MOSES LAKE — Vanguard Academy and Moses Lake High School students and staff spent time at Columbia Middle School on Wednesday sharing the programs and opportunities available for incoming freshmen.

“The academic journey for our eighth grade students in the Moses Lake School District continued today with the first of three curriculum fairs that will take place at the middle schools here in the district today,” MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. “Staff from Vanguard Academy and Moses Lake High School spent some time at Columbia Middle School talking to eighth-graders and showcasing not only the academic programs but the athletics and activities and other opportunities that each building provides to its students and giving the eighth graders an opportunity to ask questions and learn about the various options that are available to them as they register for their upcoming ninth-grade year.”

On Thursday, staff and students will visit Frontier and Endeavor middle schools to offer a similar opportunity to students.

Also on Thursday will be curriculum night, which is a chance for families and future students to tour the schools, meet teachers and ask questions. The event will be at Moses Lake High School from 6 to 7 p.m. and Vanguard Academy from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Curriculum night gives parents and eighth-graders an opportunity to tour the buildings, to actually get in and take a look at what the classrooms look like, take a look at the facilities, get a speak to staff and have a little bit more deeper conversation about what that freshman year looks like for them,” Shannon said.

Following these events there will be registration nights at MLSD where students will submit registration forms and meet with counselors and their preferred school.

“Really, it’s the first opportunity for some of these parents to have interactions with these buildings and the staff as well,” Shannon said. “We all know that students have questions and so do parents, and this will give them an opportunity to interact with their respective staffs.”

MLHS will host its registration nights Feb. 24 for Columbia Middle School and Feb. 25 for Frontier and Endeavor Middle Schools at 4:30 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Vanguard Academy will host its registration nights Feb. 20 and Feb. 25 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. for all middle schools. Students who want to register for the Digital Learning Center will still have to register with either MLHS or Vanguard, according to Shannon.

Students must attend at least one registration night.

“Moses Lake School District offers three great high school options for our students: Moses Lake High School, your more traditional comprehensive high school; Vanguard Academy, which is a project-based innovative learning environment; and then our Digital Learning Center, our online self-paced program,” Shannon said.

More information about registering at MLHS is available at mlhs.mlsd161.org/54999_3. The page has course guides, information for Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center registration, Running Start information and new student enrollment details.

For more information about registering at Vanguard Academy visit: vanguard.mlsd161.org/88227_3. The page features new student enrollment details, CBTECH registration and more information about Vanguard Academy.

“It’s important because we want students to see the options,” Shannon said. “We want them to have a really deep understanding of all the different courses that are offered and to explore the programs because they’re all unique. They’re individual to their own buildings, and we want the parents and really the students to have that opportunity to take a look at everything that is available to them here in the Moses Lake School District.”

    Columbia Middle School was filled with staff and students from Vanguard Academy and Moses Lake High School to educate incoming freshmen about their options for high school. The district offers paths at Vanguard, MLHS and through the digital learning center.
  

    Columbia Middle School eighth-graders had the opportunity to speak with staff and students at Vanguard Academy and Moses Lake High School about their upcoming school year. The staff and students talked with the incoming freshmen about opportunities at each of the schools including academics, athletics and activities.