2026/2027 Back to School Information - PLEASE READ!

August 12, 2026

Dear Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School Families:

The purpose of this message is to provide some updates as we get ready to start the 2026-2027 school year! While everything is important and a good reminder, there are a couple changes so even if you have had a middle schooler before, please read through the information carefully. With your partnership and support, we are looking forward to a great year!

Laura Arndt, Principal
Nic Johnson, Assistant Principal

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New School Hours 

New school times for the 2026-2027 school year will be 7:55 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. This change was made to allow for separate bus routes for our secondary students. This means middle school students will not ride the same buses as high school students in the afternoon. 

 

Before School and After School Expectations

The Middle School Main Office doors open at 7:15 a.m., however, we strongly encourage families to plan drop-offs at or after 7:30 a.m. when full supervision is available. If we have too many students arriving before we have adequate supervision, this may change. 

Breakfast is served starting at 7:30 a.m. and is free for all students. The first bell rings at 7:40 a.m. with classes starting at 7:55 a.m. Students arriving late to school must report directly to the Main Office.

Classes end at 2:50 p.m. Buses depart Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School at approximately 3:00 p.m.  Students not involved in an activity are to exit the building immediately after school. Parent/Guardian pick-up and drop off is at door 1 on the south side of the building.  

 

Storm After School Club

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota will not operate the Storm After School Middle School Outreach Program during the 2026–2027 school year.

Families are encouraged to register their youth for programs at the Eastside Boys & Girls Club, located at 320 Raymond Avenue NE in St. Cloud. The Eastside Club provides a safe, welcoming environment where youth can participate in academic support, recreation, arts, leadership activities, and other engaging programs.

Annual Boys & Girls Club registration is FREE. To learn more and register, visit www.bgcmn.org/clubs.

Bus transportation will be provided to the Eastside Boys & Girls Club Monday–Friday after school.

 

Attendance

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public School expects and supports exemplary attendance by all students. Parents/Guardians are asked to email absences to srrmsoffice@isd47.org If you are unable to email, please call the Attendance Administrative Assistant at 320-654-9073, prior to 8:05 a.m. to report a student absence. After an absence, students are asked to bring a parent/guardian note to the Attendance Administrative Assistant before 7:55 a.m. This note is required for the absence to be considered to be excused. A note from a parent/guardian does not guarantee that an absence is excused.

Students who have an approved pass to leave school during the school day must check out at the Main Office prior to leaving the building. The parent/guardian must come into the building at door 1 (with their drivers license) to check out their student. Leaving school without prior permission from the parent/guardian and school constitutes truancy. If a student returns the same day, they are required to sign-in at the Main Office.  

The following are excused absences: student illness, illness or death of a family member, family emergency of special circumstances approved by the school administration, religious instruction, medical/dental/chemical health/psychological appointments (with documentation from your provider).

Please note these points of emphasis:

• An excused absence due to a medical appointment requires an appointment card/note from the facility visited. Please obtain one from your provider. 
• Upon reaching a fifth absence in a semester (regardless of reason), medical documentation signed by a healthcare provider may be required for further excused absences.
  • If your child is facing an ongoing medical issue, please contact the Middle School office or grade level counselor/social worker as soon as possible to address their unique needs in the school setting. We ask that all families update their medical documentation of their condition each year in Skyward Family Access under Health Information.

For safety reasons, students who become ill at school must report to the Health Services Office. Health Services personnel will assess the situation and, if warranted, make the necessary arrangements (according to the emergency information) for a student to go home. 

*New this year: If your child is marked tardy or absent for a class period, you will receive an automated email notification in order to keep you informed.

 

iPad Information

The following steps must be completed before your student receives their school-issued iPad. 

• Read and sign the Device & Network Agreement located in Skyward Family Access: 26-27 Back to School Forms.
• Pay any outstanding technology damage fees located in Skyward Family Access: Fee Management

There will be an iPad contract to read and sign with your student at Open House on August 26. This contract is designed to solidify the agreement of student expectations with the device and who is responsible if damages occur.

 

2026-2027 Back to School Forms - Skyward Family Access

Please log into your Skyward Family Access and complete the 26-27 Back to School Forms. The Welcome Message located there will take you through the steps to update various student/family information. 

If you need your Skyward Family Access login information, please call the Main Office at 320-654-9073.

 

School Supply Lists

Lists can be found here. 

 

Student Schedules

Schedules will be available in Skyward Family Access on Monday, August 24 after 3:30pm. For questions regarding your student’s schedule, please contact your student’s counselor. 

Grade 6- Tim Christoferson, tim.christoferson@isd47.org

Grade 7- Maddie Schug, madeline.schug@isd47.org

Grade 8- Ashley Blenker, ashley.blenker@isd47.org

 

Open House 

SRRMS Open House is Wednesday, August 26, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. All students and families are welcome to tour the middle school and meet our staff. This evening is exciting and engaging as students have time to review class schedules, find their locker, tour the school, turn in paperwork, pay fees, and get questions answered so they are ready for the start of the school year. 

Prior to Open House, please check Skyward to find your student’s schedule and Advisory teacher.  

To do at Open House:

 

• FIRST: Go to your student’s Advisory teacher to get information and check student schedules.
• Place school supplies in locker (locker combinations can be found on class schedules).
• Meet teachers, walk through student’s schedule, and practice locker combination. 
• Visit the Information Fair in the Commons (lunchroom) for information on technology, activities/athletics, Community Ed, health/medications, and food service.

 

First Days of School

The first day of school is Monday, August 31 for all 6th grade students and new 7th and 8th graders only. All students (6-8) will attend school beginning Tuesday, September 1. 

On August 31, 6th graders and new 7th and 8th graders will have an orientation day. The purpose of this day is to welcome students and acclimate them to the building. The day consists of large and small group activities and students attending an abbreviated class schedule.

 

Student Medications

If your student requires medications during the school day, be reminded that ANY prescription  medication needs a pharmacy-labeled bottle and medical doctor order. There are options to self-carry some over-the-counter medications with proper paperwork.  

Please call, email, or stop by the Health Office at Open House to discuss options specific to your child’s needs. Amanda Pflipsen is the District Nurse; her phone number is 320-258-1731 and her email is amanda.pflipsen@isd47.org. Please reach out to Ms. Pflipsen with questions.  

 

Student Insurance

Students and families interested in purchasing student insurance through the school district can find the information on the District’s Health Services website. This insurance is optional.

 

Transportation - Busing 

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools, along with Voigt’s Bus Service, are pleased to provide transportation to all students. Sauk Rapids-Rice provides safe and timely transportation within school district boundaries. 

Each year, we ask families to confirm their transportation plans for the upcoming school year. This helps plan for all students who wish to ride and for our routes to be as efficient and accurate as possible.  

**ALL families must register in order to receive transportation for 2026-2027 School Year. 

Registering for school bus transportation is simple. Families need to complete the Transportation Opt-in Form which can be found at www.isd47.org/services/transportation under School Year 2026-2027 Transportation.  

The form includes essential information such as student demographics, contact details, home address, and alternate stop locations.  

Families need to complete a form for each student. 

Reminder: Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools only provides transportation within the school district boundaries.

The deadline to complete the Transportation Opt-in Form was August 3, 2026 to secure transportation for the start of school. Forms received after August 3, 2026, will be routed as soon as possible but are not guaranteed prior to the start of the school year. 

If you submit that form after August 3, please drive your student to and from school until Voigt’s contacts you with route information.

 

Student Drop-off and Pick-up procedures

To provide a safe drop-off and pick-up zone in front of school, the direction of traffic is one-way as indicated by the painted arrows on the pavement. As you enter and exit, drive slowly with caution, as students walking to and from school will cross traffic lanes. Please remind your student to look before walking across traffic lanes. No vehicles, except buses, are allowed in the back of the school for student drop off or pick up.

In the morning, students are to be dropped off using the right or left lanes. The middle lane is to be used to exit after dropping students off; the middle lane is NOT a drop-off lane. Students who exit vehicles in the left lane need to look both ways before crossing. Vehicles exiting in the middle lane need to do so with caution.

After school, students should be picked up in the front of the building at door 1. The outside lanes are to be used for drivers who are waiting in their vehicles to pick up a student. The middle lane is to be left open at all times to exit after picking up a student. NOTE: when traffic begins to back up on 1st Street, we ask that vehicles travel to the east end of campus, turn around and line up in the westbound lane to enter the safety zone. See diagram here.

Various times of the year bring an increase in the number of vehicles transporting students. Everyone must exercise patience.

Please keep these important safety issues in mind and share this information with others who may be transporting your student.

 

Middle School Sports/Activities

Registration for Middle School Fall Sports is now available. Students interested in participating in sports or other Middle School Activities can find information on the Activities and Athletics webpage, or by contacting Middle School Activities Director Riley Marod, riley.marod@isd47.org. Middle school sports begin August 24, with the exception of swim and dive (August 18). 

The Middle School Storm Training Program, formerly Speed and Strength, will be returning this year for students in grades 7 and 8. Registration for this program is through Community 

Education and is highly encouraged for student-athletes who are not currently in-season.

 

Sauk Rapids-Rice District website is a GREAT resource for your school related questions; we encourage all families to visit this website often.