January 2026

No School All Students

• Winter Break, January 1-5: Students back in school on Tuesday, January 6.
• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday
• Friday, January 30 *

No School Middle & High School:

• Thursday, January 29 *

Early Release All Students:

• Friday, January 16 *

On early release days, elementary students are released at 12:30 p.m.
Secondary students are released at 1:15 p.m.
Lunch is served as normal.
Bus riders will be dropped off at their bus stops 2 hours and 20 minutes earlier than their regular time.

*Does not apply to A3 Academy of Arts & Academics, which has its own calendar.

Applications for within-district and into-district transfers and the Dual Immersion Program for the 2026-27 school year will be accepted starting January 6.

Those wishing to transfer or apply to Dual Immersion are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible. Applications for transfers and Dual Immersion are processed in three priority phases:

• High Priority: January 6 - January 25, 2026
• Phase 2: March 1 - June 25, 2026
• Phase 3: Beginning August 1, 2026

The SPS Dual Immersion program is designed with the goal of developing proficiency in both core languages, English and Spanish. Openings are available for students entering kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth grades in the 2026-27 school year. Native English speakers AND native Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply! Dual Immersion helps students better understand their native language and strengthens literacy, communication and critical thinking.

Learn More About Transfers | Learn More About SPS Dual Immersion

The deadline to register for 4/5th grade girls basketball is Wednesday, Jan. 7, and 2/3rd grade basketball clinics are open through Thursday, Jan. 8. Each elementary school needs enough players for a team! See the full 2026 schedule and scholarship information here.

The deadline to register for 7/8th grade girls basketball is Wednesday, Jan. 7. Each middle school needs enough players for a team! See the full 2026 schedule and scholarship information here.

The deadline is approaching fast for the Springfield Public Library bookmark contest! Entries are due at the library by closing time on Tuesday, January 6. Winners will receive an oversized print of their bookmark, in addition to a stack of their bookmarks to share.

• Open to all Springfield youth in grades K-12 or equivalent.
• Download an entry form on the library website or pick one up at the library.
• Bookmark designs should fit the 2026 Summer Reading Theme, “Plant a Seed, Read”, or be about books, reading, and/or libraries.
• One entry per person, due Tuesday, January 6.

And don't forget: Even if you live outside city limits, if your student is enrolled in Springfield Public Schools, you and your family are eligible to get a free library card from Springfield Public Library.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has invited Two Rivers-Dos Ríos Elementary (TRDR) and Thurston High School (THS) to participate in a statewide attendance study. THS and TRDR have seen positive increases in the last three years due to a focus on regular attendance. ODE is conducting the study to better understand what is working across Oregon schools and what can be improved.

Read more about what's working at these schools ⬇️

Springfield Public Schools is reviewing its social science classroom materials to make sure students have accurate, high-quality resources that reflect different perspectives and meet Oregon’s updated learning standards. Families and community members will have a chance to review materials and provide input.

Read more ⬇️

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) and Springfield Education Association (SEA) met on December 18 to continue negotiations. The parties were not able to reach agreement on any of the remaining contract articles. Both parties have agreed to meet again on January 9.

Read more ⬇️

During its December 8 Business Meeting, the Board discussed board development and how to strengthen its work together on behalf of students. While board development had previously been listed lower on the board’s list of priorities, recent events and conversations highlighted the need for additional training and more dedicated time to build shared understanding.

Areas of focus could include public meetings and ethics training, board governance essentials, goal setting and strategic planning, and board self‑evaluation. Board members emphasized the importance of not only technical training, but also building strong relationships, clear expectations, and trust within the board.

The board expressed support for beginning this work soon, using longer or earlier meetings when possible, while still keeping previously identified agenda topics moving ahead. The next Board meeting is January 12.

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education is scheduled to hold two public meetings in January:

• Monday, January 12, 7 p.m. (Business Meeting)
• Monday, January 26, 5:30 p.m. (Special Meeting)

The public is invited to attend in person, and Spanish interpretation is available for those attending in person. School board meetings are held at the District Administrative Office, 640 A Street. School board meetings are streamed and recordings are available on demand on the District Vimeo channel.

More information, including Board policies and meeting agendas can be found on the Springfield Board of Education webpage.

Did you know that all K-12 students in Lane County are eligible to ride LTD busses for free with the LTD Student Transit Pass? The goal of the Student Transit Pass is to help families by reducing transportation costs and the demands on parents to transport their children to school and activities. Just contact your school's office to get your student's free pass. Learn more ⬇️

Nominate an amazing SPS staff member for the 2026 Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year! Nominations are open now through mid-February. Education Support Professionals include Educational Assistants (EAs), Nutrition Services staff, bus drivers, custodians and more. Nominees should embody the core values of accountability, equity, excellence and integrity.

Learn more and submit your nomination today ⬇️

None of our families will be surprised to hear that everything is going around....and around. We want to make sure you're informed about what symptoms should keep kids home and for how long. Visit our "When to Keep Your Student Home" webpage for a list of symptoms and a handy downloadable guide.

Students must have their school required vaccines by Exclusion Day, February 25, 2026. After that day, students who are not current on the required vaccines, or do not have an exemption on file, will not be able to attend school until their vaccine record becomes complete.

The Springfield Schools Health Center (SSHC) can help families get caught up on immunizations. The clinic is open to all Springfield Public Schools students and conveniently located on the Springfield High School campus. Students without insurance that covers vaccines can get immunized for free. SSHC bills insurance and Medicare, Medicaid and OHP.

With winter here, the potential for school delays or closures due to snow and ice is a reality. SPS announces delays and closures in several different ways. Our goal is to determine by 6:30 a.m. whether school will be delayed, closed or open as usual. Remember, no news means no change. You can ensure that you will receive announcements of delays and closures in several key ways:

1. Make sure that your contact information is up to date with your student's school.
2. Follow SPS on Facebook, Instagram and X.
   
3. Sign up to receive FlashAlert alerts.
4. Check our website.

Springfield Education Foundation (SEF) invites you to gather with them at Tavern on Main in downtown Springfield for a classy evening of jazz, delicious food, and bubbly drinks in support of literacy at Springfield Public Schools! In partnership with United Way of Lane County, 100% of proceeds from the event will go to BookFest, where hundreds of K-2 students at several SPS schools will get to select several books to take home for summer reading!

Springfield High alum Gina Saputo will perform classic jazz hits. Complimentary welcome bubbles and heavy hors d’oeuvres are included with each ticket, as well as wine and beer. Specialty jazz-era cocktails available from the Tavern bar. Guests are encouraged to lean into the theme by dressing in Old Hollywood style.

• "Jazz, Bubbles, and Books"
• Sunday, January 18
• 5-8 p.m.
• Tavern on Main

No one cares more for the students in our District than you, our families. We encourage you to apply for one of our open positions to nurture and support every student, every day at SPS. Family members of our students typically enjoy a work schedule that is a good fit for their most important job, raising their children. Come join our warm, supportive team!

We're Hiring for These Positions and More!

Click on the Job Opportunities button to learn more and apply.

• Bilingual Educational Assistant - Springfield High School
• Utility Maintenance Worker
• Assistant Football Coach - Offensive Coordinator - Thurston High School

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SPS has made it easier to report instances of harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence online.

At the top of every school web page, you’ll find a link titled “Safety Concern.” This directs users to two options to report being unsafe at school.

And as always, you can share a concerning incident with a trusted adult by messaging them or talking face to face.

The SPS equity statement reflects the District's mission of serving every student, every day.

The statement stands as an affirmation of the District’s commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging and will guide our continued efforts to support the vision of SPS as a place where students want to learn and staff want to work.

Springfield Public Schools board meetings are available for anyone to watch live or on-demand on the district's Vimeo channel. View the calendar of upcoming board meetings. A Spanish interpreter is also available during in-person board meetings.

In accordance with public meeting law and Oregon HB 2560, the school board will be providing remote access through live streamed meetings to our community.