Washoe County students return to school on Monday: What to know

School starts Monday for the Washoe County School District (WCSD), but it’s not too late to register students and receive required immunizations.

Here’s everything you need to know to be prepared for the first day of school..

Back to School Expo

WCSD, along with the Washoe County Health District, Immunize Nevada and Community Health Alliance, is hosting a Back to School Expo and Vaccine Clinic tomorrow, Saturday, Aug, 12, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Washoe County Health District, 1001 E. 9th St. (Building B) in Reno. 

The expo will include raffle prizes, free school supplies, resources for parents and students, and a job fair for open WCSD positions. Students and families should enter the Expo through the door between buildings B and C.

Immunizations

All students new to WCSD, or entering 7th or 12th grade, are required to have the following immunizations before they can start school:

• 7th graders (and new students, grades 7-12): meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) and T-dap immunizations. 
• 12th grade: MCV4 vaccine

Free vaccines are available at the expo but students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Insurance is not required and no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay. 

Walk-ins are welcome or you can schedule your vaccine and avoid a wait. 

Registration

There’s still time to register your child for school. To begin the registration process visit www.washoeschools.net/enroll. You will also be able to register students, with the help of staff members, at the expo.

Free school supplies

To ease the burden of the cost of school supplies on families, WCSD is distributing free school supplies during the expo, while they last. This is being done in partnership with the Salvation Army.

Staffing

While WCSD has overcome its teacher shortage, the district is still in the process of hiring for special education positions and bus drivers. The district’s job postings webpage also lists more than 100 certified teaching positions, including a handful of  counseling positions, 12 administrative jobs and 18 coaching jobs as of Thursday.

If attendees would like to explore career options with the district, the WCSD Human Resources Department will be available at the expo to help with applications for employment.

Check out open jobs with WCSD.

Transportation

WCSD has enough bus drivers to return to its normal routes for the upcoming school year. The district is still seeking to hire more drivers though. You can apply online to become a bus driver.

The school district wants to remind parents to be mindful of speed in school zones and school bus stops. Stop when approaching a bus with its red loading lights on and stop signs deployed.

Students are encouraged to arrive at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled stop. 

Get your child’s bus schedule online.

If a bus is delayed? Call the dispatch office at (775) 337-7769.

Free meals at school

It’s difficult to learn on an empty stomach. Fortunately, free meals are back and available for all WCSD students. The meals, which meet or exceed federal and state nutrition guidelines, include:

• Low-fat milk, nonfat milk or a non-dairy option
• 100% juice and bottled water
• Lean protein choices
• Several daily options for fruit & vegetables
• Increased fiber from whole grain products & legumes
• Reduced-sodium foods
• Grains with more than 50% whole grain ingredients

Menus are available on the Nutrition Services webpage.

Additional Resources and Updates

To stay up to date and find out additional information as students return to school, check the WCSD Facebook page or the school district’s website.

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