpack and school supplies at both homes so kids at least have basic school supplies with them at school every day)
  • Where should we keep important dates and paperwork from school?
  • Where would you feel most comfortable doing your homework?
  • What are you most excited for this school year?
  • How can I help you get ready for school?
  • What parts of your day worry you? How can I help with that?
  • Who is a person at school you feel you connect with?

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is especially important for our brains, and can support many other biological systems as well. Developmentally, children need more sleep than adults – but some kids have trouble getting to sleep. Consider these “sleep hygiene” ideas:

  • Make the bedroom completely dark. Removing distracting light can help you sleep more soundly. (source)
  • Keep the bedroom slightly cold.  This can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. (source)
  • Only sleep in the bedroom. Keep it unstimulating. Reading, eating, looking at your phone or tablet, watching TV, should all be done in another room. (source)

Talk It Out

At any age, conversations with families about whatever they are feeling about school can help them process those feelings and be more prepared to take on a new school year.

  • CLICK HERE for information from the Child Focus organization on how to help students ages 5-11 mentally prepare for school
  • CLICK HERE for more information from the Skyland Trail organization on how to help teens mentally prepare for school

Get Involved

Parent partnership with schools is key to supporting students’ academic success and overall wellbeing. There are many opportunities for family members to volunteer in our schools. CLICK HERE to learn more about volunteering at Chehalis Schools. Involvement can also mean communicating with your student’s school and teachers. If your family has a barrier to your student attending school, being on time or being prepared to learn, please let us know because we would love to help you overcome barriers that can stand in the way of student success.

  • CLICK HERE for resources for parents from the U.S. Department of Education

Check Out This Back to School Month Guide from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:

W.F. West High School Fall Athletics

At W.F. West High School (grades 9-12), our fall sports are: Football; Boys Golf; Boys Tennis; Girls Soccer; Volleyball; Cross Country; Swim Team; and Football Cheer. Football practice starts Aug. 21 and the rest of the fall sports begin practice on Aug. 26. Fall sports registration is open online through Rank One and all paperwork needs to be turned in before the first day of practice. Sports fees may be paid online or in person starting Aug. 1 when the W.F. West Athletics Office re-opens to the public. CLICK HERE for more information or to register for sports.

Mandatory Meeting

There will be a mandatory meeting for all incoming 9th grade student athletes as well as student athletes of any grade in high school who are new to the Chehalis School District 6:45 p.m. Aug. 27 in the W.F. West High School Commons. This meeting is for those who intend to turn out for any W.F. West sports in any season during the 2024-2025 school year.

Attending W.F. West Sporting Events

Cost to attend W.F. West athletic events is $7 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the gate using cash or debit/credit or in advance through our ticketing partner GoFan. Season ticket options are also available for purchase. Season ticket holders from the prior year are given the opportunity in early August to purchase their same seats again, after which any unclaimed seats are available to the public. Call the W.F. West Athletics Office at (360) 807-7235 after Aug. 1 to inquire about season tickets. CLICK HERE for more information about attending W.F. West athletics.

Here is a list of the first home games for W.F. West fall athletic teams. Go to gowfwestbearcats.com for a full schedule of W.F. West Sports:

  • 5 p.m. Sept. 5 – Girls Junior Varsity volleyball vs Rochester
  • 7 p.m. Sept. 5 – Girls Varsity volleyball vs Rochester
  • 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9 – Boys golf vs Tumwater
  • 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9 – Boys Tennis vs R.A. Long
  • 5 p.m. Sept. 9 – Junior Varsity football vs North Kitsap High School
  • 5 p.m. Sept. 10 – Girls Junior Varsity Soccer vs Woodland
  • 7 p.m. Sept. 10 – Girls Varsity Soccer vs Woodland
  • 7 p.m. Sept. 20 – Varsity football vs Timberline High School

Chehalis Middle School Athletics

At Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8), our fall sports are football, girls soccer and cross country. Fall sports practices begin on Aug. 24. Fall sports registration is open online through Rank One and all paperwork needs to be turned in before the first day of practice. Sports fees may be paid online or in person starting Aug. 1 when the W.F. West Athletics Office re-opens to the public. CLICK HERE for more information or to register for sports.

School Bus

The Chehalis-Centralia Transportation Co-Op provides bus service for students living in the Chehalis School District boundaries. Transportation preferences are part of the Registration (for new students) and required Annual Renewal Forms (for returning students) found on Skyward Family Access. CLICK HERE to get started. For inquiries about specific transportation needs, please call the transportation department at (360) 330-7628.

Driving Your Student

Please be aware that our parking lots, especially those at our elementary schools, can be very busy in the morning during drop-off and in the afternoon during pick-up. Allow yourself plenty of time so that you can observe the 20 mph school zone speeds for the safety of all students. For student pick-up, if you schedule allows you to arrive 10-15 minutes after the end of the school day, you will experience little to no traffic.

Pick ups  drop offs ARE NOT allowed:

  • In the 16th Street yellow bus zone at W.F. West
  • In the bus area on the south side of Chehalis Middle School
  • In the bus area between James Lintott and Orin Smith

High School Drivers

All licensed high school students who want to drive themselves to school must register their car with the ASB office prior to using the WFW parking lot. A restricted number of reserved parking spots marked with white paw prints may be reserved starting at W.F. West readiness days. Reserved parking spots must be paid for in person. Staff parking spots are marked with a double white/yellow line. All other spots are open on a first-come first-served basis. If the school parking lot is full, students may park on 16th Street or 19th Street.

What’s On the Menu?

Daily menus for your student’s school may be accessed at THIS LINK.

How Much is School Lunch?

Students at James Lintott Elementary (grades K-2), Orin Smith Elementary (grades 3-5) and Chehalis Middle School (grades 6-8) can have one breakfast and one lunch each day for free. If they choose to have a second meal or to purchase a la carte items their student account will be charged. Families at these schools that meet income requirements for Free & Reduced Meals are still encouraged to fill out that paperwork each year because it can qualify you for other benefits (see below).

At W.F. West High School (grades 9-12) breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $3.55 for each meal. CLICK HERE for more information about school lunch in the Chehalis School District.

Paying for Student Meals

To view your student’s lunch account balance, log into Family Access in Skyward and choose “Food Service” in the menu bar on the left hand side. This page gives you information on your student’s balance, fees due, payments made and daily account of what your student has purchased. A payment button will take you to a portal where you can make a payment to your student’s account.

Need Help Paying for School Lunch?

Eligibility for free and reduced lunch is based on family income. If your family is eligible for free or reduced lunch, we encourage you to fill out the paperwork, even if your student attends a school where meals are provided for free because the forms can also qualify you for other assistance. Before filling out forms, check with your student’s school office or the Chehalis School District Office (360-807-7200) to see if an application already exists for your family for the 2024-2025 school year. CLICK HERE for more information or to fill out forms

Do You Want to Volunteer in Our Schools?

We are so grateful for the work our volunteers do. We have more than 900 individuals cleared to volunteer in our district. From chaperoning a school dance, to coming along on a field trip, to helping out in the classroom, we have many opportunities for you to volunteer in our district. All school volunteers need to fill out a volunteer clearance form every two years. CLICK HERE for more information.

All Your Healthcare Questions Answered

Want to know if your student needs immunizations to start the school year? Or, do you need to know how to send them to school with a medication? How about information on how to decide whether it is safe to send them to school with the sniffles? All these and more health information can be found on our Nurse Health Services page. CLICK HERE for more information.

Chehalis Shows Up

In the Chehalis School District, we encourage good attendance through the Chehalis Shows Up campaign. At each of our schools, attendance is encouraged through various incentives throughout the year, so keep an eye out for more information. Chehalis Shows Up is about how we show up for school and also how we show up for each other. If your family has a barrier to getting your student to school on time, every day or all day, please talk to your student’s teacher or school administrator because we want to help you find a solution.

Attendance Matters Here

September is Attendance Awareness Month for a good reason! Research shows, if your student starts the school year with good attendance, they are more likely not only to continue with good attendance but also show better academic outcomes. These handouts can help you learn about chronic absenteeism and also what you can do to help set your student up for attendance success.

Kindergarten Info – ENGLISH

Kindergarten Info – SPANISH

Elementary School Age Info – ENGLISH

Elementary School Age Info – SPANISH

Secondary School Age Info – ENGLISH

Secondary School Age Info – SPANISH

ParentSquare for Messaging

Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, the Chehalis School District will be using ParentSquare as its primary communication platform. You will soon receive an email inviting you to create an account on ParentSquare where you can set your communication preferences such as what language you would like to send and receive messages in and what time of day you would like to receive non-emergency messages.

Parent invitations to join us on ParentSquare are planned to go out the week of Aug. 12. CLICK HERE for a parent page with more information about getting started in ParentSquare.

ParentSquare does not replace Skyward Family Access and if your student rides a bus, you will also continue to use the My Ride K-12 App.

Skyward Family Access

Skyward is the student information system used by the Chehalis School District. Every family in our district has an account in Skyward and it is important that you know how to log into Skyward Family Access, where you can:

  • View messages from the district, as well as your student’s school and teachers
  • View your student’s lunch account and make a payment. You can also set a preference to receive a reminder when your student’s account falls below $5
  • View your student’s attendance
  • View your student’s grades and set preferences to be sent updates on their academic progress
  • View your student’s schedule and classroom assignments when available
  • Read All About It

Every year, we ask families to complete Annual Renewal Forms on Skyward so that they can review and correct information such as contact information for your family, your student’s health and immunization history and your student’s transportation preferences. If you are having difficulty logging into Skyward, please contact Janis Dobyns at jdobyns@chehalisschools.org for a reset link.

Read All About It

The Chehalis School District puts out a number of newsletter publications, including the weekly Friday Connect (returning Aug. 23!), monthly Staff Spotlight and quarterly Safety Connect. If you are a Chehalis School District parent or guardian with a contact in Skyward, you will automatically receive our newsletters. If you are a community member and would like to receive Chehalis School District publications and announcements, send an email to communications@chehalisschools.org to be added to our mailing list.

Your Voice Matters

Communication doesn’t just go one way in the Chehalis School District. Our doors are open to to our community and we want to know what you think so we can better serve you. Besides our every day pathways to communicate with our buildings, school board and district office, there are occasionally chances to participate in a survey, focus group or committee. CLICK HERE for more information about how you can connect with us.