Monthly Boost

September 2025

Welcome Back, Otters!

We’re excited to begin another incredible year of learning, growth, and achievement at 279Online.This year, innovation will spark new ideas, creativity will fuel our learning, and opportunity will inspire us to grow through every challenge.

This year will be filled with moments to think outside the box, collaborate with your peers, and take advantage of opportunities that will prepare you for the future. We encourage you to approach each day with curiosity, determination, and confidence—knowing you have the power to make this your best year yet.

We can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish in the months ahead!

-Ms. Swanson and Ms. Bisson

We are excited to welcome you and your scholar back for the 2025–2026 school year at our 279Online School Year Kickoff Night.

📅Date: Wednesday, August 27
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Osseo Area Learning Center (7300 Boone Ave. N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428)

🍔A meal will be provided! 🍔

We will be grilling burgers and black bean burgers for all attendees.

Event Highlights:

• 📸School Pictures: Capture the moment with a professional school photo of your child. Scholars must take their photo at this time to receive a school ID.

• 💻Device Distribution: Receive your child's device for a seamless online learning experience. Please bring your previous Osseo Area Schools ID card to help speed up the checkout process.

• 📏🎨Materials Pick-Up: Collect any essential learning materials for the school year.

• 🏫Meet the Teachers: Get to know our dedicated staff and educators.

• 🎉 And more: Enjoy fun surprises and engaging activities for the whole family.

If you are unable to attend this kickoff event, please contact us at 763-391-8670 or online@district279.org to arrange material and Chromebook pick up on an alternate date. Scholars must have their device and materials before the first day of school.

• Please make sure to check out our school supply list that is attached below, or you can find it on our website under School Supply List here: https://online.district279.org/info-center.
• Scholar schedules are available in ParentVue and StudentVue as of Tuesday, August 5th.
• Please make sure to bring a backpack or bag with you to take home your materials!

We will be using Goosechase during 279Online Kickoff Night. Goosechase is an interactive scavenger hunt that utilizes your phones to submit completed missions designed to help you connect with your peers, school staff, and kick off the year with energy and teamwork.

1. Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).

2. In the search bar, type "Goosechase".

3. Tap Download or Install next to the Goosechase app

1. Open the Goosechase app.

2. Tap "Sign Up".

3. Choose how you want to sign up:

1. With email

2. Or use Google, Apple, or Facebook

4. If you choose email:

1. Enter your name, email address, and create a password

2. Tap Sign Up

5. You may need to confirm your email (check your inbox for a confirmation message).

6. Once you're logged in, you can join a game by entering the game code from your grade level Advisory team.

• August 27: 279Online Back to School Kickoff Night - 4:00-7:00PM at the Osseo Area Learning Center

• September 2: First day of School

• September 30: Trimester 1 Conferences - 3:30-8:00PM - VIRTUAL

• October 7: Trimester 1 Conferences - 3:30-8:00PM - VIRTUAL

• October 16 and 17: Conference Release Days - No School for Scholars

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.

• 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 Blackboard 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.

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.

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.

Need more technology assistance? The district tech support help desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on student days, and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on non-student days.

Submit a ticket for technology assistance through our new ticketing system, IncidentIQ.

• The best way for scholars and families to submit a ticket is to use the following external link to 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 tech department directly at 763-391-7180.

ParentVUE is an application you can use to view your scholar(s) 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.

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

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

What is the difference between denying a release of a scholar'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 scholar’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.

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.

Click here for the reference guide.

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

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.

The FACE department's fundamental goal is to strengthen and sustain authentic relationships with the Osseo Community.

It is our collective belief that through meaningful partnerships with our families and the broader community, we will enable our scholars to achieve their brilliance while meaningfully engaging and holding space for the various perspectives our families hold. So that each and every scholar is inspired and prepared with the confidence, courage and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning

Osseo Area School FACE Dept Flyers and Calendars

Discover Osseo Area Schools’ Community Education! Find classes, programs and events for all ages — from early childhood, youth to adult. View the catalog or register at osseo.ce.eleyo.com.

Rather than posting numerous resources each week, we are compiling them in a Google Doc that will be updated accordingly. Please click here for assistance regarding things like mental health, food and clothing support, and Internet access.