Oakland Students Return To Class

OAKLAND, NJ — Summer vacation is almost over for Oakland students, with the first bell of the 2026-27 school year set to ring Tuesday, September 8.

Students and staff will return together after teachers spend next Wednesday and Thursday in professional development, according to the district’s revised school calendar. Schools will remain closed Friday and Monday for the Labor Day weekend, giving families one final stretch of summer before classes begin.

The opening week will be a short one, but September will quickly get busy. Preschool and elementary families can visit their schools for back-to-school night the following Monday, September 14. Students in pre-K through fifth grade will have a minimum-day schedule.

Valley Middle School will hold its back-to-school night that Wednesday, September 16, when students in sixth through eighth grades will also follow a minimum-day schedule.

All Oakland schools will then close the following Monday in observance of Yom Kippur.

The district operates Dogwood Hill, Heights and Manito elementary schools, Valley Middle School and its preschool program.

Before Tuesday arrives, families may want to check school schedules, transportation arrangements and parent-portal information on the district’s website. New families can also find registration forms, immunization requirements and other enrollment materials online.

Families may want to double-check transportation arrangements, schedules and opening-day instructions before students leave home.

Have a correction or news tip? Email dani.sepe@patch.com.