Back to School

The first day of school is exciting for students, families and staff alike. It can also be overwhelming. Here are a few things to know so you can help your students be ready for the first day.

Open Houses
Please look for more details from your school about an open house or back-to-school night when you can tour the building, meet the staff and drop off supplies.

Class Schedules
Class schedules will be available to view in Infinite Campus after August 23.

School Supply Lists
School supply lists are available on most school websites.

Complete the Back-to-School iUpdate
Parents and guardians in primary households can now complete the 2023 Back-to-School iUpdate. This is where you can update contact information, complete required forms, and verify your address for transportation. 

How SPPS Uses Your Contact Information
In addition to being notified of emergencies, you will receive information from the district, your school and your student's teachers via email, robocall and/or text message. Additionally, SPPS works with various service providers who will send you information directly via email. These providers include Peachjar, Schoology, Securly Home, Seesaw and Xello. You can opt out of receiving these notifications at any time.

Nutrition Services
In-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under the Minnesota Free School Meals program. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Second meals, incomplete meals and single item purchases, such as milk only, must be purchased. 

• Student Second Breakfast: $2.85
• Student Second Lunch: $5
• Milk Only: $0.50

Visit schoolcafe.com/spps to manage your student’s meal account, view menus, ingredients and nutritional information, and complete the Application for Educational Benefits.

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 your child's school.

Child Care Before and After School
Discovery Club is a fun and nurturing child care program for students in grades PreK-5 that supports learning and development before and/or after school, on non-school days and during the summer. Space is limited. For a list of fees, locations, and to register or join the waitlist, visit spps.org/discoveryclub or call 651-632-3793.

Extracurricular Activities
Many schools offer enrichment activities before and after school, including athletics, art and music, clubs, Extended Day for Learning (EDL) classes and more. Visit spps.org/commed for information about free and fee-based opportunities through SPPS Community Education.

School Bus Transportation
Students will receive a postcard in the mail with bus information at the end of August. The postcard lists details about where and when to meet the bus. 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.

Metro Transit
Eligible students (grades 9-12 only) at the following schools will receive a free Student Pass from Metro Transit to get to and from school: Como Park Senior High School, Creative Arts Secondary School, Gordon Parks High School and Johnson Senior High School. Student Passes will be distributed the first week of school. Students can download a temporary pass to their phone, school iPad or print one to use until they get their Student Pass on the transportation website.

Internet Access at Home
Reliable at-home internet is important for doing homework and in the event of e-learning days or weather-related closures. SPPS is committed to providing internet services for students and families in need. Internet support includes discounted WiFi through Comcast Internet Essentials as well as the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program.

eLearning
SPPS follows state statute that allows districts to offer e-learning days due to inclement weather. The statute defines an e-learning day as: An unscheduled remote learning day; a school day when a school offers full access to online instruction provided by students' individual teachers due to inclement weather. All students are encouraged to take their iPad home and bring it back to school daily, regardless of weather.

SPPS may call an e-learning day if:

• Wind chills are forecasted to be -35 or colder at 6 a.m. OR
• Snow makes it too difficult for our students and staff to get to school

The superintendent also reserves the right to close school due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, if necessary. SPPS will send a robocall, text message and email if an e-learning day is called. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in the Campus Parent Portal so you receive these messages.

Student Rights & Responsibilities
SPPS strives to create welcoming schools where each and every student is seen, known and valued. There are rights students are guaranteed when they are at school as well as responsibilities that accompany those rights. Families are strongly encouraged to review the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

School Safety
Safety is a top priority at our schools. Every school has an Emergency Operations Plan that is created specifically for each school and regularly reviewed. Families receive communication home when an incident directly impacts their students, such as a lockdown. Exterior doors are always locked and all visitors must sign in.

Families, students and staff can use the MySPPS app to “Send a Tip” and confidentially report unsafe behaviors to SPPS Security and Emergency Management (SEM). Every tip is taken seriously and acted on right away.