News and events-April 2026
April 23, 2026
Upcoming Events
April 30: Welcome to Kindergarten Night
May 1: No School-Staff Development
May 8: Carnival
May 15: Rum River Against Hunger Packing Day
May 20: RAFT Meeting
May 25: No School-Memorial Day
May 29: Track and Field Day (more info to come)
June 5: Last Day of School for Students
Reminders from the Office
Birthday Treats & Toys
We can no longer accept Birthday treats or toys of any kind for distribution in classrooms. Thank you for your understanding.
If a teacher is having a classroom party they may request specific donations.
Student Pickup During School Hours
Please send the Rum River Elementary Note with your student on the day of early pick up with all the specific details listed. The student will show that to the teacher and then send it down to the office.
Our procedure at Rum River is to call the student down once a parent arrives to pick up so that they do not miss important classroom time. Please plan ahead for timing.
Always bring your drivers license any time you are planning on entering the building for pickup or volunteering.
If there is an unexpected pickup, please call the office at least 2 hours in advance.
If you need to pick up your child early, please do so before 3:45pm. After that time, students are getting ready to leave for the day and may not be in their classrooms, which makes it difficult for the office to help you.
Student Drop Off Information
Please DO NOT drop off your students too early in the morning before school. Students have been dropped off before 9:00 and there is no adult supervision at that time. If they need to eat breakfast, you may drop off no earlier than 9:10. If students are not eating breakfast, drop off is 9:15. With extreme weather conditions at times, we do not want students waiting outside. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Lunchroom Visitors
All lunchroom visitors must be listed as an emergency contact. If you are wanting a visitor who is not listed as an emergency contact to join your student for lunch, please call the main office. All lunchroom visitors are required to check in with the main office with a drivers license before entering the building. Please note that space is limited in the cafeteria for lunchroom visitors. This year we are asking parents and guests to sign up for a lunchroom slot through sign-up genius, the links for September and October can be found below.
Parents and Guardians
If you are going on vacation and your children will be staying home and still attending school, please send a note giving us contact information for the people caring for your children. We would need this information in case your child gets sick or injured. We would share this with their teachers and the health office. We would appreciate this information very much.
Lunch Sign-Up Links
Remainder of the year lunch sign-up links
This year, if you or other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.) wish to join students for lunch, all will need to sign up using Sign Up Genius. Sign-ups need to occur by 10:00 AM the morning you want to sign up. Each grade level has only six slots available per day. We have provided a link to sign up for lunch for April, May and June.
April:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CADA62FABFFCF8-62333032-april
May:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CADA62FABFFCF8-62762978-mayparent
June:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CADA62FABFFCF8-62929379-june
Rum River Wolf Choir
The Spring Wolf Choir will be performing for family and friends on Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 PM in the Rum River Gym. If your child is performing, please have your child come to the music room at 5:50. Students should dress up and wear something nice for the concert. See you there!
RAFT
Annual Carnival Fundraiser - Friday, May 8th - 6-8 pm
We are just a few weeks away from our Annual Carnival Fundraiser!
In years past, we have asked for snack cake donations from Rum River Families to make the very popular Snack Track midway game a success. This year we have received an incredible donation from Bimbo Bakeries which fully supports the Snack Track. In place of requesting snack cake boxes, we ask that you help fulfill items on our Carnival Wishlist. These items will be used for the Carnival Raffle and midway game prizes.
To bring to life all that is planned we are in need of many incredible volunteers and we need YOUR help! Volunteers will be given 4 FREE GAME TICKETS for helping out!!
Volunteers can fill out the Rum River Volunteer Application, if not done so already. Then you can sign up HERE to volunteer at Carnival. Help make this event amazing, then go and enjoy the festivities yourself!
Entry wristbands will be available for pre-order and include 2 free midway game tickets. New this year will be the option to also purchase midway game tickets for pre-order. You can skip the long entry lines and spend more time having fun! More information will be available soon with ordering information.
We hope to see you all there!
RAFT Board Positions
We’re also looking ahead to the 2026–2027 school year and have openings for the following board positions:
- Co-Chair
- Secretary
If you’re interested, please submit nominations or express interest to RAFT by May 1st at rre.raft@gmail.com. Voting for these positions will take place at the next RAFT meeting on May 20th.
RRAH
Join us as a volunteer for our Rum River Against Hunger packing event coming on Friday, May 15th!
For over a decade, Rum River Elementary has empowered students to fight global hunger through our annual meal-packing event. This hands-on project shows them what it feels like to work together and support others. We need your help to make our event a success. Join us as a volunteer by signing up using the link below. There are a variety of times available. Feel free to sign up for more than one!
Fundraisers:
Thank you for supporting our recent fundraisers. Your generosity helped us raise money to move closer to our goal!
Zero Gravity Jump Event- supported packing 1,162 meals!
Green Valley Gift Card Sales and Donations supported packing 1,733 meals!
Hat/PJ Days
April 24 - Hat Day - $1
May 8 - PJ Day - $2
May 15 - Hat Day - $2 RRAH EVENT DAY
Thank you for your support!
Volunteer News
This month and next we've got lunchroom support, MCA testing hall monitors for April, and then come the main events in May. The Carnival and our Rum River Against Hunger food packing event! We especially need support for those events.
Please take a look at the volunteer opportunities below and sign up if you're willing and able. Thank you!
April Lunchroom Support
Multiple Dates
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45AEAB2BA5FFC34-63006599-april#/
MCA Testing - Wing Monitor
Multiple Dates in April
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45AEAB2BA5FFC34-63049480-mcatesting#/
May Lunchroom Support
Multiple Dates
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45AEAB2BA5FFC34-63393908-maylunchroom#/
Carnival
Friday, May 8th
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45AEAB2BA5FFC34-63119644-copy#/
Rum River Against Hunger
Friday, May 15th
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45AEAB2BA5FFC34-63529576-rum river#/
Shelly Zenner
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Rum River Elementary
Office: 763-506-8230
Get Involved, Become A Volunteer!
Office Hours
Mon - 9:00-4:30
Tues - 9:00-4:00
Thurs - 9:00-4:30
Hours May Vary
Become a Reading Tutor
Help Our Students Shine – Become a Reading Tutor!
Students who read have the power to succeed. Rum River is looking for a Reading Corps tutor to help our students become strong readers.
Reading Tutors serve during school hours and spend their days working with small groups of K-3 students to boost their skills and confidence. With the support of an on-site coach, tutors use activities proven to help students become stronger readers.
No experience? No problem. Our tutors come from all walks of life. Whether you're a recent grad, career changer, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, you can make a great tutor!
Part-time and full-time positions for the 2026-27 school year are available beginning in August or October. Tutors receive a paycheck every two weeks plus an education award to pay for qualifying college tuition or student loans. Tutors aged 55 or older may gift the education award to their child, grandchild, stepchild, step-grandchild, or foster child.
Ready to make a difference in our community and help students succeed? Learn more about the Rum River position and apply here. Questions? Email Join@Ampact.US or call 866.859.2825.
Parking Lot Procedures
Parking Lot Procedures for Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up
If you have not had a chance yet, please make sure to review our arrival and dismissal procedures below.
For parents/guardians picking up students at the end of the day, PLEASE use the pick-up lane. Once the line starts moving, it goes fast. We understand there may be some days when you cannot use the pick-up lane and need to park. In this case, please meet your child at the crosswalk and escort them to your vehicle. We have had a number of students walking/running across the parking lot at dismissal to meet their parent/guardian in their vehicle, which creates safety concerns because many other vehicles are exiting the lot. Ideally, we would like everyone to use the pick-up lane to reduce parking lot congestion and have fewer students using the crosswalk.
For parents/guardians dropping students off, please be mindful of our arrival and dismissal processes, including staff support and direction while at RumRiver dropping off your student(s). Please only park and utilize our marked parking areas (handicap accessible, etc.) if needed for your student and/or family, as many members of our learning community need these spaces for safe access to Rum River. We have some families who have been given permission to get out of the car (near the front of the drop-off and pick-up line) to support special needs students who utilize Door 11 on the SE side of the school for arrival and dismissal. Please be patient and give these families some grace as they drop off and pick up their children.
Please note that for student pick-up, there is a staging/waiting area for traffic. During dismissal, RumRiver staff will direct traffic into the flow of traffic (which brings vehicles to the front of the school to pick up students.)
Rum River Apparel Store
Spring has officially arrived, and so has our latest drop at the Rum River Apparel Store!
We’ve added some fresh "Spring Additions" to the lineup so you can refresh your wardrobe while showing your school spirit.
Caught Ya Reading
If your child loves reading and a chance at a new book this program is for you. Please send pictures of your child reading outside school to Alice Hanley at alice.hanley@ahschools.us. The pictures will be displayed on the TV monitors throughout the school. Three students from each grade level will be drawn to receive free book compliments of RAFT each month.
Rum River Elementary Golf Classic
Adopt a Storm Drain
Is your family looking for a way to help keep your neighborhood and community clean? With Earth Day being yesterday we thought we would pass on a simple yet impactful way to help the environment. While there are drains around our school, they tend to not gather a ton of debris so drains around your neighborhood are another great option. Gather your neighbors or family and adopt a storm drain in your area.
Adopt a storm drain link:
Parent Input Form
The parent input form is an optional form for families to fill out each school year. The information provided will assist in placing your child in a classroom that complements his/her learning style. If you are interested in providing this information, please fill out one form for each child attending Rum River for the 26-27 school year. Please do not request a specific teacher. Follow this link to complete the form; forms will be accepted until May 22nd.
Virtual Flyer Gallery
Opportunities for families from community groups
The Anoka-Hennepin School District allows qualifying flyers from nonprofit groups to be distributed at school and sent home with students. These flyers have gone through the district approval process. A virtual gallery of flyers is also available. These events, classes and activities are not sponsored or endorsed by Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
Pre-K to Grade 3 Parenting Education
Did you know?
Being outside and playing games can have a positive impact on your child! This month, as the weather gets nicer, focus on spending extra time outside to give your children the chance to move their body and use their imagination!
A 2017 study found that playing outside can support mental health and brain health (McCormick, R., 2017)
A study in Norway found that more time outside could lower the chance of showing ADHD symptoms (Ulset, C., Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., Bekkhus, M., Borge, A,, 2017).
Time spent outside helps build resilience, creativity and social skills through risk-taking and problem-solving (Unicef, 2025).
Get information about Pre-K to Grade 3 Parenting Education online or contact a parent educator at prektograde3@ahschools.us.
This e-newsletter is published by Rum River Elementary School. Questions, comments or concerns about the school e-newsletter? Contact us.