New Middle School Start & Dismissal Times for 2025-26 School Year

This message from Superintendent Matt Fisher was originally shared directly with GIPS Incoming & Current Middle School Families on March 27th, 2025.  We're sharing it again here to help keep the information handy for families as they prepare for the upcoming school year.

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Dear GIPS Middle School Families,

As we prepare for the 2025-26 school year, I wanted to share one important update with you that will impact the day-to-day experience for you and your students. 
 

Starting next school year, in August 2025, we will have new start and dismissal times at all three of our district Middle Schools.

The new start and dismissal times for Barr, Walnut, & Westridge in 2025-26 will be:
 

• Doors Open - 7:30 a.m.  Breakfast Available
• Start Time - 7:50 a.m.
• Dismissal Time - 3:20 p.m.
   

The bus routes we have been running this year will continue to run next school year as well.  Also, even with the time adjustments, our school days will still meet our normal, required allotment of time. 
 

Please note:  This change will not take place until August 2025.  Our start and dismissal times remain the same for the rest of this school year.
 

Why are we making this change for next school year?
 

As we’ve worked with the Barr, Walnut, & Westridge leadership teams in the last year, we all have come to a collective agreement that adjusting our start and dismissal times will help us better meet the needs for our families, students, and staff.
 

A few reasons that informed our decision include:
 

• Earlier entrance to the schools allows for families to be able to drop off their students at a more convenient time in the morning.  Also, to better support families with students who attend different schools. 
   
• To better maximize time with students for academic instruction and support.  Also, to reduce the amount of class time students miss when leaving for activities.
   
• Establishing a dismissal time that better supports traffic and dismissals across the district. 
   

I understand this will be a transition for all Middle School families, students, and staff.  As with any transition, it takes time to adjust to the new operating procedure.  All of us involved with this decision, the District and Middle School leaders, wanted to share this with you as early as possible so that you may begin planning for the new times.
 

Know that we aim to make decisions with the best interest of our students, staff, and families in mind. 
 

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Middle School Principals directly and they will be able to provide assistance.
 

Thank you for your support,

- Matt Fisher
GIPS Superintendent
www.GIPS.org 

 

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