OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Our Mission

To support and strengthen increased educational outcomes for American Indian students by promoting culturally responsive instruction, family and student engagement and partnerships with MPS departments, schools and the broader community.

Our Vision

American Indian students are empowered to reach their full potential through educational experiences that value their cultural identities.

MPS SCHOOL CALENDAR

This is the MPS 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR.

In addition, MPS 2027-28 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR for you to keep up to date.

MPS LUNCH MENU

Please click the LINK to view lunch menus for your student/s. It is organized by Preschool, Elementary, Middle School and High School.

MPS VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Are you or someone you know interested in volunteering at a MPS School?

Please click the LINK to get started!

MPS STUDENT RIGHTS HANDBOOK

Please click HERE to get access to MPS full students rights handbook.

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH

ALL families with children enrolled in Minneapolis Public Schools should complete an Application for Educational Benefits each year. This used to be called the “Free and Reduced-price Lunch” form.

Complete the Application for Educational Benefits online

Applications completed by our families.

• Generate millions of dollars in funding for MPS and our schools, students and families.
• Determine benefits for students and families like free bus cards, scholarships, and fee waivers.

The income thresholds needed to qualify for educational benefits are often higher than similar state-sponsored programs and many families are surprised to find that they DO qualify for benefits. If you wish to decline benefits, please do so on the paper application or by emailing info.cws@mpls.k12.mn.us with your student's name(s).

A notification of eligibility letter will arrive via mail or email within 10 business days of completing your application.

Although Minneapolis Public Schools students receive free breakfast and lunch meals while at school, we want to provide some resources for families who may need food assistance outside of the school day.

Whether it’s after school, on school-release days or during the summer, kids 18 and under can visit participating community sites for no-cost healthy meals and snacks from Minneapolis Public Schools. Children do not need to attend MPS to participate.

• Community sites include Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) parks, Hennepin County Libraries and other local community sites.
• A list of sites is available on the MPS website.
• Contact the park or library directly for building hours, meal times and types (breakfast, snack, super power box, dinner).
• The Free Meals for Kids app can also help determine hours and meal types.
• Visit the MPRB website for their holiday schedule.
• Visit the City of Minneapolis Food Resources webpage for additional information.

Minneapolis Public Schools is supporting Anishinabe Academy’s mission of integrating and reclaiming American Indian identities, cultures, and languages through authentic academic experience by constructing a purpose-built school building.

This building will create a location to educate and empower urban Indigenous students through cultural revitalization. Following the recommendation of the Anishinabe Academy Facility Advisory Committee and the direction of the Board of Education, the Planning, Design, & Construction team is working on implementing the vision for a new facility.

The implementation process will include multiple phase gate approvals for the Board to consider before proceeding to the next phase of work. The phase gates are identified as: Project Charter Approval, Budget Approval, Construction Contract Award, & Project Closeout.

If you would like to learn, more please visit the MPS Operations Project page HERE.

The district is also asking students, families and community members to take survey with updated information regarding the future sites for our Anishinabe families: HERE https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0KNFe59FiEGamccq9WcJLmqV-fFMJSxEi3sISvWhwQ5UOE5PV1VXNlNBVEtVTUNVS1pKRDZSR1I0QS4u

Let MPS know your thoughts on the proposed school transformation options and take survey

District website: https://www.mpschools.org/about-mps/school-transformation

School board presentation

Proposed options

Interactive map

Dates for upcoming in-person meetings

Take and share survey

The parent portal gives students and families access to class schedules, attendance, grades, transcript and teacher contact information to support your family throughout the school year. Please see link below for more information and APPS to download. https://www.mpschools.org/departments/it/family-tech-support

Early childhood screening is required by state law for every child before entering kindergarten.

If your child has not yet been screened, book a free screening appointment at qrco.de/MPS-Screening or call 612-668-3715.

These meetings are open to ALL students, families and community members to attend. We welcome all to come talk about how we can create better opportunities for our American Indian students within MPS. Please contact Christine Wilson, christine.wilson@mpls.k12.mn.us. If you have any questions, concerns, need assistance or would like to engage with other families OR for more information OR with any questions.

Transportation is available please click HERE.

AIPAC running agenda click HERE.

For more information about AIPAC please click HERE.

Ojibwe Language and Dakota Language Classes will continue to be offered through MPS Online School for any high school student interested in taking language courses that are NOT offered at the school they are attending. Part-time enrollment into MPS Online for these language classes will OPEN: Monday, August 31, 2026 @ 8:00AM and CLOSES: Thursday, Sept 10th @ 3:30PM (extended window to accommodate schedule change week).

NOTE THAT STUDENTS/FAMILIES should click on this link to enroll (after August 31st and before September 10th 😊): www.bit.ly/mpsoptlinks

This year the American Indian Education Department created a calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. This calendar will reflect events that are going on within the department and the broader community. This calendar is updated daily. Please click the LINK for most recent information.

Indian Education currently has twelve School Success Program Assistants located at Elementary Schools, Middle Schools and High Schools. They provide American Indian Affinity & Culture groups. If you would like to connect with any of the SSPA's please click the corresponding link for contact information and which school they are located:

To see a full list of site specific American Indian affinity groups click HERE

- Ms. Kayelynn, Ms. Ally, Mr. Gary, Ms. Alyssa, Ms. Hopa, Ms.Simone, Ms. Jada ,Ms.Ambersky,

Ms. Jada and Ms. Amanda

- Ms. Ally, Ms. Alyssa, Ms. Ambersky, Ms. Hopa, Ms. Simone, Mr. Gary, Ms. Amanda, and Mr. Patrick

- Mr. Justis, Ms. Madison & Liberty Greene

- Mr. Dennis and Mr. Lafave

- Ms. Shiela and Mr. Justin

- Aquila Tapio

-Ms. Alexis

Háŋ mitákuyepi. Čhaŋté wašté napé čhiyúzapi ye. Alexis Dauenhauer emákiyapi ye. Hello my relatives. I greet you with a heartfelt handshake. My name is Alexis Dauenhauer. I am an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Húŋkpapȟa and Yanktonai Oyáte. Over the last 5 school years, I have worked as a Cultural Liaison and American Indian Affinity and Cultural group facilitator in the North and Northeast sides of the Minneapolis Public School District. As a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota Duluth, I am transitioning into the role of a School Social Worker on Special Assignment with American Indian Education. With this transition, I am still supporting American Indian students and families but shifting to the whole district.

I want to acknowledge that the title and role of a Social Worker within our community doesn't have a positive history. Regardless of my title, I aim to support the best interests of students, families and community to ensure that our students are receiving services and connections that are reflective and inclusive of American Indian culture, values and history. I looked forward to collaborating with the Cultural Liaisons at your student's school sites to best support your students and family.

Pidámayaye (Thank you),

Alexis Dauenhauer (Húŋkpapȟa, Yanktonai Oyáte) | MSW, LGSW, LSSW | she/her/hers

American Indian Education Department | Social Worker on Special Assignment (SWOSA)

John B. Davis Education Service Center | 1250 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411

Google voice 612-444-6032

Alexis.Dauenhauer@mpls.k12.mn.us | https://www.mpschools.org/academics/indian-education

I am a mixed Black and Ojibwe woman, proudly Anishinaabe from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tribe. I was born and raised in the Twin Cities metro area, and my journey into embracing my Native heritage began at 18 when I was welcomed and mentored by my community. I hold a degree in Liberal Arts from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, where I developed a deep love for language revitalization and its significance to Indigenous identity. I have a passion for supporting community healing, cultural connection, and youth empowerment. I believe in the power of creative expression as a form of cultural connection and healing, and actively incorporate my love for our culture into my work with youth.

Jada Aljubailah (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) | she/her/hers

American Indian Education Department | School Success Program Assistant

John B. Davis Education Service Center | 1250 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411

Jada.Aljubailah@mpls.k12.mn.us | https://www.mpschools.org/academics/indian-education

Liberty (Red Lake Nation, Upper Sioux Community, and MHA Nation) joins MPS American Indian Education team as 1 of our 3 high school liaisons. She brings extensive experience in community-driven roles including most recently serving as the Boys and Girls Club Director at the Minneapolis American Indian Center and previously the Learning and Operations Manager at the Tiwahe Foundation, and Director of Noojimo, a gender-based violence prevention program at the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center.

As a South High alumna and graduate from Augsburg University, she brings personal experiences as a student in MPS and will be working directly with high school aged students to provide advocacy and support to increase graduation rates and working with students to explore options after high school. She looks forward to encouraging students to pursue their dreams and is deeply passionate about fostering the growth of future generations.

Liberty enjoys practicing and sharing her culture. She has a passion for sewing—particularly ribbon skirts and shirts—and loves teaching these skills to help keep traditions alive. She is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and culturally relevant spaces for Native youth and families.

She is also a proud cat mother to Mac Soup and Frybread.

Families with students attending MPS Online 9-12, Transition Plus, South High, Takoda Prep, Center and any of our other Contract Alternative Schools should reach out directly to her with questions or support needs!

Please join us in welcoming Liberty to MPS!

Miigwech,

Liberty Greene (Red Lake Nation, Upper Sioux Community, MHA Nation) she/her/kwe

American Indian Education Department | School Success Program Assistant

John B. Davis Education Service Center | 1250 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411

Liberty.Greene@mpls.k12.mn.us | https://www.mpschools.org/academics/indian-education

If you or someone you may know have a interest in sharing a opportunity on this section please email Christine Wilson at christine.wilson@mpls.k12.mn.us.