Back to School 2026-2027

Thursday, August 20, 2026, is the first day of the school year. This page includes important back-to-school information. Please bookmark it and check back regularly as we add more details. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

All-School

All-School Handbook

Every parent/guardian is required to sign the handbook, acknowledging they have read and support the policies and procedures outlined by Wednesday, August 19. Please refer to the email sent on August 5 for your link.

Parent/Guardian Badges

If you have uploaded a photo to MyGreenhill, your 2026-2027 badge will be available after the first day of school, during normal school hours.

More Details
  • NEW THIS YEAR: On your first campus visit, you must scan your driver's license at your youngest student's division office to receive your badge.
  • Badges must be picked up individually and cannot be collected on behalf of someone else.
  • Parent badges will not be distributed during Open House.
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Stay up to date and export our calendars to your personal calendar! Note: If you subscribed to our calendars last year, you do not need to add them again.

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PRESCHOOL & LOWER sCHOOL mIDDLE sCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL

Preschool & Lower School 

Due August 13: Extended Day Registration

Extended Day provides a caring environment for prekindergarten through eighth-grade Greenhill students from dismissal through 6:00 pm. Space is limited and fills quickly. Register here.

Important Dates
  • Tuesday, August 18: Homeroom assignments ready in MyGreenhill.
  • Wednesday, August 19: Preschool and Lower School New Families Welcome and Orientation, 9:30 – 10:00 am in Rose Hall (MPAC) – Note: your student may attend with you
  • Wednesday, August 19: Preschool and Lower School Open House, 10:00 – 11:00 am (come-and-go event with no need to stay the full hour)
  • Thursday, August 20: First day of school (Preschool early release at 11:00 am)
  • Friday, August 21: Preschool early release at 11:00 am
  • Monday, August 24: Preschool first full day of school
  • Friday, August 28: Lower School Visit the Teacher conferences (No classes for Primer – Grade 4), all day
September Dates
  • Thursday, September 3: Preschool and Lower School Mini School, evening
  • Monday, September 7: Labor Day, no classes
  • Wednesday, September 9: Preschool and Lower School Yearbook Photo Day
  • Friday, September 11: Founders Day Celebration for students only
  • Friday, September 18: All-School Community Picnic and Fall Hornet Night
Preschool First Steps

Preschool follows our First Steps program, which starts with early dismissals on August 20 and 21. The program includes a two-week introduction to the teachers, students, and classroom routines. On Monday, August 24, we will start our full-day schedule.

More Details

This phase-in period includes small-group activities and community building, which help our youngest students develop greater familiarity with their new learning environment and stronger relationships with their teacher, within a timeframe they can sustain and succeed in. As time in the classroom gradually increases, students embrace the rhythms of life at school.
Morning Drop-Off

Starting at 7:15 am, we will have teachers on duty to supervise students. Please do not drop students off before 7: 15 am. Students will go inside at 7:45 am, and classes begin at 8:00 am.

Student Supplies

During the first week of classes, students will receive school supplies needed for their grade. You may be asked to replenish some consumable supplies throughout the year. All students need the following to be clearly labeled with their name:

  • Water bottle
  • A tote bag or backpack
  • A rain poncho with hood to be left at school
  • Preschool only: rain boots

For PE, we encourage students to wear shoes that allow them to be active. They are not required to bring shoes to store in the gym.

Handbook Section to Note

The All-School Handbook covers everything you need to know about Preschool and Lower School. For planning purposes, please review our highlights below.

Read PS/LS Highlights

Smartphones & Smartwatches
Smartphones and smartwatches are not allowed at school. Permissible wearable technology (Fitbits or standard digital watches) must meet the following requirements:

  • It is not distracting to the students or those around the student.
  • Students do not use it to access the web or other data networks.

End-of-Day Early Pickups
We do not allow pickups in the last 30 minutes of the school day. If a student needs to be picked up near the end of the day but prior to dismissal time:

  • Preschool pickups must be before 2:15 pm.
  • Lower School pickups must be before 2:45 pm.

Please email both the Preschool and Lower School Office Coordinator, Linette Fabian (fabianl@greenhill.org), and your student’s homeroom teacher well in advance.

Carpool
Faculty and staff will be at curbside to open car doors and assist the students exiting the car if necessary. If your student is ready and able, no need to wait for an adult to open the door.

Student Birthdays and Gift Giving
We recognize each student’s birthday. If the student has a summer birthday, they may wish to celebrate a half-birthday. Please check with the homeroom teacher about celebration guidelines.

We do not allow food for birthday celebrations. Please do not send party invitations or gifts to school. Students are asked not to give gifts to fellow students on campus and during the school day.

Snack Safety
Students in grades 3-12 are permitted to bring their own snacks from home to eat at designated snack times. We request you don't send any snacks or foods containing peanuts or tree nuts into these areas. Additionally, students should not share snacks or food with other students.

Guidelines for Volunteers
Be on time.
Notify coordinator, staff, or teacher if your plans change and you can’t make it.
Read instructions prior to your shift.
Put your cell phone away and focus on the students.
Attend to all assigned students, not just your student.

Partnership Communication
If you have a question or a concern about your student, you should take your question or concern directly to the faculty member involved, who will be in the best position to help sort things out.

We prefer not to discuss any significant questions or concerns by email or text, as there is too much chance of unintentional communication. If you send us such a message, you can expect a reply inviting you to set up a time to talk directly.
ScanFind Comes to PS/LS

Help keep track of your student's belongings by attaching a ScanFind sticker to them. If the lost item is found and scanned, you'll receive a notification with the location.

Families will receive two ScanFind stickers (one for clothing and one for objects) during Open House.

More Details
2026-27 New Faculty

The Preschool and Lower School is excited to welcome three new lead teachers and five new Carter Associate Teachers.

Meet Our New Faculty
  • Laura Rathjen, Kindergarten Lead Teacher: Ms. Rathjen comes to us from Mockingbird Elementary, where she taught Kindergarten for the last three years and third grade for a year before that. At Mockingbird, Ms. Rathjen was Teacher of the Year in 2025-26 and earned a Distinguished Teacher of Record and a TEA Recognition award in 2024. She also served as the Kindergarten Team Lead and as a Campus Instructional Team Lead. She has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Ed. from Southern Methodist University.
  • Hailey Paul, First Grade Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Paul earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and an M.Ed. from Texas Christian University in 2020 and 2021, respectively. She has been teaching First Grade at Cottonwood Creek Elementary since 2021, where she also served as the Running Club Coach. Her principal at Cottonwood Creek, along with an effusively strong recommendation, described her as “the teacher kids come back to see.”
  • Jessica Bagley, Third Grade Homeroom Teacher & Grade 3-4 Science Teacher: A native Texan, Mrs. Bagley returns to Dallas from two years teaching fifth grade at St. John’s Ravenscourt, an independent school in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Before heading north, Ms. Bagley’s experience includes eight years in Richardson Independent School District, where she taught fourth grade, second grade, first grade, and advanced learning classes; second grade in Plano Independent School District; kindergarten and first grade in Rhode Island; a year teaching kindergarten at Rolling Hills Country Day in California; and eight years teaching first grade and kindergarten in Dallas Independent School District. She is a certified Gifted and Talented Teacher. Ms. Bagley earned a B.S. at Texas A & M University and an M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership from Lamar University.
  • Ponette Kim, Kindergarten Associate Teacher: Ms. Kim will join the Busy Bees and partner with Catherine Huynh. Ms. Kim earned her B.S. at Boston University College of Communication. For the past two years, she has done substitute teaching at Greenhill and at Tom C. Gooch Elementary School.
  • Daisy Barron, Kindergarten Associate Teacher: Ms. Barron will join the Curious Caterpillars and partner with Laura Rathjen. Ms. Barron graduated from Washington and Lee University, where she was awarded a Questbridge Scholarship, in May. Ms. Barron did her practicum teaching at two schools in Lexington, Virginia, and at one school in Perugia, Italy.
  • A'Daria Paggett, Kindergarten Associate Teacher: Ms. Paggett will join the Joyful Jellyfish and partner with Leanne Woods. Ms. Paggett earned a B.S. in Child Development at Grambling State University. Her practicum teaching experiences were in pre-k and first grade, and last summer she served as a Field Teacher Intern at the Bright Horizons Early Childhood Center in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
  • Emmerson Stephens, Prekindergarten Associate Teacher: Ms. Stephens will join the Super Sloths and partner with Greg Browne-Nichols. Ms. Stephens earned a B.A. at Southern Methodist University in 2024 and just completed her Master’s Degree in Art History at SMU. She has been a substitute teacher at the Episcopal School of Dallas, and she has worked as a Rehearsal Director, Dance Teacher, and Art Education Intern in the Dallas area.
  • Kaelyn Jasina, Second Grade Associate Teacher: Ms. Jasina will join the second grade team and partner with every teacher! Ms. Jasina received her B.A. from Bucknell University in December. She has taught poetry to elementary, middle, and high school students at the Stadler Center for Poetry and Literacy Arts. While at Bucknell, she was Editor-in-Chief of the literary magazine as well as the President of the Panhellenic Council.
Quick Links

Middle School 

Due August 13: Extended Day Registration

Extended Day provides a caring environment for prekindergarten through eighth-grade Greenhill students from dismissal through 6:00 pm. Space is limited and fills quickly. Register here.

Laptop Distribution

Laptops for grades 6-8 are available for pickup at the Technology Office (south side of the Montgomery Library) from August 10 to August 14 (8:00 am to 7:00 pm) and on August 15 (10:00 am to 2:00 pm). Please remember a device agreement must be signed prior to pickup.

Note: Grade 5 laptops will be available for pickup in mid-October.

Reminders
  • You, your student, or an immediate family member may pick up their laptop during these times after their device agreement has been signed.
  • You may only pick up equipment that is issued to your student.
  • No appointment is necessary.
  • These will be the only times when students can pick up their laptops before the start of school.
  • Laptops will not be available for pickup between August 17-19.
Important Dates
  • Wednesday, August 19: Middle School New Families Welcome and Orientation, 9:30 – 10:00 am in Rose Hall (MPAC) – Note: your student may attend with you
  • Wednesday, August 19: Middle School Open House, 10:00 – 11:00 am (come-and-go event with no need to stay the full hour)
  • Thursday, August 20: First day of school
  • Thursday, August 27: Fifth Grade First Steps for Parents/Guardians
September Dates
  • Monday, September 7: Labor Day, no classes
  • Friday, September 11: Founders Day Celebration for students only
  • Wednesday, September 16: Middle School Yearbook Photo Day
  • Thursday, September 17: Middle School Mini School (parents/guardians only), 6:00 pm
  • Friday, September 18: All-School Community Picnic and Fall Hornet Night
  • Monday, September 28: MS Getting-to-Know-You Conference Day, no classes
Daily Schedule

Academic classes will meet in 80- and 45-minute blocks, and students will have Office Hours each day to work with teachers and develop executive functioning and advocacy skills. Letter day designations will be in your student’s planner. 

The Student Life blocks on A Days will encompass advisory, grade-level, divisional, and school-wide programming and events focused on character development and community building.

Middle School Carpool

Middle School students may be dropped off before 8:00 am at Three Chimneys Circle, Gym overhang, or MPAC. Grade-level teams will let students know where to wait for building entry and check-in.

Students in grades 5-6 are dismissed at 3:45 pm, and carpool begins at 3:50 pm. Pickup takes place only at the Three Chimneys Circle. Please do not use other pick-up locations. New this year: A streamlined carpool pick-up system is being developed. Watch for a separate email for details.

Pick-up for students in grades 7-8 is supervised by coaches and varies by activity. Please watch for additional info from Athletics.

  • MPAC Parking Lot (4:05 pm): field hockey and dance
  • Gym Overhang (4:05 pm): Sports Performance, volleyball, and cross country
  • Gym Overhang (4:30 pm): football

Students in Multiple Divisions
Students in grades 7/8 with a sibling in grades 5/6 may be picked up at the Three Chimneys after communication with the coach. After the younger student is picked up, you will be asked to wait in a designated area until the older sibling is dismissed.

The same designated area will apply to Lower School families awaiting a Middle School student.

Reminders
  • Only siblings of Upper School students may be picked up in the Upper School carpool line,
  • Students may not be picked up in the cafeteria loading zone.
  • Students who have not been picked up by 4:15 pm will be escorted to Middle School Extended Day in the dining hall. A $45 fee will be charged, and parents/guardians will be notified. In the event of an emergency, please call the Middle School office by 4:00 pm and Extended Day.
  • Students may not wait unsupervised in the gym, dining hall, or other campus locations.
  • Students may not visit The Buzz after school unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. This includes parking and meeting your student before stopping by The Buzz.
Advisor/Schedule Release

Student schedules and advisory assignments will be available in MyGreenhill beginning Tuesday, August 18, at 4:00 pm.

For grades 7/8 elective classes, students may request schedule changes during the drop/add period, which ends August 31. Requests must come directly from the student to Mr. Jenks in person or via email. Availability is limited, and changes are not guaranteed.

Middle School Lockers

Each Middle School student has a designated locker large enough to hold books, a water bottle, a sweatshirt, and several notebooks or binders. They can also fit, rather than loose items, a soft-sided carry backpack of the JanSport variety.

  • Eighth-grade lockers are in the bag drop room, which is also the designated area for large sports bags belonging to students in grades 7-8.
  • All other grade levels will have assigned hallway lockers.

Locker decorations are not permitted in or on the outside of our lockers.

School Supplies

Students receive specific organizational supplies for their academic classes. Other consumable supplies (pens, pencils, highlighters, colored pencils, glue sticks, pencil bag, and loose-leaf paper) should be purchased by the family.

Backpacks

If your student prefers a rolling backpack, we recommend a soft-sided style. Large rolling backpacks, including the Zuca-style, do not fit in lockers and must be stored elsewhere.

Calculators

The Math Department requires that all Middle School students own a Texas Instruments calculator. Other makes and models of calculators are not allowable substitutions.

  • The TI-84 PLUS CE Color Graphing Calculator is required for all eighth-grade students and seventh-grade students in the Honors Algebra class.
  • Students in grades 5-7 are required to purchase the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator. 
ScanFind in MS

Help keep track of your student's belongings by attaching a ScanFind sticker to them. If the lost item is found and scanned, you'll receive a notification with the location.

Families will receive two ScanFind stickers (one for clothing and one for objects) during Open House.

More Details
Guidelines for The Buzz & Catalyst Coffee
  • Students may not purchase items from The Buzz, Catalyst Coffee, or the gym vending machines during school hours.
  • Grades 5-8 may visit The Buzz before or after school only when accompanied by a parent/guardian.
  • Eighth-grade students may be eligible for Buzz privileges during Office Hours in the second semester.
  • Students may visit during the school day for necessary supply purchases with their advisor's permission.

The Buzz Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm | Catalyst Coffee Hours: 7:00 am – 2:30 pm

2026-27 New Faculty

The Middle School is excited to welcome:

  • Patrick Huett – Math (grades 6 and7) and sixth-grade advisor.
  • Sarah Johnson – Seventh-grade English and seventh-grade advisor.
  • Evan Ritz ’08 – Eighth-grade math and eighth-grade advisor.
  • Ginny Wiley – Math (grades 7 and 8) and eighth-grade advisor.
Quick Links

Upper School 

Due August 10: Add/Drop a Course

The first add/drop period is August 4 to August 10. Students should refer to Mrs. Rosa's email from August 3 for detailed instructions on accessing their schedule and guidelines for adding or dropping a course. There will be another add/drop period from August 20 through September 4.

Laptop Distribution

Laptops for returning students in grades 9-12 are available for pickup at the Technology Office (south side of the Montgomery Library) from August 10 to August 14 (8:00 am to 7:00 pm) and on August 15 (10:00 am to 2:00 pm). Please remember a device agreement must be signed prior to pickup.

New-to-Greenhill Upper School students should pick up their devices at orientation on August 18. Laptop pick-up is part of the planned schedule for that day. If your student is unable to attend orientation, they may pick up their device during the times below.

Reminders
  • You, your student, or an immediate family member may pick up their laptop during these times after their device agreement has been signed.
  • You may only pick up equipment that is issued to your student.
  • No appointment is necessary.
  • These will be the only times when students can pick up their laptops before the start of school.
  • Laptops will not be available for pickup between August 17-19.
Important Dates
  • Monday, August 17: Water Tower Painting for the Class of 2027, morning
  • Tuesday, August 18: Ninth Grade & New Student Orientation, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm in Rose Hall (MPAC) – Note: lunch is provided
  • Tuesday, August 18: Upper School New Family Orientation, 8:00 – 10:15 am in Rose Hall
  • Thursday, August 20: First day of school (US Modified Schedule)
  • Friday, August 21: US Modified Schedule
September Dates
  • Monday, September 7: Labor Day, no classes
  • Friday, September 11: Founders Day Celebration for students only
  • Wednesday, September 16: Upper School Yearbook Photo Day
  • Friday, September 18: All-School Community Picnic and Fall Hornet Night
  • Thursday, September 17: Upper School Mini School (parents/guardians only), evening
Required Summer Coursework

If your student is enrolled in AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Comparative Government, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C, they have been assigned some form of summer work.

There is summer reading for ninth-grade and tenth-grade history classes. Students should check their emails for more information from their course instructor.

First Days of School

We have modified Green and Gold Day schedules the first two days of school to provide more grade-level programming for all students. Please make every effort not to have off-campus appointments for students during these two days.

Upper School Daily Schedule

Fall athletic teams that typically practice outdoors in the afternoon (football, field hockey, and cross country) will continue to practice in the morning when our school year begins on August 20. We are adjusting our daily schedule to accommodate those athletes and starting our academic day at 8:50 am.

We are planning on running this schedule through Friday, September 18. We will continue to monitor the weather forecast as we get closer to that date and adjust accordingly.

Textbooks

Greenhill partners with Ambassador Education Solutions to provide them with updated course information from your student’s schedule, and the textbooks will be shipped automatically to your home prior to the start of school. Please refer to the August 3 email from Trevor Worcester for details.

2026-27 New Faculty

The Upper School is excited to welcome:

  • Jamie Garcia – US Associate Director of College Counseling
  • Jennifer Greseth – US Learning Specialist
  • Rachel Lytle – US Science
  • Brandon Miller – US Dean of Students
  • Lillian Ramos – US Spanish
Quick Links