The Messenger

June 2026

As we finish another incredible school year, we want to share a heartfelt thank you with our amazing McKinley families. Whether you volunteered your time or supported your children at home, your partnership is what makes the McKinley community so special. We truly could not do this without you!

Prepping for the 2026-2027 School Year

While our Bulldogs are counting down the final days to summer break, our team is at work preparing for the upcoming school year. Right now, we are developing schedules, creating balanced class lists, and recruiting staff to join our team.

Next Stop: Middle School!

We want to send a huge shout-out and a fond farewell to our wonderful fifth graders! We know you are going to do big things in middle school. We can’t wait to hear about all your future successes.

Wishing You a Brilliant Summer, Bulldogs!

From the entire McKinley staff, have a safe, joyful, and relaxing summer vacation! We hope you take this time to explore the outdoors, catch a few fish, dive into some great books, and keep those math skills sharp. Enjoy every moment of our beautiful Minnesota summer.

2026 - 2027 School Year

• Open House: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

• First Day of School (Grades 1–5): Tuesday, September 8, 2026

If you walk past the north side of McKinley, you will notice a wonderful new addition waiting for the community. Our Free Little Library is officially back in business and open for book exchanges starting next week!

This special library was originally built and donated many years ago by the talented students at Blaine High School, who created it as part of a project to bring libraries to local elementary schools. Over the years, however, the elements took their toll, and the little library found itself in pretty rough shape, desperately in need of some care and attention.

Thankfully, a wonderful grandfather-granddaughter duo stepped up to save it. Tony Peloquin and his granddaughter, McKinley student Quinn Hansen, took on the project as a team. They completely refurbished the library from top to bottom. Thanks to their hard work, it looks amazing and is ready to serve our Bulldogs once again. A huge thank you to Tony and Quinn for bringing this library back to life and giving it a wonderful second chance!

The concept is simple: if you have a book you've finished reading, bring it by and trade it for a new adventure. We encourage everyone to swing by this summer, grab a book, and keep the joy of reading alive all season long. Happy reading, McKinley families!

Summer is almost here and our Bulldogs are filled with excitement! There are some great programs that are free and available through the Anoka County Library system for kids to access. Check out this link for some creative ways to use the library for some summer fun! For some, reliable access to food may be a concern. Here are some community resources that are available for our Bulldog families.

I encourage all of our Bulldogs to continue to learn about and practice our Character Strong traits! Kindness, Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Creativity, Gratitude, Empathy, Perseverance, Cooperation and Honesty. I would LOVE to hear about how students show examples of these things! If you have a fun story over the summer, please share it! You can email me at: jessica.nessmanary@ahschools.us.

A huge THANK YOU to all of our Bulldog families and community who have come together to support our school! Our family sponsors for Thanksgiving and Making Spirits Bright programs made an impact right here within our school! Our Great McKinley Coin Collection remains one of the top donations in the district to the Anoka Christmas Committee! Our connections with Glen Cary Church, Oak Haven Church and Scooters Coffee were instrumental in providing support for our families and staff! I am amazed every year at these remarkable connections between our community and the students of McKinley!

Have an amazing summer! See you soon!

Jessica Ness-Manary, LSW

McKinley Elementary School Social Worker

763-506-3479

If your family is moving over the summer and your child(ren) will not be returning to McKinley Elementary in the fall, please contact the school office as soon as possible so we can update our records. Once your child's enrollment is complete at their new school, our office staff will transfer their records, ensuring a smooth transition.

Do you know families who have recently moved into our area? Please encourage them to register their child(ren) online at https://www.ahschools.us/enroll. If they have any questions, they can contact our office at 763-506-3400.

• Last Day of School - Friday, June 5
• Report Cards Available Online - Thursday, June 11

2026 - 2027

• Open House - Wednesday, September 2, 2026
• First Day of School - Tuesday, September 8, 2026
• Winter Break - Thursday, December 24 - Friday, January 1
• Spring Break - Monday, March 29 - Friday, April 2, 2027
• Last Day of School - Thursday, June 10, 2027

The Anoka-Hennepin School District will participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) starting Monday, June 15. Meals will be provided to all children 18 and under at no cost.

Summer meals: Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at 15 sites across the district. Meal availability and serving times vary from site to site and are subject to change. Review a list of sites and meal times for more information.

Children must be present to receive a meal. Meals will be served inside school buildings and must be eaten on site. Parents accompanying their children may purchase a meal. Adult breakfast is $4.00 and lunch is $6.00. Exact change is required, and no checks will be taken.

About the program: The USDA created the SFSP to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals during summer break, when they may not have access to school breakfast or lunch.

There’s an app for that: The Minnesota Department of Education and Hunger Impact Partners collaborated on the Free Meals for Kids mobile app to support summer meal programs utilizing the SFSP. Free Meals for Kids helps families and children locate free healthy meals across the metro area and Minnesota. You’re Invited to a Free Summer Meals Site

The app is free and available via the app store on your smartphone by searching “Free Meals for Kids.” Download from the App Store and Google Play.

For more information, please visit the Anoka-Hennepin Child Nutrition website or contact them directly at 763-506-1240 or staff.CnpEnrollment@ahschools.us.

Elementary students are the most at risk for summer learning loss, because they are learning so much each year. Without frequent chances to practice their new skills, it’s easy to forget them. So what can families do?

• Read with your children every day. When you read books they’re excited about, they’re more likely to pay attention.
• Play games. Many card games help with math skills, while other games help with school skills (like taking turns, waiting, and resisting impulses).
• Get out of the house. A change of scenery often stimulates the brain and supports learning.

More questions about summer support? Contact us, and we can brainstorm with you! prektograde3@ahschools.us