Back-to-School
Welcome back! As a new school year begins, we welcome students, families and staff to the Boston Public Schools for a successful year of teaching and learning.
Get the school year off to a good start!
The August 2008 edition of the Family Matters newsletter offers tips for a successful start to the school year. NOTE: Translations of Family Matters are available on the "Welcome" pages of this site in the following languages: Cape Verdean creole, Chinese, Haitian creole, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Do you have questions about yellow school bus transportation?
Watch Superintendent Johnson's back-to-school video message to staff.
Read about the back-to-school news conference.
Back-to-School Hotline
For assistance with student assignment, transportation, or other back-to-school issues, call the Family Hotline, 617-635-9046:
- August 18-29: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- September 2-12: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Important Dates
2008-2009 School Year Calendar
Don't miss the Back-to-School Jamboree!
- Saturday, August 30, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., City Hall Plaza
- Celebrate the new school year! Join other BPS families for fun activities, performances, prizes, health screenings… and lots of information and resources to get kids and families off to a great start.
- Sponsored by BPS Office of Family & Student Engagement: 617-635-9661.
Important back-to-school dates for families and staff:
| Monday, August 4 | Family Resource Centers resume regular hours |
| Monday, August 18 | Back-to-School Hotline begins: 617-635-9046 (through September 12) |
| Tuesday, August 19 | New Teacher Institute, UMass Boston (through August 21) |
| Wednesday, August 27 | Kindergarten Celebration, Children's Museum |
| Saturday, August 30 | Back-to-School Jamboree, City Hall Plaza |
| Tuesday, September 2 | All teachers and paraprofessionals report to work |
| Thursday, September 4 | First day of school for students in grades 1-12 |
| Monday, September 8 | First day of school for students in kindergarten |
Parent & Student Agreement
Within the first few days of school, every student will bring home a copy of the Guide to the Boston Public Schools for Families and Students. (This document is also available for download on the Publications page.)
The Parent & Student Agreement on pages 33–36 of this Guide is very important. It is a legal document that we will keep on file at the school. Please remove these pages from the booklet (look for the red edges), read and sign each section, and return the agreement to your child’s school right away. We ask all parents to do this to be sure they understand the policies and laws that affect their children. We also need the signature of a parent or guardian so their children can take part in certain school activities.
