Pony E-News

Floors are being scrubbed. Kitchen shelves and cabinets are being stocked. And lessons are being finalized! Staff across the district are hard at work getting things ready for students to begin arriving next month. We are so excited to kick off the school year!

First Days Of School:

• Monday, Aug. 17: Orientation/first day, grades 6 and 9 only

• Tuesday, Aug. 18: First day, grades 7-8, 10-12

• Thursday, Aug. 20: First day, K-5

• Monday, Aug. 24: First day, PreK

• Friday, Sept 4 & Monday, Sept. 7: NO SCHOOL

School Hours:

• Elementary: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
• Middle Schools: 8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• High School: 8:35 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
• St. Croix Valley ALC & Bridge Transition: 8:45 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.

Make sure your family is ready for the start of a new year as well by reading through this important newsletter and checking out our website.👇

Schools will be sending class placement and schedule information out to families starting next week. Be sure to watch your email for more information.

Make sure your child has what they need for the year ahead:

• School supply lists can be found on our website.
• Remember, every student has access to an iPad or Chromebook device at school. Learn about 1:1 technology program.

We've redesigned our bus routes for the new school year to create a smarter, more efficient transportation system. That means your bus service or eligibility may look different from previous year. Be sure to check out the information and FAQs at stillwaterschools.org/bus before you contact the Transportation Office with questions.

Preliminary routes will be shared next week, and will continue to be updated as we start the new year. Be sure to check the free MyRide K-12 app often for the latest information. Once the app is installed, you can choose to receive push notifications if there are any changes to your route. Search for the app in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

At the start of every school year, parents/guardians are required to sign two forms to confirm they’ve reviewed our district handbook and are up-to-date on district policies, expectations and more. All required annual forms are now available under the "Forms" button in PowerSchool. You must sign off for each student.

Families may be eligible for educational benefits to help cover the cost of school related expenses. Fill out an Application for Educational Benefits and you may qualify to receive free and/or reduced fees for sports, activities, instruments, field trips and more. Apply now. You must fill out the form each year.

Any time your child is due for an immunization, updated records showing compliance must be submitted to your child's school health office.

Even though school meals are free, students must still use their PIN. Students not knowing their lunch PIN is the number one thing that slows down the lines and prevents students from having enough time to eat. You can find your child's lunch PIN number in PowerSchool and SchoolCafé.

All of our schools are phone and device-free! Please leave phones, smart watches (including Gizmos), ear buds, personal laptops or tablets and other personal devices at home. If your child needs to bring their device to school, they must turn them off and lock them up in the designated location.

If a student is found using a phone or personal device during the day, it will be taken away and a parent/guardian must come to school to pick it up. Learn more about our Phone-Free Policy.

PowerSchool allows caregivers to access all of the tools they need to connect with their child's school. Go to the PowerSchool Parent Portal to report absences, pay for field trips, and view grades and assignments. You can even find links to SchoolCafe (to view lunch menus) and the online payment system (for field trips or activity fees) within the portal.

No need to bookmark websites or remember all the different systems. Just sign on once with your district-assigned Google account and get all the info you need.

Learn more about how to log in to PowerSchool.

Our Family Tech Help Desk is available to help families struggling with the technology needed to start the new school year. They're available to troubleshoot help solve issues logging into various online resources. Contact them at 651-351-8404 or familyhelp@stillwaterschools.org. You can also visit our tech support webpage for tutorials and FAQs.

Superintendent Update: Dr. Michael Funk provided an update on construction progress at Lake Elmo Elementary and Bayport Elementary, including upcoming family preview nights in August and community open house events in early September. Watch for more information about these events on our website and social media channels in the coming weeks.

He also shared that a middle school working group will be convened to review the middle school schedule to ensure it supports student learning, meets instructional goals, and provides students with meaningful access to electives.

Additionally, transportation information will be shared with families the week of August 3, 2026.

Academic Data Review:

Elsa Mundt, education data analyst & assessment supervisor and Carissa Keister, chief of staff, shared an update on academic achievement, student behavior, and student experience data. The presentation includes a review of student, family, and staff feedback regarding the district's decision to align daily school start times with adolescent sleep research, an analysis of peer district start times, and an update on the first year of the district's three-year academic calendar pilot. You can view the complete presentation here via the school board agenda. If you prefer to watch via YouTube, you can do so here.

Teaching and Learning Update:

Skye Hoekstra, literacy coordinator, provided an update on districtwide literacy achievement data, implementation of new K-5 literacy curriculum, and the impact of professional development in the Science of Reading.

2025-26 was a big year for literacy overall including these highlights:

• 250 people completed the Science of Reading Training

• New Phonics Curriculum K-2

• New Knowledge Building Curriculum K-5 (English Sections)

• New Reading Intervention during PONY Time at the middle schools

• Piloted Reading Intervention at the SAHS

• Curriculum Adoption Committee for Spanish Immersion

Thank you to our teachers, instructional staff, school leaders, and community volunteers for working together to strengthen and align literacy instruction across the district.

You can find the complete presentation here or watch via YouTube here.

The next school board meetings will be held on Monday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Meetings can be watched live online or attended in-person at the Oak Park Learning Center, 6355 Osman Ave N, Stillwater.

Looking for a rewarding role right here in your community with a schedule that matches the school calendar? Stillwater Area Public Schools is hiring for the upcoming school year, and we want you on our team! We offer flexible hours, and most positions include the bonus of no nights or weekends.

We Are Hiring For:

• Adventure Club Staff (Our biggest need!)
• Nutrition Services
• Teaching Assistants & Paraprofessionals
• Van Drivers & Custodians
  
  

Some positions may be combined to make them benefits eligible!

Thursday, August 13 | 3–6 p.m.

Lake Elmo Elementary School
10928 10th St. N., Lake Elmo

• Chat with our friendly district staff.
• Interview right on the spot!
  
  

Spanish-language assistance will be available. If you need assistance in another language, please let us know when you arrive.

Can't attend? Apply anytime at stillwaterschools.org/careers.

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