September 2026

September is officially here, and with our first day of school on Tuesday, September 1st, the energy inside Middle School East is changing fast. The quiet summer prep is over, the classrooms are ready, and honestly, the whole building just feels empty without our kids in it. We can't wait to hear the halls filled with noise and laughter again!

These first few days are all about helping your student settle in, feel comfortable, and get their bearings. Whether you have a returning student who knows the ropes or a new student walking in for the very first time, transitions take a little time and patience. We’ll be taking things step-by-step, focusing first on making connections, building community, and making sure everyone feels like they belong here.

Thank you for trusting us with your kids and for partnering with us as we kick off this new school year. Try to get everyone a solid night of sleep tonight, fuel up with a good breakfast in the morning, and send them off with a smile on Tuesday morning. We are so ready to welcome them through the doors on September 1st for a great day one!

Warmly,

Sherri Schendzielos

Principal, Middle School East

As we prepare for another school year, please take a few minutes to log into ParentVUE and verify that your family's contact information is accurate. Review and update your phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts, and any other important information so we can communicate with you promptly when needed. If you are needing an address change, please click here.

If your family's circumstances have changed—such as updates to custody arrangements or guardianship—please contact Jennifer Scheel, Principal's Administrative Assistant, at jennifersch@mystma.org. Providing updated legal documentation helps ensure your student's records remain accurate and allows us to follow the appropriate procedures to keep each and every student safe.

Please note: Emergency contacts and authorized pick-up persons are not the same.

An emergency contact is someone we can reach if we are unable to contact a parent or guardian. If you would like someone other than a legal guardian to be permitted to pick up your student from school, they must be designated as an authorized pick-up person and appropriate documentation is required to be filled out each school year. Please ask our main office for an authorized pick up form if needed.

School in session: 8:25 AM - 3:00 PM

Doors open: 8:00 AM

MSE Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

As we begin a new school year, we encourage every family to take a few minutes to review the Middle School East Student Handbook with your student. The handbook contains important information about school expectations, attendance, technology use, student conduct, safety procedures, and other policies that help our school run smoothly.

Here are some key information from the handbook we'd like to highlight:

Please review the MSE Transportation Safety Information with your children, regarding how to travel to and from school safely. This information will also be covered in KORT.

Please contact Vision Transportation directly at 763-497-0102 with any busing questions or log into ParentVUE to see your students bus route!

• Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – First day of school! 5th - 8th Grade 🍎📚🎒
• Monday, September 7, 2026 – No School!
• Tuesday, September 8, 2026 – PTO Meeting, 6 PM in the Media Center
• Friday, October 2, 2026 – 7th & 8th Grade Activity Night, 6 - 8 PM

We are pleased to invite you to consider becoming a member of STMA’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC). This group provides input on special education issues to the STMA school district. Parent involvement in the SEAC is especially vital to our efforts! By sharing their unique perspective of what it is like to use these services, parents can help the district to be more effective. As a result, outcomes for children with disabilities continuously improve.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Whitney Weber, whitneyw@mystma.org

Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Membership Application

The PTO would like to send out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by the PTO tables at Open House! The energy was amazing and they were so encouraged by all of your support! *Reminder Homecoming shirt orders will close Sep 7th and Open House Apparel orders will be closing Sep 13th.

Save the date! First PTO meeting will be held on Sep 8th at 6:00pm in the MSE Media Center. They will be hosting a meet and greet at 5:30pm so come early and enjoy some light refreshments!

Up Next! The PTO is kicking off the school year with a Fun Run fundraiser to help recoup start-up costs, and fund Youth Frontiers retreats for the students, Fun Run prizes, staff appreciation, conference meals and more! Fundraising campaign will be Oct 2-12 and the run will be held Oct 9th (weather permitting).

If you'd like to join in on the planning and organization (in any capacity) they'd love to have you! They are still looking for a Vice President and Restaurant Coordinator as well as other committee members. Please contact President@msepto.org for more information!

📅 PTO Meeting Dates

6:00 PM • MSE Media Center

• September 8
• October 13
• November 5
• December 15
• January 12
• February 2
• March 16
• April 13
• May 4

📬 Stay Connected

• Join our mailing list: https://forms.gle/tteB6ja59TCc5iYHA
• Facebook: STMA Middle School East PTO
• Instagram: @STMAMSEPTO
• MSE Website: PTO

The Policy Review Committee (PRC) meets 3 to 5 times each school year to review district policies in evening meetings. The committee issues recommendations to the school board regarding policy adoptions or changes. The committee values and welcomes the participation of our parents and community members that may have an interest in this work. No prior experience is required.

For more information, please contact the Executive Director of Administrative Services at 763-497-6504 or douglasbi@mystma.org.

Students entering 7th and 8th grade are eligible to participate in STMA Middle School fall athletics!

📋 Sports Qualifying Physical Examination

A current Sports Qualifying Physical Examination is required for participation. Please make sure your student's physical is on file and valid before the season begins.

If you have questions after reviewing the Middle School East Fall Activities Brochure please contact our new Dean of Students/Activities Director Nate Hanson at nateh@mystma.org.

We encourage all eligible students to get involved, stay active, and represent the Knights this fall. Go Knights! 💙💛

If your student is requiring medication during the school day, please visit the District Health Services Website to obtain forms for medications. You can also find allergy and asthma action plans on our site.

Below are the requirements for students entering 7th grade. Please ensure these records are sent in to our health office as soon as possible.

• A back-to-school reminder for students and families regarding E-bikes and E-scooters. In compliance with MN state law students under the age of 15 will not be allowed to ride E-bikes to school. E-scooters may be ridden by students 12 years of age and older if they are wearing a helmet as required by MN state law. Any student arriving at school on an E-bike or E-scooter and who are not in compliance with state law will be directed to contact their parents to have the bike or scooter picked up from the school.

  
  

Thank you for helping us keep safety a top priority for our students and families!

E-Bikes: 169.222 Subd (6a)
Motorized Foot Scooters: 169.225

We encourage all families to consider completing an Educational Benefits Application. The application process is quick, easy, and completely confidential. Qualifying families may receive valuable benefits, including reduced fees for certain activities and programs, while also helping provide additional funding and resources that support all students at Middle School East. Eligibility is based on household size and income.

To learn more about Educational Benefits and to complete an application, please visit the STMA Food & Nutrition webpage here!

Our school counselors are here to support our students by helping them feel successful, connected, and confident at school.

Students can request a meeting with their counselor through the Counseling Self-Referral Form. Students can also find the meeting request link in their grade level Google Classroom.

Whether your student needs support with school, friendships, organization, goal-setting, problem-solving, or simply needs someone to talk to, we’re here to listen and help!

Advise for parents and guardians:

• Stay connected, listen, and keep the conversation going. Middle school comes with lots of changes, and knowing there is a trusted adult to talk to can make a big difference. -Mrs. Kornovich
• Continue to support your children during the good times and the tough times. Don’t give up on them--they need you. - Mrs. Mesna
• I can’t stress enough but to stay involved with them even when they try to show their independence. They may show you different moods, but at the end of the day, they are just trying to figure out who they are as they are changing so quickly during this time. -Mrs. Buskey

Know that we at Middle School East are here to support our students and families. Please don't hesitate to contact us at 763-497-2655.

• Sherri Schendzielos, Principal
• Molly Lindquist, Assistant Principal
• Nate Hanson, Dean of Students & Activities Director
• Jennifer Scheel, Principal's Administrative Assistant
• Amy Kornovich, School Counselor for last names A-L
• Jessica Mesna, School Counselor for last names M-Z
• Jessica Buskey, School Social Worker

Connect with us:

Email: sherrisc@mystma.org

Website: https://me.stma.k12.mn.us/

Location: 4862 Naber Avenue NE, Saint Michael, MN 55376