Monthly Boost

April 2026

Trimester 3 is off to a strong start, and it has been great to see our scholars re-engage, set new goals, and continue building momentum in their learning. This final stretch of the school year is full of important opportunities, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

For our Seniors, this is an especially meaningful time. Please keep an eye out for important information regarding commencement and graduation. We also encourage all seniors to complete the Senior Spotlight and Commencement Form included in this newsletter, as these are essential steps in preparing for the end of the year and celebrating your accomplishments.

You’ll notice that this month’s newsletter includes a lot of important information. While everything is valuable, here are a few key highlights to be sure don’t get missed:

• Spring Conferences (April 15): Conferences will be held virtually, providing an opportunity to connect with teachers and discuss student progress.

• Prom (April 25): Tickets are on sale now — we look forward to celebrating with our scholars!

• MCA Testing (April 28–30): Important statewide assessments — please mark your calendars and plan accordingly.

• Virtual Career Day (May 13): We are seeking parent, guardian, and family member volunteers to share career experiences with our scholars.

• Senior Spotlight & Commencement Form: These help us highlight each senior’s story and personalize the graduation experience.

We are proud of our scholars and look forward to celebrating their growth and accomplishments in the weeks ahead!

With gratitude,

Ms. Swanson, Principal

Ms. Bisson, Assistant Principal

April 3: No School for Students

April 15: Spring Academic Conferences - VIRTUAL

April 24: Student Asynchronous Day

April 25: Prom

April 27: Licensed Staff Workshop - No School for Students

April 28-30: MCA Testing

May 13: Virtual Career Day

May 25: District Closed for Holiday - No School for Students

June 4: Last Day of School for Seniors (grade 12)

June 5: Last Day of School for Students (grades 6-12)

June 7: Senior Commencement Ceremony

Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for important dates and details. We appreciate your support in helping students feel prepared and confident as testing season approaches.

Testing must be done in person. If you do not want to participate in testing, please complete this form as soon as possible.

See below for more information.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are statewide assessments that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota's academic standards and meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

MCA Testing Dates: **testing will take place at North View Middle School

• Tuesday, April 28: MCA Reading and Math - Grades 6, 7, 8
• Wednesday, April 29 (AM): MCA Science - Grades 8, 10-12
  **High School students who are taking or retaking Biology or Life Science are required to take the Science test
• Wednesday, April 29 (PM): MCA Reading - Grade 10, MCA Math - Grade 11
• Thursday, April 30: MCA Make Up Day - ALL GRADES AND SUBJECTS

Please contact Kate Rosbacka as soon as possible via email at RosbackaK@district279.org if:

• You have any questions regarding MCA testing

• You need help with transportation for your scholar

• Your scholar has any food allergies or dietary restrictions

• Your scholar will need to have medication on site with them during their test day (this includes any glucose monitoring devices and phone needs to check glucose levels.)

Conferences will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 15th from 3:30-8:00pm

Check ParentVUE on Wednesday, April 8 at 8:00AM to see your scholars’ teachers’ available times for both conference dates. The online booking for conferences through ParentVUE will close Tuesday, April 14 at 3:00PM. If you will need interpreter services during the conferences, please let the teachers know.

We highly encourage you to create a ParentVUE account if you do not have one already. Please follow these instructions on how you create an account.

Instructions on how to schedule conferences on ParentVUE: English | Arabic | Hmong | Oromo | Russian | Spanish | Somali | Vietnamese

If you are unable to schedule your conference in ParentVUE, please contact your teacher(s) directly to schedule.

High school science scholars visited the Bell Museum on Thursday, March 12. They had a guided tour of different museum exhibits, explored the origins of the universe, the diversity of life on earth, and took a walk through the state of Minnesota, featuring the Bell Museum's world-famous wildlife dioramas. Scholars used their senses in our Touch & See Lab with 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals, and more. Scholars enjoyed lunch together connecting with classmates and attended a Planetarium Show, Minnesota Night Skies.

In Making Music C, Ms. Hathcock's 6th–8th grade students are exploring music production using the educational platform Soundtrap. They are starting with the basics by learning how to use the program’s tools to create original music.

Their first project challenged students to create a song using three types of loops from Soundtrap’s loop library. The loop library contains pre-recorded musical phrases from a variety of instruments that students can combine to build their own compositions. This resource allows students to experiment with sound and structure while creating something unique, even if they do not yet play every instrument represented in their piece. Ms. Hathcock shared that it has been exciting to see how this tool sparks creativity and curiosity as students explore music production.

For this project, students were asked to meet the following criteria:

• Include three types of loops: drums, bass, and piano
• Create a piece that is 16–24 measures long
• Use one loop that plays throughout the entire piece

Students also had the option to add additional tracks if they wanted to expand their composition.

As students continue working with Soundtrap, they will develop a deeper understanding of the music production process while expanding their creativity and musical expression.

Check out these student examples!

Congratulations to all the scholars who achieved honor roll for Trimester 2 for the 2025-2026 school year! 🥳 You put in a lot of hard work, and it shows. Way to go!!

If you would like a certificate emailed to you, please contact our main office at Online@district279.org.

*If your name is not listed, it may be due to data privacy selections. Please reach out to your advisory teacher with any questions.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and fun! Prom is a special opportunity for students to come together, celebrate the school year, and make lasting memories. This year’s event is especially exciting as our students will join five other online schools from across Minnesota for a shared prom experience—making it a truly unique and memorable night.

🗓️Date: April 25
👥Who: Students in grades 9–12
📍Location: Avalon School (St. Paul)
🎫Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online NOW via EduTrak.

Directions on creating a parent EduTrak account.

Students are welcome to bring a guest (guest form required). Semi-formal attire is encouraged, and this is a gender-inclusive event—students are welcome to dress in a way that helps them feel comfortable and confident.

We look forward to celebrating with our students and hope many will take part in this special event! Students interested in helping plan prom are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Noble to join the Prom Planning Committee.

We are excited to host a Virtual Career Day, and we would love your help! We are looking for parents, guardians, or family members who would like to share about their job or career with our scholars.

This is a fun way for scholars to learn about different careers and hear from people in our school community. You can join virtually in a Google Meet, and talk about what you do, how you got your job, and what you like about your work.

• Career Day: May 13
• Virtual sessions between 12:20-3 PM lasting about 25 minutes each.
• Sessions are hosted in live GoogleMeets with a teacher host.
• Plan time for sharing career/job details, and answering questions from scholars.
• You'll have your camera on, and could have a slide deck with information or pictures.
• We will have grades 6-8 sessions and grades 9-12 sessions.
• More details will be sent with your confirmation.

Interested? Please fill out the Google Form below!

Thank you for helping make this a great experience for our scholars!

If you have any questions or need additional details, please reach out to Career Day organizer, Megan Heitkamp (heitkampm@district279.org | 763-344-7244)

At 279Online, we are always working to improve the learning experience for our scholars. One of the best ways we can learn is by seeing what a typical learning day looks like for our scholars.

This spring, we are inviting families to participate in a Scholar Shadowing opportunity, which will occur in May of this school year. This allows 279Online staff to better understand how scholars:

• Use their Chromebook and learning tools
• Navigate their online learning environment
• Engage in their education with teachers, ESPs and curriculum

Our goal is simply to learn from our scholars’ daily experiences so we can continue improving our systems, tools, and supports.

Families who are interested can choose one of two options:

• Option 1: Home Learning Shadow
• 279Online staff members will observe part of your scholar’s learning day in your home to better understand how they access tools, complete work, and engage with their learning.
• Option 2: Scholar Experience Day at OALC
• Your scholar can spend the day learning alongside 279Online staff at the Osseo Area Learning Center (OALC). Scholars will work through their typical learning tasks while staff observe and learn about their experience. Scholars who participate will also enjoy a catered lunch, fun activities, and time to connect with other 279Online scholars.

If you are interested in participating, please complete this form by Wednesday, March 25.
Assistant Principal, Ryan Bisson will follow up with you to share more details and coordinate next steps.

Thank you for being an important part of the 279Online community and for helping us continue to place scholars at the center of every decision we make.

Each month, our school counseling team will share updates, helpful resources, and tips to support scholars and families. From academic planning and college/career readiness to social-emotional learning and wellness, our counselors are here to help scholars thrive. Be sure to check back each month for new resources and updates!

We encourage 279Online students to explore several scholarship opportunities with deadlines approaching, including one option due March 31 and a few throughout April. Now is a great time to review requirements, gather materials, and begin or complete applications.

Taking time to apply for scholarships can make a meaningful difference in future plans. Students are encouraged to connect with their counselor for support in identifying opportunities or reviewing application materials.

279Online Commencement Ceremony Information
June 7th, 2026 at 11:00am

McNamara Alumni Center – University of Minnesota
200 SE Oak St, Minneapolis, MN 55455

All senior scholars must attend advisory to receive commencement information. Parents and caretakers will receive email reminders to ensure all tasks are completed. Please check the 279Online Commencement site often throughout the rest of the school year as information is released.

We want to celebrate YOU! We'd like to highlight members of the Class of 2026 on our school’s social media pages and honor your accomplishments at the end of the school year during our Commencement Ceremony.

If you plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, this form must be completed by May 23rd. Thank you for sharing and for letting us celebrate your achievements! 💜

If you have any questions, please send an email to online@district279.org.

We are excited to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and experiences of our 279Online community!

We invite you to complete this Google Form to share your perspectives, traditions, and stories about your culture or heritage. Some responses may be highlighted on our school’s social media pages as part of our celebration of diversity. Please note that while your words may be shared publicly, names and personal identifying information will not be shared without your permission.

Your voice is an important part of our 279Online community, and we would love to include it in our celebration! Thank you for helping us honor and celebrate the diversity that makes 279Online so special.

DEN Time is our weekly Wednesday afternoon block where scholars in grades 6-12 can get extra help, skill boosters, and experience exploratory sessions. There are three sessions between 12:20 and 3 PM.

DEN Time supports our school’s programming by providing innovative, and creative scholar-driven opportunities. Scholars register for sessions through Student Support Time; scholars can also be requested by teachers to make-up work, finish projects, and get extra support as needed.

Scholars in grades 6-12 are expected to attend three DEN sessions, and if scholars are requested by a teacher, scholars are expected to accept that request, and attend.

Each year we ask scholars and parents/caregivers to read and sign an agreement between themselves and 279Online concerning expectations and mutual understanding about appropriate behavior and responsibilities.

In the event that your scholar's teacher is absent and our continuous building substitute is not available, your scholar is still expected to engage in the class work asynchronously.

• When the teacher is absent, they will post a message in Schoology with instructions for the lesson and an exit ticket to complete for attendance. It’s important that your child does both the lesson and the exit ticket. If the exit ticket is not completed, they will be marked unexcused.
• If they have any questions, they can email their teacher for help or contact our main office at 763-391-8670 or online@district279.org.

Osseo Area Schools is pleased to announce that all district high schools will begin offering a varsity letter for community service beginning this spring. This new opportunity was created by students to recognize and celebrate sustained, meaningful service to our schools and broader community.

Learn more about how the community service varsity letter program works.

We would love to partner with you to build our parent/caregiver community.

If you'd like to share ideas, feedback, or connect with other parents and our administration team, please contact Assistant Principal, Ryan Bisson at BissonR@district279.org or 763-391-8682.

Volunteering is an opportunity for you to:

• Show your children or the youth of our community that you are interested in their school life and their future
• Show your commitment to the community
• Help others and develop new skills
• Meet new and interesting people and develop friendships
• Share your time and talents
• Open communication between you and your child when you’re involved and know what is going on at school
• Give your child a boost -- studies show that parent and community involvement and volunteering enhances student success
• It’s fun!

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities for 279Online, please contact us at online@district279.org

This continues to be a very trying time in our community. Many of our families and colleagues are dealing with immense feelings of fear and anxiety due to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) action taking place. Our foremost priority during this time, as always, is to create safe and secure learning environments, and to provide meaningful education to each and every student in our community.

Our district and school teams have put many plans into place to ensure the continuation of this opportunity for all of our students. Please refer to our dedicated website for the most up-to-date information, including on topics like learning options, meals and safety/security procedures.

Are you or someone you know at risk of losing your housing? The Homework Starts with Home program is grant funded and in partnership with Hennepin County and the YMCA. Here are guidelines of the program:

• Families must have a child enrolled in our school district and reside in Hennepin county.
• Families must meet income guidelines set by Hennepin county.
• Families must qualify for rent assistance of owing back rent and are at risk of eviction in order to receive utilities assistance.
• Families must provide something in writing that they owe back rent or are at risk of eviction (ledger of back rent owed, eviction notice, court date notice)
• Families must reach out before their eviction date/court date. Unfortunately we can't retroactively provide financial assistance if they have already moved.

Please reach out to Kendra Kuhlmann at HSWH@District279.org if you have questions or are interested in learning more about the Homework Starts with Home Program.

Information available in: English | Hmong | Somali | Spanish

Per the Minnesota Department of Education, Online and Homeschool families are not eligible for the Minnesota Free School Meals Program however, your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for important education funding. (If you received a letter this summer stating you qualified for educational benefits, you do not need to fill out a form again this year.)

We encourage families to fill out an application for educational benefits at the beginning of each school year. The benefits of filling out an application and being approved (or qualifying) may include but are not limited to the following:

• Applications completed and approved prior to October 1st will help provide funding for the school your child attends which can be used to provide additional resources that benefit students.
• Testing fees for the ACT, SAT and AP Fees may be discounted as well as field trips and band instruments
• Reduced Internet rates with certain providers.
• Athletics fees waived or reduced.

• Online through EduTrakConnect at www.district279.org/FMA. This option will create a family account.
• Online at: bit.ly/3hWdk7Q.This option will bypass making a family account while still allowing completion of the application.
• Scan the QR code to the right of this section.

Created by Hunger Impact Partners, a 501(c)(3) with support from the Minnesota Department of Education to ensure children 18 and under can access nutritious meals, the sites you locate for food are updated regularly.

During the school year: The app lists information on programs that offer meals for children of low-income families. The meals are available at childcare centers and after-school programs. The app also lists weekend and holiday backpack programs, which are available at some school sites, in addition to food offered by hunger-relief organizations.

During summer: The app lists sites serving free meals during June, July, and August

Year-round: The app lists Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota locations of Fare For All, which sells fresh produce and frozen meat at up to 40 percent off retail prices.

• https://hungerimpactpartners.org/meals-for-kids/mobile-app-2/

The following are a variety of resources including, but not limited to, help with the following:

Food, Clothing, Mental Health, Technology, Furniture, and Other Household Items

• Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP)
• https://www.ceap.org/
• 763-566-9600

• CEAP offers a variety of services, such as food support, clothing, and resource referrals, to families in Hennepin County.
• Salvation Army
• https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/northern/
• 763-425-0517
• Sharing & Caring Hands
• www.sharingandcaringhands.org
• 612-338-4640
• Reach and Restore
• www.reachandrestore.org
• 952-933-1393
• Central Lutheran Church
• www.centralmpls.org
• 612-767-9214
• Sabathani Community Center
• www.sabathani.org
• 612-821-2300
• Hennepin County Community Resources
• https://caphennepin.org/community-resources/
• Hennepin County Resource Helpline (7 days a week 8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
• 612-348-3000
• Centro Guadalupano Free Store
• 612-724-3651

Find out if you qualify for either the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit or other alternatives like Xfinity Internet Essentials. These opportunities, while they can cost something for the family, are cheaper than normal internet options and more stable connection than hotspots.

• Safety/Crisis Resource – Hennepin County

• Minnesota Mental Health Facts

• Change to Chill through Allina Health

• Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health

The following Facebook pages have information from the district, specifically for Latino, Hmong, West African, and Vietnamese families.

• Comunidad en Español/Spanish de las Escuelas del Area de Osseo 279

• Hmoob/Hmong Community in ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

• West African Community in ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

• Việt Nam/Vietnamese- ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

Community Education creates opportunities that positively impact our whole community through innovative and responsive programs and services. Find classes, programs and events for all ages — from early childhood, youth to adult. View the catalog or register at osseo.ce.eleyo.com.

In the back-to-school forms process, families have the ability to deny the release of all directory information (including a student’s image) or to specifically deny the release of a student’s image only. Families who wish to change their student's opt-out preferences can do so at any time in ParentVUE.

What is the difference between denying a release of a student's photograph and denying a release of directory information?

• If you deny the school district the ability to release your child’s photo only, the school district will not include a photo or a video/audio recording of your child in yearbooks, school/district websites, school/district social media pages or other school/district publications accessible outside of school.
• If you deny a release of all of your student’s directory information (which includes the student’s photograph), the school district will not include your child’s name, image, voice, school of attendance, awards, participation in officially recognized activities/sports, or any other directory information in any school/district publication that is accessible outside of school.

Need help logging in to an account, checking in for an online meeting with a teacher, or setting up a device? Check out the technology resources in the Parent and Family Toolkit.

The best way for scholars and families to receive technology help during school hours (7:30am-4:00pm) is to contact 279Online's main office at 763-391-8670 or email us at online@district279.org.

• We will then have a member of our on site technology team reach out to you as soon as they can.

The best way for scholars and families to receive technology help outside of school hours is to submit a ticket for technology assistance through our new ticketing system, IncidentIQ

• Use the following link to submit a ticket via IncidentIQ. https://district279.incidentiq.com/guest/5K9FRZD3/help-desk-kiosk.
• Once you submit the ticket, then your user information will be in IncidentIQ for the future.
• You may also call the district tech department directly at 763-391-7180.

We know it can be tricky to keep track of all the tools families use to stay connected—so here’s a quick refresher!

ParentVUE and Schoology both help you stay informed about your student’s progress, but they serve different purposes.

• ParentVUE is your go-to place for official records—think grades, attendance, schedules, and report cards.

• Schoology is where you can see learning in action—class materials, assignments, and daily updates from teachers.

Check out the chart below for a detailed breakdown of how each platform supports you and your student’s success.

ParentVUE is an application you can use to view your scholars' attendance, report cards, schedule conferences, update your contact information and more. We highly encourage you to create an account if you do not have one already. Please follow these instructions on how you create an account.

You may also visit our ParentVUE page for more step-by-step instructions on how to access and change things in ParentVUE.

If you have any questions regarding your ParentVue account, please submit a ticket to our technology department via Incident IQ.

NEW: ParentVUE and StudentVUE have new apps, and current apps will no longer work after June 30, 2026.

Please download the new apps in your device's Apple or Android store which can be found under the names "StudentVUE (New)" or "ParentVUE (New)". The developer is Edupoint Educational Systems.

For assistance, please reach out to the district's technology support team via IncidentIQ.

Families will need to complete the Back-to-School Annual Verification form in ParentVUE before accessing their accounts for information regarding students in the new academic year. Please review the information thoroughly to make any necessary changes to you or your scholars information.

For families who use Schoology, we created this handy reference guide to help you navigate what you’ll see in Schoology, how Schoology is different than ParentVue, and how to get support for accessing the parent side of Schoology.

Parents/Guardians can access the Schoology Parent Access Code in ParentVUE under the Lunch PIN in Student Info.

Follow us on social media:

• Facebook at 279Online
• X (formerly Twitter) at 279Online
• Instagram at 279Online_
• 279Online website

• Keep your contact information current in ParentVUE. You can update phone numbers and email addresses at any time in ParentVUE. For instructions, please visit the ParentVUE Site.
• Please check Schoology for current grades, daily assignments, and overall progress. Mid-trimester grades and Trimester grades are posted in ParentVUE.
• Review our current and past newsletters on our website for important information.

Check your email regularly for Mass Notification and Schoology emails from us. If you aren’t seeing them, please look in your junk folder or check your setting to make sure you don’t have emails blocked.

Phone: 763-391-8670

Fax: 763-585-7389

Email: Online@district279.org

LANGUAGE LINE

Call if you need to be connected to an interpreter when calling your child's school or other district contacts.

Español - 1-855-891-8364

Lus HMoob - 1-844-577-9549

русский - 1-855-891-5321

Soomaali - 1-855-891-5322

Tiếng Việt - 1-855-891-8365

Staff Contacts:

Kristin Swanson, Principal: SwansonK@district279.org

Ryan Bisson, Assistant Principal: BissonR@district279.org

Kate Rosbacka, Administrative Assistant: RosbackaK@district279.org

Hannah Schmiesing, Middle School Counselor: SchmiesingH@district279.org

Andrea Dorn, High School Counselor: DornA@district279.org

Doris Moylan, Social Worker: MoylanD@district279.org

Lindsey Groettum, Special Education Building Coordinator: GroettumL@district279.org