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Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson announced Wednesday that both he and Nespelem School District Superintendent Rich Stewart have agreed to delay the opening of their respective schools until Sept. 8.

Both schools were scheduled to begin Sept. 1, but with the problem of wildfires and smoke, it was decided on the delay.

In Nespelem, Sept. 8 will actually be a training day for teachers, not a school day for students. Nespelem's annual welcoming barbecue is set for Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. The first full day of classes is Thursday, Sept. 10

Carlson said that this Thursday (Aug. 27) evening’s “Welcome Back School Night” will still move forward.

That gathering of students and staff will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The evening program will allow elementary students learn who their teacher is and for them to get acquainted with their rooms.

The 7th- through 12th-grade students, will be able to choose their lockers, pick up their class schedules, and purchase their ASB cards. ASB cards will also be available for elementary students at the upper grade office.

The Monday staff breakfast, at 8 a.m., for both Grand Coulee Dam staff and Nespelem staff, will be held at the new school cafeteria.

The Nespelem staff will be using two of the rooms for meetings and for planning activities.