Education
Back to school! ‘Military-connected students are at the heart of all we do’
DoWEA Pacific
July 31, 2026
(Photo by Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
Welcome back to school, Pacific family!
It is my pleasure to welcome DoWEA Pacific students and families to the 2026–27 school year.
We are proud to serve military-connected students from prekindergarten through 12th Grade across our schools in Guam, Korea, mainland Japan, and Okinawa.
At DoWEA, military-connected students are at the heart of all we do. Wherever military life takes your family, our schools are committed to helping every student feel welcome and supported. Whether your child is entering a DoWEA classroom for the first time or preparing for graduation, they will find a school community ready to educate and empower them to succeed in a dynamic world.
This year, DoWEA will continue celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary. Students will have opportunities to explore the people, events, innovations, and ideals that have shaped our nation while developing the knowledge, curiosity, and love of learning that will serve them throughout their lives.
DoWEA’s Blueprint for Continuous Improvement continues to guide our work in providing a high-quality educational experience for every student, every day. Families can learn more about our Blueprint and focus on Student Excellence, Instructional Excellence, Service Excellence, and Organizational Excellence at dodea.edu/blueprint.
We value the important role parents play as their child’s first educators and are proud to partner with you in your child’s academic journey.
Here’s to another fantastic school year!
– Lois Rapp, DoWEA Pacific Director for Student Excellence
Lois Rapp, DoWEA Pacific Director for Student Excellence (Photo courtesy of DoWEA Pacific)
2026 First Semester (79 Instructional Days)
Monday, August 17: First Day of School
Monday, September 7: Labor Day: Federal Holiday
Monday, October 12: Columbus Day: Federal Holiday
Thursday, October 15: End of First Quarter (40 Instructional Days)
Friday, October 16: No School for Students – Teacher Workday
Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day: Federal Holiday
Wednesday, November 25: School Holiday
Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving Day: Federal Holiday
Friday, November 27: School Holiday
Thursday, December 17: End of Second Quarter and First Semester (39 Instructional Days)
Friday, December 18: No School for Students – Teacher Workday
Monday, December 21: Begin Winter Recess (21 December – 2 January)
Friday, December 25: Christmas: Federal Holiday
2027 Second Semester (96 Instructional Days)
Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day: Federal Holiday
Monday, January 4: Begin Second semester and Third Quarter
Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King Day: Federal Holiday
Monday, February 15: Presidents’ Day: Federal Holiday
Thursday, March 25: End of Third Quarter (56 Instructional Days)
Friday, March 26: No School for Students – Teacher Workday
Monday, March 29: Begin Spring Recess (29 March – 2 April)
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day: Federal Holiday
Wednesday, June 2: End of Fourth Quarter and Second Semester (40 Instructional Days)
Thursday, June 3: No School for Students – Teacher Workday
– DoWEA Pacific
Residential Fitness Test mandatory in schools
Mobile device ban to take effect this year
Families welcome decision to add middle school sports