Connect-Nov. 4

Nov. 4, 2025

North View Middle School has kicked off its popular after school activities program, which takes place three afternoons a week and offers a variety of fun, engaging activities that students can engage in alongside their school peers.

This school year, three Community Conversations are being held to better understand from families and community members what is going well and what needs improvement as well as ensuring all feel valued and heard. The in-person component of these events kick off this Wednesday, Nov. 5. Feedback provided on the survey helped to determine the Nov. 5 topics: student management and safety; class size and staffing; and academics and curriculum focus. If you’re interested in participating this week, or the Feb. 3 or May 12 conversations, please make sure to fill out the contact info portion of the form.

Thank you, in advance, for your partnership on this journey. Questions? Reach out to Kay Villella, Executive Director of Community Relations at villellak@district279.org.

Fair Oaks Elementary School’s Breakfast, Books and Pumpkins event has quickly become a treasured tradition at the school. This year’s event took place Oct. 28, and families gathered before school to eat breakfast together and read books in the school’s newly renovated library media center.

Last week, students and staff at Osseo Middle School participated in a non-perishable food drive and spirit week. They collected a total of 3,127 food items for the Cross Food Shelf, as well as a $3,523 donation. Dress up days included school spirit week, twin day, neon out, dress your best day and costume day.

If you visit the Maple Grove Community Gymnasium attached to Maple Grove Middle School on a weeknight, there’s a good chance you’ll meet Roy Doron. He has been part of Osseo Area Schools’ Community Education Facilities Scheduling team since 1999. After a brief break during the pandemic, he returned to continue supporting the community and school district as a building supervisor.

Staff at Osseo Area Learning Center (OALC) and 279Online showed their spirit on Friday with coordinated outfits. Staff from the OALC dressed up as different spices, posing on their homemade spice rack. Staff from 279Online dressed as different flavors of soup!

Check your mailboxes - the district's latest Have You Heard newsletter will be arriving soon! This edition has important information about upcoming Community Conversations, attendance boundary changes and the Nov. 15 School Information Fair, along with other district happenings and highlights.

Families are invited to explore the full range of opportunities available for every learner in Osseo Area Schools. From early childhood and preschool through elementary, middle and high school, you’ll have the chance to connect directly with school leaders and staff to learn what makes each school unique.

Learn more about the event.

Third graders at Elm Creek Elementary School recently had the opportunity to visit the Eastman Nature Center to learn about what kinds of animals live in the area. Students participated in a scavenger hunt through the woods, finding clues to lead them to guess what animal they were learning about. The students had a blast during their day learning outdoors and enjoying nature and the fall weather.

Elm Creek has a partnership with Eastman Nature Center, which is operated by the Three Rivers Park District. Students in every grade have one field trip per year to the center to learn about and experience the outdoors. All of the field trips align with state standards and allow the students unique learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

Park Center Senior High School hosted a college fair Oct. 29, with representatives from approximately 60 institutions of higher learning at the fair. The event included a mix of four-year colleges and universities, two-year community colleges and technical colleges.

Students and staff at Cedar Island Elementary School attended an all school assembly last Thursday during their spirit week, celebrating their students who were named the “Bobcat Best” for the month and reviewing as a school how to be respectful in class. Spirit days during the week included music or sports day, night in or night out, future me day, Cedar Island spirit day and favorite character day.

Did you feel a special connection to Crest View Elementary School in some way, perhaps as a former student, staff member or parent of a Crest View student? As the district moves forward with a rebuild of the original 1960 building to become an updated community learning center, Osseo Area Schools is offering the opportunity for interested persons to keep a brick from the original school upon its demolition.

The brick giveaway will take place weekdays between Thursday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Nov. 14 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the district’s Educational Services Center, located at 11200 93rd Ave. NE Maple Grove. There will be a limited supply of bricks, and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Nov. 4: No school, licensed staff workshop
• Nov. 5: Community Conversation
• Nov. 11: School board work session
• Nov. 15: Osseo Area Schools Information Fair
• Nov. 18: School board regular business meeting
• Nov. 26-28: No school for students
• Dec. 1: Start of trimester two