Sanford Family Newsletter Logo
From the Principal
September 18, 2026
Good People,
Meet Sarah and Jason!
You may have noticed that we have had some staffing changes in our main office. We are happy to introduce you to Ms Sarah Manno, who is our Building Secretary, and our new Office Assistant Jason Jackson (who just started today).
In Partnership,
Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.
Principal
Maria Sanford Middle School
Transformation Engagement
MPS is reimagining the student experience to ensure every student has consistent and reliable access to strong academics, social emotional supports, and enrichment opportunities. A plan was presented to the School Board for consideration, which included some school mergers and boundary changes.
There are three proposals, are just that, proposals. While the mergers are not about Sanford specifically, rather a District shift that addresses the whole Minneapolis community and our city’s current realities around student enrollment, school programming, and assuring every Minneapolis student receives a quality experience. On November 10th, the School Board will vote for one of the proposals, none of the proposals, or an alternative scenario that may make more sense.
The purpose of these proposals was to focus on creating greater consistency across schools so families can count on reliable staffing, programming, and course offerings year after year. We encourage all families to review the proposed options and complete the community survey.
Your feedback will help shape the future of MPS. Learn more and take the survey. Watch the September 15th School Board meeting Here.
Standardized Testing Updates
So far this year your student has taken the first diagnostic math assessment for the curriculum. Next week they will take the FastBridge Reading test during English Language Arts class. Then the week after, they will take the FastBridge Math test.
More information can be found here: https://www.mpschools.org/departments/rea/assessments
from our After School Coordinator
Hello Sanford Families,
After-School begins on Monday, October 19th! I'm really excited to bring a fresh year of programming to your students. Registration opens on Monday, September 21st.
Preview classes and register here.
Some classes do fill up quickly, so registering early is the best way to ensure your student gets into the class/club they want.
Important Activity Bus Information:
Register by end of day Tuesday, September 22nd to have a bus the first week.
Register between 9/23-10/16, and you will be routed on the bus by week 2 or 3 of the program. Once the program has started, it takes a minimum of 10 business days to be routed. Please plan an alternative pickup while you wait for your bus route.
Only choose “bus” if you intend to use it for the majority of the days registered in the program. If your student does not ride the bus for 2 weeks, they will be removed from the route. If your student is not eligible for busing during the school day, they are not eligible for the after-school activity bus. A reminder only students who are on a regular school day bus route qualify for the activity bus.
If you have any questions or need help with the registration process, please call Ms. Lissa at 612-668-4922 or email lissa.gordon@mpls.k12.mn.us
ALL are invited to the district back to school Powwow!!
Meal will be served at 4:30 PM – walking tacos from Native owned Trickster tacos (first come, first served)
Grand Entry (dancing) starts at 5:30 PM
End at 7:45 PM
Sanford Site Council
The purpose of site council is "to support site-based decision making to increase academic outcomes for our students. Site councils are a way that parents and community members can learn what is happening in their school and influence decisions." More information can be found at https://www.mpschools.org/departments/engagement/site-councils
This week we held our September Site Council meeting. We met to clarify the operations, scope/role of the site council so that it remains effective and to onboard new members. We reviewed the bylaws and watched part of the School Board Meeting together.
Upcoming Sanford Site Council Meetings:
October 20, 2026: Virtual (email Principal Naida for the link) 5:00pm
November 17, 2026: In Person
December 15, 2206: Virtual
January 19, 2026: In Person
February 16, 2026: Virtual
March 16, 2026: In Person
April 20, 2026: Virtual
May 18, 2026: In Person
Sanford Art Sketch Book Drive
Is your student taking Visual Art or Art Design? Please consider a donation to purchase sketch books: https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/833030/donate
Fall Spirit Week
Fall Spirit Week is next week and we had to make a simple adjustment for picture day:
Tuesday 9/22: Students Dress As Staff and Staff Dress As Students Day
Wednesday 9/23: Wacky Wednesday
Thursday 9/24: Jersey Day
Friday 9/25: Dress Your Best- Picture Day
We encourage Sanford students to go to the Roosevelt Homecoming Sports with their caregivers! You can find out more about those games at https://www.rhsathletics.com/
Free Spoken Word Workshop
Hey Families!
Is your middle school student interested in performing in a spoken word poetry showcase? They have a chance to attend a free workshop with Frank Sentwali and they can also audition to perform! Last year a handful of Sanford students performed their science poems! Here is a link to more information.
If you have questions, feel free to ask Ms. Hope (hope.phillips@mpls.k12.mn.us)
Application for Educational Benefits
AEBs continue to play an important role in connecting households to benefits like Sun Bucks and fee waivers, establishing after-school and community site meal availability, and calculating school allocations like class size determinations and Title I funding.
- Online applications can be completed at https://www.schoolcafe.com/minneapolispublicschools
- An account is not needed to complete an online application. Click Apply for Benefits (as a guest) to bypass account creation
- Households can opt out via the online application. Enter the student information and then click “Decline Benefits” in the prompts.
- While online applications are strongly encouraged, paper forms are also available.
Sanford Roofing Project
Over the next month Sanford will have a MPS crew working on a small portion of our roof for repairs. Please read the attached links for more information from our Health and Safety Office.
from the PTA
Free Bikes 4 Kidz
Sanford PTA is partnering with FB4K (Free Bikes 4 Kidz) again to help get more students on bikes! If your student is in need of a new-to-them bike, applications will be available in early October. Distribution will occur in early December.
If you have a bike you or your student no longer ride, please consider donating it to FB4K. FB4K is in the process of collecting bikes of all sizes for their distribution events. Longfellow Rec Center will be collecting donated bikes September 28-October 3 during open rec center hours (M-F 3pm-8pm, Sat 12pm-5pm). There are multiple collection sites throughout the metro; all sites and hours are listed on their Instagram @fb4kmn.
The Sanford PTA needs your help! We are building a silent auction for our Fall Fundraiser - Sanford Night Out, and we are looking for donations. Do you own a local business that could donate a gift card? Do you have a vacation rental? Do you have access to tickets to local sporting events? Could you build a basket with other Sanford families? Do you have anything cool you think people might want to bid on? OR do you know anyone you could ask to donate any of these things? Any amount or value is appreciated and will help us to achieve our goal of fundraising money for Sanford. Contact Allison Bodkin at allisonfbodkin@yahoo.com with your donations or questions.
Save the Date! The event will be held at Arbeiter Brewing on October 29th from 5p-8p. Join us for a kid free night of craft beer, snacks and a silent auction to support our school. There is a suggested admission donation of $10/person. All are welcome! We hope to see you there!
Our Next Meeting is October 20th
Join us at our next meeting on September 15th from 6:30-8:00p. Note the new time to accommodate Site Council. Enter through the main entrance at Door 12. All are welcome!
PTA Email Communication
Want to know more about what is happening at Sanford? You can sign up for our email communications by sending an email to: sanfordmspta@gmail.com.
Upcoming Important Dates
September 21, 2026: No School - Yom Kippur Holiday
September 22-25, 2026: Fall Spirit Week
September 24, 2026: American Indian Student Field Trip
September 25, 2026: Photo Day
September 30, 2026: Orange Shirt Day
October 12, 2026: Indigenous Peoples Day
October 13, 2026: Fall Conferences 4-8:00pm - Drop-in the gym
October 14, 2026: Fall Conferences 8:00-4:00pm - Scheduled Appointments
Contact Us
Ms. Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Principal
naida.grussing-neitzel@mpls.k12.mn.us
Cell Phone: 612-730-1803
Sanford Middle School
3524 42nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Student School Hours: 8:40 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Main Office Phone: 612-668-4900
Parent Portal (Infinite Campus) - Call the main office for the activation code if you need it!
Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
Previous Sanford Family Newsletters
Please consider donating to support our school supply needs through the Sanford PTA: https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/811436/donate