DOWEA McCool Elementary/Middle School

McCool Elementary/Middle School will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 18, due to continued maintenance on the air-conditioning system.

This announcement is being issued as a joint press release between Joint Region Marianas and the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA- Pacific West). Together, we remain committed to supporting the success, well-being, and educational excellence of our military-connected students and families. Through our strong partnership, we will continue to foster a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment.

Dear McCool Parents and Guardians,

We are pleased to share that school will be in session Monday, 17 Aug as scheduled.

Throughout the weekend, maintenance and support crews worked diligently to restore the building's HVAC system and prepare the facility for the return of students and staff. We have been assured that the school environment will be ready to welcome students and staff Monday morning.

The safety, well-being, and comfort of our students and employees remain our highest priorities. School personnel will continue to monitor building conditions closely and remain in communication with installation and facilities personnel.

In the unlikely event that conditions require any change to Monday's school operations, families will be notified no later than 5:00 a.m. Monday morning. Any updates will be communicated through the school's official communication channels, including email, Everbridge, and Facebook.

If you do not receive a notification from the school by 5:00 a.m., please proceed with your normal morning routine, as school will operate on its regular schedule.

We appreciate the patience, understanding, and flexibility of our families and staff as crews have worked to address this issue. We are looking forward to welcoming our students back and beginning a safe, successful, and productive week of learning together.

Sincerely,

Jason Debus

Good evening, McCool families,

We are aware of the ongoing HVAC issue affecting portions of McCool Elementary/Middle School, particularly the upstairs elementary area, where temperatures have reached approximately 85 degrees.

Our maintenance team is actively working to identify a repair or temporary cooling solution, and school leadership is closely monitoring conditions inside the building. We recognize the concern this creates for our students, staff and families and are treating the issue with urgency.

Our priority is providing a safe and appropriate learning environment for students and staff. If the HVAC issue cannot be resolved before Monday, 17 August, school leadership will implement an alternate plan for the affected areas rather than continuing normal operations in spaces where temperatures cannot be adequately controlled.

We will provide families with an update before Monday regarding the status of the HVAC system and any changes that may be necessary to school operations.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to address this issue.

Jason Debus

📣 Welcome Back, Families! 📣

As we prepare for an exciting first day of school, please be sure to watch your email for important information regarding first-day processes, procedures, and school events. These communications will help ensure a smooth and successful start to the school year for all students and families.

🎉 First Day Parent Clap-In
Join us as we welcome our students back to school! Parents are invited to participate in our Parent Clap-In on the first day and help create a positive, energetic start to the school year.

🍎
Breakfast will be available for all students on the first day of school.

📅 Important Dates

Elementary (K-5) Friday, August 14, 2026

New Student Orientation: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Sneak Peek (K-5): 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

PreK

PreK information has been sent to the email addresses on file in ASPEN.

Middle School Friday, August 14, 2026
New Student Orientation: 12:00 PM
Sneak Peek: 1:00 PM

❓ Questions? If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school. We look forward to seeing everyone and kicking off another fantastic school year!

🍎🎒📚

We are currently experiencing a system-wide delay in student re-registrations submitted after June 24, 2026, in the DoWEA Student Information System (DSIS) due to a recent system upgrade.
Our technical teams are actively working to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
Please do not re-register your child as a new student. Doing so may delay the re-registration process once the issue is resolved.
At this time, no action is required from families. We will notify you as soon as student re-registration becomes available.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support as we work to restore service.

🏀🦅 SEAHAWKS GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS ARE HERE! 🦅🏀

Calling all McCool Elementary Middle School GIRLS in Grades 6–8! Do you have what it takes to represent the Seahawks on the basketball court? Now’s your chance to show your skills, hustle, and teamwork!

📅 Tryout Dates: August 17, 19–21, & 24
⏰ Time: 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: McCool Gym

✅ Students must have a current school physical on file to participate.

🎒 What to Bring: 💧 Water bottle
👕 Gym clothes
👟 Gym shoes

📣 Team selections will be posted on Tuesday, August 25.

The Seahawks program is built on Teamwork • Discipline • Respect • Seahawks Pride. Come ready to compete, learn, and represent McCool with excellence!

❓Questions? Contact Coach English at [email protected]

WELCOME BACK, MCCOOL SEAHAWKS!

The countdown to the 2026-2027 school year has begun, and we are excited to welcome our Seahawks back to campus!

We hope your summer was filled with fun, relaxation, and family time. Our teachers and staff are hard at work preparing for another amazing year of learning, growth, and success. We can't wait to see our students back in the hallways, classrooms, and on the playground!

📅 Important Dates

✅ Friday, August 14

New Student Orientation
Campus Tours
Sneak Peek
Meet the Teachers
Drop Off School Supplies

✅ Monday, August 17

First Day of School for Kindergarten–8th Grade

✅ Monday, August 24

First Day of School for Pre-K Students

✅ Tuesday, September 1

Open House (4:00–5:30 PM)

🎒 School Supply Lists Get a head start on back-to-school shopping by viewing your child's supply list here:

📚 https://mccoolems.dodea.edu/school-supply-list

👕 Dress Code Reminder Students should come to school dressed for success! Please review the DoDEA dress code before the first day of school. Clothing must appropriately cover from armpit to mid-thigh, include proper footwear, and be free from inappropriate language or images.

📱 Cell Phone & Personal Device Expectations Beginning this school year, personal electronic devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and gaming devices—must remain turned off, stored away, and out of sight during the school day. Thank you for partnering with us to create a focused learning environment for all students.

📅 Families are also encouraged to review the Guam District Calendar for important dates, holidays, conferences, and school breaks throughout the year.

Let's make this year our best one yet!

Ready. Set. Learn. Go Seahawks! 🦅💙

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are pleased to inform you that Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards will be distributed to eligible DoDEA students who were enrolled during School Year 2025–2026.

This supplemental benefit is federally funded and provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. It is administered locally by the Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services in partnership with the Guam Department of Education.

Please see the distribution location, dates, and times below. Distribution for new or replacement cards and other Summer EBT-related issues will also be addressed at the distribution site.

Location:
Micronesia Mall, Dededo – Next to Winchell's

Dates:
Monday, July 13, 2026, through Monday, July 20, 2026

Hours:

Weekdays: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Weekends: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Henry Torres
Program Specialist, DoDEA-Pacific West
Email: [email protected]

DoWEA Guam Families,

Due to Typhoon Bavi’s approach and the potential for significant impacts across Guam, all DoWEA Guam summer school programs are suspended until further notice.

We understand this may create additional challenges for families, but the safety of our students, staff and community remains our top priority. Families and staff will be informed as soon as it is safe to return to school and resume summer school operations.

Please stay safe, continue to follow local emergency management and installation guidance, and monitor official weather updates as conditions continue to change.

Pacific West DSO