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Back to School 2023-24

Welcome Back!

As Kent County Public Schools begins the 2023-24 school year, we know there is a lot of information being sent out to our families. This page includes information and links to help you get your students ready to return to our classrooms this fall!

Scroll down for information and links on:
• The First Day of School, Open Houses and the KCPS Calendar
• Updated School Times for 2023-24
• School Supply Lists
• School Contact Information
• Menus and Student Meal Information
• Our App and Keeping Up With the Latest KCPS News
• School Listings, Staff Directories, Forms and Family Resources 




First Day of School, Open Houses and the KCPS Calendar

Important Dates for Back to School with photos of Gillian Spero, Dr. Couch and students

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The 2023-24 school year officially begins after Labor Day, with KCPS' traditional staggered start for grades.

First- through sixth-graders and ninth-grade students all have their first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Those students in seventh and eighth grades and 10th through 12th grades are back in school starting Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Prekindergartners and kindergartners start their school year Thursday, Sept. 7.

OPEN HOUSES

Leading into the Labor Day holiday weekend, all schools will hold open houses on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Kent County High School's open house will be held from 9 to 10 a.m.
 
Kent County Middle School follows with an open house from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

H.H. Garnet, Galena and Rock Hall elementary schools will all hold their open houses that afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Families can keep up with important dates with Kent County Public Schools' online calendar. Our calendar page lists important upcoming dates, features an interactive online calendar and includes a downloadable school year calendar to help families with advance planning for breaks.

Calendar icon
Click here to visit the KCPS Calendar page.

 


Updated School Times for 2023-24

2023-24 School Times with clock photo

The start and end times for our three elementary schools have changed for the upcoming year.
 
For the 2023-24 year, the school day for Galena, H.H. Garnet and Rock Hall elementary schools will start and end earlier.
 
This year, the arrival time at the elementary schools is 8:35 a.m., with instruction beginning at 9 a.m. Elementary school dismissal will start at 3:25 p.m. for walkers and 3:40 p.m. for bus riders.
 
The times for Kent County Middle School and Kent County High School remain the same as last year.
 
The school times are: 
 
Elementary School Regular Schedule
Arrival/Breakfast: 8:35 a.m.
Instruction Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Dismissal of Walkers: 3:25 p.m.
Dismissal of Bus Riders: 3:40 p.m.

Elementary School Delayed Opening and Early Dismissal Times


Delayed Opening
One Hour

Delayed Opening
90 Minutes
Arrival/Breakfast

9:35 a.m.

10:05 a.m.
Instruction Begins

10:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.
Student Dismissal

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.
Buses Depart

3:40 p.m.

3:40 p.m.







Delayed Opening
Two Hours

Early Dismissal
Half Day
Arrival/Breakfast

10:35 a.m.

8:35 a.m.
Instruction Begins

11:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.
Student Dismissal

3:25 p.m.

12:25 p.m.
Buses Depart

3:40 p.m.

12:40 p.m.

Kent County Middle and High School Regular Schedule
Students enter: 7:25 a.m.
Instruction Begins: 7:35 a.m.
Student Dismissal: 2:25 p.m.
Buses Depart: 2:30 p.m.
 
Middle and High School Delayed Opening and Early Dismissal Times


Delayed Opening
One Hour

Delayed Opening
90 Minutes
Arrival/Breakfast

8:25 a.m.

8:55 a.m.
Instruction Begins

8:35 a.m.

9:05 a.m.
Student Dismissal

2:25 p.m.

2:25 p.m.
Buses Depart

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.







Delayed Opening
Two Hours

Early Dismissal
Half Day
Arrival/Breakfast

9:25 a.m.

7:25 a.m.
Instruction Begins

9:35 a.m.

7:35 a.m.
Student Dismissal

2:25 p.m.

11:25 a.m.
Buses Depart

2:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.




Menus and Student Meal Information

Our school menus are posted monthly. Families can view them online or download and print them from our Menu page.

Menu Icon
Click here to for our September menus.

Kent County Public Schools is fortunate to be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. KCPS is able to provide free meals at all five schools through a program called Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 
There is still a charge for snacks and any additional food, like second meals, beyond the initial breakfast and lunch serving.

While the benefit of the CEP program is immense to our community, the lack of information that is generally available from the Free and Reduced application could hinder other beneficial programs, grants and funding opportunities.
 
KCPS is asking that you take a moment to complete the following form so that we can have the information needed to pursue every opportunity for our students.

Forms icon
 

My School Bucks is an optional service for parents to view recent purchases and make prepayments to your child’s cafeteria account for meal and snack purchases via the Internet with a credit card/debit card.
  
There are four easy steps to enroll:
1. Go to www.myschoolbucks.com and click "Sign up today."
2. Create an account for yourself and add your children. You will need your student’s name exactly as it appears on their report card. 
3. (Optional) Provide credit or debit card information if you would like to make pre-payments to your child’s account.
4. Select a Meal Payment Option to make a prepayment or select your child’s name to view recent purchases.

My School Bucks Icon
Click here to sign up for My School Books or manage an existing account.




Our App and Keeping Up With the Latest KCPS News

Get the app!

Download our free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to stay up to date with the latest news and information from Kent County Public Schools.

News iconVisit the KCPS Newsroom for for the latest news and highlights.
Social media iconFamilies also can connect with us and our schools on social media.




School Listings, Staff Directories, Forms and Family Resources