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6th Band Concert
5/7/2026, 6 PM – 7 PM
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7th Band Concert
5/7/2026, 7 PM – 8 PM
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8th Band Concert
5/7/2026, 8 PM – 9 PM
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6th Choir Concert
5/12/2026, 6 PM – 7 PM
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7th Choir Concert
5/12/2026, 7 PM – 8 PM
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8th Choir Concert
5/12/2026, 8 PM – 9 PM
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K-12 NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
5/25/2026
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Last Day of School
5/28/2026
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NPMS MAY NEWSLETTER 2026
Notes from Mr. Gregor and Mr. Bell
Dear NPMS Families,
We hope everyone is enjoying the somewhat warmer weather, and we are looking forward to finishing up the school year on a strong note. Please continue to encourage your student(s) to finish their year in a positive way. We appreciate all of your support this year. Speaking of positive things that have happened at our school, below is an article about some of our middle school students and a project they were involved in under the direction of Jeremy Kalal and Jeremy Biermaier.
Thanks,
Mr. Gregor and Mr. Bell
20 Students and a $26,000 Impact
At Global Doing Good, we believe that when you trust young people with the resources to do good in their communities, they don’t just meet expectations- they shatter them. This week, we are featuring a remarkable group of 20 students from one of our partner schools in Minnesota. Each of the 20 students were given $100 from The Benjamin Project in seed funding to go do good.
While the initial funding totaled $2,000, these students utilized their voices, their networks and their creativity to raise an additional $24,000. From local food shelves, to cancer research and everything in between, the ripples of their projects are being felt throughout their community and broader metro area.
Turning $100 into Thousands
For many students, the $100 was just the beginning. They used the seed money to buy supplies for fundraisers or presented their vision to local businesses to secure matching grants.
Declan took his mission to the next level by presenting his project to a local business, Dairy Products Inc. They were so moved by his dedication to the Hope for the Community food shelf that they offered a 10-to-1 match. Between his personal outreach and the match, Declan delivered over $11,000 to help feed families in Elko New Market.
Annie focused her efforts on the new Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in New Prague. After presenting her goals to her church, neighbors and family, she raised a staggering $4,890 to provide comfort items like blankets and activities for patients undergoing treatment.
Nora combined modern tech with traditional grit. She started a GoFundMe for Majestic Hills Ranch, secured a matching grant from the O’Neil Foundation, and even gave a speech at a banquet to earn a donation from the Minnesota Horse Council. Her final total: $2,288 to purchase an AED and riding gear for the ranch.
Creativity in Action
Other students used their $100 to produce more good by making items to sell. Jocey spent her seed money on ornament-making supplies, hand-crafting four different styles to sell before Christmas. She turned that $100 into $740 in profit, which she split between the Jordan Food Shelf and the Duck Cup Memorial. Similarly, Ava raised $500 for breast cancer research with Susan G. Komen Foundation by selling handmade bracelets.
Meeting Immediate Needs
Not every impact is measured in four-figure donations; some are measured in the comfort of a child or helping a neighbor.
Max and his family partnered with Bridge to Freedom, a program serving previously incarcerated women, to create hygiene kits. Originally, they were going to provide the kits to local food shelves. When they noticed an immediate need due to local events in Minneapolis, they pivoted to support a volunteer hub serving the Hispanic community.
Evelyn met with a supervisor at Scott County Foster Care to find out exactly what kids need when they are removed from their homes. She used her funds to provide baby sleep sacks, books, and teething toys- items that provide a small sense of security during a difficult transition.
McKenzie and Isabella focused on the youngest members of the community, supporting Kaitlyn’s Kloset and Adopt-a-Family programs to ensure moms and children had the supplies and gifts they needed for the holidays.
A Message from the Educator
Jeremy Kalal, a teacher who has led The Benjamin Project at the school, highlighted his experience with the program.
“Over the past 3 years our students have participated in the Benjamin Project and we’ve been fortunate enough to see some amazing ideas and results come from our students. The program has grown into something that our students and community can be proud of. We’ve seen the impact locally with many students choosing to benefit organizations close to home like our local food shelf, the local elderly living facility, the local education foundation, or a local mental health awareness group. We’ve also seen some of our students branch out and take their impact well beyond their local community, some students have reached out to larger organizations benefiting breast cancer awareness, a women’s shelter, the make a wish foundation, and even a horse training facility for special needs kids to name a few. Throughout the past three years we have seen the students come up with creative ways to turn their $100 into thousands to help their chosen organizations. Local businesses have stepped up to match funds for some students which has allowed them to multiply their funds to donate large sums of money to some of these places.
The idea started with a little uneasiness a few years ago, but now students understand what the Benjamin Project means and what it can turn into with some effort on their part. The wide variety of ideas and results has been so rewarding to see for our school district. Year after year the ideas get bigger, the organizations get broader, and the results get more and more impactful. It's an exciting time around our community as people are starting to recognize the student’s stories and the Benjamin Project will continue to grow in our schools as more and more people are opening their eyes to students doing good!”
The Collective Ripple
Whether it was Cy supporting the elderly at Praha Village, Sydney investing in scholarships through the New Prague Education Foundation, or Brandon filling church pews with Thanksgiving meals, these 20 students proved that doing good is a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it.
We are so proud of this Minnesota cohort. They didn't just see a need; they took ownership of the solution. Check out some of the project photos below!
About The Benjamin Project
GDG partners with middle school educators across the country to connect students with service learning opportunities through The Benjamin Project. This student-led community service program provides participants with $100 in seed money to make a difference in their community.
Learn More About The Benjamin Project
Invitation to Participate in a Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
Dear Parent/Caregiver,
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are conducting a survey in partnership with Studer Education to monitor our progress in creating a positive school experience for you and your child(ren). Your feedback is crucial in helping us identify areas for recognition and improvement.
The survey will ask you to select the school your child(ren) attends. Once you complete the survey for 1 school, you will have the option to provide feedback on another school, if you have a child at another school in the district. Providing feedback for each school should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. We encourage you to complete it in one sitting, as your responses will be saved once you click submit. The survey is scheduled for 4/27/2026 through 5/11/2026.
The Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey can be accessed here: New Prague Area Schools - Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey.
To maintain confidentiality of the Parent/Caregiver Survey, our partners at Studer Education will be administering the survey, managing the data collection, and aggregating the data to provide results reports to leaders.
Thank you for your partnership!
Mr. Gregor and Mr. Bell
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Student and Family Resources
Mrs. Holgate, Mrs. Peterson and Ms. Willner have put together a website of resources for students and families. Please take a look:
NPMS Counselors and Social Worker Newsletter: May
Mental Health Awareness Week: May 18-22, 2026
We are pleased to share that through the generous support of the Duck Cup Memorial Foundation, NPMS has received funding to host our third annual Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place from May 18–22.
In recognition of the unique challenges faced by adolescents, this initiative is designed to foster a school environment that prioritizes mental health and overall well-being. With this support, we will offer a variety of meaningful activities that promote wellness, reduce stigma surrounding mental health and empower students to take proactive steps in caring for their mental health. All events are aligned with the 2026 theme: "More Good Days Together."
One of the highlights of the week will be grade-level outdoor activities on Friday, May 22, where students and staff will have the opportunity to engage in fun, community-building experiences. Planned activities include: student vs. staff dodgeball game, gaga pit, lawn games (e.g., spikeball and bags), inflatables, sidewalk chalk, rock painting and music.
These events are meant to provide a joyful and inclusive environment that supports connection, creativity and overall student well-being. We are grateful for the continued support of our school community as we work together to make mental health a priority for all students. Please notify the main office by Wednesday, May 20 if you would prefer that your student not participate in the activities on Friday, May 22.
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Congratulations to our April Students of the Month!
6-Communications: Annie Bishop and Bennett Gregory
6-Language Arts: Remy Tietz and Sophie Wawrzyniak
6-Math: Bronson Cooper and Grayson Stender
6-Science: Sullivan Dillon and Daysia Laudahl
6-Social Studies: Casen Hoover and Paxton Sticha
7-Language Arts: Landon Breeggemann and Elijah Call
7-Math: Mason Lambrecht and Amelia Thorp
7-Science: Clara Flicek and Eto Tao
7-Social Studies: Mckenna Booth and Josie Spelbrink
8-Language Arts: Alayla Beyer Love and Kaitlyn Hartwig
8-Math: Lana Bartusek and Juliet Sacco
8-Science: Raena Anderson and Charlie Schmidt
8-Social Studies: Kennedy Belter and Hattie Langeberg
Art: Mason Waller and Logan Woodgate
Band/Choir: Katelyn Koplen (Band) and Nora Escher (Choir)
6th PE: Norah Bermel and Darsh Patel
7th PE: Aubrey Beckius and Ashton Yender
8th PE: Amelia Schroers and Jackson Storlie
Spanish/TE/Woods: Talia Henry (S), Drew Haroldson (TE) and Noah Terry (W)
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PayPal: "Grateful Parents for Great Staff"
Venmo: "@GPGS-NP"
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Introducing NP Road Crew 🚌
From water parks to city trips, this new summer program lets middle schoolers experience the perfect mix of fun, freedom, and friendship.
Read More...
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26-27 NPAS District Calendar
At the October 27th School Board meeting the calendar for the 26-27 school year was approved.
Read More...
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A Tradition of Pride. A Future in Motion.
Proud of where we’ve been. Excited for where we’re going.
At New Prague Area Schools, tradition and future come together to create something special.
Read More...
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GoGuardian Parent App: Click on this GoGuardian Parent App link to find out how parents can use the app to block websites and pause internet access on school-issued devices during out-of-school hours.
Absences, Late Arrivals, Early Pickups and End-of-the-Day Pickups
If your child(ren) will be gone or late, you MUST call the attendance line: (952) 758-1405 (24/7, before 8:00 a.m. on the day that they will be gone) or main office line: (952) 758-1400 (after 8:00 a.m.), or have your child bring a note to the office in the morning before or on the day they will be gone. If your child will be leaving early, have them bring a note to the office first thing in the morning to get a pass.
If your child is ill during the school day, please have them go to the nurse's office. The nurse will call home, if needed. Please remember that students should not be using their phones during the school day, unless they are in the office or a staff member has okayed it.
Drop-Off Reminder
Please help to keep our students safe by dropping off in the northbound lane (the side closest to the school) only.
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