Banfield Elementary School

As we look forward to summer, sunshine, and the end of another school year, we also think of summer meals for our students. Austin Public Schools will once again be offering free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 1-18. This is a federally funded program designed to assure nutrition is available to children when school is not in session.

The guidelines require children to eat on site and meals will not be allowed to leave the cafeterias. This can be a fun time for children to socialize with their friends while having a nutritional meal.

Young children should be accompanied by an adult.

Meals will be available for purchase for those older than 18 years.

There will be no meals served on June 19.

Remember, hungry kids do not learn to their potential. Our goal is to take away as many barriers as we can for students. Please join us in helping our kids have a healthy, happy summer and prepare them for a successful return to school in the fall.

See you in the lunch line!

Due to kitchen updates. the Summer Meals Program will be transitioning to a cold lunch option for a few weeks this summer at AHS and Ellis Middle School.

Breakfast and lunch will still be available, but there will be no hot meal options during these dates:
🍎 AHS: June 8 - 19
🍎 Ellis: June 22 - 25

Thank you, and have a wonderful summer!

Austin Public Schools is scheduled to begin renovations to the Larry Gilbertson Track, located within the Wescott Sports Complex, on or around June 22, with project completion anticipated by October 2, weather and construction conditions permitting.

This project will include the removal of the existing track surface, repairs to the underlying infrastructure, and installation of a new competition surface designed to serve students, athletes, and the community for years to come.

While no work is being completed on the synthetic turf field itself, access to the field will be affected at times due to construction activities on the surrounding track. The project team plans to maintain access to the turf field throughout most of the project by providing phased entry points based on where crews are actively working.

At this time, the turf field is anticipated to be completely inaccessible during the following periods:
• July 6–17
• September 14–18

These dates are subject to change based on weather and construction progress. Any schedule adjustments will be communicated as soon as possible.

We recognize this project may temporarily affect individuals and groups who regularly use the facility. These improvements represent a significant investment in Austin Public Schools and the broader community, and we appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation while the work is completed.

Project updates will be shared as construction progresses.

Check out the final Austin Packer Bulletin of the 2025-2026 school year!

Austin Packer Bulletin Austin Packer Bulletin

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting Austin High School Administrative Assistant Kelly Rockwell.

"Kelly brings professionalism and humor into every interaction. She has her finger on the pulse of the school and she shows care to staff and students always. She is a pleasure to work with and an amazing person."

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/aps-staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

It's time for another Packercast! On this episode, we sit down with Sumner Elementary Special Education teacher (and 2026 APS Teacher of the Year) Laura Jertson.

https://tinyurl.com/Packercast

Do you have a suggestion for someone you'd like to hear on Packercast? Visit https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-offices/communications/packercast and stay tuned!

4th grade spent their last full day at Banfield by having a tug-o-war competition and pizza party!

Mrs. Owens’ class took home the victory!

These students ended the year on a positive note by achieving a passing score on the ACCESS test.

They showcased their English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

We are extremely proud of their success. Well done!

Is your student headed to IJ Holton in the fall? Make sure to check out the Smore to learn more about selecting a music course (Band, Orchestra, or Choir).

Find Your Sound and Play Music Find Your Sound and Play Music