Dear Maxfield Families,

We have completed our first six weeks of school and our scholars are settling in quite well. We are welcoming changes in the weather just as we are welcoming all the scholars meeting and exceeding expectations. Soo... Hello fall! This is a short week, with temperatures in the fall range! Make sure to dress your student appropriately 🍂

This Monday, October 14th, is Indigenous Peoples' Day, this is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. As a district as well as a community we will acknowledge and spend some time learning about our Indigenous brothers and sisters just as we have been learning about Hispanic Heritage Month. It is important for us as a community to recognize the identity of all the scholars in our community. When we know and understand we are able to see different perspectives and work in harmony. To continue this week, Wednesday. October 16th, is Unity Day. We are encouraging all our scholars and staff to wear Orange to be united against bullying.

This coming week we have a quiet and short week. This is MEA or Minnesota Education Association Weekend, is a long weekend in October when Minnesota students and families get a break from school. MEA conference is the largest one-day professional development event for educators in Minnesota. There is NO SCHOOL on Thursday and Friday October 17th and 18th.

Please check our school website regularly maxfield.spps.org for information and updates. You can also check out our 2024-25 School Year Calendar . If you have questions the website doesn’t answer, please call the front office at 651-293-8680.

Yours in partnership,

Dr. Leslie Hitchens

Principal

• Tommie Tuesdays: We are encouraging our scholars to wear their purple collaborative shirt on Tuesdays!
• Restorative Practice Family Night October 24th 4-6pm
• 09/15/24 | Hispanic Heritage Month
• 10/17/24 and 10/18/24 | MEA PD for Teachers | No School
• 10/25/24 | Conference Prep | No School
• 11/01/24 | American Indian Heritage Month
• 11/7/24 & 11/14/24 | Conferences from 3:20-7:00
• 11/08/24 | Conferences from 8:00-12:00
• 11/28/24 and 11/29/24 Holiday Break | No School
• 11/14/24 | Picture Re-take
• 12/23/24 - 1/5/24 Winter Break | No School

Hey Hey Listen Up! We continue to demonstrate our use of PBIS C.A.R.E.S. all year. C.A.R.E.S. stands for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Respect. We began the year with Cooperation and will continue to build upon these behaviors. As we move into Assertion, we will teach and model, or expressing a strong belief as a fact even if others oppose it.

Attendance is an important part of scholar success. Missing less than nine days of school each year helps students to stay engaged, experience success in their schoolwork and keep on track to graduate on time.​ We recognize there are many reasons a student may be absent from school. If your student is ill, check SPPS’s illness guidelines at spps.org/studentwellness. Please call the main office 651.293-8680 at your earliest convenience if your child will be absent. Communication between home and school is vital to a positive school experience. More information about consistent attendance can be found at spps.org/attendance.

If you have questions or concerns with getting your scholar(s) to school please contact school counselor Kary Kuenzli, 651-744-7644 or text 612-405-9477 or principal Dr. Hitchens 651-744-4534. We are here to support you and your family!

Please check in with your healthcare provider to ensure your child’s immunizations are current before school starts in the fall. Visit spps.org/studentwellness or call our school nurse for more information.

• 
  

  • If your family moved over the summer, update your address at spps.org/onestop.
  • If you believe your student is taking the bus but did not receive a postcard at the end of August, please call your child's school.
  • Please arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to pick up your child.
  • Track the status of your child’s bus on your school’s website or the Bus Status app linked below.
  • For your up-to-date bus pick-up and drop-off times, log on to your Campus Parent account and click on the Transportation tab.

  
  

TRACK YOUR BUS WITH THE BUS STATUS APP

• The Bus Status app reports buses greater than 10 minutes late and displays up-to-date bus information for SPPS families and students.

  Notice: Bus Status has a new and improved app just in time for the new school year! The Bus Status app currently installed on your phone will not update automatically to the new app, and will end notifications after September 29. Download the new Bus Status app for free at the Apple App Store and via Google Play.

All students are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch under the Minnesota Free School Meal program. As students arrive at school, they can grab their breakfast and eat in class. Hot and cold breakfast options are available.

Application for Educational Benefits

While all in-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program, it remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year. These applications determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at school.