Monthly Boost

May 2026

We have now reached the middle of Trimester 3! This is a great time to pause and check in on academic progress. We encourage scholars and caregivers to review mid-trimester grades together, celebrate successes, and identify any areas where additional support may be helpful. If support is needed, we strongly encourage scholars to connect with a teacher or staff member. Our team is here and ready to help. Scholars should also be utilizing Wednesday DEN Sessions as an opportunity to stay on top of their work and receive additional support from their teachers if needed.

Next week, scholars will have the opportunity to participate in a scholar survey during the school day. This is an important way for us to hear directly from our scholars about their experiences. Scholar voices matter, and we strongly encourage all scholars to take a few thoughtful moments to share their perspectives. We truly value their feedback as we continue working to make our school a supportive and engaging place for all.

As May approaches, sunshine, fresh air, and the excitement of summer are just around the corner. It can be easy to feel that energy, so let’s channel it into staying focused, taking pride in all that has been accomplished, and making the most of these final weeks.

With gratitude,

Ms. Swanson, Principal

Ms. Bisson, Assistant Principal

May 13: Virtual Career Day

May 25: District Closed for Holiday - No School for Students

June 4: Last Day of School for Seniors (grade 12)

June 5: Last Day of School for Students (grades 6-12)

June 7: Senior Commencement Ceremony

On April 14, a group of our scholars visited St. Cloud State University for an engaging and memorable campus experience. A highlight of the day was exploring the campus itself, especially its scenic location along the Mississippi River. The combination of modern facilities and natural surroundings created an inviting environment where many scholars could easily picture themselves learning and spending time both academically and personally.

During the visit, scholars connected with admissions staff, toured campus, and gained a better sense of student life. One especially fun and unexpected highlight was trying the cafeteria food, which gave them a taste of the everyday college experience. Overall, the trip offered valuable insight and sparked excitement about future opportunities.

Prom 2026 lit up the night on April 25 as students in grades 9–12 from five online schools across Minnesota came together for an unforgettable “Malibu Nights” celebration!

The evening was full of energy with students meeting new friends, reconnecting with classmates, and jumping into the fun by playing games like Apples to Apples, singing along to their favorite songs, and dancing the night away. Students also enjoyed custom caricatures created by our art teacher, Ms. Bridgette, adding a unique and memorable touch to the night.

From start to finish, it was a vibrant, joy-filled event that created lasting memories.

Each month, our school counseling team will share updates, helpful resources, and tips to support scholars and families. From academic planning and college/career readiness to social-emotional learning and wellness, our counselors are here to help scholars thrive. Be sure to check back each month for new resources and updates!

We encourage 279Online students to take advantage of these opportunities and reach out if they need support with applications, essays, or recommendation letters. Every application is a step toward your future!

Deadline: May 1, 2026

• Award: $1,000
• Minimum GPA: 2.5
• Must currently work in the food service industry
• Requirements: Essay and transcript

This scholarship is a great opportunity for students balancing school and work in the food service field. Be sure to have your materials ready and submitted on time!

Deadline: May 29, 2026

• Award: $1,000 – $5,000
• Minimum GPA: 2.5

This scholarship is ideal for students planning to pursue careers in the skilled trades or construction-related fields, including masonry, electrical work, carpentry, construction management, and heavy equipment operations.

Additional Requirements:

• Must plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution (trade school, 2-year college, or 4-year university) in MN, IA, ND, SD, or WI
• Letter of recommendation required
• Must agree to attend at least one MBEX-sponsored event during the 2026–2027 academic year

279Online Commencement Ceremony Information
June 7th, 2026 at 11:00am

McNamara Alumni Center – University of Minnesota
200 SE Oak St, Minneapolis, MN 55455

There are a few action items needed from you and your scholar in order to have a memorable ceremony.

1. RSVP (REQUIRED)

• Please let us know if your scholar will be participating in the ceremony and how many guests will attend the ceremony. Please complete this form by May 22nd, 2026.

2. Senior Spotlight & Commencement Information Form (REQUIRED)

• In order to pronounce each scholar’s name correctly at the ceremony, we need your help! Please have your scholar fill out this form and upload a file (video or audio) of the pronunciation of their name. Please have your scholar complete this form by May 22nd, 2026.

Other commencement ceremony details coming soon:

• Purchasing Honors Accessories
• Commencement Participation Fee
• Information about Senior Checkout & Chromebook Return
• Final Transcript Release

We are looking forward to celebrating our 2026 graduates!

Our Senior Spotlight Series is officially underway! 🎉 We’re excited to celebrate the Class of 2026 through the end of June on our social media pages.

Through these ongoing spotlights, you will hear directly from our seniors as they reflect on their high school journey, sharing favorite memories, future plans, words of advice, and the people who have made a meaningful impact along the way.

Click on the links to our social media pages below to follow along as we continue highlighting the voices, experiences, and accomplishments of our graduating class. It is a great way to celebrate everything that makes the Class of 2026 so special!

The District 279 Foundation will host the Annual Investment in Youth celebration on Sunday, May 3, at Park Center Senior High: An International Baccalaureate World School. Everyone is welcome to the program which begins at 6 p.m. and no pre-registration is required.

This celebration honors the achievements and successes of scholars, educators, staff and volunteers from Osseo Area Schools; over 1900 since the inception of the program.

We are excited to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and experiences of our 279Online community!

We invite you to complete this Google Form to share your perspectives, traditions, and stories about your culture or heritage. Some responses may be highlighted on our school’s social media pages as part of our celebration of diversity. Please note that while your words may be shared publicly, names and personal identifying information will not be shared without your permission.

Your voice is an important part of our 279Online community, and we would love to include it in our celebration! Thank you for helping us honor and celebrate the diversity that makes 279Online so special.

DEN Time is our weekly Wednesday afternoon block where scholars in grades 6-12 can get extra help, skill boosters, and experience exploratory sessions. There are three sessions between 12:20 and 3 PM.

DEN Time supports our school’s programming by providing innovative, and creative scholar-driven opportunities. Scholars register for sessions through Student Support Time; scholars can also be requested by teachers to make-up work, finish projects, and get extra support as needed.

Scholars in grades 6-12 are expected to attend three DEN sessions, and if scholars are requested by a teacher, scholars are expected to accept that request, and attend.

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.

In the event that your scholar's teacher is absent and our continuous building substitute is not available, your scholar is still expected to engage in the class work asynchronously.

• When the teacher is absent, they will post a message in Schoology with instructions for the lesson and an exit ticket to complete for attendance. It’s important that your child does both the lesson and the exit ticket. If the exit ticket is not completed, they will be marked unexcused.
• If they have any questions, they can email their teacher for help or contact our main office at 763-391-8670 or online@district279.org.

Osseo Area Schools is pleased to announce that all district high schools will begin offering a varsity letter for community service beginning this spring. This new opportunity was created by students to recognize and celebrate sustained, meaningful service to our schools and broader community.

Learn more about how the community service varsity letter program works.

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.

Volunteering is an opportunity for you to:

• Show your children or the youth of our community that you are interested in their school life and their future
• Show your commitment to the community
• Help others and develop new skills
• Meet new and interesting people and develop friendships
• Share your time and talents
• Open communication between you and your child when you’re involved and know what is going on at school
• Give your child a boost -- studies show that parent and community involvement and volunteering enhances student success
• It’s fun!

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities for 279Online, please contact us at online@district279.org

This continues to be a very trying time in our community. Many of our families and colleagues are dealing with immense feelings of fear and anxiety due to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) action taking place. Our foremost priority during this time, as always, is to create safe and secure learning environments, and to provide meaningful education to each and every student in our community.

Our district and school teams have put many plans into place to ensure the continuation of this opportunity for all of our students. Please refer to our dedicated website for the most up-to-date information, including on topics like learning options, meals and safety/security procedures.

Are you or someone you know at risk of losing your housing? The Homework Starts with Home program is grant funded and in partnership with Hennepin County and the YMCA. Here are guidelines of the program:

• Families must have a child enrolled in our school district and reside in Hennepin county.
• Families must meet income guidelines set by Hennepin county.
• Families must qualify for rent assistance of owing back rent and are at risk of eviction in order to receive utilities assistance.
• Families must provide something in writing that they owe back rent or are at risk of eviction (ledger of back rent owed, eviction notice, court date notice)
• Families must reach out before their eviction date/court date. Unfortunately we can't retroactively provide financial assistance if they have already moved.

Please reach out to Kendra Kuhlmann at HSWH@District279.org if you have questions or are interested in learning more about the Homework Starts with Home Program.

Information available in: English | Hmong | Somali | Spanish

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.

Created by Hunger Impact Partners, a 501(c)(3) with support from the Minnesota Department of Education to ensure children 18 and under can access nutritious meals, the sites you locate for food are updated regularly.

During the school year: The app lists information on programs that offer meals for children of low-income families. The meals are available at childcare centers and after-school programs. The app also lists weekend and holiday backpack programs, which are available at some school sites, in addition to food offered by hunger-relief organizations.

During summer: The app lists sites serving free meals during June, July, and August

Year-round: The app lists Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota locations of Fare For All, which sells fresh produce and frozen meat at up to 40 percent off retail prices.

• https://hungerimpactpartners.org/meals-for-kids/mobile-app-2/

The following are a variety of resources including, but not limited to, help with the following:

Food, Clothing, Mental Health, Technology, Furniture, and Other Household Items

• Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP)
• https://www.ceap.org/
• 763-566-9600

• CEAP offers a variety of services, such as food support, clothing, and resource referrals, to families in Hennepin County.
• Salvation Army
• https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/northern/
• 763-425-0517
• Sharing & Caring Hands
• www.sharingandcaringhands.org
• 612-338-4640
• Reach and Restore
• www.reachandrestore.org
• 952-933-1393
• Central Lutheran Church
• www.centralmpls.org
• 612-767-9214
• Sabathani Community Center
• www.sabathani.org
• 612-821-2300
• Hennepin County Community Resources
• https://caphennepin.org/community-resources/
• Hennepin County Resource Helpline (7 days a week 8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
• 612-348-3000
• Centro Guadalupano Free Store
• 612-724-3651

Find out if you qualify for either the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit or other alternatives like Xfinity Internet Essentials. These opportunities, while they can cost something for the family, are cheaper than normal internet options and more stable connection than hotspots.

• Safety/Crisis Resource – Hennepin County

• Minnesota Mental Health Facts

• Change to Chill through Allina Health

• Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health

The following Facebook pages have information from the district, specifically for Latino, Hmong, West African, and Vietnamese families.

• Comunidad en Español/Spanish de las Escuelas del Area de Osseo 279

• Hmoob/Hmong Community in ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

• West African Community in ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

• Việt Nam/Vietnamese- ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

Community Education creates opportunities that positively impact our whole community through innovative and responsive programs and services. Find classes, programs and events for all ages — from early childhood, youth to adult. View the catalog or register at osseo.ce.eleyo.com.

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

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

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.

The best way for scholars and families to receive technology help during school hours (7:30am-4:00pm) is to contact 279Online's main office at 763-391-8670 or email us at online@district279.org.

• We will then have a member of our on site technology team reach out to you as soon as they can.

The best way for scholars and families to receive technology help outside of school hours is to submit a ticket for technology assistance through our new ticketing system, IncidentIQ

• Use the following link to submit a ticket via 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 district tech department directly at 763-391-7180.

We know it can be tricky to keep track of all the tools families use to stay connected—so here’s a quick refresher!

ParentVUE and Schoology both help you stay informed about your student’s progress, but they serve different purposes.

• ParentVUE is your go-to place for official records—think grades, attendance, schedules, and report cards.

• Schoology is where you can see learning in action—class materials, assignments, and daily updates from teachers.

Check out the chart below for a detailed breakdown of how each platform supports you and your student’s success.

ParentVUE is an application you can use to view your scholars' 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.

NEW: ParentVUE and StudentVUE have new apps, and current apps will no longer work after June 30, 2026.

Please download the new apps in your device's Apple or Android store which can be found under the names "StudentVUE (New)" or "ParentVUE (New)". The developer is Edupoint Educational Systems.

For assistance, please reach out to the district's technology support team via IncidentIQ.

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

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.

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

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 Mass Notification 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.

Phone: 763-391-8670

Fax: 763-585-7389

Email: Online@district279.org

LANGUAGE LINE

Call if you need to be connected to an interpreter when calling your child's school or other district contacts.

Español - 1-855-891-8364

Lus HMoob - 1-844-577-9549

русский - 1-855-891-5321

Soomaali - 1-855-891-5322

Tiếng Việt - 1-855-891-8365

Staff Contacts:

Kristin Swanson, Principal: SwansonK@district279.org

Ryan Bisson, Assistant Principal: BissonR@district279.org

Kate Rosbacka, Administrative Assistant: RosbackaK@district279.org

Hannah Schmiesing, Middle School Counselor: SchmiesingH@district279.org

Andrea Dorn, High School Counselor: DornA@district279.org

Doris Moylan, Social Worker: MoylanD@district279.org

Lindsey Groettum, Special Education Building Coordinator: GroettumL@district279.org