Back to School Hub

Our Back to School Hub page is designed to provide families with all the essential information they need to navigate the new school year at D51. Whether you’re returning or joining us for the first time, the Hub offers a comprehensive guide to help you get started. You’ll find details on enrollment, school start dates, supply lists, transportation options, and more.

Back to School Dates

August 11, 2026: 1st - 12th Graders (excluding schools involved in bond projects)
August 12, 2026: Appleton Elementary, Broadway Elementary, Orchard Avenue Elementary, Pomona Elementary, Tope Elementary, Wingate Elementary, Mt. Garfield Middle School, and West Middle School.
August 13, 2026: Kindergartners Start
August 17, 2026: District 51 Preschoolers Start

Please note: Some schools may have different start dates due to transitions and changes within their buildings. Schools that deviate from the standard district schedule will inform their families of the specific start dates.

Registration

Kinder Readiness

School Hours

Attendance

School Supplies

Meal Menus

Family Application for Benefits

Safety and Security

Transportation

Calendars

Preschool

Stay Connected

DISTRICT NOTIFICATIONS

Most district communications are sent through ParentSquare via email, text, and voice notifications. Families receive timely updates about district and school information, closures, delayed starts, early releases, power outages, and incidents impacting their child’s school. Please ensure the contact information you have for your child is updated in your ParentVUE account.

Learn more about ParentSquare We strongly encourage families to download the ParentSquare app to stay informed and engaged.

* You do not have to download the app to receive emergency alerts; however, the ParentSquare app is the most comprehensive way to stay updated on school and district communication.

Additional Resources

Athletics

District 51 offers a variety of sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities - and we encourage all our students to find their passion. There is something for everyone! Here is some information you need to know if your child wants to participate in athletics this school year.

Physicals: Don't wait—get their physicals done early! All sports require a physical to be completed and paperwork to be filled out. You can complete a sports physical through your child’s primary health care physician or visit www.d51schools.org/athletics for additional sports physical locations.

Registration: The athletic registration process is paperless and done online. To register for sports, visit www.d51schools.org/athletics and click on your child’s school. To participate in sports, all athletes must provide electronic copies of:

Student's physical health screening
Completed parent permission form
Completed Athletic Code of Conduct form

Cost: The registration fee is $150 per sport.

Start Date: Boys Golf begins on August 5 and Cross Country, Football, Boys Soccer, Softball, Spirit, Boys Tennis, and Volleyball begin August 12.

athletics website

Back to School Nights

Elementary Schools

Appleton Elementary
Back to School Night: August 4, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Broadway Elementary
Back to School Night: August 4, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Chatfield Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Back to School Night (Kindergarten): August 6, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Chipeta Elementary
Back to School Night: August 4, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Dos Rios Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Dual Immersion Academy
Back to School Night: August 7, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Fruitvale Elementary
Back to School Night: August 6, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Lincoln Orchard Mesa Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Loma Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mesa View Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Monument Ridge Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
New Emerson Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Orchard Avenue Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Pomona Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Pear Park Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Rim Rock Elementary
Back to School Night: August 4, Time TBD
Rocky Mountain Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.
Shelledy Elementary
Kindergarten Signing Night: August 4, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Taylor Elementary
Back to School Night (BBQ): August 5, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Thunder Mountain Elementary
Back to School Night: August 6, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tope Elementary
Back to School Night (Family Picnic): August 5, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Wingate Elementary
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Middle Schools

Bookcliff Middle School
- Back to School Night: August 4, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- 6th Grade Orientation: August 5, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Fruita Middle School
- 7th & 8th Grade Open House: August 1, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
- 6th Grade Orientation & Open House: August 4, 5 - 7 p.m.
Grand Mesa Middle School
- 6th Grade: July 31
- 7th/8th Grade: August 4
Mt. Garfield Middle School
Back to School Night: August 4, 4:30 – 6:15 p.m.
6th Grade: 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.
7th Grade: 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
8th Grade: 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Orchard Mesa Middle School
Back to School Night: August 4, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Redlands Middle School
6th Grade Back to School Night: August 4, Time TBD
Back to School Night 7th/8th Grade: August 5, Time TBD
West Middle School
Back to School Night: August 5, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

High Schools

Central High School
- Student Check-In for Grades 9 & 12: July 28, 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Student Check-In for Grades 10 & 11: July 29, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Freshman Orientation: August 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Students stay the entire session)
- Back to School Night: August 4, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Fruita Monument High School
Open House Night: August 5, Time 6- 7 p.m.
Grand Junction High School
Back to School Night: August 5, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Palisade High School
Back to School Night: August 4, Time TBD

Programs & K-12

Career Center and Valley Prep
Back to School Night: To be determined
Grand River Academy
Back to School Night: August 6, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. & August 8, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Before and After School Childcare

District 51 partners with several local organizations that offer before and aftercare for our students.

Extended Hours

The purpose of the Extended Hours Program is to provide a comfortable, safe, and interesting environment for children. The program is designed to meet the needs of children who will be or have already spent a challenging day in school. The program offers children an opportunity to be with their friends, enrich their day through special activities and classes, work on homework assignments, and to relax.

Extended Hours Locations

Riverside Education Center

Riverside Education Centers (REC) provides Mesa County students with high-quality academic and extracurricular experiences during out-of-school time to foster individual growth and to create community within a safe, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

REC Programs

If your child's school is not included in these before/after school programs, please contact the school directly to learn about alternative options.

Immunizations

To attend a school in Colorado, your child must be vaccinated against certain diseases unless you have a special reason not to. These reasons could be medical or other personal (non-medical) reasons.

Non-medical exemption paperwork

If you choose not to vaccinate your child for non-medical reasons, you must complete and submit paperwork to the school every year. Non-medical exemption paperwork can be completed in one of the following two ways.

1. Submit a certificate you receive after completing an online class about immunizations.

ONLINE IMMUNIZATION CLASS

2. Your child's healthcare provider willingly signs a non-medical exemption for your child.

NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTION FORM

Medical exemption paperwork

If you choose not to vaccinate your child for medical reasons, the following medical exemption form must be completed and signed by a medical provider (MD, DO, APN, or PA).

MEDICAL EXEMPTION FORM

For further information or forms in other languages, please visit the CDPHE VACCINE WEBSITE.
Learn more information regarding our District 51 Nursing Services.