Welcome to the 26-27 School Year!
Mark Keppel Elementary School
Dear Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Families,
Welcome to Mark Keppel Elementary School! We are thrilled that you have chosen Mark Keppel for your child's education.
You and your child are invited to attend our Welcome Event which will take place on Wednesday, August 12th from 11:00-1:00. Families are welcome to attend at anytime during this window of time. This is an opportunity for children and families to explore a few classrooms and familiarize themselves with campus. During the self guided tour, Kindergarten students will draw a picture and will explore campus. Plan to spend about 30 minutes on campus. Please review the TK and Kindergarten handbook before school starts.
Here is other important information as you prepare for the start of school:
Office Hours
The Mark Keppel Office is open from 7:30-4pm daily. You can email us at keppel@gusd.net or call us at (818) 244-2113. We are here to help!
Classroom assignments will be shared online on Tuesday, August 18th. Families can view their child(ren)'s teachers by logging into Parent Square, https://www.parentsquare.com/signin. It's easy to create an account!
First Day of School The first day of school is Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Instruction begins at 8:00 am for all students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 5th grade. Please plan to arrive early on the first day of school to avoid traffic. TK and Kindergarten students will line up in the front of school. Grades 1 - 5 will line up on the playground. Parents are welcome to walk their child to their classroom line and classroom on the first day of school. There will be a PTA and MKS Foundation Parent Meeting at the lunch benches starting at 8:10AM. Please join us!
Breakfast and Lunch: All children are eligible to receive 2 meals per day at Mark Keppel. Students may have breakfast before school or during recess and then a lunch. These meals are optional. Students may bring a lunch from home if they prefer. Please note, students cannot get just a “free” milk or piece of fruit. These are considered a la carte items and must be purchased. Only complete meals will be available at no charge.
School Bell Schedule:
The gate opens daily at 7:30 a.m. for 1st - 5th grade students to begin arriving to school. Supervision is provided. Students must be inside their classrooms at the 8:00 bell to be considered present and on time to school. TK and K students line up in the front of the school and teachers will pick up students around 7:55am daily.
Arrival and Dismissal
While we have staggered dismissal schedules, there is often a lot of traffic on the streets of Virginia and Glenwood. Please:
- Do not double-park
- Adhere to all traffic laws to ensure student safety.
- Do not park in the driveways of neighbors
- Cross the street with crosswalks ONLY
We look forward to an amazing 2026-2027 school year with you all!
Go Cougars!
Jaclyn Scott, Principal
Laura Seese, Assistant Principal
All of our events are calendared on the website calendar, keppel.gusd.net, and the calendar in the Parent Square application. Please note:
Wednesday, August 12 - Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Welcome Event
Wednesday, August 19 - First Day of School
Thursday, August 20 - BANKING DAY - School starts at 9:00 AM for all students
Wednesday, August 26 - Back to School Night
Friday, August 28 - Minimum Day
Monday, September 7 - No School - Labor Day Holiday
26-27 Bell Schedule
Transitional Kindergarten
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Instruction Begins: 8:00
Recess: 9:20-9:40
Lunch: 10:40-11:20
Instruction Ends: 1:05
Every Thursday
Instruction begins at 9:00
Kindergarten
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Instruction Begins: 8:00
Recess and Lunch Schedules Vary by Class
Instruction Ends: 1:45pm
Every Thursday
Instruction begins at 9:00
