-Cedar Island- Welcome Back!

Dear Cedar Island Families,

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year at Cedar Island! I hope your summer has included plenty of opportunities to relax, recharge, spend time together, and make unforgettable memories. While summer always seems to pass quickly, there is something exciting about this time of year as our community begins to come back to life. Our staff is looking forward to welcoming students and beginning another year filled with learning, connection, growth, and excessive amounts of Bobcat Best!

One of the things I am most excited for students and families to experience is our outdoor classroom. This brand-new space gives our students an opportunity to take learning beyond the walls of the school and interact directly with the natural world around them. It is a fantastic addition to Cedar Island, and I am excited to see the many creative ways our teachers and students put it to use throughout the year. I’ll include a few photos so you can get a sneak peek!

As we prepare for the start of school, below are a few important dates and details to help everyone get off to a smooth start:

• Open House — Wednesday, September 2, 5:00–6:30 PM. Students and families are invited to visit Cedar Island, meet their teachers, find their classrooms, and reconnect with our school community. Our PTO will also have sweet treats available, so be sure to grab one before heading home.
• First Day of School — Tuesday, September 8. The first bell rings at 9:20 AM, with classes beginning at 9:30 AM. Our school day concludes at 3:55 PM. Families using Parent Pick-Up should plan to arrive by 3:55 PM. As you might expect, dismissal is especially busy during the first few days of school, but things move along quite efficiently when everyone follows the established procedures. Buses typically depart the parking lot at approximately 4:05 PM.
• Kindergarten & New Family Welcome — Tuesday, September 8. Parents and caregivers of kindergarten students, along with families who are new to Cedar Island, are invited to walk their children to their classrooms beginning at 9:20 AM. Afterward, please join PTO leadership and me for a brief welcome reception in the Media Center. It is a great opportunity to meet other families, ask questions, and learn a little more about Cedar Island.

Enjoy these final few weeks of summer! We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive community of students, staff, and families, and are looking forward to launching another outstanding year together!

Go Bobcats!

~Alex Berg

School Principal

1. School Information Sheet - School contact information, hours, lunch/recess times. Important note...Based on evolving best practices, students will have recess before lunch this year.
2. School Calendar - Pro tip...save all the asynchronous and no-school days in your phone with reminders!
   
3. Cedar Island FAQ's - Have a question? The answer is likely here!
4. Parking Lot Procedures - Please be sure to follow the rules during student drop-off and pick-up!
5. School Supply List – Mostly purchased by PTO! $30 per student suggested donation. See attached and below for more information.
   

New families, please click the button below to create a ParentVue account.

Returning families, all back to school forms MUST be completed and/or verified to enter ParentVue for the first time each school year. ParentVue will prompt you to do this when you login. You will have to verify ALL CHILDREN in your home, even young siblings! Your ParentVue account is the same as last year and will work for all of your students in the district. Use the button below to access more information about ParentVue

The ParentVUE app got an updated look! Please take a moment to delete your old app(s) and download the new app(s) in the Apple or Android store. The new app can be found under the name "ParentVUE (New)".

The Cedar Island PTO will provide classroom school supplies for the 2026–27 year.

Why we do this:

• Every student starts with the same, high‑quality materials.

• It reduces stress for families.

• Bulk purchasing keeps costs low.

Cost:

• We suggest a voluntary $30 donation per student. Every dollar directly supports the supplies your child receives on day one.

How to donate:

• Online Payment. Click here!

• Check: Payable to Cedar Island PTO; bring to Open House or send in a sealed envelope during the first week.

• Cash: Bring to Open House or send in a sealed envelope during the first week.

*Kindergarten: Kindergarten supplies are provided by Cedar Island, not the PTO. Families are asked to make the same suggested $30 donation. Checks should be payable to Cedar Island Elementary and checks/cash can be brought to Open House or sent in a sealed envelope during the first week (there is not a PayPal option for Kindergarten).

What families need to provide:

Every student (K-5) should supply the following items...

Items every student needs

• Large backpack (double straps, no wheels)

• Lunchbox (optional)

• Wired headphones (no Bluetooth)

• Ziploc bag labeled with your child’s name (for headphones)

Optional classroom donations

• Hand sanitizer

• Kleenex

• Clorox wipes

• Ziploc bags (sandwich, quart or gallon)

Questions: Contact Ashley Funke, PTO Treasurer (awisnie2@gmail.com).

You can track your student's bus! All the information you need is below....

Cedar Island will not have access to transportation information before Friday, August 28. Please wait for the Transportation Department communication.

If your child's bus information is not posted in ParentVUE on Friday August 27, please inquire with the transportation department.

As a reminder, transportation is only available to students who live within the Cedar Island attendance boundaries. To find out if your address, daycare address, etc. is in our boundaries, please click here.

If you have further transportation questions, need to make changes to your student's bus information, etc. please visit https://www.district279.org/services/transportation or email transportation at BusQuestions@district279.org.

One breakfast and one lunch per day are free for all students in Minnesota.

If students bring a lunch from home and wish to have school milk, they must purchase one for 50 cents using their online lunch account. Once you’ve created this account, you can log in and add money to your child’s meal account. Balances are shared by all students in a household.

To load your student’s lunch account, view menus, apply for free/reduced lunch, etc., please visit www.district279.org/services/nutrition-services.

Click the button below to create a school lunch account.

It is important that all families fill out the Educational Benefits Application every year. Families who qualify may be eligible for a variety of benefits, which may include free or discounted prices for the following:

• Field trips
• Some Community Education programs
• Clubs, activities, and athletics
• Instrument rentals
• Fees, including for AP testing, graduation and more
• Device protection plans on school-provided devices
• Comcast internet for home
• Xcel Energy account assistance for electricity bills

Additionally, the state of Minnesota uses a school district’s percentage of qualifying students from applications completed and approved prior to October 1 each year to calculate each district’s funding level. School district funding impacts every student:

• Class sizes
• The number of support staff the district hire to help students (i.e. counselors & social workers)
• Extra programming opportunities

Please fill out the Educational Benefits Application today to make sure your family can take advantage of these and other benefits!

• September 2 - Open House (5:00-6:30pm)
• September 8 - First Day of School

Attendance Email: CIAttendance@district279.org

Email: cedarisland@district279.org
Website: https://ci.district279.org/
Location: 6777 Hemlock Lane North, Maple Grove, MN, USA
Phone: 763.425.5855
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarIslandElem