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Good People,

I am absolutely thrilled to share some wonderful news with our school community! Please join me in giving a warm welcome to our new Assistant Principal for the upcoming school year, Ashleigh Miller!

Ashleigh comes to us with an incredible wealth of knowledge and expertise, bringing 20 years of dedicated experience working in public schools. Most recently, she served students and families at Eden Prairie High School as a licensed Administrative Dean leading behavior, attendance, security/safety through a restorative lens, social emotional learning and school-wide testing. Prior to serving with EPHS, she served the Bloomington Public School community for 18 years as Administrative Dean and School Counselor.

She wants you to know: "As a Minneapolis resident and long-time educator, I feel a strong connection to the community and am excited about the opportunity to serve the students and families of Minneapolis Public Schools."

We are so fortunate to have her joining our leadership team, and I know she is eager to meet all of our amazing students and families soon!

In Partnership,

Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.

Principal

Maria Sanford Middle School

Last week our wonderful students published another copy of their newspaper. Please check it out. I personally loved the article about the band Weezer.

Students in 6th and 7th grade will have activity day on June 10. In order to earn this trip, students needed to make safe and responsible decisions for the month of May. You have been communicated with if your student is not able to attend the reward field trip, please have them attend school or keep them home and we will excuse them.

8th graders are celebrating the end of the year by attending Valleyfair on June 9. In order to earn this trip, students needed to make safe and responsible decisions for the month of May. You have been communicated with if your 8th grader is not able to attend the reward field trip, please have them attend school or keep them home and we will excuse them.

Students will be leaving Sanford at 9:30am, arriving back at Sanford at 5:15pm. Students will need to have a way home, there is no transportation provided from Sanford at 5:15pm. Also, please be on time for pick up!

It is important to share this chaperone policy from ValleyFair- they typically enfore the chaperopne policy on school field trip days: all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to or remain in the park. The policy will be in effect daily at 4:00pm local time. Valleyfair reserves the right to begin enforcing the Chaperone Policy earlier on any given day.

Back in May, currently enrolled families will be emailed a 1-question survey asking if their student’s bus needs will change next school year. Families are asked to complete this survey by the end of the 2025-26 school year.

• Families that respond that no change is needed don’t need to do anything further than the 1-question survey- their student will be assigned to busing for the first day of school.

• Families that respond that a change is needed will receive a follow-up email with more information about submitting a Save Your Seat form using their My Ride app

Families who need a busing change must complete a Save Your Seat form on the myride app or website by July 13 in order for students to be assigned to a bus for the first day of school. If you prefer not to use the app, contact your student's school to submit a request on your behalf.

Families will receive bus schedule information in mid-August for the new school year.

Reach out to your student's school with questions or call Transportation at 612-668-2300.

Welcome to June! This month, our school community is proud to recognize and celebrate several vibrant heritage and history months that highlight the beautiful diversity of our country. Throughout June, we honor LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrating the culture, history, and civil rights achievements of the LGBTQ+ community while remembering the historic 1969 Stonewall Riots that sparked change. We also celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month and National Immigrant Heritage Month, taking time to honor the rich traditions, unique journeys, and incredible contributions of immigrants and Americans with Caribbean roots. Finally, we observe Juneteenth, a vital commemoration marking the June 19th emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States. Together, these celebrations remind us of the power of inclusion, history, and community. We encourage all our students to learn, listen, and celebrate the diverse stories that make us stronger!

The Sanford PTA would like to thank everyone for their contributions in our third full year as a PTA! We had many successes thanks to your generous support. Take a look and consider joining the PTA!

AMAZING YEAR IN REVIEW!

Supporting Staff - back to school breakfast, fall conference snack items, winter conference dinner, staff appreciation week breakfast, lunch and tshirts, February teacher appreciation meals, cookies and snacks, direct support of teacher requests including but not limited to support of bike to school day, Brain Pop subscription, new choir sheet music, classroom supplies, main office volunteering, art field trips, and community service day.

Supporting kids - free ice cream and yard signs at open house, volunteers to keep media center open, movie night and popcorn, snacks and drinks for sports teams, recess supplies including new soccer net, picnic tables outside the school, Give to the MAX money to purchase new books for each classroom, bike locks for Bike4Kids event, resources to nurses and social workers, free yearbook for every student, 8th grade dance food and entertainment, Raptor Center visit, and 8th grade promotion reception (upcoming)

Supporting families - Sarah Cowan parent ed presentation, Mutual Aid organization, Advocacy information, parent to parent support and relationship opportunities

Supporting the Sanford environment -Organized four intensive grounds clean up events that removed loads and loads of buckthorn trees, weeded and picked up trash on school grounds, deep cleaned the Sanford sign on 42nd Avenue, planted flowers before fall Open House and the spring 8th grade promotion reception, cleaned out the school courtyard, added mulch, and turned the Courtyard space into one where staff and students can learn, relax, and socialize at school.

Fundraising - Sanford Night Out, Bulls Horn night, Parkway Pizza Mondays, Frank Sentwali Spoken word crowdsourcing, Give to the Max, Sanford Swag Pre Order, Gertens Plant Sale

Of Note - Highest ever membership numbers, funds raised, funds dispensed, & volunteer hours

SAVE THE DATES:

August 25th, 6:00p-7:30p - Summer PTA meeting at Sanford in the media center

September 2nd - Stop by the PTA table at Open House and enjoy a free ice cream treat

October - Sanford Night Out at Arbeiter Brewing

June 8, 2026: 7th grade Chromebook and chargers turned in

June 9, 2026: 6th grade Chromebook and chargers turned in

June 9, 2026: 8th Grade Valley Fair Field Trip

June 10, 2026: Promotion 10:00am & Activity Day Walking Field Trips for 6 & 7th grade

September 2, 2026: Fall Open House, 4-7pm

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

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