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From the Principal

September 25, 2026

Good People,

This Monday during advisory, we are excited to host our very first Sanford Game Show of the school year! This is a fun way to celebrate our students as they embody the IB Learner Profile and show up as active, principled members of our school community. Here’s how our Principled and Communicative learners make it happen:

Staff award "Happy Hawks" when they catch students putting IB Learner Profile traits into practice—whether they are being Caring classmates, Inquirers in the classroom, or Balanced leaders in the hallways.
Students drop their Happy Hawks into their grade-level jug in the main office.
On Monday morning, we host a school-wide Google Meet to draw a winning Happy Hawk. That student and their advisory team collaborate as Open-Minded thinkers to play a game of Name That Tune.
When the advisory correctly identifies the song or artist, the entire class enjoys freeze pops during lunch—courtesy of our wonderful PTA!

A Personal Note on Music & Middle Schoolers:

When my own children were in middle school, I often music to connect and teach our family values. It was a great way to build cultural understanding, be Communicators, practice being Open-Minded toward different eras and genres, and model what it means to be Reflective.

If you're looking to spark meaningful conversations at home, here are a few songs from my family's playlist and the IB attributes they inspire:

"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson - Reflective & Principled (Taking personal responsibility, self-examination, and driving positive change)
"You Gotta Be" by Des'ree - Risk-Taker & Resilient (Approaching uncertainty with courage, inner strength, and confidence)
"Hold On" by Wilson Phillips - Balanced & Persistent (Maintaining hope and perseverance through challenging circumstances)
"Everything Is Everything" by Lauryn Hill - Knowledgeable & Patient (Understanding cycles of growth, patience, and long-term perspective)
"No Scrubs" by TLC - Principled (Establishing healthy boundaries, self-respect, and high personal standards)
"One" by U2 - Caring & Inclusive (Emphasizing empathy, shared humanity, and community unity)
"Real Love" by Mary J. Blige - Inquirer (Searching for authenticity, honesty, and genuine connections)

Music is a powerful bridge between generations. What songs have you used to discuss values with your student? If you haven't created a shared playlist with your middle schooler yet, I encourage you to be an Inquirer into their world—listening to their favorite tracks is a fantastic way to build connections and practice active listening together.

In Partnership,

Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.

Principal

Maria Sanford Middle School

Standardized Testing Data now available on Infinite Campus Parent Portal

Caregivers can now see standardized testing results(FastBridge, MCA) in Infinite Campus Parent Portal! Caregivers will need to select "more" then navigate to assessments. Here is a link:

https://minneapolismn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/mpls.jsp

Fall Conferences are October 13 and 14

This year the format of fall conferences will be similar to last year in that on October 13 from 4:00-8:00pm we will host a drop-in style conferences in the gym and a few classrooms on the main floor. On October 14 we will have scheduled conferences from 8:00-4:00pm. Your students' teachers will be sending talking points messages directly to you with their google calendar booking page (we are no longer using myconference time) for you to book directly with your students' teachers for the scheduled conferences. Next week, in this newsletter, we will share a spreadsheet of all the teachers' booking pages.

Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (MAST)

Calling all downhill skiers! Join the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team (MAST) - a varsity and junior varsity sport sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) for boys and girls in grades 7–12. Whether you’re brand new to skiing or an experienced racer, our dedicated coaching staff will help you build confidence, improve your skills, and have fun competing with teammates who share your love of the snow. The season officially begins November 10th, and registration is open now. Don’t miss your chance to race with MAST this winter! Visit https://www.mplsalpineski.org/

MAST Information Night for New Athletes and Families
Monday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Lynnhurst Recreation Center
1345 W Minnehaha Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55410

A night to learn about the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team and how we create lifelong skiers and exceptional citizens. Meet coaches and racers on the team. Learn what the season looks like. Learn about racing equipment and how and where to purchase race equipment.

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.

Sanford Night Out Fundriaser

Save the Date for Sanford Night Out! 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! We are still looking for donations for our silent auction. Contact Allison Bodkin at allisonfbodkin@yahoo.com with your donations or questions.

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.

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