Isanti Middle School
Parent/Family Newsletter August 28, 2023
Start of the Year - Updates & Reminders
IMS Families,
We continue to prepare for the upcoming school year and are excited to see you here at Open House on Wednesday night. A couple of new items to mention before Open House.
- IMS Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures: Please see information below detailing the changes we are making to our traffic and parking procedures.
- Student Schedules: Schedules will be viewable by the end of the day tomorrow, Tuesday, the 29th. Please know that we are still enrolling students and some schedules may change this week and as we start back next week. We have adjusted our schedules more this summer to account for some staffing challenges. In addition, with many new enrollees this year, more than most years, we are still working to balance out some classes. You will be able to view the schedule late tomorrow, we will also have student schedules available for pick-up during open house in your first period classroom. We are trying something new this year and will have student lists with 1st period classes posted in the lobby for Open House.
Mr. Pauly
IMS Open House Night
Wednesday, August 30th
6th grade: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
7th & 8th grade: 7:00-8:00 PM
Additionally, as we prepare to welcome our students to a new school year, please review/update your information in Family Access or stop by the media center during the open house to verify your information.
School Supplies: Students may bring school supplies in during Open House or the first day/week of school. Regardless of when they bring in the supplies, shared supplies should be brought to the students first period classroom.
Phy-Ed: Lockers for Phy-Ed classes will be given out during the first week of school. Please do NOT bring anything to the open house for Phy-Ed.
Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures
Please review the IMS Drop-off & Pick-up 2023-24 document for information about when and where to drop-off and pick-up your student.
Please know that as the hub for Isanti traffic and parking at the end of the day is extremely challenging. This year we are trying to accommodate all of the moving parts by separating staff and bus parking from parking visitors. As you can see from the enclosed graphics, visitor parking and student drop-off and pick-up is focused on the north parking lot. There should be NO student pick-up in the south parking lot this year. We know this is a change from the past, but we really need to make these adjustments to prioritize the safety of our students and the movement of our buses out of the lot each day. Thank you for your understanding.
Health Office Information
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the health office.
Ms. Winger, our school nurse the last several years has moved onto a position with Isanti County Public Health. We are very happy to report that our new school nurse, Joy Hatton, will be starting with us the week of September 11.
Health Office Administrative Assistant (Mrs. Rudrud): 763-691-8603
Licensed School Nurse (Mrs. Hatton): 763-691-8604
Required Immunizations
The following immunizations are required by Minnesota law for students entering the 7th grade:
Meningococcal at age 11-12
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis
If you would like to file a legal or medical exemption, please contact the school nurse
Sports Physical
If your child will be participating in a school sport, please go to the district activities site and click on sports physical. A sports physical is valid for three years.
If your child will be taking medication during the school day, please complete the Authorization for Medication form found here Health Services / Main.
- Medication must be brought to the health office by a parent or guardian in the original container.
Repeat Content -- In Case You Missed It
IMS School Day
- 8:30 AM -- School Day Starts
- 3:35 PM -- School Day Ends
Bell Schedule: Please take a look at the bell schedule below. Please note the time for lunch for each grade. We start serving lunch about 30 minutes earlier than we did last year.
- 6th grade lunch: 10:35
- 7th grade lunch: 11:29
- 8th grade lunch: 12:23
What Before school options are available for Grades 6-8:
- Students arriving prior to 8:15 AM will report to the cafeteria. We will have staff available to supervise students. This is a great time to read, catch up on homework, or simply hang with friends.
Cell Phones - Away for the Day
Students will not be allowed to possess, or use electronic communication devices such as cell phones, Apple Watches, Air Pods, earbuds, headphones, etc. during the school day 8:30-3:35, with the exception of lunch/recess. After lunch/recess the cell phone, electronic device MUST be returned to the student locker.
Cell phones stay in lockers except for lunch/recess.
IMS Supply Lists 2022-23
- Link to All School Supply lists
- Simply click on your school and go to the desired grade level.
Character Trait = Responsibility
7th Grade
7th grade students will need to put locks on their school lockers. Please bring a combination lock that you have practiced opening. We recommend NOT having key locks. Keys are too easy to lose, or forget, especially for middle schoolers.
Cell Phones
6th & 8th Grade
WEB - September 5
Returning 7th and 8th graders will have their first day of school on Wednesday, September 6.
Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) is a program which links pairs of incoming 8th grade student leaders with small groups of incoming 6th graders. The program allows our incoming 6th graders to have other students as advocates and mentors, easing their transition to middle school and allowing them to have ongoing interactions throughout the school year. The program gives our 8th graders a chance to "pay it forward" by helping the next generation of IMS middle schoolers while also gaining valuable mentor and leader experience .
Chromebook Distribution
All students will receive their Chromebooks during the first week of school. Chromebooks will NOT be distributed on the IMS Open House Night. All parents or guardians of students who are receiving a Chromebook are asked to complete the "C-I Schools Chromebook User Agreement Online Form” online, or turn in a paper copy of this form prior to your student receiving their Chromebook on September 6-7. Below you can see the two options parents have for completing the Chromebook User Agreement and payment.
Option #1 - Electronic Submission and Payment
- Log on to Cambridge-Isanti Schools Web Store
- Complete Chromebook User Agreement Online Form
- Select your student's grade, school, and insurance option.
- Provide your student's name.
- Click Add to Cart.
Option #2 - Paper Copy Submission and Payment
- Paper copy of form can be found here >> Chromebook User Agreement 2023-24 Paper Copy
- If turning in a paper copy and a fee applies, we ask
- Parents or guardians to turn in a check made out to Cambridge-Isanti Schools during Open House, or send it along with your student on the first day of school.
- We ask that the form be completed and submitted prior to your student receiving their Chromebook.
Distribution: Students will get their chromebooks the first few days of school.
We Need You!
Volunteer Opportunities
We are Hiring!
Please Update Skyward Family Access
The start of a new school year is a great time to check the information we have on file for your child. Did you know you can access your student's grades, schedule, or teacher contact information from home? Follow the link below to login to your Family Access account. Contact the IMS Main Office at 763-691-8600 with questions about your login credentials. Also, please make sure that your contact information is up to date. Email is the main form of communication used by Isanti Middle School.
Link to Skyward Family Access
Upcoming Dates
- 6th gr: 5:30-6:30PM
- 7th & 8th gr: 7:00-8:00 PM
September 5: Labor Day (Buildings Closed)
September 6: First Day of School
- 6th Grade Students
- 8th Grade WEB Leaders
- 7th & 8th graders new to IMS
September 7: First Day of School
- All Students 6th, 7th and 8th attend
Food Service Updates and Links
Our school offers healthy meals each day. Starting school year 2023-24, we are joining Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs.
Cambridge-Isanti Schools encourage all families to apply for discounted or free meals. It’s easy. How to Apply
There are three ways to apply.
- Educational Benefits Forms have been mailed to every student household in the school district. Complete the form and return it via mail or email.
- Forms are also available at each school office, as well as the C-I Schools district office, 625A Main Street North, Cambridge, MN 55008.
- Online, visit https://www.c-ischools.org/ and click on Skyward Family Access, log-in, and complete the Educational Benefits Form.
Deb Knickerbocker
dknickerbocker@c-ischools.org
763.689.6210
- Breakfast: 8:15 - 8:30 AM
- 6th Lunch: 10:35 - 11:05 AM
- 7th Lunch: 11:29 - 11:59 AM
- 8th Lunch: 12:23 - 12:53 PM
Parent / Family News
Previous Editions
- 8/28/23 Parent News
- IMS Back to School Parent/Family Newsletter 2023-24
- 6/2/23 Parent News
- (Final Parent News from 2022-23. This News has links to all the Parent News editions from last year.)
IMS Website
Isanti Middle School
Email: rpauly@c-ischools.org
Website: https://www.c-ischools.org/domain/33
Location: 201 Centennial Drive Northwest, Isanti, MN, USA
Phone: (763) 691-8600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Isanti-Middle-School-Minnesota-Center-1616822051697940/
Twitter: @IMSANDMNC