Supplemental

BlueSky Parents and Guardians:

It’s been a busy and productive start to the 2026-27 school year! Our staff have enjoyed getting to know our new students and families while reconnecting with those returning from last year. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to celebrating student successes, working through challenges, and supporting students throughout the year.

Dan Ondich

Assistant Director & Principal

Virtual parent-teacher conferences are coming up October 12-14, 2026. Conferences are a great opportunity to connect with your student’s teachers and support staff, celebrate what is going well, discuss questions or challenges, and learn more about your child’s progress. Information about how to attend conferences was sent in a previous email.

The start of a new school routine can be exciting but also stressful. Whether you’ve already found your rhythm or things still feel a bit overwhelming, know that where you are right now is okay. In addition to your family, school counselor and teachers and then your BlueSky teachers and Janette and Heidi supporting you, here’s another resource to keep in mind throughout the year.

• Check out our Parent Access page with video tutorials and information about your student's academic snapshot and course tile(s).
• Check out the Course Tile Video for a refresher to understand how to read it.

• Do you remember from orientation that there is an accessibility tool in Moodle that provides resources for how you receive class information? Just click on the blue circle with the human in the lower left corner. You can then choose from a variety of tools, such as: screen reader, contrast, bigger text, dyslexia friendly, etc. Check this out today if you haven’t yet,

Did you know that this past May BlueSky received an Innovation Award for the development of our Academic Snapshot?! This is our second award received for innovation from the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools. The Academic Snapshot is exclusive to BlueSky and was created by our staff specifically for our students and parents. No other school has this unique and useful tool as it was built just for us using your feedback! Check out the video describing the Academic Snapshot.

1. Email support@blueskyschool.org

2. Include the following

• First and Last name
• State you're a supplemental student
• Phone number to reach you at and best time to call you.
• Explain what browser you're using and what the issue is.
• Include a snapshot of the issue/error message you're getting.

Helpdesk ticket (link found in Moodle for students)

We always love highlighting supplemental student accomplishments - from athletics to music to all kinds of art forms - if you have something you’d be willing to share (a video, artwork image, or written piece) in a future newsletter like this, email Heidi or Janette.

We've managed to reach out to everyone individually by now and can't wait to check back in over the next couple of weeks. Keep going - we're always in your corner! As always, don't hesitate to contact your teachers if you have any course-specific questions.

"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success." — Dwayne Johnson

We have received about 60% of your Welcome Surveys. Thank you to those of you who filled this out! If you haven't done this yet, please ​click HERE so we know your're understanding our processes for the year and to better support you.

Caden is loving the flexibility of being a supplemental student. By splitting his time between in-person classes with peers and independent learning from the comfort of home, he gets a balanced, shorter day in the school building with maximum productivity at home.

His top advice for fellow students? Set a plan, build a schedule, and stick to it.

His proactive routine proved its worth last month when he came down with a bad cold. Thanks to the option to work ahead in his classes, Caleb was already a step ahead—allowing him to rest, recover, and stay stress-free without missing a beat.

Way to take charge of your learning, Caden!

For Reese, the secret to enjoying school—and life outside of it—comes down to two essential habits: staying proactive and keeping the lines of communication open with teachers.

"My words of wisdom would be to be on top of your work every week and to have good communication with your teachers!" Reese shares. "It makes it easier when you want to have fun and don’t have to worry about schoolwork!"

Reese emphasizes that asking questions and checking in with teachers regularly makes a world of difference. By taking responsibility for their workload early each week, Reeese builds in plenty of worry-free downtime to relax, recharge, and focus on having fun.

Well done, Reese!

Schedule and Staff Availability

• Staff Offline: Our teachers and staff will be away from their desks observing the break. Allow more time for staff to return your emails, messages, and complete grading. Normal school hours return on Monday, October 19th.

• Course Access: While our staff is away, your online learning platforms and course materials will remain open and accessible 24/7. Depending on your current academic progress, read on to learn how you can approach the break.

• If you are behind in class(es): We highly encourage you to use this break to catch up on assignments, review past lessons, and get back on track without the pressure of new daily tasks.

• If you are caught up: You have the flexibility to either work ahead in your course(s) or simply unplug, rest, and enjoy a well-deserved break!

We hope this time provides a good balance of rest for all students.

Have a wonderful and safe MEA Break!