Ready or not, back-to-school season is here! As summer winds down, families across Auburn and Central Massachusetts are gearing up for a new school year with fresh supplies, first-day outfits, haircuts, and plenty of excitement.

To help make the transition a little easier, we've rounded up everything you need in one place—from local school start dates and community events to haircut spots and businesses that can help you get your family ready for the first day.

• Auburn Public Schools
  • First Day: September 2
• Douglas School District
  • First Day: August 27
• Dudley-Charlton Regional School District
  • Grades 1–12: September 1
    Kindergarten: September 2
    PreK: September 8
• Leicester Public Schools
  • First day information coming soon.
• Millbury Public Schools
  • Grades 1–12: September 2
    Kindergarten: September 3
    Preschool: September 4
• Northbridge Public Schools
  • Grades 1–12: August 26
    PreK & Kindergarten: August 31
• Oxford Public Schools
  • Grades 1–12: August 26
    Kindergarten: August 27
    Preschool: September 2
• Southbridge Public Schools
  • Grades 1–12: August 24
    Kindergarten: August 25
    PreK: August 26
• Sutton Public Schools
  • First Day: August 26
• Webster Public Schools
  • Grades 1–12: August 31
    Kindergarten: September 8
    PreK: September 14

Celebrate the end of summer before the school bells ring!

Summer Send-Off with Auburn Police Department

📍 Auburn
🗓 August 11 | 5:00–8:00 PM
FREE!

Welcome to Kindergarten Storytime (Registration Required)

📍Millbury
🗓 August 11 | 6:00–7:00 PM
FREE!

Rockin Into The New School Year Bash (Southbridge Students)

📍Southbridge
🗓 August 22 | 1:00–4:00 PM
FREE!

Know about another back-to-school or end-of-summer event happening in Central Massachusetts? We'd love to share it! Email ashley@macaronikid.com or submit it to the Macaroni KID Auburn event calendar.

Fresh cuts make those first-day school photos even more memorable! Here are a few local favorites recommended by Central Massachusetts families.

• Great Clips - Locations in Oxford, Southbridge, & Sutton
• Jen's Untamed Salon & Spa - 4 Appleton Road, Auburn
• Matt's at the Buzzer Barbershop - 118 Elm Street, Millbury
• McGreevy's Barber Shop - 275 Oxford Street North, Auburn
• Snip-its - 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike #531, Millbury

Offering a back-to-school haircut special? Email ashley@macaronikid.com and we'll help spread the word!

Whether you're shopping for classroom supplies, teacher gifts, first-day treats, or celebrating a new school year, consider supporting these locally owned businesses.

Jess' Sweets & Treats

Celebrate the first day with adorable back-to-school cookies for students, teachers, or the whole class.

📍 250 Main Street, Oxford

Central Mass Yard Card

Make the first day extra special with a custom back-to-school yard card your child will never forget.

Sutton Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics

Start the school year with a healthy, confident smile—perfect for those first-day photos!

📍 27 Galaxy Pass, Suite A, Sutton

Have a favorite locally owned business that helps make back-to-school season easier? Email ashley@macaronikid.com, and we may feature them in this guide!

Here's to a Great School Year!

Whether you're sending a preschooler off for the very first time or watching your high schooler head back for another year, we hope this guide helps make your family's back-to-school season a little smoother.

We wish your family a fun, successful, and memorable school year!