Garfield Elementary School

APPLY TO PRESCHOOL: Eligible Spokane families with 3- and 4-year-old children can now apply to attend preschool programs for the 2026-27 school year. Participating in early learning programs helps children develop a lifelong love of learning as they get ready to begin kindergarten at age 5.

Watch a video about Spokane Public Schools preschool options and the application process at Youtu.be/IJl0T1OTw84?si=0kzdF5YmSnD3EK-0

Learn more and apply at SpokaneSchools.org/Preschool

Thank you for your patience as we navigate this morning’s strong winds. Today, Dec. 17, SPS will operate on a two-hour delay out of an abundance of caution amidst current conditions.

Weather conditions are expected to be most severe during the morning commute, and this two-hour delay will allow further evaluation of the conditions to ensure SPS staff and students are able to arrive safely. We will continue to evaluate conditions over the next several hours and will communicate any changes to school operations beyond a two-hour delay, if necessary.

Our schools provide a warm, supervised place where students can access meals and be part of a learning community. Learn more about our inclement weather protocols at https://www.spokaneschools.org/page/school-closure-or-delay-information.

Parents who decide to keep their student home today can contact their school office to request an excused absence.

STA riders, please visit the Spokane Transit Authority website for bus route schedules and information: https://www.spokanetransit.com/routes-schedules/

VOTE: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, is Election Day. There’s still time to return your completed ballot. Here’s how…

• Ballot Drop Box: Return by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4; find locations at spokanecounty.org/187/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations

• In person: The Spokane County Elections Office (1033 W. Gardner Ave.) is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 if you need to return a completed ballot, get a replacement ballot or envelope, register to vote, use Accessible Voting Unit, and more; find details at spokanecounty.org/201/Voter-Service-Center-Locations

• Mail: State law allows mail-in ballots to be received and counted after Election Day, even if they arrive to election workers days later, but only if they are postmarked on or before Election Day. At this point, Spokane County Elections and WA Secretary of State have recommended returning completed ballots to a Ballot Drop Box to avoid potential delays in delivery of mail. If you do return your ballot at the Post Office, be sure to do so before closing on Nov. 4 and take it to the counter to be postmarked.

More Spokane County General Election information can be found at spokanecounty.org/elections.

Find a ballot box near you at spokanecounty.gov/187/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations.

RETURN YOUR BALLOT: Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 4 — is next week. Spokane County Elections and the WA Secretary of State have recommended returning completed ballots to a Ballot Drop Box to avoid potential delays in delivery of mail.

Ballot Drop Boxes are located outside all Spokane Public Library and Spokane County Library District branches, with other locations throughout the County. Visit spokanecounty.gov/187/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations to find a ballot box near you.

Ballots can also be returned at the Spokane County Elections Office at 1033 W. Gardner Ave., which is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. with extended hours on Election Day, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Visit
spokanecounty.gov/Elections for more election information.

State law allows mail-in ballots to be received and counted after Election Day, even if they arrive to election workers days later, but only if they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

There are three ways to return ballots for the Nov. 4 General Election. Check out details in the post below!

RETURNING YOUR BALLOT: The General Election is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. The 18-day voting period has begun in Washington, and ballots have been mailed to registered voters.

There are several ways for Spokane County residents to return their ballots:

🗳 Ballot Drop Box: There’s a ballot box outside every Spokane Public Library branch and Spokane County Library District branch, as well as several other locations across Spokane County. Find a ballot box near you at spokanecounty.org/187/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations. You can drop it off anytime until 8 p.m. on Nov. 4.

🫱✉ In Person: The Spokane County Elections Office (1033 W. Gardner Ave.) is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., with extended hours — 7 a.m.–8 p.m. — on Election Day (Nov. 4). Stop by if you need to return a completed ballot, get a replacement ballot or envelope, register to vote, use an Accessible Voting Unit, or have questions about voting. Find details at spokanecounty.org/201/Voter-Service-Center-Locations.

📫 Mail: Drop your ballot in a mailbox — no stamp required. To be counted, ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4. ***Please note: The Spokane CountyAuditor strongly recommends mailing your ballot by Tuesday, Oct. 28 to avoid any risk of rejection due to a late postmark. If you drop off at the Post Office on Election Day, the Auditor urges voters to do so before closing and to take your ballot to the counter to ensure it is postmarked.***

After returning your ballot, you can track its journey at voter.votewa.gov.

Learn more about a proposed Trades High School on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Register for the webinar at spokaneschools.org/trades-virtual.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: All are invited to join Spokane Public Schools superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard and chief of Student Success Scott Kerwien for a virtual presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7–7:30 p.m., for a Zoom webinar to learn about the proposed Trades High School. This 9-12 grade high school would be located on campus at Spokane Community College and focus on industry-aligned training to prepares student for careers and higher education. Learn more and register at spokaneschools.org/trades-virtual.

This project is one of more than 200 projects proposed in Together Spokane, an initiative of Spokane Public School, Spokane Parks and Recreation, and community partners to improve schools, parks and neighborhoods. Learn more at TogetherSpokane.org.

FREE BASKETBALL CLINIC:

Shoot 360 is offering a free basketball clinic on Saturday, Oct. 25. Space is limited, sign up online with the following links:

Grades 3-5, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.: form.jotform.com/240105841538149

Grades 6-8, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: form.jotform.com/250136649671158

Visit shoot360spokane.com to learn more or call 509-368-9659.