Back to School
Back to School in School District 197!
Welcome back families—we missed you! As we prepare for another successful school year of growth and learning in our incredible school district, we want to ensure a smooth transition into the new school year for you—below are helpful resources to get you started. Click here for each school's website.
Back to School Resources
- First Day of School
- Bus Registration
- Meet & Greets / Orientations
- 2024-25 Academic Calendar
- Application for Educational Benefits Now Open!
- FREE Summer Meals & S-EBT
- Athletics & Activities
- School Supply Lists
- Save the Date!
- Attendance Matters
- school meals
First Day of School
The first days of school for the upcoming year are:
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Tuesday, September 3: For Kindergarten, Fifth Grade and Ninth Grade
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Wednesday, September 4: For Grades 1-4, 6-8, 10-12
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Monday, September 9: Early Learning Center
School Hours:
- Elementary School 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
- Middle School 8:45 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
- High School 8:25 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
Bus Registration
Bus registration for the 2024-2025 school year is open. Like last year, all previously registered students in all grade levels will be rolled forward to the new year and will not have to register again. Only new students to the District or students who have had an address change, daycare change, or have never registered to ride before will need to register.
All registered students will receive a card in June detailing their current registration information. Please note: Students not yet registered for bus service should complete their registration by August 1 to ensure they have transportation for the start of the school year. Late registrations may result in bus service beginning in the third week of school or alternative transportation arrangements. Learn more here. Online registrations are below.
Download English bus registration form.
Download Spanish bus registration form.
Meet & Greets / Orientations
Elementary Schools:
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Garlough:
Meet & Greet: Wednesday, August 28, 4-6:00 p.m.
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Kindergarten Dessert: Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 p.m.
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New-to-Mendota Open House: Grades 1-4 Monday, August 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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Meet & Greet: Wednesday, August 28, 4-6:00 p.m.
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Moreland:
Meet and Greet:
Wednesday, August 28, 4-6:00 p.m.
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Somerset:
Meet and Greet and Kindergarten Bus Ride:
Wednesday, August 28, 4-6:00 p.m.
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Pilot Knob:
Meet and Greet: Wednesday, August 28, 4-6:00 p.m.
Middle Schools:
- Friendly Hills
- 6th-8th Grade Open House: Tuesday, August 27, 4-6 p.m.
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5th Grade Open: *Note Time Change: House, Thursday August 29, 3:30-3:30 p.m.
- Heritage
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Back to School Drive-Through Pickup: Grades 6-8, Monday, August 19, 12:00-7:00 p.m.
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Back to School Drive-Through Pickup: Grades 6-8, Tuesday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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5th Grade Orientation: Wednesday, August 28, 4:30pm(A-L) 6:00pm(M-Z)
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High School:
Two Rivers Start Up: Thursday, August 22, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Open House: Wednesday, August 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
2024-25 Academic Calendar
The 2024-2025 school year calendar can be found here.
Application for Educational Benefits Now Open!
While all students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program, it remains important 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. Eligible families can qualify for other benefits like reduced or waived athletic and activities fees and more. Additionally, outside organizations may provide discounts — see list below. The application can be completed online here. Paper applications are available at your child's school.
Discounts on Memberships and More!
The following discounts may be available to you:
- Amazon Prime Discount: 50% off Prime membership
- Children's Museum Discount: $3 admissions tickets (regular $16)
- Science Museum Admissions: $3 museum admissions, $3 Omni Theater admissions
- The Works Museum: $25 family membership (regular $90)
- Guthrie Theater Tickets: $5
If you have other questions or need help, please call the Child Nutrition Department at 651-403-7320 or visit their webpage here.
FREE Summer Meals & S-EBT
School District 197 will again offer free summer meals to all district students and area youth at Garlough, Moreland, and Two Rivers. Please note all children must eat on site in the cafeteria. No meals will be served on June 19, July 4, or July 5. Show me summer meals details.
Open Door Mobile Lunch Box will deliver meals to eight local apartment complexes. No meals will be delivered June 19, July 4, July 5. Show me more. For questions or assistance, please contact the School District 197 Child Nutrition Department at 651-403-7320 or kelly.wegener@isd197.org.
Easy Access to Summer Meal Benefits for Eligible Families
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) program provides families with school-aged children eligible for free or reduced school meals a benefit of $40 per month, per child ($120 total) during the summer months. Qualifying is Easy! Your student may be eligible if they were approved for free or reduced lunch at any point between July 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024, or if they currently receive SNAP benefits, MFIP, or Medicare. You can apply online here. There's no need to reapply if you were already approved for free or reduced lunch.
Athletics & Activities
Now’s the Time to Check Your Sports Physicals!
If you have a middle or high school student who wants to participate in Summer Strength training or fall sports, now is the time to check on their sports physical! The sports physical must clear the student for participation in sports and be dated within three years, and remain current throughout their sport season. A printable copy of the sports physical form can be found here. To check on your student’s sports physical status, contact the Activities Office at 651-403-7206 or email dustin.boll@isd197.org. If you need a new sports physical, Twin Cities Orthopedics offers free high school sports physicals at 12 locations throughout July and August. Learn more here.
Fall Season Registration Information
- Registration for fall high school athletics and activities opens on July 1. A list of fall high school sports is listed here. August 12 is the start day for fall season sports / all sports that are offered. Sports physicals are required and good for three years—make sure you have yours ready by July 1.
- Registration for fall middle school athletics opens August 1 and practices will start after the school year begins. Check the middle school athletics page for updates and more information.
School Supply Lists
Garlough School Supplies and personal items:
For the 2024-25 school year, families will NOT buy individual school supplies for their students. Instead, families will pay a $30 fee, and the PTO will source all necessary supplies in bulk for the entire school. Read the letter from Principal Powell here in English and here in Spanish. Pay the fee here. A list of personal items you child needs are found here in English and here in Spanish.
Mendota School Supplies:
For the school year 2024-2025, Mendota Elementary is changing the school supply process. Mendota Elementary will be purchasing the majority of the student’s school supplies. In return, families will pay a School Supply Fee of $25 /student. Families will still provide backpacks, headphones, and water bottles. If you need assistance with paying the School Supply Fee or Family provided supplies, please email Steph Hogan at stephanie.hogan@isd197.org.
Moreland School Supplies:
Click here.
Somerset School Supplies:
Click here.
Pilot Knob School Supplies: Once again Pilot Knob will provide school supplies for all of our students! We ask that each family send the family donation of $20, or donate whatever you can plus the below items:
- backpack,
- water bottle
- headphones
- box of tissues donation for their classroom.
- family donation of $20, or donate whatever you can.
Friendly Hills School Supplies:
Heritage School Supplies:
- 5th grade
- 6th grade
- 7th grade
- 8th grade
Two Rivers:
There is no official school supply list for Two Rivers High School. Students are encouraged to use methods of organization that work best for them and help them be successful students (notebooks and folders or a binder with loose-leaf paper and dividers). They should at least plan to arrive with the above items and pens, pencils, highlighters, and a school planner.
Save the Date!
Mark your calendars with these fun community-wide events:
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Warrior Rally - September 14, 11am-1pm
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Homecoming - Week of September 23-28, Homecoming parade and game - Friday, September 27 - Parade at 5pm, game at 6:30pm
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Warrior 5k - Saturday, September 28, 9am - 11am
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Makers Market - Saturday, November 19, 9am-3pm
Warrior Rally:
Join us for the 2024 Warrior Rally at Two Rivers High School on Saturday September 14, from 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Wondering what the Warrior Rally is all about? This fun, family-friendly event takes place every year to bring the entire school community together! The rally features games, bounce houses, obstacle courses, food, and a chance for our youngest students to learn about all the great activities and club offerings at Two Rivers High School. We’ve heard that the younger kiddos think it’s pretty cool to hang out with the older kids at this event, too.
Warrior 5K:
Join us for the 15h Annual Warrior 5K! The ISD 197 Educational Foundation is proud to present the 15th annual Warrior 5K Walk/Run and Family Mile on September 28, 2024. This fun, community-based event awards prizes for the top three runners in a variety of age categories and is a primary fundraiser for the Foundation, which provides grants to all of the schools in ISD 197 from early learning to the high school.
Attendance Matters
school meals
Free Schools Meals and Kids Program
Every student in School District 197 receives one complete breakfast meal and one complete lunch meal each school day at no cost. If your student wants seconds, just a milk, or à la carte items, they will need money in their account.
Items that would incur a charge to a student’s account:
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Additional cartons of milk
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Snack items
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Second entrée
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A second breakfast or a second lunch
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Meals that do not meet the minimum requirements
Visit the Child Nutrition webpage to manage your student’s meal account, view menus, and complete the Application for Educational Benefits here. For questions or assistance, please contact the School District 197 Child Nutrition Department at 651-403-7320 or kelly.wegener@isd197.org
More Resources for a Successful School Year
Family Hub
Find important information including resources, school-age care information, menus, and more on the Family Hub.
Follow Us on Social!
Login Quicklinks
- Campus Parent Portal. Need a Campus login? Click here.
- Canvas Portal
- Seesaw Portal
- My Payments Plus (meal accounts)
- Activities & Athletics Tickets
Online Payments:
Stay Connected - Links to School Websites
Stay Connected and visit you school's web page for your school's calendar, Peachjar flyers, and more.
Early Learning Center
Garlough
Mendota
Moreland
Pilot Knob
Somerset
Friendly Hills
Heritage
Two Rivers