Soap Lake opens Aug. 26 and Ephrata follows Sept. 3, EHS orientation attendance counts toward earning extended lunch on Tiger Day
Updated
Backpacks line the playground on the first day of school at Grant Elementary. File photo by Randy Bracht.
First day of instruction · grades 1–12
Soap Lake School DistrictWed., Aug. 26
St. Rose & New LifeWed., Sept. 2
Ephrata School DistrictThu., Sept. 3
Some kindergarten programs begin later, and schools phase in their preschool classes over the following weeks. Each school card carries dates and times.
EPHRATA — As summer draws to a close, kids everywhere are getting ready for that first bell ringing in the hallway — back to school!
Locally, Soap Lake students will be the first to return to the classroom for their 2026-27 year, followed a week later by Ephrata kids.
Four schools open under new leadership in the two communities.
Soap Lake hired principals for both of its buildings — Rebecca Lundgren at the high school/middle school and Erin Allen at the elementary school.
In Ephrata, Christopher Jensen takes over at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Aaron Cummings returns to Parkway Intermediate as principal after serving as Ephrata's assistant superintendent since 2024.
Students in both districts eat free again this year through the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that enables qualifying schools to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge.
Soap Lake
The district will host a back-to-school open house and community dinner on Monday, Aug. 24, from 5-6:30 p.m.
At the high school, the Eagles football program began practices this Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Lady Eagles volleyball program follows on Monday, Aug. 24, in line with WIAA guidelines. Middle school football and girls basketball first practices happen on Aug. 31. Soap Lake's middle and high school sports schedules can be foundhere.
All five schools will be open on Monday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 1 for family and student orientations for grades 1-12. Kindergarten orientations run Monday, Aug. 31 through Friday, Sept. 4 at Columbia Ridge and Grant Elementary schools.
Families should register for orientation times through their parent Skyward account — of note, the orientation conference counts as attendance.
High school mandatory orientations also run Monday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 1 — every student meets their homeroom teacher for 20 minutes, and both days bring school pictures, an information fair, a free family meal, and time to meet teachers; see more detail below. Students must attend an orientation toward earning extended lunch on Tiger Day.
High School · Fall 2026
Orientation Days Aug 31 & Sep 1
Orientation is Aug 31 and Sep 1. Every student needs a 20-minute meeting; see more detail below.
See the full scheduleHide the full schedule
Required — every student
A 20-minute meeting with your homeroom teacher
No exceptions: ALE, Open Doors, and Running Start students are included.
01Sign up in SkywardPick a time with your student's homeroom teacher.
02Show up on Aug 31 or Sep 1The meeting takes 20 minutes.
03It counts twiceToward your student's attendance, and toward earning extended lunch on Tiger Day.
Monday
August 31 · 11am – 7pm
11am–7pm
Pictures & Information FairMain gym
Every student needs a photo taken for their student ID.
Package purchase info comes through ParentSquare.
Clubs, activities, sports, and health info tables.
4–6pm
Healthy StudentsMon onlyHS library
Social media risks — multiple accounts, devices, and how kids get lured.
Substance use: prevention, and what to do if it's already happening.
Mental health resources.
How to start the hard conversations.
4:30–6:30
Free mealCommons
For HS students and their families, from WSU GEAR UP and La Ceirreta.
6–7pm
Meet your student's teachersClassrooms
Teachers are in their rooms — stop by.
Tuesday
September 1 · 11am – 6:30pm
11am–5pm
Pictures & Information FairMain gym
Every student needs a photo taken for their student ID.
Package purchase info comes through ParentSquare.
Clubs, activities, sports, and health info tables.
2–3pm
Meet your student's teachersClassrooms
Earlier than Monday — teachers are in their rooms 2–3pm only.
4:30–6:30
Free mealCommons
For HS students and their families, from WSU GEAR UP and La Ceirreta.
Open both days, all hours
Surveys & annual student update
Computers are set up for two parent surveys plus your annual student information update — required every year, for every student. Each completed survey earns a raffle ticket for a free yearbook.
PE uniforms & merchandise
PE uniforms and Ephrata gear are for sale in the HS commons — or order online ahead of time.
Pay before picture day if you want the ASB designation printed on your student's ID card.
Thu, Sep 3
In-person instruction begins
First day of class.
Incoming high school freshmen get a morning of their own for orientation. Freshman Launchruns from 8-11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with students convening in the main gym. EHS counselor Jay Mills said the event will be a session of games and team-building led by the school's LINK Crew — upperclassmen mentors trained to guide the Class of 2030 through its first year at EHS.
Ephrata sports follow the WIAA practice start schedule: football began Aug. 19; all other sports and activities begin Monday, Aug. 24. Athletes at both EMS and EHS register through FinalForms; physicals are good for two years and the ASB fee is paid at the school’s office; fee waivers are available for eligible students.
Varsity sports kick off home competition the first week of school. The Lady Tigers volleyball team hosts Omak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1. Girls soccer welcomes West Valley (Spokane) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Football opens on Kiwanis Field at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 against Selah. Cross country is further out, with the Tigers making their home debut at the Lakeview Golf & Country Club by hosting Ellensburg and Quincy at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. Full athletic schedules can be found here.
Ephrata's Tiger Cub Preschool program is open to children living within the school district who will be 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet eligibility guidelines. Those include families with low annual income or children with developmental or environmental risk factors that may affect school success. The preschool will begin Sept. 21 and run weekdays with separate morning and afternoon sessions.
Ephrata School District
Start times are staggered by building to accomodate busing. Every Monday is a late start.
Grant asks for grade-level donations rather than a required purchase list. Orientation times are not posted. Families pick a slot through a sign-up at the school.
Student orientations are scheduled through the parent Skyward account and count as attendance.
St. Rose of Lima
St. Rose, previously serving preschool through sixth grade students adds a seventh grade program for the 2026-2027 school year. Supply drop-off and meet-your-teacher is Tuesday, Sept. 1, back-to-school night follows at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.
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School start dates, orientations for 2026-27
Soap Lake opens Aug. 26 and Ephrata follows Sept. 3, EHS orientation attendance counts toward earning extended lunch on Tiger Day
First day of instruction · grades 1–12
Some kindergarten programs begin later, and schools phase in their preschool classes over the following weeks. Each school card carries dates and times.
EPHRATA — As summer draws to a close, kids everywhere are getting ready for that first bell ringing in the hallway — back to school!
Locally, Soap Lake students will be the first to return to the classroom for their 2026-27 year, followed a week later by Ephrata kids.
Four schools open under new leadership in the two communities.
Soap Lake hired principals for both of its buildings — Rebecca Lundgren at the high school/middle school and Erin Allen at the elementary school.
In Ephrata, Christopher Jensen takes over at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Aaron Cummings returns to Parkway Intermediate as principal after serving as Ephrata's assistant superintendent since 2024.
Students in both districts eat free again this year through the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that enables qualifying schools to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge.
Soap Lake
The district will host a back-to-school open house and community dinner on Monday, Aug. 24, from 5-6:30 p.m.
At the high school, the Eagles football program began practices this Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Lady Eagles volleyball program follows on Monday, Aug. 24, in line with WIAA guidelines. Middle school football and girls basketball first practices happen on Aug. 31. Soap Lake's middle and high school sports schedules can be found here.
Soap Lake School District
Late-start Mondays, doors open at 7:50 a.m.
Soap Lake Elementary School
Wed., Aug. 26Preschool–Grade 5
Orientation
Kindergarten & TK
Preschool, age 3
Erin Allen, principal
410 Ginkgo St. S. · 509-246-1323
Supply list
Soap Lake Middle/High School
Wed., Aug. 26Grades 6–12
Orientation
Fall sports first practices
Rebecca Lundgren, principal
527 2nd Ave. S.W. · 509-246-1201
Supply list
Ephrata
All five schools will be open on Monday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 1 for family and student orientations for grades 1-12. Kindergarten orientations run Monday, Aug. 31 through Friday, Sept. 4 at Columbia Ridge and Grant Elementary schools.
Families should register for orientation times through their parent Skyward account — of note, the orientation conference counts as attendance.
High school mandatory orientations also run Monday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 1 — every student meets their homeroom teacher for 20 minutes, and both days bring school pictures, an information fair, a free family meal, and time to meet teachers; see more detail below. Students must attend an orientation toward earning extended lunch on Tiger Day.
Orientation Days
Aug 31 & Sep 1
Orientation is Aug 31 and Sep 1. Every student needs a 20-minute meeting; see more detail below.
See the full schedule Hide the full schedule
A 20-minute meeting with your homeroom teacher
No exceptions: ALE, Open Doors, and Running Start students are included.
For HS students and their families, from WSU GEAR UP and La Ceirreta.
Teachers are in their rooms — stop by.
Earlier than Monday — teachers are in their rooms 2–3pm only.
For HS students and their families, from WSU GEAR UP and La Ceirreta.
Surveys & annual student update
Computers are set up for two parent surveys plus your annual student information update — required every year, for every student. Each completed survey earns a raffle ticket for a free yearbook.
PE uniforms & merchandise
PE uniforms and Ephrata gear are for sale in the HS commons — or order online ahead of time.
Order PE uniforms onlinePay before picture day if you want the ASB designation printed on your student's ID card.
First day of class.
Incoming high school freshmen get a morning of their own for orientation. Freshman Launch runs from 8-11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with students convening in the main gym. EHS counselor Jay Mills said the event will be a session of games and team-building led by the school's LINK Crew — upperclassmen mentors trained to guide the Class of 2030 through its first year at EHS.
Ephrata sports follow the WIAA practice start schedule: football began Aug. 19; all other sports and activities begin Monday, Aug. 24. Athletes at both EMS and EHS register through FinalForms; physicals are good for two years and the ASB fee is paid at the school’s office; fee waivers are available for eligible students.
Varsity sports kick off home competition the first week of school. The Lady Tigers volleyball team hosts Omak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1. Girls soccer welcomes West Valley (Spokane) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Football opens on Kiwanis Field at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 against Selah. Cross country is further out, with the Tigers making their home debut at the Lakeview Golf & Country Club by hosting Ellensburg and Quincy at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. Full athletic schedules can be found here.
Ephrata's Tiger Cub Preschool program is open to children living within the school district who will be 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet eligibility guidelines. Those include families with low annual income or children with developmental or environmental risk factors that may affect school success. The preschool will begin Sept. 21 and run weekdays with separate morning and afternoon sessions.
Ephrata School District
Start times are staggered by building to accomodate busing. Every Monday is a late start.
Tiger Cub Preschool
Mon., Sept. 21Preschool
111 4th Ave. N.W. · 509-754-2474
tigercub@ephrataschools.org
Open to district children who turn 3 or 4 by Aug. 31 and meet eligibility guidelines.
Columbia Ridge Elementary School
Thu., Sept. 3Grades K–4
Orientation
Christopher Jensen, principal
60 H St. S.E. · 509-754-2882
ridgeinfo@ephrataschools.org
Supply list
Family orientations are scheduled through the parent Skyward account and count as attendance.
Grant Elementary School
Thu., Sept. 3Grades K–4
Orientation
Shannon Dahl, principal
451 3rd Ave. N.W. · 509-754-4676
grantinfo@ephrataschools.org
Donation list
Grant asks for grade-level donations rather than a required purchase list. Orientation times are not posted. Families pick a slot through a sign-up at the school.
Parkway Intermediate School
Thu., Sept. 3Grades 5–6
Orientation
Aaron Cummings, principal
1011 Parkway Blvd. · 509-754-9729
parkwayinfo@ephrataschools.org
Supply list
Family orientations are scheduled through the parent Skyward account and count as attendance.
Ephrata Middle School
Thu., Sept. 3Grades 7–8
Orientation
Fall sports first practices
Tina Mullings, principal
384 A St. S.E. · 509-754-4659
emsinfo@ephrataschools.org
Supply list
Family orientations are scheduled through the parent Skyward account and count as attendance.
Ephrata High School
Thu., Sept. 3Grades 9–12
Orientation
Class of 2030
Fall sports first practices
Ashlie Miller, principal
333 4th Ave. N.W. · 509-754-5285
ehsinfo@ephrataschools.org
Supply list, by course
Student orientations are scheduled through the parent Skyward account and count as attendance.
St. Rose of Lima
St. Rose, previously serving preschool through sixth grade students adds a seventh grade program for the 2026-2027 school year. Supply drop-off and meet-your-teacher is Tuesday, Sept. 1, back-to-school night follows at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School
Wed., Sept. 2Preschool–Grade 7
Orientation
Younger grades
Amy Krautscheid, principal
520 Nat Washington Way · 509-754-4901
info@saintroseschool.org
Seventh grade is new this year, eighth grade is planned for 2027–28.
New Life Christian
New Life runs a similar bell schedule, set apart by an early noon release every Friday.
The school takes students from KinderPrep through 12th grade. Back-to-school night is Monday, Aug. 31 and an open house follows Thursday, Oct. 15.
New Life Christian School
Wed., Sept. 2KinderPrep–Grade 12
Orientation
KinderPrep
Tami Cleveringa, head of school
911 E. Division Ave. · 509-754-5558
nlcs@nlcs.us
Supply list