Monroe Mustangs' Herd Headlines
Where every student and family has a place in the herd...
September 24, 2026
Principal Update
Dear Families,
This year, we are thrilled to begin using Arts & Letters, our English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum. Arts & Letters is designed to build deep knowledge, rich vocabulary, and strong reading and writing skills by engaging students with high-quality literature, history, science, and the arts.
To get the absolute most out of this curriculum, there is one critical factor that makes all the difference: consistent, daily attendance.
How Arts & Letters Works—And Why Every Day Counts
Unlike traditional reading programs where lessons might stand alone, Arts & Letters is built on a carefully designed scope and sequence. Think of each unit like a ladder—every single lesson builds directly on the knowledge, vocabulary, and concepts learned the day before.
Building Background Knowledge: Students explore deep thematic units over several weeks. When a student misses a day, they miss crucial context and background information that their classmates will draw upon in the very next lesson.
Cumulative Vocabulary: Vocabulary in Arts & Letters isn't learned in isolation. Words are introduced in context and reused across texts. Missing days makes it much harder for students to keep up with reading comprehension.
Connected Writing and Discussion: Daily classroom discussions and writing prompts rely on shared experiences with the text. Being present allows your child to contribute, collaborate, and build confidence alongside their peers.
When students miss school, it isn't just a matter of completing a missed worksheet at home—it means missing out on the rich classroom discussions, guided practice, and foundational knowledge that make future lessons make sense.
Partnering for Success
We know that illnesses and family emergencies happen, but we encourage you to schedule appointments, vacations, and non-urgent conflicts outside of school hours whenever possible. Please reference your child’s classroom schedule to avoid whole group reading and math blocks whenever possible if students do need to miss school hours.
If your child is going to be absent, please let us know as soon as possible so we can work together to keep them on track. We are here to support your family every step of the way.
Thank you for your partnership, your dedication, and for making daily attendance a priority. Together, we can ensure your child has a confident, successful, and inspiring school year!
Warmly,
Mollie Meyer
Principal
Next Early Release: October 7, 2026
Counselor's Corner Update
PTO News/Updates
Our PTO had a great open meeting this week, and now we’re looking for a few amazing Mustang families to help lead some of our PTO projects this year!
We’ve created a Sign-Up Genius with specific, manageable ways to jump in and help. Whether you have a little time or a lot, we’d love to have you on the team!
👉 Volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45ACAA2DA5F5CE9-66085376-monroe
📸 One easy way to help: Snap photos at school events or field trips and send them to our PTO Yearbook Coordinator, Amy Demaster, at amydemaster@gmail.com.
It takes a herd to make Monroe amazing—thank you for helping our Mustangs thrive! 🐎❤️💙
PTO Cherrydale Fundraiser
Our Cherrydale fundraiser is coming up soon! It will run October 1-14, 2026. This fundraiser helps us raise important funds to support our student enrichment activities and playground improvements at Monroe. Every purchase and every level of participation helps support our Mustangs!
Families will have the opportunity to shop from 800+ items online and share the fundraiser with family and friends. Orders will be due October 14, 2026.
Be on the lookout for a fundraiser flier and additional information coming home with your student next week!
Thank you in advance for supporting Monroe Elementary and helping us continue to provide great opportunities for our students. We appreciate our Mustang families!
Every Day Counts: Supporting Strong Attendance
Parent Volunteer Background Check Information
PTO has offered to cover the background check form for folks who will be joining or regularly volunteering through PTO.
Please contact monroenorthmankatopto@gmail.com if you are interested in their offer.
Note: We did confirm on 9/22/26 that background checks are good for one year.
Bike Bus: Tuesday, September 29th
Parents are invited for coffee and conversation following the ride.
Please be sure to sign in at the office and join us in room 104.
Spirit Week: October 5-9th
Note: On October 6th the Scarlet Homecoming Court will visit Monroe!
Have a wonderful homecoming week everyone!
Save the Dates: 2026-27 Monroe Events
Lockdown Drill Practice- October 14th at 8:30am
Dear Caregivers,
At Mankato Area Public Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are of the utmost importance. To ensure our preparedness for various emergency situations, we will be conducting a safety drill known as "Lockdown" on October 14, 2026 @ 8:30am.
Purpose of the Drill: “Lockdown” is designed to prepare students and staff for an exceedingly rare circumstance - when an intruder enters the school premises. During this drill, teachers will follow specific safety protocols, including locking classroom doors, turning off lights, moving individuals away from windows and doors, not opening doors, instructing students to remain silent, and ensuring that students remain out of sight.
Opt-Out Option: We want to inform you that, as per Minnesota Statute 121A.038, parents have the option to opt their student(s) out of this required safety drill. If you choose to opt your student out, please notify the school office. You will be able to pick up your student(s) 30 minutes before the drill begins and return them 30 minutes after it is completed. This absence will be excused, and no adverse actions will be taken due to their absence.
Special Considerations: If your student has experienced violence or trauma that participating in this drill might reactivate, we kindly request that you notify the school office. We are committed to providing the necessary support and accommodations to ensure the emotional well-being of our students.
Our Commitment to Safety: Rest assured that these drills are conducted with the utmost care and attention to safety. Our staff is well-trained to oversee the process, and our primary goal is to equip both students and staff with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in emergency situations.
We sincerely hope that we never have to put this training into practice, but preparedness is an essential aspect of ensuring the safety of our school community.
Contact Information: Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the lockdown or our school's safety procedures, please feel free to contact me, Mollie Meyer, at 507-387-7889. We are here to address any inquiries you may have and to work together to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Mollie Meyer
Monroe Elementary School
Mankato Area Public Schools
Upcoming Important Dates:
Sept. 25- Grades 3-5 at MSU Women’s Hockey Game
Sept. 29: Bike Bus
October 1-14: Cherrydale Fundraiser
Oct. 5-9: Homecoming Spirit Week
Oct. 7: Vision/Hearing Screening
Oct. 7: Early Release
Oct. 12: No School- Indigenous Peoples Day
Oct. 13: Cruise into Reading Night
Oct. 15-16: No School MEA
Oct. 20: AIPAC meeting
The Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub has launched! This hub was developed by Greater Mankato Area United Way's Youth Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Committee and is hosted by the Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The hub is meant to be a tool for parents and caregivers to easily find information on crisis support, local mental health services, parent education, and more.
Find more information HERE.
Previous Herd Headlines
- June 2026: Supply List, School Calendar, PTO Updates, Back to School Reminders, ACES registration
- August 2026: School Safety, New Logo, Supply List, Calendar, PTO Support, Back to School Reminders, Pick-up and Drop-off, ACES registration.
- September 10, 2026: Early Release, Notes, Attendance, PTO, Pick-up/Drop-off
- September 16, 2026: Dismissal, Notes, Attendance, Background Checks, Monroe Events
Contact Us:
Email: mmeyer1@isd77.org
Website: me.isd77.org
Location: 441 Monroe Avenue, North Mankato, MN 56003
Phone: 507-387-7889