Dowling Newsletter - September 25, 2026

Reminder: Picture day is Friday, October 2, 2026

From the Principal

Site Council Update

We had our first Site Council meeting this morning. I want to thank the parents and staff who are joining the Site Council. A goal of the Site Council is to include the diverse perspectives of parents. We are seeking members to share their students' and family’s perspective as schoolwide topics are discussed. Come check out the next meeting, Friday, Oct. 30 at 8:20 in the auditorium

• School Transformation: A reminder that there are three proposals that would affect Dowling’s attendance boundary. We encourage all families to review the proposed options on the Transformation Page and complete the community survey. Your feedback will help shape the future of MPS. Learn more and take the survey.
• Camp Out- Saturday 5:00pm! I am looking forward to seeing our students and families at the annual camp out. This is a favorite event of the year. Thank you to the PTO for hosting this event. 
• AEB Forms- We are extending the AEB form gift card drawing to Oct. 9 (2 more weeks). If you submit your AEB form online, email kari.page@mplsk12.mn.us to be entered in the drawing or ask to get a paper copy sent home.

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From the Front Office

Friendly Reminder Regarding Early Pick Ups 

In order to reduce classroom interruptions, and help the front office maintain our focus on dismissing all of our students safely, we cannot accommodate early student pick ups after 3pm.

• Need an early pick-up? Please sign your child out in the front office prior to 3:00 pm.
• Arriving after 3:00 pm? You will need to wait for our standard dismissal process at 4:05 pm.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our students safe!

Tardy Policy Reminder

Arriving at school on time is an important step in starting your students’ day on a positive note, and an essential skill that will help them throughout their life. To help students keep track of time, a bell rings daily at 9:25 AM, signifying school is starting, and at 9:35 AM a second tardy bell is rung. 

• 9:20 AM DOORS OPEN-ALL students should be dropped off at this time.
• 9:25 AM OFFICIAL START TIME-bell will ring and students who are not eating breakfast are expected to be in their classrooms.
• 9:35 AM TARDY BELL IS RUNG- Students arriving after this time must be signed in by their caregiver and given a late pass.
• 9:40 AM- Attendance is taken. All students not in their classroom will be marked absent.

Thanks for doing your part to make sure your student is on time! 

Does your student attend MPLS Kids? 

If you have dismissal changes and your student is not going to be attending as expected, please don’t forget to also alert MPLS Kids. 

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Lost and Found Process for 26-27

The lost and found will be washed and donated on the last day of each month. If your child is missing a sweatshirt or waterbottle, please stop by on Monday or Tuesday to check for their items. The lost and found is located in the foyer outside of the auditorium.

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From the Health Office

Wondering if your child is well enough to come to school?  Feel free to call us in the Health Office to talk it over, or check out this resource: 

MPS: Am I well enough to go to school?   

We’ll be having our **ANNUAL FLU SHOT CLINIC** here at Dowling on Monday, November 2nd from 3:30-6:30 pm.  More information to follow!

Need immunizations? Free immunization clinics coming up!  

HEAD LICE reminder:  Every year around this time, we start to get reports of students having head lice. Please remember to check your student regularly!  Here is some information along with FAQs about how lice is handled in MPS:

All About Lice

MPS: Head Lice Standard of Care 

Contact us in the Health Office if you have any questions or concerns - below is our contact information or you can reach us on Talking Points:

Roxanne Truen, RN, Licensed School Nurse:  612-668-4416 / roxanne.truen@mpls.k12.mn.us or Adrienne Bisping, LPN:  612-668-4415 / adrienne.bisping@mpls.k12.mn.us

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Physical Education (Pool)

SWIMMING STARTS NEXT WEEK

For parents of students in grades 2nd-5th, please bring a swimsuit, towel, and swim bag (plastic bags work perfect, too) to PE. ALSO, if your child has goggles, a swim cap, or water shoes/socks they would like to bring, these are encouraged! 

(No Crocs or flip-flops)

**If your student has PE twice a week, they will be swimming the second day EACH week.  If your student has PE once a week, they will be swimming every other week.

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EDIA Committee Seeking New Members - Deadline Extension!

The MPS Equity and Diversity Impact Assessment (EDIA) Committee is looking for members! The application deadline has been extended to Wednesday, September 30th. We are especially looking for caregivers, students, and staff who want to be a part of shaping decisions and policies at MPS. 

The EDIA Committee partners with MPS as a voluntary advisory and consulting committee that – through an equity lens – reviews, assesses, discusses, and makes recommendations to improve district-level policies and practices that directly impact staff, students, and families. 

If you are interested in applying or want to learn more, visit the EDIA webpage. Interested applicants must submit an online, paper, or audio application by September 30, 2026. Please email tayler.marks@mpls.k12.mn.us with any questions.

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Community Education - Parents Night Out

TGIF Parent's Night Out (Family Programs - Dowling)

Don’t miss out! There is room for 10 more participants!

Afterschool Program Update

There are still openings for the Afterschool Swimming and Robotics classes, which are all taught by Dowling staff!

Swimming Program: Whether your child is taking their first splash or looking to refine their technique, this program provides a safe, fun, and structured environment for students to build confidence in the water.

Robotics - GEMS/GISE: Working together with LEGO building elements, motors, and sensors, students will build various robot prototypes. Students will program these robots to move, react, and make sounds, applying their skills to solve design challenges.

Afterschool Registration link: https://minneapolis.arux.app/courses/category/76/after-school-youth-classes

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Wishlist

Thank you for items that have been donated so far this year! The wishlist is updated with extra materials, books, and supplies to enrich our spaces.  

• Shop Local: Consider sourcing requested books, art supplies, and materials from local independent businesses right here in Minneapolis.
• Drop Off: Bring purchased items to the office, labeled with Lodermeier on the box. She will get them to the correct locations.

Dowling Wishlist

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Dowling PTO

PTO Campout TOMORROW 09.26 beginning at 5 pm

Please join us rain or shine for a fun fall adventure! The campout will only be canceled in the event of unsafe weather conditions, so bring your rain gear!

Meet at the ag building (past the parking lot off of Dowling St.). We’ll enjoy a free dinner together (all dietary restrictions accommodated), a sunset hike, and optional stay to camp overnight on the Dowling grounds. Please note that this is not a drop-off event.

Volunteers are still needed: volunteershiftmanager.com/o/dowling-pto-amic

Please also RSVP so we can plan food. The same form covers borrowing or lending camping gear: forms.gle/UmLz4cyk4WoYgQzP8

Fall Walk, Bike and Roll: Wednesday morning, October 7

Mark your calendars for our fall Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day! To help families roll into school together, we will have both a north and south Bike Bus. Whether you’re on two wheels or walking on foot, let’s get outdoors, stay active, and celebrate our school community together. Stay tuned for route details and timing!

District Transformation: Share Your Feedback by Friday, October 16

Minneapolis Public Schools has proposed three options for reorganizing schools beginning in 2027-28. All three would redraw Dowling's attendance boundary, and in two options, a large number of current families may be rezoned into a different school (Folwell), located across Highway 55. Even if Dowling sees minimal boundary adjustments, staff and teachers here and across the district will be moved or displaced as a result of closures elsewhere. The school board votes on a final plan November 10.

Two of the district's seven community meetings are for our pathway:

• South High School, Tuesday, October 6, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
• Roosevelt High School, Friday, October 9, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Childcare and interpreters are provided at both. The district's online survey is open through October 16. You can find the proposals, the meeting schedule and the survey at mpschools.org/about-mps/school-transformation