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Incoming 6th Grade Satellite Campus (2026–27)

Incoming 6th Grade Students (2026–27)

Welcome to the Incoming 6th Grade Satellite Campus information hub for the 2026–27 school year. The temporary Satellite Campus will be hosted at San Marcos Middle School. This page is designed to support families with clear, timely information about the campus experience, including academics, transportation, student services, and ongoing updates.

Shuttle Transportation Service

Families who are interested in having their student take the complimentary shuttle from Woodland Park Middle School (WPMS) to San Marcos Middle School (SMMS) before and/or after school must complete the shuttle registration form by clicking here.

Neighborhood Bus Transportation

Please note that neighborhood bus transportation to and from Woodland Park Middle School is separate from the shuttle service. Families interested in neighborhood bus transportation are encouraged to visit our webpage by clicking here or call 760-290-2670 to check eligibility.

Latest Updates

  • Dear Incoming Woodland Park 6th Grade Families,

    We hope your summer is off to a great start. As we prepare to welcome our incoming 6th grade students to middle school, we want to share a few important updates for the 2026-27 school year.

    As previously communicated, due to construction at Woodland Park Middle School (WPMS), incoming 6th grade students will attend a satellite campus at San Marcos Middle School (SMMS). This message includes important updates about the student experience, transportation, breakfast, bell schedule, physical education, and upcoming events.

    Student Experience and Campus Community

    Our goal is to ensure students feel welcomed, connected, and supported as they begin middle school. To help create a smooth transition, Woodland Park 6th grade students will experience a “school within a school” model on the San Marcos Middle School campus.

    This means:

    • WPMS 6th grade students will be grouped together in designated areas of the SMMS campus.
    • Students will be taught by Woodland Park Middle School teachers and will continue to learn alongside WPMS staff and peers.
    • All SMMS and WPMS 6th grade students will have lunch together, giving students time each day to connect, build friendships, and feel part of the larger 6th grade community.

    This structure is designed to help students remain connected to Woodland Park Middle School while building connections with both WPMS and SMMS peers.

    Physical Education

    We also want to confirm that students will be dressing out for physical education during the 2026-27 school year. Additional information regarding PE expectations and procedures will be shared by the school.

    Transportation Options

    San Marcos Unified School District is pleased to offer transportation options at no cost for Woodland Park Middle School students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Both transportation services require an application.

    • General Education Home-to-School Transportation Application
      Required for students requesting bus service from eligible neighborhoods within the Woodland Park Middle School attendance boundary to WPMS and back home after school. Families living in a bus-eligible neighborhood are strongly encouraged to use this service, as it helps reduce traffic and provides a safe, reliable transportation option. Available bus stops can be found on the application.
    • Woodland Park to San Marcos Middle School Shuttle Application
      Required for incoming 6th grade students using the shuttle between Woodland Park Middle School and San Marcos Middle School. Morning shuttle buses will depart WPMS at 7:30 a.m.

    Families who plan to use either service should complete the appropriate application well before the start of the school year so transportation staff can confirm eligibility, assign bus stops, and plan shuttle capacity.

    For transportation questions, please email bus.info@smusd.org or call 760.290.2670.

    Arrival, Breakfast, and Dismissal

    The first day of school is Tuesday, August 18, 2026. School will begin at San Marcos Middle School at 8:00 a.m. each day.

    Breakfast will be available at Woodland Park Middle School beginning at 7:00 a.m. Breakfast will also available at San Marcos Middle School, prior to the start of class.

    For the 2026-27 school year, dismissal for 6th grade students attending San Marcos Middle School will be:

    • 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
    • 1:16 p.m. on Wednesdays

    These dismissal times allow WPMS 6th grade students to return to the Woodland Park campus in time to participate in athletics, after-school programs, and other activities.

    Important Upcoming Save the Dates

    • Lemonade with the Principal: Katie Buffum
    • Bulldog Kickoff at WPMS
      • Monday, August 10, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon
        • Location: Woodland Park Middle School
        • We look forward to welcoming families to Bulldog Kickoff! Families may stop by anytime between 8:00 a.m. and noon to pick up Chromebooks and textbooks, purchase PE clothing and yearbooks, take school photos, and receive student IDs.
    • 6th Grade W.E.B. Orientation: Where Everybody Belongs

    Before the first day of school, the district office will send a detailed map, traffic flow, and drop-off/pick-up information for Woodland Park Middle. Other school updates and site-specific details will begin to come directly from the school sites.

    Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we prepare for a welcoming and successful start to middle school for our incoming WPMS 6th grade students. 

    Sincerely,
    San Marcos Unified School District

  • We are happy to share that the district will offer a complimentary morning Kids on Campus (KOC) pass for the 2026-27 school year for younger siblings of 6th grade students who will be utilizing the Woodland Park Middle School (WPMS) shuttle to and from San Marcos Middle School. KOC provides safe, supervised, and engaging care for elementary students before school. This option is being offered to help support families who may have a time gap between drop-off at WPMS for the shuttle and elementary school start times.

    To qualify, families must have an incoming WPMS 6th grade student who will be using the shuttle. The younger sibling must attend one of the WPMS feeder elementary schools that offers KOC (Twin Oaks Elementary School, Richland Elementary School, or Knob Hill Elementary School) and not be utilizing neighborhood bus transportation.

    Families who would like to explore this option may indicate their preference by responding to the KOC question included in the shuttle registration form above. The KOC team will then follow up with you directly.

  • This presentation was shared during a District-hosted Parent Information Meeting on January 26, where families had the opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the Woodland Park Middle School (WPMS) modernization project and the temporary plan for the 2026–27 school year. Due to construction, WPMS 6th grade students will temporarily attend a satellite campus hosted at San Marcos Middle School, allowing the project to move forward while maintaining a full middle school experience. The presentation outlines transportation, daily schedules, academic programs, student supports, and transition activities designed to keep students connected, supported, and engaged throughout the year.

  • Dear Families,

    We hope this message finds you well. This is a friendly reminder about the upcoming Parent Information Meeting regarding the transition of incoming 6th grade Woodland Park Middle School students for the 2026–27 school year.

    • Date: Monday, January 26, 2026
    • Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
    • Location: San Marcos Middle School (SMMS) @ 650 W Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069

    During this meeting, district and school representatives will share important information about:

    • The temporary relocation of 6th grade Woodland Park Middle School students to San Marcos Middle School for the 2026–27 school year
    • What families can expect throughout the transition
    • Transportation, scheduling, student supports, and construction updates
    • Student experience and extracurricular opportunities
    • Opportunity for questions and answers

    This transition will impact incoming Woodland Park Middle School 6th grade families as well as the San Marcos Middle School community, and all are invited to attend. If you are unable to attend the parent information meeting, a recording will be made available in the days following the event.

    Families who would like to submit questions in advance or are unable to attend the meeting may do so using this following form.

    For additional context, families are also encouraged to view Dr. Johnsen’s video message to incoming WPMS 6th grade families sent last month, available to view here.

    The district team has met with San Marcos Middle School staff and is encouraged by their enthusiasm to welcome next year’s 6th grade Bulldogs and help make it a great year. The attached flyer was created by Melanie Lehmer, 6th Grade Math Teacher and Math Department Team Leader at San Marcos Middle School, and reflects the welcoming spirit of the SMMS team.

    We look forward to seeing you and partnering with you every step of the way.

    Warm regards,
    San Marcos Unified School District

  • For reference, this presentation was shared at the December 2025 Governing Board Meeting.

  • On Tuesday, December 16, a video message from Superintendent Dr. Andy Johnsen was sent to incoming Woodland Park Middle School families for the 2026–27 school year.