One week remains for North Kitsap’s kids as the 2006-2007 school year looms in the decidedly all too near future, Sept. 6. Still there is enough time for 28 more hours to sleep in, nearly 84 more uninterrupted games of Madden on one’s Xbox 360 or even 168 more hours along the water for those wanting to spend their entire school year countdown on a beach towel.

As kids across the North End pay special attention to enjoying their final week of being school-free, North Kitsap School District administrators and teachers are paying special heed to the atmosphere of education that will soon be surrounding one and all.

And while the overwhelming task for administrators and staff this year will be preparing for the district’s upcoming changes — grade level transition from the current K-6, 7-9, 10-12 configuration to K-5, 6-8, 9-12 and the opening of Kingston High School, both in 2007 — principals agree that they must not lose sight of the present.

“This district is one of the best planned districts I’ve ever seen,” said Kathy Prasch, who is entering her first year as principal at North Kitsap High School. “But we have to be in the here and now; for our seniors, juniors and sophomores, this is the only senior, junior or sophomore year that they will ever have.”

North Kitsap’s junior high and high school students will see a few new faces of support around this year as four new principals were hired, one at each of the NKSD’s secondary schools: North Kitsap High School (Prasch), Poulsbo Junior High School (Matt Vandeleur), Kingston Junior High School (Susan Wistrand) and Kingston High School — planning — (Christy Cole).

There are also about 12 other staff members new to the NKSD in 2006.

In a building sense, PJH is practically an entirely new school after its renovation project — which hassled the Panthers all of last year — was finished during the summer. All other buildings in the district have received their annual fall shine, courtesy of the district’s custodial staff.

But in terms of education, schedules and school setting, students can expect stability in a year of planning for 2007’s transition.

“This year, basically, we’re going to look at maintaining the program that we had in place last year with the same bell schedules,” PJH principal Matt Vandeleur said of a strategy which is echoed across the district, however elementary schools will be adopting a new language curriculum beginning in 2006.

“The strikingly new comes next year,” Prasch said.

For the beginning of this school year, each school in the district is hosting a “back to school” event to welcome back students and their parents. In addition, lists of school supplies for each school which children are expected to be equipped with are posted on the district’s Web site at www.nksd.wednet.edu.

Back to School Events in North Kitsap

• 5-7:30 p.m., Aug. 30, Poulsbo Junior High School. Information: (360) 779-4453.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m., Aug. 31, Wolfle Elementary School. Information: (360) 394-6800.

• 4-5 p.m., Sept. 5, Breidablik Elementary School. Information: (360) 779-8802.

• 5-6:30 p.m., Sept. 5, Gordon Elementary School. Information: (360) 394-6700.

• 4-7:30 p.m., Sept. 5, Pearson Elementary School. Information: (360) 697-6266.

• 4-5 p.m., Sept. 5, Poulsbo Elementary School. Information: (360) 779-2911.

• 5-6:30 p.m., Sept. 5, Suquamish Elementary School. Information: (360) 598-4219.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m., Sept. 5, Vinland Elementary School. Information: (360) 779-8990.

• Noon to 5 p.m., Sept. 5, Kingston Junior High School. Information: (360) 394-4900.

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 5, North Kitsap High School. Information: (360) 779-4408.

• 5:30-7 p.m., Sept. 5, Spectrum Community School. Information: (360) 394-2680.

• Sept. 14, Poulsbo Junior High School:

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated school will be held at 6 p.m. Curriculum night for 8th and 9th grade parents begins at 6:30 p.m. Information: (360) 779-4453.

• Sept. 21, North Kitsap High School:

An informational open house will be held at 7 p.m. Information: (360) 779-4408.