Back-to-school FOCUS 2025-26

July 30, 2025

This back-to-school issue of the FOCUS is provided as a resource to families to prepare for the upcoming school year. More information specific from your student's school will be sent in August.

All families must complete online back to school forms, also known as back-to-school verification, before the start of the year. Students will not be able to enroll in fall activities or athletics until this step is complete. Parents/guardians are encouraged to complete the process now to ensure access to school resources in the coming weeks:

• Pay fees for meals and/or register for athletics and activities.

• Get teacher assignments and class schedules.

• Monitor academic progress, assignments and tests.

• Submit student absences.

• View your student’s report card.
  
  

• Parents/guardians were prompted to create a new login/password in June.
• If you haven’t yet activated your parent account, view instructions.

Need help? Contact 763-506-HELP (4357) or email acshelp@ahschools.us

Open house dates are available on the back-to-school website.

📆 View the 2025-26 school year calendar.

• Sept. 2: The first day of school for students grades 1-5, 6 and 9; and students new to the district.
• Sept. 3: All other grades start school.
• Kindergarten: Check your school e-newsletter for welcome week schedules.

School supply lists are on school websites and available at ahschools.us/bts.

The handbook covers the basics from school to activities to homework, and key policies approved by the School Board explaining on how the district handles matters of conduct and discipline consistently and fairly. View the publication at ahschools.us/policies.

Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions about the handbook’s content.

FOCUS on Anoka-Hennepin Schools e-newsletter will be published on the first Wednesday of each month, except for holidays. It will be sent to its current subscribers and all parents/guardians of Anoka-Hennepin students.

Questions or feedback? Email info@ahschools.us.

Although students are home for the summer, there is a lot happening around the Anoka-Hennepin School District over the summer months. Stay in touch with all the happenings through the district’s official social media accounts.

Anoka-Hennepin is on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube:

• facebook.com/ahschools
• instagram.com/ahschools
• x.com/ahschools
• youtube.com/anokahennepin

All Anoka-Hennepin families are encouraged to apply for the educational benefits program for the 2025-26 school year. A new application must be submitted each school year.

The enrollment window for the 2025-26 school year begins Aug. 1, 2025. Although school meals are still free, your family may still qualify for other educational benefits. If your family needs access to educational benefits available to your student, an application can be completed by visiting ahschools.us/freereduced.

Learn more about educational benefits and complete your application online.

All menu and nutritional information is available online at ahschools.us/menus. You can print daily, weekly, or monthly menus, as well as check allergen information. To keep up to date on what’s for breakfast or lunch at your student’s school, download the SchoolCafé app through Apple or Android devices.

Lactose reduced or soy milk is available to students with a written request from a parent or guardian. This request must be given to the school cafeteria supervisor.

All other diet modifications require a completed diet modification request form signed by a licensed Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Clinical Nurse Practitioner, Osteopathic Dr. (D.O.) or , a licensed Registered Dietitian (R.D.), or Physicians Assistant (P.A.C.),. All diet accommodation requests must also be signed by and a parent or guardian.

The form can be found at ahschools.us/dietform. Fax the completed form to the CNP office at 763-506-1253 or mail it to 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303. Requests may take up to 10 days to be accommodated.

Anoka-Hennepin’s transportation system is nationally recognized as a leader in the industry with innovative solutions, using the latest technology for bus routing and discipline issues. The safety record of our fleet is well above the national average thanks to dedicated, well-trained bus drivers, paraprofessionals, crossing guards, and traffic control staff. Our mission is simple, it’s to provide safe, reliable, and efficient transportation so when all students arrive at school, they are ready to learn.

Bus information cards are mailed to homes approximately one week before school starts. The information on the bus card will include the student’s name, address, bus route numbers, bus stop locations and bus arrival times. Please make sure your child knows, or carries this card every day. Keep this information written down at home in case of an emergency. If you do not receive the yellow bus information card in the mail, check with the school office at open house or in the days prior to school starting.

Student bus information will also available online in ParentVue. Watch for this to be posted the last week of August.

There are more than 17,000 bus stops in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. If everyone had a bus stop at their home, the number of stops would more than double and the number of school buses needed would dramatically increase, along with the time students would spend on the bus. Bus stops are designed to be collector points for the neighborhood, to safely serve the students in each area, as well as accommodate any students who move in during the course of the school year.

Why aren’t house-stops used for the vast majority of regular transportation students?

• The motoring public is familiar with seeing school buses and anticipates they will slow down and stop at intersections, so they adjust for that practice and are more cautious. The car behind, or approaching the school bus does not anticipate it will stop in the middle of the block. When the bus driver slows mid-block, many motorists try to pass the bus, putting students in danger.
• Most primary-age student fatalities in the metro area that occurred at the bus stop happened when the bus stopped at the student’s house in the middle of the block. In reviewing the reports, many times the student saw mom or dad, the family dog, or a favorite toy, and ran to it with no regard to traffic around the bus and/or the “danger zone” that surrounds it. Experts have commented that children have a sense of security when they recognize family/familiar objects and all the training they have received on school bus safety is forgotten. Please make sure to review school bus safety rules with your child prior, but also frequently, during the school year.
  

For more information about buses and transportation, visit ahschools.us/transportation

Anoka-Hennepin families have access to their students’ bus routes through the Versatrans My Stop bus app. The app monitors school bus routes in real-time, and it’s free to use.

While Anoka-Hennepin buses have an excellent on-time performance record, inclement weather, traffic delays, and driver shortages can impact route schedules. The My Stop bus app provides bus arrival times, anticipated length of any delay, an estimated arrival time, and if a substitute bus is being used on the route.

Go to ahschools.us/transportation to learn more or download Versatrans My Stop from the Apple or Android app stores. Parents/guardians will be able to access the My Stop app starting the week of Aug. 25, 2025.

Anoka-Hennepin’s Transportation Department also uses text messaging and email for reporting bus route delays. Please make sure to have your most current email address and mobile number updated in ParentVue to allow for these updates. When bus drivers or bus companies report a route as being more than 10 minutes late, an email and text message is sent out listing the length of expected delay.

Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.

As careful as students and schools are, accidents do happen each year - and hundreds of Chromebooks are returned at the end of the school year with damages. Optional Technology Protection Plans are available to families with students assigned a Chromebook. Families can opt-in when completing their back to school verification, and pay for the coverage in SchoolPay. Visit ahschools.us/TechProtect to learn more.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District utilizes a variety of technology-based systems for the purposes of classroom instruction, assessment, and to perform services such as report cards, transcripts and communications with parents and/or guardians. When contracting with companies, the district carefully examines data security provisions in contracts or agreements as well as the terms of the company’s privacy policy to ensure student data is protected. The safety and security of student data is of utmost importance.

Schools are required to provide annual notice of the technology-based products and services used for curriculum, assessment, or testing purposes, that contain student data elements. The district is also required to provide information about inspecting contracts or receiving further information regarding student data privacy safeguards. Additional information is available at ahschools.us/dataprivacy.

If your child requires medication at school, connect with the school nurse at your child’s open house or by calling the main office at your child’s school. Together, you can make a plan for administering medications on a regular basis or in case of emergency. Download the medication request form. (PDF)

Health services staff screen children for possible vision and hearing concerns every two years through seventh grade. Parents/guardians are notified if there is a need to follow up with private healthcare providers. More detailed information about screenings is available in the Anoka-Hennepin School District Handbook.

State law requires proof your student has been immunized.

The Minnesota School Immunization Law (MS 121A.11) requires all students to provide proof of vaccine preventable disease immunizations to enroll or remain enrolled in school. There are exceptions to the immunization rules. The state law does allow a process for parents/guardians to file a legal exemption to immunizations for medical reasons or conscientiously held beliefs. The conscientious objection must be notarized and turned in to the student’s Health Service office at his/ her school. The form is available on the district website or from the health service office at your student’s school. More detailed information about immunizations is available in the Anoka-Hennepin School Handbook.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools utilizes a multi-layered approach to protect the safety of students and staff. Parents, guardians and volunteers are welcome to visit the school, most commonly with a pre-determined appointment. Plan to bring your driver’s license with you when visiting the school or picking up your child. Children are only allowed to visit with or leave school with the parent/guardian or emergency contact provided when each family completes the back-to-school verification forms.

Registration for fall high school athletics and activities opens on Aug. 1 and fall sports will begin on Aug. 11.

If your family needs access to educational benefits, please visit ahschools.us/freereduced to complete an application. The enrollment window for the 2025-26 applications for educational benefits begins on Aug. 1. Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money.

View the registration pages:

• Andover High School.
• Anoka High School.
• Blaine High School.
• Champlin Park High School.
• Coon Rapids High School.

Students must have a sports qualifying physical (valid for three years from the date of the exam) on file to participate in middle and high school athletic programs. Registration for a fall activity will not be able to be completed without a sports qualifying physical on file at your child's school.

Specific activity schedules are available to view on any middle and high school athletics and activities calendars. Visit ahschools.us/calendar for links to view.

Anoka-Hennepin Community Education coordinates programs to support students after-school, in the evening and on the weekend. These programs provide fun, hands-on opportunities for children to meet friends, develop skills and explore new interests.

• Enrichment classes/activities: Each elementary and middle school coordinates a wide variety of classes and activities.

• Middle school athletics: Community Education coordinates athletic programs at each middle school to emphasize skill development, participation, teamwork, leadership, social growth, sportsmanship and respect for others.

• Open swim, swim lessons: Roosevelt Community Pool offers swim programs for all ages and skill levels.

• Youth service: High school youth service programs provide students with meaningful service opportunities that positively impact the community.

View all opportunities online at discovercommunityed.com or visit the Community Education office at your child's school.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools are grateful that each year, around 10,000 dedicated volunteers contribute thousands of hours of their time, energy and talents to support our schools, students and staff. You can make a difference as a school volunteer.

The online application system is quick and easy to complete, and saves time coordinating our resources - which means that we can spend more time and talent serving our students, staff and schools.Visit ahschools.us/volunteer to find and complete the application form for your school, or to be assigned to a school with a specific need. All volunteers must complete:

• An online volunteer application form.
• An online criminal record history release form for each school at which they volunteer.

Our staff members make a difference in the lives of students, and you can too! Anoka-Hennepin Schools is a great place to live, learn and work.

View current openings on your school’s webpage and view all openings and apply online: ahschools.us/jobs.

Special education services are provided for students from birth until their 22nd birthday who have been evaluated and determined as meeting one of the 13 disability categories identified by federal law:

• Developmental delays (birth to age seven).
• Autism spectrum disorders.
• Blind/visually impaired.
• Deaf-blind.
• Deaf/hard of hearing.
• Developmental cognitive disabilities mild-moderate.
• Developmental cognitive disabilities moderate-severe.
• Emotional or behavioral disorders.
• Other health disabilities.
• Physically impaired.
• Specific learning disabilities.
• Speech or language impairments.

The district offers a full continuum of services for students identified as meeting special education criteria. An Individual Education Planning (IEP) meeting is held following a special education evaluation. District staff work with the student’s parents/guardians to determine what goals and objectives are appropriate to meet the child’s needs. The team determines what specialized instruction is required and what related services would be appropriate. Students who are identified as having special education needs will receive instruction from a special education teacher. Some students may require additional support in the area of motor, speech/language, vision or hearing needs.

While the goal is to have students taught in their neighborhood school, it is not always appropriate based on a student's individual needs. Students with specific needs may be placed in a program that best addresses her/his needs. Academic, functional, and behavioral needs addressed in these programs can vary, and can operate in conjunction with general education, with increased mainstreaming as the goal. Some students demonstrate needs that surpass what can be offered at a traditional school/site, and may be serviced at River Trail Learning Center, which is a special education site.

Learn more: ahschools.us/specialeducation

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