Renton School District Families:
Soon we’ll welcome our students, families, and staff back to another great year of learning. Here are some important reminders to prepare for the new school year.
Start of School
- Grades 1-12: Wednesday, Aug. 28
- Late Start Friday, Aug. 30 (All schools start 90 minutes later than regular start time most Fridays thru the school year for staff training)
- NO SCHOOL MONDAY, SEPT. 2 (Labor Day)
- Kindergarten and Ready K: Tuesday, Sept. 3
- Preschool (Meadow Crest Early Learning Center): Wednesday, Sept. 4
School breakfast and lunch meals free to most students
Thanks to state and federal funding, Renton School District will again provide breakfast and lunch meals free to most students this school year. All students can eat school breakfast and lunches free except at Risdon Middle School, Hazen High School, and the H.O.M.E. program. Unfortunately, the federal Community Eligibility Provision grant formula left our district unable to include students in those schools/program. Families at these schools can complete the Nutrition Benefit form and email it to RSD.mealform@rentonschools.us or return to your school.
Important note: While not required for free school meals, families are strongly encouraged to complete this Child Nutrition and Education Benefit form to help students and families receive important resources like: before and after school academic and enrichment programs; resources for classrooms; guidance and college counselors; health and wellness services; state summer grocery debit cards (SunBucks), and more. Submit your completed form to RSD.mealform@rentonschools.us or drop off at your school.
School bus routes emailed to families
Families will be emailed their student school bus route information by Monday, Aug. 26. Families can also access school bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times in their Skyward Family Access account. For questions about school bus routes please email Transportation.Routing@rentonschools.us.
- Students should be at designated stop location five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the bus. School and transportation schedules will not allow drivers to remain at a stop location waiting for students to arrive.
- Kindergarten/preschool students will not be allowed off the bus without a parent/guardian present. To have your student dropped off with a sibling or other authorized adult, complete this release form and give it to your school bus driver.
- Our Transportation Department offers a mobile app called My Ride K-12 (formerly Ride360) that allows families to look up bus route information, receive alerts/notifications and more. Visit the Transportation Department website for more information.
Low-cost school supplies provided to all elementary and middle school students
Renton Schools provides school supplies for all elementary and middle school students in classrooms at the start of the school year. Families pay a low, one-time fee of $30 ($10 for families on free/reduced lunch) for enough school supplies for the entire school year (backpacks and lunchboxes not included). Families who wish can continue to bring their own school supplies. High school students will continue to provide their own school supplies.
Cost for school supplies for the full year is only $30 ($10 for families free/reduced lunch). Families can pay the one-time fee through their Online Payment account or at their school.
Technology Updates:
During the summer, we transitioned to the newest version of Skyward. The link to log into New Skyward Family Access can be easily found on the district website and on each school’s webpage. Family members, if you already have a username and password for Skyward Family Access from last year, those credentials will work in New Skyward. If you are new to Family Access, you can use the “Forgot password” link to set a new password, with your email as the username. Additionally, families should access the new site through our website linked in this message and delete previous bookmarks to the old site to ensure access to the correct site.
Important Notes:
- Students: New Student Number: All students have a new student number which also serves as their lunch number. This number is prominently displayed on the student profile in New Skyward. To learn more, please visit the Student Number Change tile on Skyward Family Access. For student security, we reset all student passwords for school-issued devices at the start of the school year. As school starts, students will be given a default password by their teacher and will reset their password upon their first login.
- Families: Please review your Skyward Family Access account to update any changes/new information to your personal family information to ensure you receive important communications from your school, teacher, and district. Log into your Skyward Family Access account to update your personal family information. New Skyward Mobile App: For families that already use the Skyward Family Access app, please find instructions on how to update your app to New Skyward: New Skyward Mobile App Update.
Student physicals, updated immunizations, options for mental health counseling
Immunization Clinics
It’s easy for students to get caught up on vaccines required for school at many area clinics. Clinics offer all vaccines required for school for children up to age 17. Vaccines at these clinics are free and you don’t need insurance or proof of immigration status. See a list of vaccination clinics here.
Sports Physicals
To be able to play sports, middle and high school students must have an up-to-date annual sports physical.
Partnership for student mental health counseling
Renton School District continues to partner with Providence and Hazel Health, a confidential and secure service to provide access to quality health care services for all students, at no cost to families. Hazel Health offers scheduled appointments with licensed therapists and on-demand access to medical providers. The program will be offered to students at school (read more about the in-school program at our Mental Health Support webpage). Families can also sign-up for in-home care.
Annual notices
Please see our Annual Notices webpage:
- Directory information to military recruiters
- Family Education Rights & Responsibilities (FERPA)
- Nondiscrimination Statement
- Student Insurance
- Weapons Prohibited on School Property
- Head Lice Notice
- Meningococcal and Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds
