Mankato
MAPS Connection Newsletter
February 19th, 2025
School Start Times for 2 Hour Late
We received many questions from families asking what a two-hour late start means. Simply put, school start times shift exactly two hours later than usual. For example, if a school typically starts at 8:00 a.m., it will begin at 10:00 a.m. This change applies to all schools.
MAPS News Option on Website
Exciting things are happening at MAPS, and we want to make sure you never miss an update!
Our MAPS NEWS page is your one-stop destination for the latest insights, updates, and stories that matter. Whether it's groundbreaking research, upcoming events, community highlights, or important announcements, we've got it all in one place.
By following MAPS NEWS, you’ll:
✅ Stay ahead with real-time updates
✅ Get exclusive insights into our latest projects
✅ Be the first to know about upcoming events and opportunities
✅ Engage with a community that shares your passion
Don’t miss out! Visit the MAPS NEWS page now and hit Subscribe to stay connected.
Thank you for being a valued part of the MAPS community!
Infinite Campus Parent Contact Preferences
If you are the parent or guardian of a MAPS student, we want to make sure you’re receiving all the necessary communication.
Please check the following:
Do you have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal Account?
- If not, please follow THIS LINK to create one.
Do you have an account, but you're unsure about your contact preferences?
- If so, follow THIS LINK to review and update your settings.
If you have checked your preferences and still haven’t received a message, we recommend contacting your phone carrier, as some carriers may have issues with third-party or mass messaging services.
For further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to Infinite Campus support at icsupport@isd77.org.
Enroll Your Child in Kindergarten Today!
Enrolling your child in kindergarten is an exciting milestone! Our kindergarten teams are dedicated to creating a caring, structured, and engaging learning environment where your child can thrive.
Why enroll now?
By enrolling early, your family will receive important updates and information to help prepare for your child’s kindergarten experience.
Get started today!
Visit isd77.org/enroll to complete the registration process. Once enrolled, your child’s school will keep you informed about upcoming events and next steps.
📅 Save the Date: Kindergarten Connection – April 10
Have questions or need assistance? Our registration team is here to help! Call us at 507-387-2125. We can’t wait to welcome your child to MAPS kindergarten!
MAPS StringFest to Showcase Record Number of Young Musicians
Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) invites you to experience the extraordinary talent of its string students at StringFest 2025 on Tuesday, March 11, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center – Grand Hall. The concert begins at 5:00 p.m., with admission priced at $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for students, and $20 for families (no activity passes accepted).
StringFest features students in grades 6-12 from Prairie Winds Middle School, Dakota Meadows Middle School, Mankato East High School, and Mankato West High School. This year’s event marks a milestone, with more than 325 students participating—a record number in the festival’s history!
Triple A Awards
What is the Triple 'A' Award?
This award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award, commonly known as the Triple 'A' Award, honors high school seniors throughout the state who have a 3.0 or higher-grade point average and who participate in League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.
This year features Mankato East High School students Seth Possin and Jayda Swalve. The Mankato West Students recognized are Chase Lindeman and Jillian Olsen.
ExCEL Awards
Congratulations to the #MAPSready MSHSL ExCEL Award winners, from Mankato East Adalynn Lurken and Aidan Burns and from Mankato West Zoe Williams and Mason Schreiber!
Both Adalynn and Aiden were chosen to represent East at the state level. They will participate in an on-court award ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Girls Basketball State Tournament in March.
MAPS Students on the National Stage
Mankato East Cougars Dylan Vasquez and Leo Burns have earned national acclaim by securing 2nd place in this year’s GameIt coding competition with their innovative game, Piondaquest. This prestigious award, chosen by industry experts in software engineering and game design, highlights their exceptional coding and game development skills.
The GameIt competition challenges students nationwide to design and develop original games, fostering creativity, technical expertise, and teamwork. This year’s competition emphasized several key elements for success:
- Accessibility Matters: Games with both desktop (keyboard/mouse) and mobile controls (touch) are more accessible to public voters.
- Cohesive Gaming Experience: A consistent graphic style (e.g., all hand-drawn or all vector style) enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Be Bold and Unique: While platform games are popular, standing out often requires a bold choice of game genre.
Thank You Taylor Foundation
The Taylor Foundation has been a valued partner in our community, and we deeply appreciate their continued commitment to education. On behalf of our students, staff, and families—thank you for your generosity and for investing in the future of our young learners.
College in Schools - Concurrent Enrollment in MAPS
We are excited to share the growing success of our College in the Schools (C.E.) program! Over the past few years, our students have been exploring career paths and earning college credit through a variety of courses.
Here's a look at the impressive enrollment growth:
- 2022/2023: 63 students enrolled in Exploring Careers in Education (MnTC) and Mechatronics.
- 2023/2024: 125 students enrolled in Exploring Careers in Education (MnTC), Human Development (MnTC), Public Speaking (MnTC), and Mechatronics.
- 2024/2025: 252 students enrolled in Exploring Careers in Education (MnTC), Human Development (MnTC), Public Speaking (MnTC), College Algebra (MnTC), Foundations Writing & Rhetoric (MnTC), and Mechatronics.
Coming Fall 2025:
- Our Natural World (MnTC)
- American Government (MnTC)
- Medical Terminology
Community Education
Spirit of Youth Nomination Form OPEN
The Spirit of Youth Award recognizes youth and adults who inspire and enable positive change within the Greater Mankato community. By fostering an environment that uplifts these values, nominees serve as role models who contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for all.
The 2025 Spirit of Youth Award nomination window will close March 1, 2025.
For more details on the nomination process and to submit your nomination, visit https://www.mankatocer.com/ref/spirit-of-youth-award
Calendar Reminders
Monday, March 3, 2025
5:30 p.m. - School Board Meeting - Mankato Room, IGC
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Early Release
Friday, March 14, 2025
No School for K-8 Students - Prep for Conferences
Monday, March 17, 2025
5:30 p.m. - School Board Meeting & Work Session - MN River Room, IGC
- No School for K-5 Students - Conferences
Thursday, March 27, 2025
No School for K-12 Students - Conferences
Friday, March 28, 2025
No School for K-12 Students - Conferences
Monday, March 31, 2025
No School for K-12 Students - In Observance of Eid
MAPS in the Media
Prep Athlete of the Week, Davaris Woods of Mankato East - Free Press - 2/17/2025
Prep Athlete of the Week, Ella Mullenbach of Mankato West - Free Press - 2/17/2025
Names and notables (Kiwanis Club's February Student of the Month) - Free Press - 2/17/2025
Tostenson to take over for Krusemark as Mankato West softball coach - Free Press - 2/15/2025
- Construction to begin in March at Mankato West High School - KEYC - 2/13/2025
- East picks up a win over GSL/Lester Prairie - KEYC - 2/13/2025
- Golden Apple: Inside the classroom of Kayla Koeppen - KEYC - 2/13/2024
Mankato West boys win makeup game at Xcel Energy Center - Free Press - 2/11/2025
- East boys basketball defeats Faribault - KEYC - 2/11/2025
- West boys hockey ties with Chaska - KEYC - 2/11/2025
Mankato West boys playing tonight at Xcel Energy Center - Free Press - 2/10/2025
Prep Athlete of the Week, Jaeger Zimmerman of Mankato West - Free Press - 2/10/2025
Prep Athlete of the Week, Maddie Cooney of Mankato East/Loyola - 2/10/2025
West's Jacobson wins Big Nine all-around title - Free Press - 2/8/2025
Mankato West's Livi Downs commits to play basketball at South Dakota - Free Press - 2/8/2025
- West boys hockey to play at the Xcel Energy Center - KEYC - 2/8/2025
Bartell wins two events for East swim team - Free Press - 2/6/2025
Mankato East girls top Owatonna in double overtime - Free Press - 2/5/2025
Tosch, Schreiber help Mankato West boys to crosstown victory - Free Press - 2/4/2025
Prep Athlete: Alayna Smith’s remarkable journey in net - KEYC - 2/5/2025
Mankato East's Madson breaks school records - Free Press - 2/4/2025
Area teachers named candidates for Minnesota Teacher of the Year - Free Press - 2/3/2025
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