Mustang Memo: Family Edition

December 19, 2025

December

24-31: No School

January

13: Learning Lunch

19: No School Martin Luther King Junior Day

20: No School Staff Professional Development

29: Family Literacy Night

Late Arrival

We would like to share a quick reminder about our arrival procedures, which are in place to support student safety and a smooth start to the day.

If your child arrives after the start of the school day, please remember to walk your student into the front office and sign your student in upon arrival. This step is very important so we know all students are safely in the building and accounted for.

We also want to emphasize the importance of arriving on time. Being present at the beginning of the day helps students:

Feel settled and confident
Participate in morning routines and instruction
Transition more smoothly into learning
Start their day feeling successful

We understand that mornings can be busy, and we appreciate your partnership in helping students arrive safely and ready to learn. Thank you for taking the time to sign students in and for supporting consistent, on-time attendance.

If you have any questions or need support with arrival routines, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued partnership,

Immunization Reminder for Selected Students

Families who have already been contacted MUST submit updated immunization records or a notarized exemption form by Jan. 5. Minnesota state law requires this paperwork for school attendance. Students without required documentation will not be allowed to attend school after break until forms are complete.

Questions? Contact our school nurse Lisa Doucet.

Below are the supports available across our district as we work together to ensure food stability for our school community.

Resource Support through 742

FACT (Feeding Area Children Together) Weekend Food Packs

What: Pre-packed food bags for individual students to take home over weekends

Where: Discovery, Lincoln, Madison, North, South, Talahi

Who: Available to any family in need at participating schools — sign up through THIS LINK

School Pantries & Backpack Support

What: Food items, toiletries, and clothing

Where: All 742 schools, access by contacting your principal or school counselor

Who: Available to all students and families

Ways to Help Support Our Community

Make a Financial Donation

Support food purchases by making direct donations through LEAF (Local Education & Activities Foundation) using the QR code provided below.

Volunteer Your Time

Support school pantry organization, deliveries, and food distribution efforts by contacting Christopher.Erickson@isd742.org or Peggy Carlson: cnpc747@tds.net

Donate Items

Provide food, basic life necessities, or new clothing items (particularly socks and underwear) to support our school pantries by contacting Sang.Maxwell@isd742.org

PurposeFull Pursuit:

Review Empathy as a family! Remember that Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you’d like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss Empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to Empathize by sharing about a time they felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.

Conversation Starters:

How have you practiced using the Tree of Choices at school recently?

Why is it important to pay attention to how someone else is feeling?