Dear Beach Park Families,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
I hope your summer has been filled with time to relax, reconnect, and create lasting memories with family and friends. It is with great excitement and gratitude that I welcome our students, staff, and families back for another year of learning, growth, and opportunity in Beach Park School District 3.
This year, our district theme is Build. Spark. Ignite: Building a Legacy
Inspired by the endless creations we can make with Legos, this theme captures our efforts to continue building on the incredible progress our students and staff have made as we continue our journey toward becoming a Blue Ribbon School District of Excellence.
Building a legacy isn't about one person or one school; it's about all of us working together. It means building strong relationships, a strong foundation, sparking curiosity and creativity in every classroom, and igniting a passion for learning that prepares our students for the future.
Throughout the coming year, our work will continue to be guided by the voices of our staff, students, and families. Together, we will focus on creating meaningful learning experiences, strengthening our school community, and believing every student CAN.
One of our priorities is keeping families informed and connected. To help make communication easier, we've created a Family Communication Guide, which outlines where to find important information, who to contact with questions, and how we'll share updates throughout the school year. I encourage you to keep it handy as a resource throughout the year.
View the Family Communication Guide
Please review the important back-to-school information below to help your family prepare for a successful start to the school year.
Student Beginning and Ending Times (2026-2027)
Beach Park Middle School: 7:25 AM – 2:35 PM
Kenneth Murphy Elementary: 8:30 AM – 3:10 PM
Newport Elementary: 8:30 AM – 3:10 PM
Howe Elementary: 9:05 AM – 3:45 PM
Oak Crest Elementary: 9:05 AM – 3:45 PM
Transportation
The Durham Bus Company will send transportation information prior to the beginning of the school year, including your child's bus stop location and pick-up/drop-off times.
Additional transportation information can also be found on our District website.
Important Dates
Board of Education Meeting: Monday, August 10, 2026 @ 6:30 in the BPMS Cafe
Open House: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Elementary Schools: 4:00-5:30 pm
Beach Park Middle School: 5-6:30 pm
First Day of School: Wednesday, August, 19 2026
Kindergarten Families: Please watch for additional communication from your child's principal regarding Kindergarten orientation and first-day procedures.
Additional Information
Each school will also send a welcome letter with additional building-specific information. Please take a few moments to review those communications before the first day of school.
As your superintendent, it is truly an honor to serve the Beach Park community. Thank you for your continued partnership and trust. Together, we are building something special, and I can't wait to see what we accomplish this school year.
Let's make 2026-2027 a year of Building, Sparking, and Igniting a legacy of learning together.
With honor in partnership,
Dr. Denise Wilcox
Superintendent
Beach Park School District 3