October - 2025

Dear MSE Families,

As we move into November, I want to take a moment to share my gratitude for our incredible school community. It has been an exciting and uplifting few weeks at MSE! I recently saw the posting regarding complimenting our kids and wanted to share it with you. While they certainly don't like us knowing how much our words of affirmation mean to them, they certainly make a huge difference for pre-teens and teens to hear them and help build them up during such a hard developmental stage of life.

We had a wonderful turnout for both our Parent-Teacher Conferences and Family Knight. It was great to see so many families engaging with teachers, celebrating student success, and connecting with one another. Thank you for making time to be part of these important partnerships that help every learner thrive.

Our WEB Leaders have also been shining examples of leadership and service. Whether welcoming new students, helping with school events, or modeling positive behavior, they continue to make a difference in building a welcoming and supportive environment. Be sure to see the recent leadership development opportunity they recently had.

In addition, our annual food drive received an excellent response—thank you to everyone who contributed! Your generosity will directly benefit families in our community and serves as a meaningful reminder of the power of kindness and teamwork.

Looking ahead, please remember to take time to vote either today or tomorrow! We will hold class meetings on November 10. These gatherings give students the opportunity to reflect on their goals, celebrate successes, and strengthen our school culture. I'll be sure to send the presentation out to you for us to continue to work together to support shared expectations for a safe and successful experience at school for everyone.

Thank you for your continued advocacy and partnership. Together, we’re ensuring that MSE is a place where every learner feels seen, heard, valued, and respected.

Warm regards,
Mrs. Kelly

STMA Middle School East Principal

The November 4 ballot will include two referendum questions to support the District’s day-to-day operations (levy) and important facility projects (bond). The requested funding will provide the needed funding to maintain programming and staff and complete safety and security, technology, building maintenance, and academic space projects.

The need for voter-approved funding to support our school district is not new. As a result of unsuccessful requests in recent years, the District has made over $7.3 million in reductions. As a result, we have larger classes, fewer programs, and limited access to important support services. Furthermore, we have delayed numerous facility improvement projects that are needed to maintain our schools and support student learning.

The District will be sharing a lot of information in the coming weeks regarding the referendum and the importance of these two ballot questions. Please take the time to become an informed voter. You can visit the referendum page at STMA.K12.MN.US/VOTE2025. There will be several informational meetings for you to hear from the District firsthand and get your questions answered.

Join Us for Community Informational Sessions

All will be held in the STMA Middle School West Auditorium at 11343 50th St NE Albertville MN.

• Tuesday, 10/07; 6:00 P.M
• Saturday, 10/11; 10:00 A.M
• Monday, 10/27; 6:00 P.M

Our daily schedule has shifted by three minutes to allow students a bit more time to transition from lunch and recess to their next classes. This new schedule is now in effect. Thank you for your flexibility as we make this adjustment to better support students throughout the day!

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

Doors open: 8:00 AM

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

We love having families join us for lunch! Parents are welcome to eat with their student and may bring in outside food. Please note that third-party deliveries (like DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.) are not allowed during the school day. If a delivery does arrive, students can pick it up after school. Thank you for helping us keep lunchtime safe and smooth for everyone! 🍕🌮🍔

Upcoming Dates at MSE

• 11/4/2025 – No School - Staff Workshop 🚫🏫 ✏️
• 11/7/2025 – 6:00–8:00 PM - 5th & 6th Grade Activity Night 🎉🕺
• 11/13/2025 – 6:00–8:00 PM – Band Concert @ Middle School West Auditorium 🎶🥁
• 11/18/2025 – 6:00–8:00 PM – Choir Concert @ High School PAC 🎤🎼
• 11/26/2025 - 11/28/2025 – No School 🚫🏫🦃

Parents are the heart of our school community, and your voice matters. The Parent Advisory Committee at Middle School East gives families the chance to share input, ask questions, and partner with us to make our school even stronger. Please join us and be an active part of your child’s middle school experience.

Monday, February 2nd, 2026

Monday, April 6th, 2026

Meetings will be help on the dates listed above, in the Middle School East Media Center. Exact times for the second and third meetings of the year are to be determined, based on parent feedback, through the sign up form. Please complete the registration form using the QR code above.

On October 8th, WEB leaders from Middle School East attended the Central Division Student Leadership Workshop in Foley! It was a fun and inspiring day designed to help students build confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of responsibility. 💪🎓

MSE students, along with students from Buffalo, Becker, Foley, and Middle School West, participated in a variety of activities, including team-building challenges, group discussions, and goal setting. 🤝🗣️🎯Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to work with their peers, share ideas, and reflect on what it means to be a positive leader in their school and community. 💭🌍✨

By the end of the event, students left feeling empowered, motivated, and ready to take on leadership roles both inside and outside the classroom. The experience encouraged them to step up, support others, and lead by example!

STMA WEB leaders sponsored a food drive throughout the month of October, collecting more than 3,000 food items to support the STMA Food Pantry. The school community came together to donate canned goods, boxed meals, and other essentials to help local families in need.

🏆 KORT classes competed against one another to see who could collect the most donations.
🥇 In first place was Ms. Forbes' KORT, collecting 448 items!
🥈 Mrs. Steinke's KORT followed with 295 donations.
🥉 In third place, it was a close race, but Mr. Weber's KORT came through with 261 items donated.
👏 An honorable mention goes to the WEB KORT, who organized the food drive and contributed an amazing 425 items! 🌟

With the amount of items donated, Ms. Forbes' KORT earned a Dunkin' Donuts party! 🎉☕🍩

While the competition was fun, the real reward is making a difference for our local community. The kindness and community spirit MSE students showed is priceless.

We’ve heard wonderful feedback about using the ParentVUE app to submit absences, appointments, and early releases. Families are finding it to be a quick and convenient tool, and we’re glad it’s making things easier for you across all grade levels, K–12.

As a reminder here is how you can report your student's attendance:

• Step 1: Use the ParentVUE app – Log in, select the Attendance tab, and enter the details.

• Step 2: Email your child’s school at meattendance@mystma.org if the app is not available.

• Step 3: Call the school office at 763-497-2655 option 1.

**For support with your ParentVUE account, please contact the Main Office at 763-497-2655**

Middle School East offers the following sports for 7th and 8th grade for the Winter Season:

• Girls Basketball
• Boys Basketball
• Wrestling

Click here to view our Winter Brochure for more opportunities for 5-8th grade students.

We’re always looking to connect students with the right activities. If you or your student have any questions about sports, clubs, or other opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help!

Molly Lindquist - Activity Director & Dean of Students

We’re excited to launch Senior Knights, a program that celebrates and connects our senior citizens by inviting them into our schools to see the wonderful things happening at STMA! Please click on the flyer below for more information!

Students have been sharpening their Math and ELA skills using IXL in Armor Up, Math and ELA classes, and working at home. Middle School East students have answered a whopping 250,000 questions this Fall, working 3,329 hours, and mastering 3,675 skills. Way to go MSE Learners!

IXL Parent Information Sheet

IXL Parent Information Video

Families may qualify for Educational Meal Benefits, which can help with school meal costs and other school-based supports funded by state and federal programs.

If you believe your family may qualify, please complete an Educational Benefit Application. Applications can be completed online through Stratapps, or you can download and print a paper application here. Paper copies are also available in all school offices. Completed forms can be returned to any school office or your child’s cafeteria manager.

Please note:

• A new application must be submitted each school year.

• Only one application per household is needed.

• You will be notified by mail regarding your child’s eligibility.

If your student has misplaced an item on the bus, please contact Vision Transportation directly at 763-497-0102 for assistance.

🎒 Lost & Found Donations

Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the following months:

• December, February, and April/May.

Please make sure your family’s contact information—including local emergency contacts—is current and accurate in ParentVUE. This is especially important in case of an emergency during the school day.

As part of STMA School District practice, we ask that parents pick up their child within 60 minutes of receiving a call about illness or injury. Please have a back-up plan (family member, friend, or neighbor) who can pick up your child if you are unavailable.

If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your student, please let the nurse know in advance and ensure that person has a photo ID when they arrive.

Mrs. Hennies:

Welcome to the East Media Center! This is my first year at East and my 14th in education. I began as a Kindergarten teacher and have worked with students PreK–12. I love helping kids find books they connect with and partnering with teachers on reading and tech skills. I look forward to working with you and your student this year—feel free to reach out anytime at laurenh@mystma.org. Happy Reading!

Mrs. Johnston:
I’m excited to support students in the ME Media Centers and share my love of reading, research, and learning. I enjoy creating a welcoming space where students feel confident to explore and grow. Outside of school, I love traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on my kids at their games. I look forward to helping students discover their passions this year!

Our family CharacterDare challenges provide a variety of opportunities to engage in actviities designed to increase connection and conversation at home. They also provide students with more opportunities to practice habits and skills discussed in class.

In addition to the title and the challenge itself, you'll notice a couple of symbols in the top corner. The weight represents how challenging we think the Dare is to complete. The single plate weights are lower level Dares. The more weight added, the more the Dare is designed to stretch you.

Some of the Dares are designed to be quick wins that can be accomplished in less than a minute. Others may required a bit of time. A full clock represents a more ongoing Dare that might extend throughout or beyond a week.

As you prepare for your child's transition to Middle School East, please know that we are here to help your child be successful. Please don't hesitate to contact us at 763-497-2655.

• Jennifer Kelly, Principal
• David Holler, Assistant Principal
• Molly Lindquist, 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: jenniferk@mystma.org

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

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

Facebook: facebook.com/stmamse/

Twitter: @stma_ms_east