Windber Area School District is excited to welcome students, families, staff, and the community back for the start of the 2026–2027 school year. As we prepare for another great year, several important back-to-school events have been scheduled to help students transition smoothly, connect families with staff, and build school and community pride.
The first major date on the calendar is Monday, August 17, when fall practices officially begin. This marks the start of a new athletic season for our student-athletes and coaches as they begin preparing for the fall sports schedule.
On Thursday, August 20, Windber Area Elementary School will host K4 and K5 Orientation. Kindergarten orientation will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by K4 orientation at 6:30 p.m. This event will give our youngest Ramblers and their families an opportunity to visit the school, meet staff, and begin building confidence for the first day of school.
Also on Thursday, August 20, the district will host a Community Pep Rally and Festival at Windber Stadium beginning at 6:00 p.m. This event is designed to bring students, families, staff, and community members together to celebrate the start of the school year and the fall season. Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy an evening of school spirit, community pride, and fun activities.
On Monday, August 24, the district will hold Meet the Teacher Night for students in grades 1–12, along with orientation sessions for key transition grades. The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sixth-grade orientation will begin at 5:00 p.m., and ninth-grade orientation will begin at 5:45 p.m. This evening provides families with an opportunity to meet teachers, visit classrooms, review schedules, and prepare for a successful start to the school year.
The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, August 26. We look forward to welcoming all students back to our buildings for the start of another exciting year at Windber Area School District.
In addition to the opening week events, the district and community partners have several events planned throughout the fall to continue building school spirit and community connection. These include Salute to Heroes Night on Friday, September 11, Fall Festival at Camp Hamilton on Saturday, September 12, Homecoming Events at Windber Rec on Thursday, September 17, and the Homecoming football game on Friday, September 18.
Later in the fall, families can also look forward to Haunted Harvest at Windber Rec on Saturday, October 17, the Life Skills Regional Haunted Harvest Event at Camp Hamilton on Thursday, October 29, and Light Up Night at Windber Rec on Saturday, December 5.
These events reflect Windber’s continued commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students, families, staff, and the community to come together. We are proud of the energy and support that surrounds our schools, and we look forward to starting the year with excitement, connection, and Rambler pride.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for the 2026–2027 school year.