Rush Creek News
August 14, 2026
Message from Principal Patterson
Dear Rush Creek Families,
As the summer days wind down, my heart is filling with excitement for the upcoming school year! As a resident in our community and a parent raising my boys within Osseo Area Schools, my investment in the safety and success of our scholars is something I carry both as an educational leader and as a parent.
Our top priority this year is to build a safe and joyful environment where every child feels seen, valued, and excited to learn. We will work together to foster a true sense of belonging and a culture of dignity and respect where every learner can thrive.
Building a strong partnership between home and school is essential to me. To help us connect, I’ve set aside time for optional 1:1 phone calls. This is a great chance to share what makes your child thrive, what you love about Rush Creek, your hopes for the year, or anything else that would help me support your family. You can use this Booking Link or click the button below to find a time that works for you. Whether we connect 1:1 or not, I hope to see you at our Open House on Wednesday, September 2nd from 4:30–6:00 PM. I’d love to introduce myself as your new Principal and get to know your family!
Thank you for trusting Rush Creek with your children.
In partnership,
Principal Patterson
We are excited to welcome all students and families back for another great school year! Below you will find some important information regarding the start of school on Tuesday, September 8th. Please continue to check your email for more information in the Rush Creek Newsletter. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Open House - Wednesday, Sept. 2nd 4:30-6:00PM
We invite all families to attend the Rush Creek Open House for the 2026-2027 school year kick-off! Open House is a great time to connect with others in the community and to get excited for the school year! The doors will open at 4:30 PM.
During Open House, families will have the opportunity to:
- Meet your child's teacher
- Visit classrooms and tour the school
- Drop off labeled school supplies (to help make the first day of school easier!)
- Gather information from various community and school organizations
We hope you'll join us as we kick off a fantastic school year. We can't wait to see you there!
IMPORTANT: Back to School Forms Must Be Completed!
All back-to-school forms will be filled out online this year. Forms that are a part of this process include emergency cards, family contact information updates and photo/military denial releases. Complete the necessary steps today by going to the ParentVUE system, which is accessible from the Family Access button on the top right of any district or school website. On-screen prompts will then walk you through the back-to-school forms process.
All back to school forms MUST be completed to access information in ParentVUE.
Coming Soon: 2026-27 Attendance Boundary Changes
Plans are underway for a smooth transition to new attendance boundaries at the elementary and middle school levels, which start Sept. 8, 2026. Families can double-check whether or not their household is impacted by using the 2026-27 search tool available via osseoschools.org/boundaries.
Families who have students impacted by the attendance boundary changes received a letter with information about their new school and other pertinent details last December.
Students relocating can expect a similar educational experience across district schools, with shared goals for academic rigor and a welcoming environment at all sites. Efforts have also been made to keep neighborhoods together as much as possible so that any school changes are made with familiar students.
These changes can be tough; however, every effort is being made to ensure families have great experiences at all schools. This fall’s open houses will help welcome and support families relocating. Families can also check out school websites and/or schedule a tour in the weeks ahead.
The flexibility with this needed change is appreciated. Questions? Check out osseoschools.org/boundaries, or reach out to BetterFuture@district279.org or 763-391-8990.
Who is My Teacher?
Teacher assignments will be visible in ParentVue after 4:30PM on Friday, August 28th. Staff and administration work hard to create balanced and healthy classrooms. For this reason, please respect that we do not make changes to classroom assignments.
All back to school forms MUST be completed to enter ParentVue to see your student's teacher. ParentVue will prompt you to do this when you login. Use the ParentVue button below to set-up an account or access more information regarding ParentVue.
Rush Creek Calendar of Events
Reading Corps Opportunities
Help Our Students Shine - Become a Reading Tutor!
Students who read have the power to suceed. That's why Rush Creek Elementary is looking for AmeriCorps Reading tutors to make sure every student is a strong reader.
Reading Tutors serve during school hours and spend their days working with small groups of K-3 students to boost their skills and confidence. With the support of an on-site coach, tutors use activities proven to help students become stronger readers.
No experience? No problem. Our tutors come from all walks of life. Whether you're a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, you can make a great tutor!
Part-time and full-time positions for the 2026-27 school year are available beginning in August. Tutors receive a paycheck every two weeks plus an education award to pay for qualifying college tuition or student loans. Tutors aged 55 or older may gift the education award to their child, grandchild, stepchild, step-grandchild, or foster child.
Ready to make a difference in our community and help students succeed? Learn more and apply at Join.ReadingandMath.org. Questions? Email Join@Ampact.US or call 866.859.2825.
Bus Transportation
Bus information—including bus number, bus stop location, and pick-up and drop-off times—will be available in ParentVUE on August 27th and emailed to families on August 28th.
As a reminder, transportation is available only to students who live within the Rush Creek attendance boundaries. To determine whether your home address, daycare address, or other transportation location is within our boundaries, please click here.
Returning Bus Riders
Students who rode the bus during the 2025–26 school year and will continue to use the same transportation location for the 2026–27 school year do not need to take any action. Your student will be routed from the same bus stop.
If your student’s transportation needs are changing, please email BusQuestions@District279.org to request a change form. Change forms are student-specific, so please include the name of each student requiring a transportation change in your email.
FirstView Bus Tracking App
The FirstView bus tracking app allows families to track their student’s bus using GPS and view the bus’s estimated arrival time. Families are encouraged to use the app to monitor bus location and arrival information.
phone: 763-494-4549