Cokato Elementary Newsletter

Fall 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year, students and families! We are excited to once again welcome you back to Cokato Elementary. We hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for a year filled with learning, growth, new friendships, and memorable experiences.

One of my favorite parts of starting a new school year is reconnecting with students and hearing about their summer adventures. The energy and excitement that come with a fresh start are truly contagious. It brings me great joy to see students returning to a school where they feel welcomed, supported, and excited to learn.

As we prepare for the year ahead, please remember to complete the annual Infinite Campus Update through the Parent Portal. Keeping this information current helps us ensure we have the most accurate records and can best support your student throughout the school year.

We are looking forward to an amazing year together and can’t wait to see all the wonderful things our students will accomplish!

Welcome back!

Principal
TJ Anderson

Cokato Tidbits

A few reminders about safety and schedules for all as we begin the school year!

1. Breakfast – Students may arrive at 7:45am to eat breakfast in the lunchroom each day. Breakfast is served until 8:00am.

2. Morning Arrival – The earliest students may arrive at school is 7:45am when supervisors are available. Students will go outside each morning unless it is raining or the temperature does not allow it and at this point students will enter through the auditorium.

3. School Patrol Crossing – 7:45am – 8:00am.

4. Start of School – 8:00am: first bell rings; 8:10am: all students must be in their classrooms so that the learning, lessons & fun may begin!

5. School Dismissal – 3:15pm: Please make arrangements to meet or pick up your child at 3:15pm if they are not riding the bus.

Parent Volunteers

Welcome, Parent Volunteers!

We are so excited to welcome our parent volunteers to Cokato Elementary! Your time, energy, and willingness to be involved make a meaningful difference in our school community.

Whether you are helping at a school event, supporting a classroom activity, assisting with a special celebration, or simply lending a helping hand, we are grateful for your partnership. Our students benefit greatly from seeing their families actively involved in their school.

Thank you for sharing your time and talents with us. We look forward to a wonderful school year filled with opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together!

If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to your child's teacher. We would love to have you be part of our school events and appreciate any time you are able to share. Your involvement helps create memorable experiences for our students and strengthens our Cokato Elementary community.

We are so glad to have you as part of our Cokato Elementary family!

Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up: Cokato Elementary

We are asking parents that will be dropping off or picking up students at the Cokato Elementary to use the entrance of Jackson Ave. & 5th St.. This will allow for a safe, curbside drop-off for all students.

Absences

Please be sure to excuse your child’s absences by either calling in by 8:10 am, emailing dawn.decock@dc.k12.mn.us, or putting it in Infinite Campus: Parent Portal. We highly value student attendance at Cokato Elementary.

Student Pick Up & Drop Off

Parents and caregivers who are driving their children to school or picking them up after school MUST drop them off at Door B on the north side of the building at 3:15. (Front of the school by flagpole/playground.) ONLY busses and students who are riding busses or walking are allowed on the south side of the building. Please be respectful of this procedure so that we can keep all of our children safe.

Parent Waiting Area

PARENTS - for the safety of our students, please wait in the parent waiting area, in the lobby, when you are picking up or dropping off your child. If you are picking your child up early, please come into the office check them out.

Tardies

Students are expected to arrive at school by 8:00am every morning. If they arrive after 8:10am, they are considered late. Please have your child stop in the office to get a tardy slip to bring to his/her teacher. Continual tardiness is not successful for children, so please be sure your child arrives to school on time.

Transportation

Students are transported by Cokato Transportation (contracted by the District). If your child will NOT be riding the bus that day call : Cokato Transportation: 320-286-5315 or email, transportation@dc.k12.mn.us.

Please call as soon as possible prior to their pickup time. The message can be left on voice mail at any time. Per policy, bus drivers are not able to use cellphones while on their bus routes, all messages will be relayed by the Transportation Department dispatcher via two-way radio.

On a daily basis, DC buses run their regular rural routes, stopping first at the elementary schools to unload the elementary students. The buses then proceed to the middle and high schools. The reverse is true at the end of the day. High School and middle school students are picked up first. Buses then proceed to the elementary schools, (MS/HS students in the walking zones disembark) to pick up rural and hazard-stop elementary children and proceed on the evening routes.

Just a reminder that bus passes are no longer issued by the schools. Students will only be allowed to get on/off the bus at their designated stops. District bus routes are currently at capacity.

NO Homemade Treats & NO Party Invitations

Just a reminder to parents wishing to send treats to school for their child’s entire class: Only pre packaged treats are allowed, no homemade goodies please!

Also as outlined in the handbook, NO party invitations are to be distributed at school. In addition, the office is not able to give out addresses and phone numbers due to data privacy laws.

Dairy Queen

On Wednesdays, the Elementary Art Projects will be displayed at the Dairy Queen. From 5pm-8pm, Dairy Queen will donate 10% of their earnings to our school! Check out our neat Art Projects and grab a sweet treat! A note will be sent home the week your child's art will be displayed.

Birthday Table Lunch

Is it your birthday or half birthday this month? Please plan to bring a special guest to lunch during your lunch time. Watch your child's take home folder for more information.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher conferences will take place November 10th (4:00pm-7:00pm), November 12th (4:00pm-7:00pm) and November 13th (9:00am-12:00pm). You will have an opportunity to sign up for a conference time at open house.

Upcoming Events

Please watch the Cokato Elementary Calendar for all Cokato Elementary Events.

***Events are subject to change***

Sept. 2~ Open house 4:00-6:00

Sept. 8 ~ First day of School (1st - 4th)

Sept. 8 & 10 ~ Kindergarten Appointments

Sept. 10~ First Day of Kindergarten

Sept. 14 ~ First day of PreK at CE

Sept. 16 ~ DQ Art Night- Ms. May

Sept. 24 ~ September Birthday Table

Sept. 25 ~ Vision/Hearing Screening

Sept. 28-Oct. 2 ~ Homecoming Week

Sept. 29 ~ Picture Day

Sept. 30 ~ DQ Art Night-Mr. Heinonen

Oct. 5-9 ~ Fire Prevention Week

Oct. 8 ~ October Birthday Table

Oct. 9 ~ Vision/Hearing Screening Rescreen

Oct. 14 ~ DQ Art Night - Mrs. Ziller

Oct. 16&17 ~ NO SCHOOL (MEA Break )

Oct. 20 ~ NO SCHOOL (Staff Development Day)

Oct. 28 ~ DQ Art Night - Ms. Skwira

Nov. 5 ~ November Birthday Table

Nov. 6 ~ Picture Retakes

Nov. 10 ~ Conferences (4pm-7pm)

Nov. 11 ~ Veteran's Day Program

Nov. 11 ~ DQ Art Night- Mrs. Heidecker

Nov. 12 ~ Conferences (4pm-7pm)

Nov. 13 ~ Conferences (9am-12pm) NO SCHOOL

Nov. 16-20 ~ American Education Week

Nov. 25 ~ KG Field Trip

Nov. 26&27 ~ No SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Lunch Times

Kindergarten ~ 11:15-11:45

1st Grade ~ 11:40-12:05

2nd Grade ~ 11:50-12:15

3rd Grade ~ 12:05-12:30

4th Grade ~ 12:15-12:40

Meal Prices for 2026-2027

Dassel-Cokato students will receive 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch on school days.

Adult Lunch: $5.05

In order for students to purchase items for sale, families must have a positive balance in their school food service account.

Breakfast and Lunch menus for Cokato Elementary can be found on our district website

www.isd466.org and also attached.

Truancy 2026-2027- County Attorney Brian Lutes

As we approach a new school year, I am once again asking everyone (parents, guardians, schools, teachers, social workers) for their support and assistance in reducing truancy. Your support and assistance in reducing the truancy rate is greatly appreciated. Please see the attached PDF letter and program.

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2026-27 truancy letter.pdf

2026-27 truancy program letter.pdf

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