Sanford Family Newsletter

September 26, 2025

Good People,

A highlight of this week was our author/illustrator visit yesterday. Individual classroom teachers chose to bring their class down to the auditorium for the talk. Our students asked wonderful questions! Students were delighted to meet the author/illustrator and thrilled to get their books signed. During his talk, ND Stevenson talked about wanting to be an author as a middle schooler and our students asked many questions about what it is like to work as an author and illustrator. ND recommended that students create vision boards like he did for writing his book and that "your first idea doesn't have to be your last idea." It was a fun and informative event!

In Partnership,

Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.

Principal

Maria Sanford Middle School

For our Fall Spirit Week, students have selected our dress up day themes:

Monday: Pajama Day

Wednesday: Pink Day

Friday: Jersey Day

Our Fall Spirit week is also Roosevelt's Homecoming week so we encourage you to visit Roosevelt Athletic games for fall family fun!

Tuesday happens to be the annual Orange shirt day. Each year, September 30 marks the Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, which is led by Indigenous communities to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities. The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that “Every Child Matters.” Please join in wearing an orange shirt!

Registration opens Monday for after-school!

Families who need bussing should register by Thursday, October 2nd to have bussing for after-school on day one. Registrations that come in after that date will have a delay in transportation.

October 12 | Yo Soy! Take time this fall to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Mia Family Day! Contribute to a community mosaic in our studios with Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts, learn about Colombian folklore through dance with performances by Colombia Live, experience traditional Aztec drumming and dance with Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue, and grab lunch at El Jefe food truck. Enjoy short films with the Kid Flicks: ¡Hola Cine! shorts program, co-presented by MSP Film Society’s 13th Cine Latino Film Festival. You don’t want to miss a chance to engage with this vibrant community! This event is FREE. Event Details: • When: Sunday, Oct. 12th • Time: 10-5pm • Location: 2400 Third Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55404

Applications completed by our families:

• generate millions of dollars in funding for MPS and our schools, students, and families.

• determine benefits for students and families like free bus cards and discounted internet service.

• increased funding for direct student instructions

• increased funding for digital learning and technology

• increased availability of after schools and summer programs

Families can complete Applications for Educational Benefits on SchoolCafe for the 2025-26 school year. Paper forms are available in the school office.

Save the Date for Sanford Night Out! The event will be held at Arbeiter Brewing on October 23rd from 5p-8p. Join us for a kid free night of craft beer, snacks and a silent auction to support our school. There is a suggested admission donation of $10/person. All are welcome! We hope to see you there! We are still looking for donations for our silent auction. Contact Allison Bodkin at allisonfbodkin@yahoo.com with your donations or questions.

Our next meeting is October 21st from 6:00p-7:30p in the media center at Sanford. Enter through the main entrance - Door 12. All are welcome!

To contact us or to sign up for our email communications, please send an email to: sanfordmspta@gmail.com.

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