Princeton corridor families can walk their kids through the hallways Aug. 12, before the 2026-2027 school year officially begins Aug. 13, the first under new Superintendent Mari Phillips.
Meet the Teacher Night runs Aug. 12 at both Stewart Elementary (4–5:30 p.m.) and Heritage Hill Elementary (4–5 p.m.), where families can drop off school supplies, tour classrooms and meet staff. Heritage Hill principal Erika Zaleta Lastra's team will also walk parents through dismissal procedures and help them sign up for ClassDojo.
Staggered start schedule
Not every student reports on the same day. The district's schedule breaks down like this:
- Thursday, Aug. 13 — Grades 1–5, grades 6 and 9, Innovation Center, and all new enrollees
- Friday, Aug. 14 — All students grades 1–12 (PreK and Kindergarten excluded)
- Monday, Aug. 17 — PreK and Kindergarten begin; all students attend
Kindergarten families at Heritage Hill will learn their child's orientation and assessment time at Wednesday's Open House. Those assessments take place Aug. 13 and 14, with the first full kindergarten day on Aug. 17.
Arrival and dismissal at Heritage Hill
Heritage Hill's doors open at 8:45 a.m. for breakfast students and 9:00 a.m. for everyone else. Students are marked tardy at 9:15 a.m. Dismissal runs from 3:45 to 4:00 p.m.
The school asks families to stay in their vehicles during drop-off and pickup. Staff will bring children to waiting cars. Any dismissal changes must reach the teacher in writing or the office by phone before 3:00 p.m.
New superintendent, new theme
Phillips, who took office Aug. 1, came out of retirement after more than 40 years with Princeton City Schools, serving as teacher, counselor, administrator and associate superintendent before accepting the top job. Her theme for the year is "Every Student, Every Opportunity."
In a July 21 letter to families, Phillips wrote that the commitment guides every district decision and reflects a belief that every student deserves a safe, welcoming environment where they are challenged and supported.
Board member Jon Simons said at a July 13 meeting that he believes "Mari Phillips chose Princeton as much as Princeton chose her."
FinalForms reminder
The district's digital enrollment platform, FinalForms, carried a July 15 deadline, but families who haven't completed it should do so before the Aug. 13 start date at princeton-oh.finalforms.com. The district needs current contact information and completed forms for transportation arrangements.
