FAQs: 2025-26 school year

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>> For kindergarten-specific questions (in addition to the FAQs below that apply to all), please click here

First student day:
- Grades K-12: Aug. 6
- Preschool: Aug. 11 (orientation / open houses will be set soon, and families will be sent a packet of information)
Scheduled e-learning days (students will not come to school buildings; they will be assigned work to complete at home with school iPads and/or other provided materials as needed)
- There are three e-learning days currently scheduled during the 2025-26 school year: Sept. 26, Nov. 12, and Feb. 9.
- The School Board has approved up to five e-learning days for weather-related building closures, although new this year is the Superintendent's option to choose to close completely if circumstances do not support e-learning. Any closures will require make-up days to be added at the end of the school year. We will communicate clearly with our families about any such e-learning days or closures!
School year calendar - click here to view
Students will attend school on campus five days a week (except as otherwise noted). The school day start and end times remain the same:
- Preschool: morning classes 7:45 to 10:35 a.m.; afternoon classes 11:25 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.; full-day classes: 7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. (full school year calendars here)
- Grades K-4: Doors open at 7:20; classes run 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Grades 5-6:
  - M-F: Doors open at 8:35 a.m.; classes run 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
- Grades 7-8:
  - M-F: Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; classes run 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
- Grades 9-12:
  - M-F: Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; classes run 8:45 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.
- PLEASE NOTE: Students will not be allowed into the building before the building opening times stated above. Walkers and car-riders should not arrive at the building early. There is no supervision prior to the building opening.

Back-to-school events

Other back-to-school information

Is there before- and after-school care available?

Will students be provided with take-home devices for education?

All students grades K-12 will be assigned a school-owned iPad for the 2025-26 school year.

All onsite students grades K-6 will be assigned an iPad for use at school. These devices will remain at school unless otherwise assigned for e-learning or specific assignments.
All onsite students grades 7-12 will be assigned an iPad for use at school, and will be allowed to take their device home every day, unless otherwise communicated by their teacher(s).
All MCS iPads are governed by MCS filtering regardless of where they are being used, and parents have additional options for management of the device for additional restrictions.
Take home use of a school-owned iPad is governed by a device agreement in which students and families accept certain responsibilities. Click here to view the full agreement.
Marion Community Schools offers locations throughout the community where our school internet network can be accessed using school-provided devices. Click here for a list of those locations.
Click here for our Technology FAQs with more information on iPad usage and more

Will visitors be allowed in the building?

Regular security guidelines are in place, which limits access to our school buildings during the school day for anyone other than staff and students.

Volunteers: Student teachers / practicum students will be allowed; other community partners may be allowed with pre-approval.
Visitors, including students’ family members, are asked to make appointments or provide advanced notice. Please call your school office before coming to the school building. In general, lunch visitation will not be allowed.
Drop off of items for students should be limited only to items that are absolutely essential. Please do your best to see to it that students have everything they need with them when they enter the building each day. (Note: In general, other than lunch boxes from home, food deliveries will not be accepted by school offices for staff or students. Gifts such as balloons, celebration cakes, and flowers will not be accepted.)
Use of MCS facilities by outside groups or individuals: We will continue to work with groups with which we have formal ongoing partnerships to determine usage availability and requirements. Other requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.