Welcome Back!
From the Principal:
Minnehaha Family,
Wow, the transformation at the Minnehaha school is incredible. Even more so when you realize we are only wrapping up the first of three construction phases. Hats off to the contractors working in our building. They did a massive amount of work in a short amount of time and YES we will be ready on day one!! We have a new main office and secure entry, new media center, student flexible learning areas, new music rooms, an entirely new early childhood wing and new student support areas. We also have a new early childhood playground specifically designed for our youngest learners.
We’re excited to show off the changes at our school, but that will need to wait so we can prepare for the first day of school. Because of the extremely short amount of time teachers and staff have to prepare, we are putting our open house on hold until Thursday September 21st. We know open houses are a big deal for our kindergarteners. Because we are not having an open house before school starts this year, we are having a delayed start for Kindergarten. Parents of kindergarteners will receive a phone call from their child’s teacher to set up an appointment to bring their child in to meet the teachers and see the classroom on the 5th or 6th and then kindergarteners will report to school on the 7th. This will aid with the first day of school jitters. For those who are new to our building, we always have staff at every entrance to greet students and make sure they know where they are going once they arrive. For security reasons we do not allow parents and other adults in the building at the start of the day. We have every staff member on call the first week of school to ensure students get a good start each day.
You may have had trouble contacting the Minnehaha office this summer. Courtney, our administrative assistant, and I have been displaced all summer. We have been working out of the high school office and actually won't be able to occupy our new office until August 31st. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you. We will work hard to address any concerns or questions you have regarding this upcoming school year.
One of the big reasons we moved the school’s main entryway to 4th Ave was to move parent pick up to 4th Ave. The traffic on 7th street caused safety concerns. Unfortunately, moving the bus drop off and pickup to 5th Ave will not happen until next summer. In order to have both bus and parent pick up on 4th Ave this year, we will have a two stage dismissal. At about 3:15 Bus students will be loaded on 4th Ave. At 3:25 buses will leave the bus lane and parents will then be able to park on 4th Ave. in front of the school where students who are being picked up by parents will be dismissed. Walkers will still dismiss out the doors on 7th street. I know this might feel a bit confusing but give it a couple of days and it will feel perfectly normal and more importantly safe! Parents should still drop their students off for school on 7th street as arrival is not as congested as dismissal. There will be further information forwarded to you regarding this change.
Lastly, don’t forget the school day starts at 7:50. Students should be dropped off no later than 7:45. The school doors will be locked at 7:50. Students arriving late should be dropped off at the main office entrance on 4th Ave.
It is going to be a great year. I am excited to share with you all the great things happening at the Minnehaha through future editions of the Minne Scoop!
Mr. Archer
Minnehaha Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, September 5th ~ First Day of School for grades 1st-5th
- Tuesday, September 5th & Wednesday, September 6th ~ Kindergarten Individual Orientation
- Thursday, September 7th ~ First Day of School for Kindergarten
- Friday, September 8th ~ School in Session
- Thursday, September 21st ~ Minnehaha Open House, 5-7 PM
- Thursday, October 12th ~ Picture Day
- Tuesday, October 3rd ~ Midquarter
- Thursday, October 18th ~ No School - MEA
- Wednesday, November 8th ~ Evening Fall Conferences, 5-8 PM
- Thursday, November 9th ~ Fall Conferences, All Day
- Tuesday, November 14th ~ Picture Retakes
About Us
Email: barcher@isd381.org
Website: https://www.isd381.k12.mn.us/minnehaha/
Location: Minnehaha Elementary School, 7th Street, Two Harbors, MN, USA
Phone: 218-834-8221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Minnehaha-Elementary-Lake-Superior-School-District-103493627983228