The official start of the 2017-2018 school year is still three weeks away (Aug. 30), but the campuses already are abuzz with activities.

Here’s a rundown of key pre-school year dates, events and information for Sequim students and parents:

District, high school office hours

The Sequim School District office, 503 N. Sequim Ave., is open year-round to the public during weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The district office will be open 1-4 p.m. only on Thursday, Aug. 24, because of a morning all-staff training event.

Donate school supplies

School supply donations may be dropped off at the Sequim School District office during business hours. A number of Sequim area businesses and organizations have collection bins for school supplies, including the Clallam County PUD office (104 Hooker Road), Around Again (22 Gilbert Road), Sequim Community Church (950 N. Fifth Ave.), Sequim Boys & Girls Club (400 W. Fir St.), Walmart (1284 W. Washington St.), JCPenney (651 W. Washington St.), Edward Jones (990 E. Washington St. Ste. 2B), KSQM FM 91.5 (577 W. Washington St. Ste. C), Sound Community Bank (645 W. Washington St.), Olympic Theatre Arts (414 N. Sequim Ave.) and YMCA of Sequim (610 N. Fifth Ave.).

Collected school supplies will be made available to families in need at the annual Back to School Fair. A school supply list is available on each school’s website.

Calendars on the way

School families can expect to receive in the mail the 2017-2018 Sequim School District Parent Guide and Annual Calendar around Aug. 8 and the fall 2017 Kids Today Back to School Guide around Aug. 24. For more information about school events, contact your student’s school or consult the district website’s calendar at www.sequim.k12.wa.us. “Like” the Sequim School District’s Facebook page to receive updates on your Facebook page throughout the school year.

Back to School Fair

The fifth-annual Back to School Fair is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St. The event features resources, services and information as well as plenty of kids’ activities, all aiming to help families with children age birth-18 years prepare for the new school year.

Also featured are car seat checks, free haircuts, immunizations, vouchers for sports physicals, health-related information, free food and free books. School supplies and backpacks will be available for Sequim families in need. There will be a school bus, a fire truck and a police car for children to explore as well as other fun activities.

Get orientated

An orientation for new families/transfer students is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, in the Sequim High School library. Wolfpack Days are Thursday, Aug. 17, (seniors and juniors 8-11 a.m., sophomores from noon-3 p.m.) and Friday, Aug. 18, (freshmen with last names A-K 8-11 a.m., L-Z noon-3 p.m.).

At this event, students can collect class schedules, have school pictures taken and pay for their ASB card, yearbook, campus permits and PE uniforms.

Get immunized

A team from Clallam County Health & Human Services will be on site at Sequim Middle School’s Timberwolf Days on Aug. 22-23 to administer the following vaccines to any Sequim School District students in grades K-12: Tdap, varicella, MMR and MMRV.

Tdap vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis is required for all students in grades 6-12. It is required for K-12 students to have two varicella vaccines. Meningococcal is recommended, but not required.

Immunizations will be available to children of all ages at the annual Back to School Fair on Aug. 26. There is no charge for the vaccine itself, but there will be an administration fee charge of $23 per vaccine.

For those on Medicaid, Medicaid can be billed directly. For those with other sources of health insurance, payment will be needed upfront, either cash or a personal check. A receipt will be provided for submittal to insurance for reimbursement.

SHS office hours, Link up, fall sports, band practices

The Sequim High School office (601 N. Sequim Ave.) reopens Aug. 9 and hours are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

Link Crew Orientation for all incoming ninth-graders is 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. Link leaders — junior and senior leadership students — have been training and preparing for this event since May and will lead the students through a series of ice-breaker activities.

“This is an awesome opportunity for freshmen to meet their Link leaders, get a tour of the school and interact with their classmates,” Sequim High School principal Shawn Langston said. “Link Crew events are planned to occur throughout the school year to provide continued support and familiarity. It’s a great transitioning program from middle school to high school for our ninth-graders.”

Deadline for fall sports forms to be turned in at the high school office is Aug. 15. Sports forms are found on the high school’s website (www.sequim.k12.wa.us/Domain/134) under “Athletics.” Football practice begins Aug. 16, while all other fall sports begin Aug. 21.

A current sports physical is required for participation in all sports. Sports physicals are good for 24 months.

Fall sports include volleyball, boys tennis, cross country, girls soccer, swimming/diving and cheerleading.

The first varsity football home game is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, in the SHS stadium when the Wolves host the Port Townsend Redhawks.

Band practices will be 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Aug. 21, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the high school band room. Incoming ninth-graders should arrive at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21. Band uniforms will be issued during this time. Band director Vern Fosket says this year’s Husky Band Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, and that band members will begin rehearsing music for that trip at the pre-school year band practice.

Sequim Middle School activities

The office at Sequim Middle School office (301 W. Hendrickson Road) reopens Monday, Aug. 21, and late summer hours are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

An orientation for families of incoming sixth-graders and those new to the district is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, in the gym.

Timberwolf Days are 2:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, for students with last names beginning with A-K, and 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, for students with last names L-Z. At that time, students can collect class schedules, pay applicable fees, purchase an ASB card, yearbook and PE uniform as well as pay money on lunch accounts and have individual school pictures taken.

This year, Sequim Middle School’s WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) orientation program for incoming sixth-graders will be during the morning of Aug. 30, the first day of school. The WEB program is designed to ease the transition from elementary school to middle school.

Key Greywolf, Haller dates

Helen Haller Elementary School’s office (350 W. Fir St.) reopens Wednesday, Aug. 16, and Greywolf Elementary School’s office (171 Carlsborg Road) reopens Tuesday, Aug. 22. Office hours are from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. for both schools.

Each elementary school will host an Open House from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. Families are strongly encouraged to attend.

“Haller’s Open House begins with a classroom visit to meet the teacher, drop off school supplies and receive a Cougar Passport to the Future,” Renee Mullikin, Helen Haller second-grade teacher, said. “Families will visit five stations around the school to learn about the Kids at Hope and PBIS programs as part of a treasure hunt. When the student’s passport is filled with stamps, then the family receives a token to present for ice cream treats.”

Haller third-grade teacher Carolyn Luengen adds, “It’s a great opportunity for teacher and parents to connect.”

Greywolf’s event has similar objectives. Families are encouraged to find their child’s classroom, meet the teacher, tour the building and enjoy a popsicle.

“Open House provides that important initial meeting between students, parents and teacher,” Greywolf second-grade teacher Kim Knudson said. “During this time I watch new students transform from being reluctant to come in and meet me to not wanting to go home! The goal is to let students, accompanied by their parents, become familiarized with the classroom environment through performing basic tasks such as filling out a name tag and giving input on where they want to sit. The next morning, on the first day of school, I see my students’ faces are relaxed because they know what to expect.”

OPA Otter Day

Olympic Peninsula Academy’s Otter Day, a required orientation for parents and students, is planned for Thursday, Aug. 31. OPA families will receive a postcard by mail with assigned times and more details. Olympic Peninsula Academy is a parent partnership program within the school district.

First day, early key dates

The first day of school for grades 1-12 is Wednesday, Aug. 30. Helen Haller Elementary School, Sequim Middle School and Sequim High School begin school at 8:15 a.m. and Greywolf Elementary School at 8:30 a.m.

School begins one hour later on Late Start Mondays, consistent with last year’s academic schedule.

Kindergarten parent/teacher conferences will be held at Greywolf Elementary and Helen Haller Elementary schools on Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The first day of class for kindergartners is Tuesday, Sept. 5. Each school will send a letter to families by mail with more details. The Sequim School District has an all-day kindergarten program.

There is no school on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, and the district office will be closed.

Volunteer efforts

Those interested in volunteering in the Sequim Schools must undergo a background check each school year. Valid photo identification such as a current Washington driver’s license must be submitted for a clearance process through the Washington State Patrol.

The district utilizes an all-online procedure for volunteer registration and an email address is required to utilize the system.

Individuals may apply now to volunteer or renew last year’s online application, following step-by-step instructions on the district’s website at www.sequim.k12.wa.us.

A computer kiosk at the district office is available during office hours, if needed. Several events needing many volunteers come up quickly after the beginning of the school year, so individuals are encouraged to start the application process as soon as possible.

Parents are encouraged to apply for volunteer approval at the beginning of the school year so they will be eligible to assist with field trips and other events throughout the school year.

Headed to the Fair?

The Washington State Fair provides free tickets for Sequim students to attend the state fair in Puyallup from Sept. 1-24. Students may obtain a ticket in their school’s office after the beginning of the school year.