26–27 Back-to-School Checklist

Please review all three sections below and address the action items listed in steps 1–5.

The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

Action Items for TK-12 Families:

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Step 1: Tuition + ESA Info

Tuition Payment Plans:

Tuition statements and payment schedules have been sent through FACTS. If you did not receive your tuition statement, please either log in to your FACTS account or contact Rebecca Mueller at rmueller@holyfamilydbq.org.
Returning families will be re-enrolled in their existing tuition payment plan. If you are a new TK-12 family, you will receive an invitation to create your tuition payment plan and set up automatic payments on July 16.
Holy Family requests that first tuition payments for the 2026-2027 school year be made on or before August 31, 2026.

For those approved for an Education Savings Account (ESA):

If you have been approved for an ESA, be sure you have selected your school in Odyssey.
Later this summer, Holy Family will verify your application and bill your ESA for first-semester tuition. You will then return to your Odyssey account to confirm the payment.

If you have questions regarding tuition or ESAs, please contact Rebecca Mueller at rmueller@holyfamilydbq.org or 563-582-5456.

Step 2: Log In to ParentSquare

All Holy Family communications, including delay and cancellation alerts, are delivered via ParentSquare.

You must have your PowerSchool forms completed to access ParentSquare. This was completed during re-enrollment in the spring.

If you are new to Holy Family, look for an email to activate your account OR register your account at ParentSquare.com/signin using the cell phone number or email address provided in PowerSchool. Upon activation, you will have access to school communications, calendars, directories, forms, conference sign-ups, volunteer opportunities and more!
All families are encouraged to log in to ParentSquare to review or adjust their notification settings for the new school year.

If you have questions about ParentSquare, please contact Zoe Houlihan zhoulihan@holyfamilydbq.org or 563-582-5456 or click here for more information.

Step 3: Parent Association, Clubs and Yearbook Payments

Check your ParentSquare account for optional payment posts.

ParentSquare login required.

Elementary and Middle School families will have the option to pay Parent Association Dues to cover staff appreciation efforts and community-building activities.

Make your contribution by Sep. 30 using the appropriate Parent Association payment form(s) for your school(s):

High School families may contribute to the following groups by Sep. 30:

Yearbooks can be purchased throughout the school year.

There will be no fee for student parking passes this year.

If you have questions about payments in ParentSquare, please contact Zoe Houlihan zhoulihan@holyfamilydbq.org or 563-582-5456.

Step 4: School Physicals, Medical Records and Required Forms for Athletics

All students should provide up-to-date immunization records. Physical exam and concussion forms are required for secondary students who participate in athletics. Forms can be returned to your school at orientation or by email to hporcic@holyfamilydbq.org.

Immunization Records form (Required for all new students and current TK/K, 7th and 12th graders)
Medical Certificate of Immunization Exemption (Optional)
Religious Certificate of Immunization Exemption (Optional)
Student athletics physical form (grades 7-12 – REQUIRED FOR ALL ATHLETES)
Athletics concussion form (grades 7-12 – REQUIRED FOR ALL ATHLETES)
Vision Screening Form (TK/Kindergarten and 3rd-grade only)
Dental Screening form (TK/Kindergarten and 9th-grade only)

PLEASE NOTE: All incoming seventh-graders must have the TDap and Meningococcal vaccines and 12th-graders must have their second dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (unless their first dose was received on or after age 16) before school starts or have a certificate of religious and/or medical exemption on file.

If you have questions about health-related information, please contact Hannah Porcic at hporcic@holyfamilydbq.org.

Step 5: Healthy Kids Act (Mazzuchelli and Wahlert students only)

Attention Early Childhood Families: Please note that enrollment in our early childhood programs is handled at the site level. You will receive all required forms directly from your site director. For most families, this process took place in May. If you registered over the summer and have any outstanding enrollment items, your director will contact you directly.

More Resources for All Families

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Nutrition Services + Free/Reduced Meals

Meal prices and more can be found on our Nutrition Services page.
Visit the Meal Magic Family Portal, to view lunch balances, make payments, transfer funds between children, view meal purchase details and apply for Free and Reduced Meal Program benefits.
If you need help paying for school meals this year, you may also complete a paper Free & Reduced Meals application form.
If your student requires a special diet, complete the Diet Modification form.
Join the ParentSquare Elementary, Mazzuchelli and/or Wahlert Lunch group(s) to see the daily lunch menu in your ParentSquare calendar or subscribe to sync with your personal calendar.

If you have questions regarding nutrition services, please contact Christin Smith at christinsmith@holyfamilydbq.org or 563-582-5456.

Uniforms + Spirit Apparel

Holy Family e-Store uniform and spirit apparel orders must be placed by July 27 to be delivered before school starts.

Visit the Uniforms page for dress code information and to shop for uniform-approved items featuring Holy Family official logos. Items can be purchased through the Holy Family eStore or Lands’ End School. Crested (Holy Family branded) polos are required at the middle and high school levels; however, they are available for all schools.

Uniform samples are available at the Holy Family Central Office at 2005 Kane St, Dubuque, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Uniform Recycle Event Happening Now!

Our annual Uniform Recycle Event is taking place at Wahlert Catholic High School, 2005 Kane Street, from now through Friday, July 24. Hours are Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m.–noon. Donate gently worn Holy Family uniforms and spirit wear. All items are free, with or without an apparel donation.

Spirit Apparel

Visit the Holy Family e-Store to shop our 26-27 Booster Club spirit collection
Shop at the Booster Club Spirit Shop during Wahlert Catholic High School office hours, school orientation events, or fall home athletics events.

If you have any questions regarding uniforms, please contact the Holy Family Central office at hfcs-adminassistant@holyfamilydbq.org or 563-582-5456.

Busing Information + Transportation Reimbursement

Dubuque Community School District Busing

To qualify for busing, you must live more than two miles from your school (3 miles for high school students). Eligible families will receive a letter in August from the Dubuque Community School District indicating your bus route.

PLEASE NOTE: Holy Family students do not have busing on Friday mornings.

Transportation Reimbursement

If you qualify for busing but are not assigned a bus route, you may be eligible for transportation reimbursement. Submit the transportation reimbursement form before Dec. 1 for the full year. If you have a change in address, you will need to resubmit the form in the spring semester. Reimbursement payments are made in the fall of the following school year.

Jule City Transit

Families wishing to utilize The Jule for student transportation will need to purchase an Annual Youth Pass.

If you have questions regarding busing or transportation reimbursement, please contact Dubuque Community School District transportation at 563-552-3275.

School Supply Lists

Our Lady of Guadalupe (preschool – 5th)
Resurrection Elementary (preschool – 5th)
St. Columbkille Elementary (preschool – 5th)
Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School (6-8th)
Supply needs vary for Wahlert Catholic High School. Students are advised to bring their preferred supplies for notetaking and staying organized for the first few days of school. Individual teachers may have suggestions for additional needed supplies.

Holy Ghost and St. Joseph the Worker Early Childhood (preschool – PreK)

School Picture Dates + Order Links

School pictures will be taken by Weber Portrait Design

Picture Days:

Wahlert Catholic High School – Friday, Aug. 28 [ORDER HERE starting Aug. 1]
Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School – Thursday, Aug. 27 [ORDER HERE starting Aug. 1]
St. Columbkille Elementary – Monday, Sep. 14 [EC, Tuesday, Sep. 15] [ORDER HERE starting Aug. 1]
Resurrection Elementary – Wednesday, Sep. 16 [ORDER HERE starting Aug. 1]
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Thursday, Sep. 17 [ORDER HERE starting Aug. 1]

School Specific Information

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Wahlert Catholic High School

9th-Grade Orientation is on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m.–12 noon. Students should report to the Wahlert gym in dress code. Stay tuned for NEW 10-12 student orientation details.
School pictures for 9-11 students will be taken by Weber Portrait Design during the school day on Friday, Aug. 28.
Incoming 12th-graders are required by the Iowa Department of Public Health to have their second dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (unless the first dose was given at or after age 16) before they start school.
Incoming 9th-graders must submit a dental screening form.
Student parking will be limited to the Miracle League parking lot and neighborhood streets due to construction.
Student activity passes will be available through Bound starting Aug. 1 for $95 per student.

Visit the Wahlert homepage for further information such as dress code, handbooks and more.

Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School

New Family Welcome Events

An Ice Cream Social for incoming 6th-grade students and their families will be held at Mazzuchelli on Monday, Aug. 17, at 6–7 p.m.
Students who are new to Holy Family are also invited to Transfer Student Night at 5 p.m., before the Ice Cream Social.

Mazzuchelli Orientation

Orientation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20. We will offer two sessions for incoming 6th-grade students and students who are new to Holy Family:

Session 1: 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Session 2: 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Both sessions will begin in the Mazzuchelli gym.

We will also host a returning student open house from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. for incoming 7th- and 8th-grade students and their families.

Sessions 1 and 2 will start with a brief introduction to Mazzuchelli in the gym. Students and their families will also have the opportunity to bring in school supplies, set up lockers, sign up for activities, purchase spirit wear and locate classrooms.

The returning student open house will include the same opportunities with a come-and-go format, and no introduction in the gym.

Please note that, due to increased enrollment, some students will be sharing lockers. Locker assignments and additional information will be provided at orientation.

Fall Sports

Schedules will be posted on the website on Aug. 1.
Sign-Ups will take place at orientation.
All participants must return the Athletic Physical form to the school office.
Player/Parent meetings will be held as follows:
Football (7th/8th): Monday, Aug. 24, at 4:30 p.m.
Cross Country (7th/8th): Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 4:15 p.m.;
Volleyball: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 8th-grade at 4:30 p.m. and 7th-grade at 6:00 p.m.

Other Info

Class schedules will be available in PowerSchool on Aug. 10 and provided at orientation.
School pictures will be taken by Weber Portrait Design on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Incoming 7th-graders are required to have a Meningococcal vaccine and Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis/whooping cough) booster before school starts.
8th-grade drivers will not be permitted to park in the Wahlert lot this year, due to construction.
Join the Mazzuchelli Parent Association Facebook group for event information, volunteer opportunities, and school reminders.

Visit the Mazzuchelli homepage for further information such as dress code, handbooks and more.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Orientation is on Thursday, Aug. 20. Appointment sign-ups will be sent on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m., via ParentSquare.
Spirit wear will be sold during orientation.
SchoolKids supply kits/school supplies will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school.
School pictures will be taken by Weber Portrait Design on Thursday, Sep. 17 (students may be out of uniform for school pictures).
Join the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parent Association Facebook group for event information, volunteer opportunities, and school reminders.

Visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe web page for further information such as the dress code, handbooks and more.

Resurrection Elementary

Orientation is Thursday, Aug. 20. Appointment sign-ups will be sent on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m., via ParentSquare.
Spirit wear will be available through a pop-up spirit store and in person at Central Campus (Mazzuchelli/Our Lady commons) during orientation.
SchoolKids supply kits/school supplies – will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school.
School pictures will be taken by Weber Portrait Design on Wednesday, Sep. 16, (students may be out-of-uniform for school pictures).
Join the Resurrection Parent Association (RPA) Facebook group for event information, volunteer opportunities, and school reminders.

Visit the Resurrection homepage for further information such as dress code, handbooks and more.

St. Columbkille Elementary

Orientation is Thursday, Aug. 20. Appointment sign-ups will be sent on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m., via ParentSquare.
Spirit wear will be available through a pop-up spirit store and in person at Central Campus (Mazzuchelli/Our Lady commons) during orientation.
SchoolKids supply kits/school supplies will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school.
School pictures (TK-5) will be taken by Weber Portrait Design on Monday, Sep. 14, (preschool and pre-K pictures will be on Tuesday, Sep 15). Students may be out of uniform for school pictures.
Join our St. Columbkille Parent Association Facebook group for event information, volunteer opportunities, and school reminders.

Visit the St. Columbkille web page for further information such as dress code, handbooks and more.