Crimson Newsletter - July 24, 2024
July 24, 2024
Greetings from Maple Grove Senior High!
With August approaching (yes, we must admit it), please accept our best wishes from my family to yours. Whether you have a first-time high school student, your last, or have several students scattered throughout our grades, we are excited as we continue planning for the 2024-25 school year!
We're looking forward to welcoming the new Crimson Class of 2028 and all returning students to Student Orientation on August 21, and partnering with families throughout the year. Relationships are the foundational here at Maple Grove, and I am thrilled to soon have our school filled with the best students any principal could hope for.
The Becker household continues to be happy, active, and healthy. My lovely wife, Olga, and I are grateful and blessed to have our four kids – Eli (18), Ania (15), Maksim (13), and Evelyn (11). They keep us on our toes as they are active in swimming, cross country, basketball, Nordic skiing, dance, track and field, and band. It’s hard to keep up with everyone! My roots are in the great state of Montana, and my wife is from Ukraine. And while Minnesota is proudly our home, there truly is nothing like family and it warms my heart when we can be together.
On to the 2024-25 school year: This will be my tenth year as principal at Maple Grove; there's no place I'd rather be. It is an honor to work with, and for, your kids. We are slated to have nearly 2500 Crimson students, and each one is personal to us. Our priority is strengthening and leveraging our positive school culture and climate so that each Crimson student can walk into our building knowing they are loved, supported, challenged, and driven to achieve their academic potential. The Crimson Way – Motivation, Gratitude, Scholarship, and Honor – is the bedrock of school and we purposefully teach, model, and reinforce these values for our students.
We want every Crimson student to be involved in Maple Grove, and something bigger than themselves! Each student will have every opportunity to engage in our school beyond their academic journey from which they can harness in their passions through student groups, clubs, sports and fine arts programs:
Click here for the full list of extra and co-curricular activities (as of the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year). **Is there something missing? Students can form new groups! They can contact our Activities Office for more information.
Click here for the Crimson Activities website which includes information for all athletics throughout the school year.
Communication is a significant priority, so I strongly encourage you to connect to our school social outlets:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MapleGroveSrHS
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/MapleGroveSrHS
Instagram: https://instagram.com/maplegrovesrhs
School Website: http://mgsh.district279.org/
I invite you to connect with me, as well. I do my best to regularly post the highlights of our Crimson Family as well as important information for students and families:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrincipalBecker
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/MGSHPrincipal
Instagram: https://instagram.com/principalbecker/
We typically send a couple newsletters a month, and an increasing number of our staff utilize TalkingPoints, which sends text messages directly to you. Families are encouraged to download the app!
To conclude, this is a good school. From academics to fine arts to student groups and athletics, I'm very proud of our staff and the culture we have, and we always strive to get better in every area. With pride we say, "We are Crimson." It's an honor to serve you and our Crimson students, and to see them learn, grow, and excel throughout the high school experience. I can't wait to welcome everybody to Crimson Orientation and the first day of school on Tuesday, September 3!
Feel free to reach out with any questions: beckerb@district279.org
On we go!
Yours very respectfully,
Bart Becker, Principal
Crimson students are invited to Back to School Orientation at Maple Grove Senior High on Wednesday, August 21.
- Tentative student schedules will be viewable
- Eligible students will be able to pick-up their first trimester parking permits (must have valid driver's license)
- Learn about athletics, fine arts, and student groups
- School pictures will be taken with Kemmetmueller Photography; photos are required for all students to receive a valid 2024-2025 school ID.
Freshman attend from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., hosted by our Crimson Link Crew! Families drop off students at the main entrance (Door A), and we'll take it from there.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors attend on a drop-in basis during the hours listed below.
- 10th Grade – 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- 11th Grade – 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- 12th Grade – 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
If your student is unable to attend Crimson Orientation, have no worries! We will have Link Leaders and school staff readily available to assist on the first days of school to help every student find their way across the school.
A common question for incoming 9th graders is regarding school supplies. There is no supply list for high school; encourage your student to bring the basics and teachers will communicate accordingly if anything further is needed for class.
All Crimson student-athletes must have a physical on file in order to compete in MSHSL activities; here is the required form.
Twin Cities Orthopedics is again offering free high school sports physicals. Click here for information regarding their locations and openings.
Contact our Activities Office with questions – Go Crimson!
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 10, as Maple Grove Senior High will be hosting our annual Learning Conference from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
A welcoming meeting will begin in the auditorium at 4:00 p.m., and then families will attend class sessions according to their student’s daily schedule. Families can expect to experience the following:
- meeting teachers and Crimson staff members,
- learning about course standards, class expectations, assessments, and
- experiencing the school and classroom environments in which their student learns.
We hope to see you there!
- July 31: Fall sports PAC (parents, athletes, coaches) meeting
- August 1: Fall sports/activities registration open in EduTrak
- August 5: Parking permit sales open in EduTrak
- August 12: Fall sports practices begin
- August 21: Crimson Student Orientation
- August 26: Licensed staff reports
- September 3: First day of school
- September 10: Learning conferences
- September 16: Picture make-up day
- September 23-27: Homecoming week
- September 28: Homecoming dance
- October 8 and 14: Mid-trimester conferences
- October 11: Picture retake day
- October 17-18: No school (MEA weekend)
