Back to School 2026-27
Welcome to Your Back-to-School Hub!
Start/End Times
School Hours: 8:40 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Please have your scholar at school at 8:30 a.m. to enjoy a free grab and go breakfast, get organized for the day, and in class by 8:40 a.m.
Supply Lists
Please feel free to bring supplies on Back to School Day, the first day of school, or Open House. Should school supplies be a hardship for your family, please contact the North Middle School office at 952-988-4800.
Building supplies (drop off at the office on August 20):
- Boxes of tissues
- Reams of why copy paper
- Expo dry-rase markers
- New or gently used playground balls (basketballs, volleyballs, footballs, etc.)
Do you need support for collecting school supplies?
ResourceWest provides school supplies to help students start the school year strong. Their Back-to-School program offers a new backpack filled with basic, grade-specific school supplies to registered K-12 students.
For more information about how to register or donate, visit the ResourceWest website.
Nutrition
The Free School Meals Program was signed into law in the spring of 2023. This state-funded program allows us to provide meals at no cost to all students. The Free School Meals Program offers one free breakfast and one free lunch to each student every school day. Additional food items will require payment. Rates are below.
Second Student Meal: $5.30
Extra Milk: $0.60
Extra Student Entree: $3.30
Extra Fruit or Vegetables: $0.75
Students must have money in their accounts to purchase any additional items.
Complete your Educational Benefits Application today:
It is very important that all families continue to fill out their applications for educational benefits. School funding is impacted by our free and reduced price eligibility, so it’s important this number is as accurate as possible. In addition, students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Download an application for meal benefits at HopkinsSchools.org/nutrition or call Nutrition Services at 952-988-4060.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus Special Diet Request Form Free Meal Benefit Application
Transportation
Route details, including stop locations and pickup times, will be provided to families no later than Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
If you have questions, please email schoolbus@hopkinsschools.org. We will get back to you as quickly as possible, but due to back-to-school routing our response may be delayed.
Visit the transportation webpage for more information.
Attendance
If your child is ill or will not be in school for other reasons, please fill out our attendance form or call the absentee number at 952-988-4810 or email NMSAttendance@hopkinsschools.org.
Leave the following information: student's name, teacher's name, and reason for absentee or tardy. If your child will be absent due to travel or for some reason other than illness, please contact the school for instructional activities.
| Excused Absences | Unexcused Absences | What will school do to help? |
|---|---|---|
| Illness, Family Emergency, Funeral, Pre-arranged vacation and religious holiday | Overslept, missed the buss, car trouble, weather, childcare are unexcused absences | Our entire staff will closely monitor all of our students |
| After 7 excused absences, a doctor's note is required to excuse | All absences/tardies are marked as unexcused absence until verified | Families will be contacted by phone, email or text regarding all unexcused absences and tardies to class |
| Access to our counselors, social workers, and school nurse to share any concerns | ||
| Connect you with community supports and resources. |
What can caregivers do to support scholar success?
- Create bedtime routine; regular bedtime, charge iPad, no electronics in room. and morning routine; pack backpack with charged iPad, Cell phones stay home.
- Regularly check Campus, CANVAS & monitor your students’ cell phone activity.
- Encourage regular daily attendance, and on time to each class.
- Attempt to schedule appointments and vacations outside of school hours.
Before/After School Care
BLinK (Building Leadership in Kids) offers before and after school programming for middle school students in grades sixth - eighth grade at North Middle School. Students attending West Middle School are eligible for care and may take the activity bus to NMS.
School Year 2026–27 Priority Placement Contract Request Window is now closed. Any requests submitted will be automatically placed at the bottom of the request list and processed based on remaining availability.
Check out our BLinK website for more information and to request a contract.
Policies & Legal Notices
Policies are available in each school office, from the District’s Administrative Office, and on our website.
Communication Systems
Canvas Learning Management System
Canvas is our District-wide learning management system. Using Canvas, teachers can collaborate to build world-class, student-centered experiences delivered in person, distance, or hybrid. Canvas allows each student’s learning to be in one central place. In addition, parents are able to observe and access their child’s classroom experience.
All parents and caregivers should create a Canvas Observer Account (parent account).
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Parents and guardians can access attendance, schedule, fees, and final grade reports in their Infinite Campus Parent Portal. If you have not logged in for a while, this is a great time to check your contact information and to verify that your census and ethnicity information is up to date. If you have a student attending North Middle School or West Middle School, you will also use the parent portal to view assignment scores. If you do not currently have an account, you can request an account on our website.
School Closings, Emergencies, and eLearning Days
Our email notification system will be used to inform you about unexpected delays, school closings, or a need to shift to eLearning. We will also post this information on our website (HopkinsSchools.org), social media, and television stations such as WCCO TV (Channel 4), KSTP TV (Channel 5), KMSP TV (Channel 9), and KARE (Channel 11). An announcement will be sent as early as 5:30 a.m. when a school needs to close, start late, or shift to eLearning. Early dismissal from in-person school will be announced approximately one hour before dismissal.
Translations/Interpreters
Hopkins offers translation and interpreter services for families whose primary language is not English. Please contact your school if you need support.