Mason Minute- August 26, 2026

August 26, 2026

Please note the important dates and start times for the first few weeks of the new school year.

• Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28- Full Day for all students
• Wednesday, September 2- First Late Start Wednesday
• Friday, September 4- No School
• Monday, September 7- No School

Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) partners with Mason Public Schools (MPS) on a project called the Student Success Initiative. It’s a way to help students easily access all the education and entertainment options available at CADL’s 13 branches, Mobile Library and online/digital collections. This card is FREE TO ALL STUDENTS no matter which county they live in, even those who already have a regular CADL card.

Having a Student Success account requires release of directory information to CADL, and gives students access to all CADL's online resources. Any parent/guardian who does NOT want their student to have an account MUST OPT-OUT by completing the MPS Student Success Initiative Opt Out Form by September 4, 2026. Please complete one form for each student you wish to opt out.

Friday, August 28, is the last day to register for Mason Robotics for the 2026-27 school year.

Robotics programs are available for students in all grade levels and offer hands-on STEM education and the chance to work alongside teammates to build communications, teamwork and problem solving skills! Register now!

• Elementary registration
• Middle School registration
• High School registration

The 2026-27 state school budget again includes funding for free meals for all public school students. This means all Mason Public Schools (MPS) students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2026-27 school year.

A reminder, while meals are free, students must purchase milk (when sold separately from a meal), any a la carte items and extra main entrees. Please check your student’s lunch account often to ensure adequate funds are available for these purchases. If you have questions about lunch options or adding money to your student’s account, contact the Food Service's office at 517.676.6529. A list of a la carte pricing is available on the Food Service website.

Families are also reminded to please take a moment to complete the 2026-27 Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals. This form collects information needed to ensure MPS receives state and federal funding. In addition, based on the information you provide on your application, your student may qualify for other programs including:

• Summer EBT
• Pay to Play or Pay to Participate assistance
• Programs that provide food support
• Programs that provide field trip support
• Programs that provide school supplies or assist with school fees
• Programs that provide holiday support

All Mason Middle School and Mason High School students use a four-digit key pad number for the lunch line. Help keep the lunch lines moving quickly by learning and practicing your number. Key pad numbers can be found in Skyward by following the instructions below:

• Log into Skyward Family Access
• Select Student Account
• On left - select Food Services

• On the far right you will see the key pad number

• The key pad number is a four-digit number. The number will stay the same through 12th grade

Mason Public Schools offers the My Ride K-12 app to families. This is a free app designed to allow families access to their student’s transportation information and make communication with families faster and easier. With the app, families can:

• See their student's assigned bus number
• See scheduled pick-up and drop-off times
• Send messages directly to the Transportation Department
• Get transportation updates and messages through the app

Please note: Mason Public Schools has not enabled the real-time tracking service offered in the app.

If you have questions or need to change your student's transportation information, contact the Transportation Department at transportation@masonk12.net or 517.676.6496. Learn more about the app on the Transportation website.

There's still time to register for Mason's PreK for All preschool program this fall! Classes begin September 8, 2026, and are held at the Harvey Education Center (HEC).

Families who have already enrolled will receive information from their child's teacher via email. An Open House for PreK for All students will be Thursday, September 3 from 10 - 11 AM. Families should enter through Door 20 at the HEC.

PreK for All is Michigan's free, high-quality preschool for all 4-year-olds. Children who turn four by December 1, 2026, are eligible for this school year. Through play-based learning, children build early math, literacy and social skills to help prepare them for kindergarten.

To enroll, go to InghamPreschool.org and select Mason Public Schools - Harvey Education Center on the enrollment form. If you have already enrolled, please email preschool@inghamisd.org with questions.

The Mason Community Education Fall Enrichment Guide is now available and enrollment is open. Check out the guide for classes and programs happening this fall.

Families are reminded to check and update their family contact information and other important details in their Skyward account. Each year families should:

• Check and update your contact information for Skylert messages. The district uses Skylert to notify families of school closings and emergencies, provide attendance notifications, and share other important information and updates.
• Complete the Media Release Form.
• Check and update your student's information including guardian and emergency contact information. Please be sure any changes to phone numbers, email addresses, your student's status or other information is updated. If your street address needs to be updated, please contact the main office of your child's school to do so.
• Find your student's ID number, which is needed for the new busing app

Over the summer, the Skyward app was updated. As a result of this update, the Skyward app may need to be uninstalled and reinstalled on your device before you can successfully log in. The app only needs to be reinstalled if it is not working properly. If you experience any issues after reinstalling the app, please contact your school's technology support by emailing keslers@masonk12.net or calling 517.676.6494.

All middle and high school students who plan to try out for any sport must have a current sports physical on file prior to tryouts. The Sports Physical Card must be completed by a medical provider on or after April 15 of the previous school year in order to be valid. Sports physicals are available through your students’ primary care doctor as well as most urgent care and walk in clinics. Mason Public Schools (MPS) does not offer sports physical clinics.

Students athletes must complete all electronic paperwork in the Final Forms system. Additional information will be provided by the middle school and high school athletic directors.

A reminder to all families, please be sure your student's immunization information is up to date in compliance with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) requirements. Since 1978, Michigan law has required every student have an up-to-date certificate of immunization at the time of registration (or no later than the first day of school) for entry into kindergarten and seventh grade, and for enrollment into a new school district, grades 1-12.

MDHHS requires a parent or legal guardian to have one of the following on file with the school:

1. A valid, up-to-date immunization record
2. A medical doctor’s (MD/DO) signed State of Michigan 2024 Medical Contraindication Form
3. A current, certified State of Michigan 2024 Nonmedical Immunization Waiver

Learn more about immunization requirements on the Health & Wellness page of the website.

Late Start Wednesdays will begin next week on Wednesday, September 2. The schedule for Late Start Wednesdays is below, please be sure to check with your students’ building about drop off procedures.

• Harvey Education Center: 9:40 AM - 3:47 PM
• Alaiedon, North Aurelius and Steele Elementary Schools: 9:40 AM - 3:47 PM
• Mason Middle School: 8:40 AM - 2:35 PM
• Mason High School: 8:40 AM - 2:40 PM

For students who need medication during the school day, medications can be dropped off during building open houses or on the first day of school by a parent or guardian. Medication forms can be picked up in person and are available online.

For questions, please contact the office at your student's school. Medications must be in their original container with an expiration date. Staff are not able to administer expired medication. If your child has medication needs during the school day, please remember:

• All prescription medication forms need to be completed and signed by the doctor and parent/guardian, this includes self-carry medications. (Examples: EpiPens, inhalers)
• All non-prescription (over the counter) forms need to be completed and signed by the parent/guardian. (Examples: Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and sunscreen)

If you need further assistance with medications or have questions about your student's health needs during the school day, please contact District Nurse Emily Epling, RN.

Schedule for August 26 - December 18, 2026

Family Open Swim

• Fridays: 7 - 9 PM
• Saturdays: 1 - 3 PM
• No Open Swim: August 28; September 4, 5, 12, 18, 25 and 26; October 2, 9, 16 and 23; November 27 and 28; December 12
• Cost: $4/adult, $3/student or senior, punch cards available
• Note: Open Swim will close after one hour if there are less then five participants

Water Fitness (ages 14 and up)

• Monday and Wednesday: 7:15 - 8:15 PM
• Shallow water class only
• No class: September 7, 9, and 30; October 14, 19 and 21; November 25
• Cost: $7 at the door, punch cards are available

Adult Lap Swim (ages 18 and up)

• Tuesday- Friday: 6 - 7:30 AM
• No lap swim: September 4; October 9; November 25-27
• Monday and Wednesday: 7:15 - 8:45 PM
• No lap swim: September 7, 9 and 30; October 14 and November 25
• Cost: $6/person, punch cards are available
• Saturday: 7 - 8:30 AM
• No lap swim: September 5, 12 and 26; November 28 and December 12

Mark your calendars for upcoming events and activities. A full calendar of district happenings is available on the Mason Public Schools website. Additional Board of Education (BOE) meeting information is available on the Board of Education website.

• Thursday, August 27- BOE Curriculum & Staff Committee Meeting, 5:15 PM
• Wednesday, September 2- First Late Start Wednesday
• Thursday, September 3- BOE Finance and Property Committee Meeting, 5:15 PM
• Friday, September 4- No School
• Monday, September 7- No School, Labor Day
• Thursday, September 10- Regular BOE Meeting, 7 PM
• Friday, October 9- No School

Join the Mason Public Schools team and make a difference in the lives of our students each day! Check out our current job openings and learn more.