DistrictDigest
Francis Howell School District
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Back-to-School Checklist (2026-2027)
The first day of school will be here before you know it. In this special Back-to-School issue, we’ve included a checklist of tasks that need to be completed before students return on Monday, August 24.
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ORAV requires parents/guardians to review and update their household and student information annually. To access ORAV, log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and choose “More” from the left navigation menu. Then select “Online Registration.” Please note that only a legal guardian listed in the primary household will be able to complete the ORAV process. Access detailed instructions here.
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Note that the school year may be extended past May 28 if the District experiences more than five snow days.
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See what your child needs to be prepared for the first day of school. Make note of Missouri’s Sales Tax Holiday, August 7-9. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies and computers, may be exempt from sales tax during the holiday. However, not all Missouri counties and cities are participating. Learn more.
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Mark your calendar for Transition Day on August 20.
Incoming 6th- and 9th-grade students will have the opportunity to get familiar with their new school buildings on Thursday, August 20. Transition Day will start at the same time as a regular school day (using 26-27 bell times) and buses will run their assigned routes. Schools will communicate additional details, including dismissal times, in the coming weeks.
| | | | Schedule immunization and physical appointments with your healthcare provider, as needed. Missouri law requires children enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade to be immunized against certain preventable diseases. The Francis Howell School District is partnering with Compass Health to offer a free back-to-school immunization clinic on August 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Saeger Middle School. The clinic is open for Kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Missouri law requires various immunizations for students, including DTaP, IPV, Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella, with additional Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines for grades 8-12. Updated immunization records are required for students entering Kindergarten, 8th grade, and 12th grade. | | | |
Check meal balances and add funds to your child(ren)’s lunch account.
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, families will no longer need to access the FHSD Web Store (RevTrak) to load funds on their child’s lunch account. All meal payments will be made through Infinite Campus - the same portal students and families already use to view grades, schedules and bus assignments. This “one-stop-shop” will save families time and streamline the process for online meal payments and account management. The new payment system is expected to be fully operational by August 1. If you have questions in the meantime, please reach out to Bina Patel in the Nutrition Services Department at 636-851-6054.
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Fill out the 2026-27 Free and Reduced Price Meals application.
To continue receiving meal benefits, eligible families must complete a new application each school year. Information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only to determine eligibility. Not sure if you qualify? Check the income limits on the USDA website. For the 2026-27 school year, a family of 4 with an annual income of less than $61,050 qualifies for the program.
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Review your communication preferences.
Parents and guardians listed in Infinite Campus are automatically subscribed to email communications from FHSD, including the District Digest and your child’s school eNews. To unsubscribe, use the "Unsubscribe" button at the bottom of any email. Non-guardians can subscribe to these newsletters on the FHSD website.
FHSD utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to communicate time-sensitive information such as weather alerts and emergency information with families via robocall, text message and email. All parents/guardians listed in Infinite Campus Parent Portal are automatically registered to receive these important alerts. Your contact information must be up-to-date in Parent Portal before the start of the school year. Parents/Guardians who are new to the District must opt-in to receive text messages from SchoolMessenger. Opt-in by texting “Y” or “YES” to 67587. Returning families do not need to opt-in every year.
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Request bus transportation changes by August 14.
Student bus information for the new school year will be available in the Parent Portal on Monday, August 10. Bus routes for the 2026-27 school year are set based on how a student ended the prior school year. If transportation preferences for the upcoming school year are the same as the 2025-26 school year, additional action is not required.
(Note: If your child needs to be picked up or dropped off from a location other than the primary address listed in their student record, those requests must be confirmed annually with the school's Building Information Specialist. This would include daycare drop-offs and dual-household arrangements.)
- If your child rode the bus this spring and they are not subject to the 1-mile walk rule for secondary students, they will automatically be assigned a bus route for the upcoming school year; no action is required on your part.
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If your child did not ride the bus last spring, or only rode one-way, and you require something different this year, you must contact the school to request changes by August 14 at 5:00 p.m. All changes received after that date and time will be effective on Tuesday, September 8.
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Here's an example: Last year, my 5th grader attended the aftercare program at Vacation Station and did not ride the bus home in the afternoon. This year, as a middle schooler, my child will not attend Vacation Station and will need to ride the bus home. In this example, the parent/guardian must contact their child's school by August 14 to request afternoon bus transportation.
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Review student account passwords and make a plan to reset if needed.
Passwords for returning students in grades 6-12 will carry over from the prior year. Ask your child to retrieve their password and practice logging in to their Chrome profile prior to the first day of school. New students will access their accounts with a default password. Reach out to the FHSD IT HelpDesk at help.desk@fhsdschools.org for assistance if needed.
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Register for fall sports and activities.
Check the high school activities pages for registration information and deadlines.
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Look for communication from individual schools regarding additional information.
This includes schedule pickup, parking permits, locker requests, yearbooks, senior photos, and more.
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Keep an eye out for MAP/EOC test scores.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has recently released student MAP/EOC state testing scores. Student scores will be sent electronically to parents/guardians via email the week of August 10. Additionally, a paper copy of your child’s score reports will be available at your child’s school beginning the week of September 7. If you have questions about our state testing or your child’s score report, please contact FHSD's Director of Curriculum and Assessment, Dr. Angeline O’Neal-Hogrefe.
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Join our team.
We are seeking caring, energetic, and fun-loving people to work with children. We have several openings for bus drivers, substitute teachers, custodians, and food service workers. Please share our job opportunity website or view open positions.
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Get certified to be a school volunteer.
We are grateful for the more than 1,870 dedicated parent and community volunteers who serve our schools each year. Want to join them? Visit the District website to review the step-by-step process and complete the volunteer application, training videos, and background check.
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Volunteer to serve on a committee.
The District is seeking volunteers to serve on two Tier 1 committees for the 2026-27 school year: Policy Committee and Employee Insurance Committee. Tier 1 committee members are randomly selected and voted on by the Board of Education. The bylaws linked in each interest form outline the responsibilities, membership, and meeting requirements. Committee members will be notified after the August 13, 2026 Board meeting if they have been approved to serve for the upcoming school year.
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Review the cell phone and electronic device policy.
Consistent with state law, students at all grade levels are prohibited from using cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, including lunch and passing periods. Read the full policy on the District website.
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Review public notices, including FERPA information and opt-out options.
If you do not want your child's name, photo and other directory information as defined in Board Regulation 2400 to be disclosed, you must complete a FERPA opt-out form by September 1. Please read the options carefully as your selection may impact your child's ability to be included in the school yearbook and other recognition programs. If you previously submitted an opt out form, your selections will remain in place each school year unless you notify the school in writing.
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Review challenged materials.
In accordance with Board policy, the Francis Howell School District maintains a list of challenged instructional materials and challenged learning commons materials for each grade level. Regulation 6241 outlines the process for requesting alternative supplementary materials if desired. Instructions on how parents/guardians can monitor student book selections can be found on the Learning Commons webpage.
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New this school year: All secondary students will be issued a Chromebook
The Francis Howell School District announced a new device distribution model in April that is estimated to save the District $300,000 annually by requiring fewer devices. Middle and high school students will receive their Chromebook during the first week of school. Students are expected to bring their Chromebook to school fully charged each day and use a bookbag to transport the device (with the lid closed) from class to class. For more information, review the Chromebook FAQ on the District website and look for additional communication from your child’s school about device distribution.
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“It’s important to note that while the distribution method is changing, our teaching philosophy is not. Computers are not replacing teachers, and technology will not supplant the high-quality teaching, hands-on activities, and face-to-face collaboration for which we’re known.”
- Glenn Hancock, Chief Academic Officer
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JULY 16 | 6:30 PM
Board of Education Meeting
801 Corporate Centre Drive
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AUG. 20
Transition Day
Incoming 6th and 9th graders
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AUG. 13 | 6:30 PM
Board of Education Meeting
801 Corporate Centre Drive
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AUG. 24
First Day of School
All Schools
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