Kindergarten Information

Welcome to Bonner Elementary

Welcome to Bonner Elementary! We are truly excited to welcome you and your child to our amazing school. Please use the information on this webpage as a guide to what you and your child can expect when starting school in the fall of 2026. We genuinely cannot wait to meet you!

We are now officially in “kindergarten enrollment season” here at Bonner Elementary in preparation for the upcoming school year. Enrollment will be open for in-district students starting on February 1st and will be heavily promoted and explained at our “Kindergarten Information Night” that will take place on MONDAY, MARCH 16th, 2026 from 6:00 to 7:00. “Kindergarten Information Night” is a meaningful, first-meeting event in which we cover both the enrollment process and what to expect for the upcoming school year. For those of you who could not attend, this presentation will be available below.

Please continue to look for regular communication from the District and Bonner Elementary throughout the summer for updated plans for the 2026-2027 school year.

2026-2027 KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT PRESENTATION

Our annual "Kindergarten Information Night" will take place on Monday, March 16th, 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. All families who plan to enroll their child in kindergarten, as well as those considering enrollment, should attend in order to receive current, up-to-date information. For those of you who are unable to attend, the informational presentation will be available here. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Bonner Elementary office at 507-533-1500 with any questions or concerns.

MESSAGE TO INCOMING KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES

The communication below was sent out to families on January 22, 2026. Please note that if your child is enrolled at the Central Education Center and is receiving special education services, you will receive a separate email.

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Dear Families of Incoming Stewartville Kindergarten Students -

We are happy to announce enrollment for the 2026-2027 School Year will open on February 1st!

If your child is eligible to start Kindergarten in the 2026-2027 school year, please enroll them as early as possible by visiting our Registration Page. Not a Stewartville Resident? Open Enrollment Applications are available, but need to be submitted and approved prior to enrolling your student.

Please Note: Presume you need to enroll your student for Kindergarten unless you receive an email stating otherwise.

What does your child need to start Kindergarten?

Your child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026 in order to start kindergarten in the fall.
An early childhood screening is required and should be completed no later than May 15, 2026. To schedule an early childhood screening through the school district, fill out a request form by visiting our Early Childhood Screening Info Page or by contacting Community Education at (507)533-1435 or communityed@ssdtigers.org.
A copy of their Birth Certificate and most up-to-date Immunization Records (or an Immunization Exemption form) must be completed and on file. These documents can be uploaded in the enrollment application, brought to Kindergarten Information Night, or emailed to registration@ssdtigers.org.

Where can you find more information for Kindergarten?

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT! (For Parents/Guardians Only)
- Monday, March 16th, 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm (Bonner Cafeteria)
- All families who plan to enroll their child in Kindergarten, as well as those considering enrollment, should attend in order to receive current, up-to-date information. For those of you who are unable to attend, the informational presentation will later be available on the Bonner Kindergarten webpage.
- Please enter the building through our main doors located on the south side of the building by the flagpole. The presentation will start promptly at 6:00.

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION WEBPAGE: A great list of FAQs!

BONNER ELEMENTARY WEBPAGE: A great resource for ALL Bonner families!

Call Bonner Elementary Office at (507)533-1500 for additional questions.

Need help Enrolling? For questions regarding the enrollment process please contact the Registration Office: registration@ssdtigers.org

We are truly excited to welcome you and your child to Bonner Elementary!

Bonner Elementary at-a-glance

The mission of Bonner Elementary School is to positively develop meaningful relationships between students, staff, home and community which, in turn, effectively builds a foundation for lifelong learning in a changing world.

Located in Stewartville, Minnesota, Bonner Elementary is a kindergarten through second-grade school offering high quality education to approximately 450 students. Our classes have an average size of 23 students, although this varies from year to year and grade level to grade level. Over 70 dedicated staff members help meet students’ needs in all academic areas, including music, art, physical education, and special education. Bonner incorporates a dedicated system of support called W.I.N. ("What I Need") to ensure all students receive the individual academic support needed to be successful. Bonner also has health-office services, school counselors, and a social worker available for students and families in need of special services. Bonner uses a Positive Behavior Support System called R.O.A.R. which stands for Respect Others, Act Responsibly. Bonner is truly a rich community of learners, and it takes this entire community to ensure learning success for all children. We have high expectations for learning and teaching, and believe our warm, nurturing learning environment makes Bonner Elementary a great place to be!

Is my child eligible to start kindergarten?

In order to start kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year, your child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026. An early childhood screening is also required and should be completed no later than May 15, 2026. To schedule an early childhood screening through the school district, please contact Community Education at 507.533.1435 or email at communityed@ssdtigers.org. Finally, all required immunizations must be up-to-date or an Immunization Exemption form must be completed and on file.

How do I EnROLL my student in kindergarten?

If your child is eligible to start kindergarten in the 2026-2027 school year, you may register them at our District Registration Center webpage when the online enrollment form is available through the District offices. Families are encouraged to enroll their child in kindergarten as early as possible but not sooner than February 1st when the forms are open. Please plan to have your child registered for kindergarten by April 15, 2026. Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year for students outside the Stewartville School District can occur anytime after October 2025.

When will I know my child’s teacher assignment?

One common question is, “When will I know my child’s teacher?” Due to students occasionally enrolling throughout the summer, initial class assignments are typically not released until mid- to late-August. This allows for necessary adjustments to be made in case there are changes in the number of classroom sections. Families will receive an email indicating their child’s placement along with additional “start-of-school” information during the summer. Class rosters are created with a great deal of thought and consideration. As such, any adjustments to rosters can affect overall classroom dynamics. We respectfully do not take roster requests.

When does school start?

For the 2026-2027 school year, school starts before Labor Day. SEPTEMBER 1st and 2nd are non-school days for Bonner students and are reserved for “Meet-the-Teacher” conferences and “One Stop Shop” activities. On THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, half of our kindergarteners ("Maroon Group") will attend school while the other half ("Gold Group") will stay home. On FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, the "Gold Group" will attend school while the "Maroon Group" will stay home. This smaller student to teacher ratio during the first two days of school will allow for a more individualized, meaningful experience for our new kindergarteners. The first day for ALL kindergarten students will be TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th. This process is the same as the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.

Current plans are to have the school day start around 8:10 a.m. and dismiss around 2:50 p.m.; these times are only an estimate and are subject to change. School office hours are anticipated to be 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday when school is in session.

What is “One Stop Shop” and why is it important?

“One Stop Shop” is an event that allows students and families to come on-campus in preparation for the upcoming school year. During our “One Stop Shop”, students will have their school pictures taken, complete vision and hearing screenings, set-up and make deposits to lunch accounts, ask questions about transportation, familiarize new students to the building, learn about extra-curricular programs, fill out paperwork, drop off school supplies, drop off medications, and complete other activities designed to best prepare your child for the first day of school. Part of our “One Stop Shop” is a dedicated conference for students and families to meet their new teacher. Families will receive an email in August to sign up for their child’s “Meet-the-Teacher” conference. Included will be a link to an online conference management system called PTCFast. Simply follow the directions and select a time that works best for you. Other “One Stop Shop” activities can be completed around your Meet-the-Teacher conference. It generally takes between one and one-and-a-half hours to complete the activities at our “One Stop Shop”.

When will we receive information about bussing?

The Stewartville School District currently contracts through Schmitty & Sons Bus Company. The finalization of bus routes occurs over the summer. Information will be sent out to parents prior to the start of school and is also typically published in our local newspaper, The Stewartville Star, and the school website. It is very important for families to keep their home and daycare addresses up-to-date as they do change bussing routes. To change addresses, please contact the Bonner office at 507-533-1500.

What does a typical day look like at Bonner for kindergartners?

The transition to full-day, everyday school can be challenging, but also highly rewarding, for young students. Students typically arrive at school between 7:45 (please no earlier!) and 8:10. Once in the classroom, the teacher will lead students through a variety of academic and social activities designed to provide a rich, well-rounded education. Both academics (reading, mathematics, writing, science, social studies) and social skills are taught every day by the classroom teacher. Art, music, and physical education are also taught on a rotating basis with specialists. Students have ample opportunities to learn how to interact with adults and peers. Play is a highly important part of kindergarten and is incorporated into each school day.

All kindergartners receive breakfast while at school free of charge. You may also choose to give your child breakfast at home, which would make this a “second breakfast” for them. For lunch, students are typically given one to two lunch choices. Students may also choose to bring lunch from home [a carton of milk may be purchased]. Students also receive a 30 minutes of recess each day. Some teachers will build additional recesses and/or free-choice time into their schedules. We have a large playground area that includes swings and jungle gym equipment, a large blacktop surface, and large fields to run and play.

At the end of the school day, kindergartners are dismissed in an organized manner. We have developed a system for identifying after-school plans for all Bonner students. This includes identifying tags attached to their backpacks. As families, you can help us get your child home safely after school by using this tag system and communicating with your child’s teacher any plans that are different from the norm. For any last-minute changes, please call the school office at 507.533.1500, and we will communicate this information to your child’s teacher.

What supplies does my child need for school?

A supply list will be developed and emailed to parents over the summer. This list will be posted on our school website and can also be commonly found in larger retail stores. Individual classroom teachers may request additional items. Winter outerwear [boots, jackets, mittens/gloves, hats, and snow pants] is very important since we do have outdoor recess. We would also like your children’s time in gym class to be safe, therefore all children must wear tennis shoes while participating in gym class. Sandals, snow boots, or dress shoes are not appropriate for gym activities. If you could use help with school supplies, please contact Principal McInroy at zane.mcinroy@ssdtigers.org or our School Social Worker, Hana El-Afandi at hana.elafandi@ssdtigers.org.

What are the drop-off and pick-up procedures for Bonner?

Many families choose to transport their children to and from school. Please understand the following information in this section is dynamic and subject to change. Updates will be provided!

When dropping students off, please keep the following in mind:

1. Please do not drop students off prior to 7:45. Our formal supervision does not start until this time, and students dropped off early will not be supervised.

2. When dropping students off, please have adults remain in the vehicle. Having adults exit the vehicle significantly slows down the drop-off process for other students and drivers. School staff will be present to assist students.

3. When dropping students off, please have students exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. This is a safety concern since other vehicles may be passing by closely as they exit the drop-off area. This also speeds up the drop-off process.

4. Please drop students off near the main entrance of the school (by the flagpole) and have them enter through the main doors of the school. Students should not be going around the east side (Tiger Time doors) of the building in the morning - we simply do not have enough staff to adequately monitor this area.

5. Overall, please move as quickly and safely as possible during student drop-offs. This will help other adults and students who are patiently waiting for their turn.

For picking students up, please refer to the following guidance:

1. When entering the Bonner drive, please stay in your vehicle and pull up to the loading zone near the flagpole. Our supervisors will have your child waiting for you.

2. Please do not exit your vehicle when your child approaches. This significantly slows down the line behind you.

3. Have students enter on the passenger side of the vehicle. Our supervisors will assist children in the opening and closing of doors if necessary.

4. Do not park along the pick-up lane, exit your vehicle, and retrieve your child on your own. From our experience, this actually slows down the pick-up process.

5. Do not attempt to pick up students in the “through” lane.

6. Be extra cautious when driving. There are many students and adults moving about at the end of the school day.

We hope that you understand our commitment to safety and will do your part in keeping all of our Bonner family and local residents safe and comfortable. If everyone operates within the same parameters and exercises patience and understanding, we will continue to increase our efficiency while keeping everyone safe. Thank you all in advance for your understanding and promotion.

What if my child is ill or has an appointment?

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability.

If your child cannot attend school, please call our attendance line at 507.533.1500, option 1, or email bonnerattendance@ssdtigers.org prior to 8:00 a.m.. When reporting the absence please provide a reason for the absence along with any symptoms of an illness. If your child has an appointment, please contact both your child’s teacher and the office. If given proper advanced notice, we will try our best to have your child ready for pick-up shortly after you arrive.

How will I know how my child is progressing in school?

Part of the responsibility of our teachers is to provide regular updates as to your child’s academic and social progress in school. Formal report cards are distributed four times per year via Family Access. For more information on how to use Family Access, please see this flyer. Bonner Elementary also uses benchmark testing and progress monitoring through FASTBridge assessments. These assessments provide insight as to academic progress and comparisons to other students both in the district and nationally. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for the fall for all students; dates and times are still to be determined. It is strongly encouraged for you to reach out to your child’s teacher at any time via phone or email with any questions or concerns.

Family Access is a service provided by the Stewartville Public School District through which parents and students may view grades, schedules, attendance, lunch account balance, and other information online. User IDs and passwords are assigned during the registration process. If you are experiencing problems after registration, please contact the Bonner Office at 507.533.1500 for assistance in logging into Family Access.

What if my child needs extra support?

Bonner Elementary prides itself on being a student-centered learning community. Each day, our educators provide high-quality academic instruction to all students. Students who need extra academic support may be eligible for W.I.N. (“What I Need”) during which they receive interventions specifically designed to address academic challenges. Bonner Elementary also has a fully-supported special education department and health office to support students’ academic and medical needs while attending school. A school support specialist, a school social worker, and an English Learner teacher are also assigned to Bonner Elementary to help support students and families.

What if my child has health or medical conditions that need to be supported at school?

A school nurse or health aide will be available to attend to any health needs that may arise during the school day. You will be contacted if the concern requires discussion or possible dismissal. This may include health-related discussions regarding contagious conditions or diseases along with recommendations, guidance, and parameters set for returning to school.

We are fully staffed and capable of providing medical support including the distribution of medications. For more information, please contact our District School Nurse, Tricia Bredesen, at 507.250.5503.

Do I qualify for free and reduced lunch?

School lunches for the 2025-2026 school were free to all students. However, we are currently unsure if this program will continue into the 2026-2027 school year. Application forms for free or reduced lunches, also known as Educational Benefits forms, may be picked up at the Bonner Office. Please return the completed applications to any one of the schools in the District. You will receive notification of eligibility as determined by Federal guidelines. Names of those receiving free or reduced lunch are kept confidential. Families MUST re-apply every year for Educational Benefits. It is strongly encouraged to fill out the Educational Benefits form even if you may not feel you qualify for this program since this may provide benefits in other areas. Educational Benefits forms for the 2026-2027 school year will be emailed to you when you receive your child's class assignment and will also be available at our "One Stop Shop" in September.

Can I visit my child while at school?

Parents are welcome to visit school. However, we do caution the regularity and timing of such visits, and not until at least 30 days after school starts. Occasional lunches with your child are special moments and are welcomed. If you would like to order a school lunch, please contact the school office before 8:30 so we can place your order. In order for students to start learning independence and routine, we ask that you do not have lunch with your child during the first month of school. We also ask that parents not eat breakfast at school with their children.

All visitors should use the main doors, and will be asked by office staff to scan their driver’s license prior to admission to the building. This includes not only the driver, but all visitors. Upon entering the building, please stop at the office to sign-in and obtain a visitor pass before going to any classroom or the lunchroom. Although this may seem like an inconvenience, it is for the safety of the students here at Bonner Elementary. Visitors are not allowed on the Bonner playground. Visitors are considered guests and the building administration or their designee reserves the right to refuse or dismiss any visitor for any reason prior to or during a visit. Please be sure to sign-out at the office before leaving the building.

Volunteers are needed in many areas. Please contact the office if interested in volunteering at our school. Volunteers will be asked to submit a Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement form prior to participating in volunteer activities.

Does Bonner have a Parent-Teacher Association?

Yes. Bonner Elementary School and Bear Cave Intermediate School have a joint Parent Advisory Council (SEPTA: Stewartville Elementary Parent Teacher Association). The council meets the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:00 PM during the school year with some exceptions as directed by S.E.P.T.A. leadership. SEPTA meets to review, discuss, and listen to information of importance to the school, students, and parents. All parents are welcome to attend and participate in SEPTA meetings. For more information, please see the SEPTA Webpage.

What does the school need from me as a parent?

We genuinely value and appreciate family support and understanding. In addition to this, we ask that parents provide up-to-date contact information (phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, changes in daycare providers, emergency contacts, etc.) in order to facilitate quick communication from the school to the family. If changes to addresses [including daycare changes] are made over the summer, please contact the Bonner Office so updated busing can be set up prior to the start of school. If contact information changes during the school year, please contact the Bonner Office.

If there are Court orders that affect your child, PLEASE provide this information to the school. A current, written Court order will provide the documentation we need to best support you and your child. The school must remain a neutral entity during civil disputes. If there is any other information or concerns you have regarding your child’s safety or peace-of-mind at school, please contact Principal McInroy.

Is there School-Aged Child Care available at Bonner?

Yes, the Stewartville School District does run a school-aged child care program called Tiger Time. This program runs before school (starting at 6:30 a.m.) and after school (ending at 5:30 p.m.). However, there are limited slots available; enrollment is not guaranteed. If you are interested in enrolling in Tiger Time, please contact Ms. Megan Wilber at megan.wilber@ssdtigers.org or 507.533.1597 for more information.

How does Bonner address behavior concerns?

All students are entitled to learn and develop in a setting that promotes respect of self, others, and property. Proper positive discipline can only result from an environment that provides options and emphasizes student self-direction, decision-making, and responsibility. Schools can function effectively only with discipline based on mutual understanding of rights and responsibilities.

Bonner Elementary uses a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system called R.O.A.R. (Respect Others, Act Responsibly) as a basis for our school-wide behavior plans. Whenever possible, we believe education and positive reinforcement should be the first steps to minimize misbehavior. Most behavior concerns are addressed by the classroom teacher in a fair and equitable manner. If necessary, teachers may request assistance from the building principal, or possibly the school support specialist or school community liaison depending on the need of the child.

How can I learn more about what is happening at Bonner Elementary?

Bonner Elementary is a very dynamic school. Primary communication will come from your child’s classroom teacher. Many teachers provide newsletters or use other forms of communication to keep families up-to-date. The school also maintains a website and will communicate with families via email for news that affects all students. Facebook is the primary social media outlet for Bonner; please consider following us! You are always welcome to contact your child’s teachers or the office with questions or concerns.

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