Office: 605-367-7643

Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/edison/home

Email: SFSDEdisonOffice@k12.sd.us

Counseling Center: 605-367-8331

Fax: 605-367-8457

Edison is now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Facebook: @WeAreTheCats

Twitter: @EdisonCats

Instagram: @sfsdedisoncats

Newsletter Date:

May 8th, 2023

Volume 2, Issue 21

Our lost and found is overflowing! Please have your student check for any lost items. We will lay items out on tables next week and donate the last day of school.

Please remember that outside food is not allowed in the cafeteria, aside from pre-packed cold lunch.

Please let the office know as soon as possible if your child is going to be tardy or absent from school. You can call the office or email sfsdedisonattendance@k12.sd.us. If your child is leaving early from school for any reason, please try and let the office know before school starts to avoid classroom disruption.

Student Check In/Out Procedure- You do NOT need to walk your student in to school to check them in if they are late or returning from an appointment. When a student is checking OUT we do need to see the adult that is picking them up in the office. If you are unable to come inside, call the office and we will have a staff member walk your student out to their ride to verify who is picking them up.

Please call or email the office if you have any questions.

605-367-7643

sfsdedisonoffice@k12.sd.us

Hello Edison Families,

It is hard to believe it is May! We have only a handful of days left. The year has gone by so quickly. May is an extremely busy month at Edison! We ended last week with our Testing Tech Party and the next 3 weeks will be busy ones. Here are some highlights of things happening in the next few weeks…

· May 8 & 9- MAP Testing- We will complete our final MAP assessment! We are excited to see the progress of our students!

· May 10- Emergency Drill Practice- We will have our spring semester emergency drill practice throughout this week. We will practice a Tornado, Fire, and Lockdown drill.

· May 10- 8th Grade Poetry Slam- 8th graders from the Sioux Falls School District will participate in a poetry slam at the Washington Pavilion.

· May 11- Student of the Month Breakfast- 2nd Semester- 8am- invitation only

· May 11- Our incoming 6th grade students will visit Edison, tour the building, and learn more about what to expect in middle school.

· Week of May 15-19- Spanish Immersion testing in 7th & 8th grades

· May 17- 8th graders visit their future high schools.

· May 18- Athletic Information Night- 7pm- Learn more about participating in athletics in the 22-23 school year by attending this informational night.

· May 26- Last Day of School/8th Grade Party

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week at Edison, and we thank our PTO for providing treats to our wonderful teachers! We are grateful for all they do for our students at Edison!

As we conclude our school year, please know how much we have enjoyed your student! If they are leaving us, we wish them the very best in their future! If they are returning to Edison next year, we will see them in August for another great school year!

Sincerely,

Amber Blume, Principal

By now, our bodies have somewhat adjusted to the shortage of daylight that comes with the winter season. The cold weather pushes most of us indoors for activities, yet the dream of a slower pace is quickly replaced by holiday concerts, long to-do lists, and for our high school students - preparing for semester tests.

The District Office doesn’t slow down either. This month, I wanted to share some exciting, education-related news with you that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to becoming THE BEST school district in the nation:

• SFSD is delighted with the ongoing interest in the Avera Family Forum Series launched in September. After an out-of-state company approached SFSD about offering monthly sessions to support families, SFSD knew it had one of the best resources available just down the street. We contacted our partners at Avera Behavioral Health, and as we anticipated, they eagerly jumped at the opportunity to participate. Our first online collaboration in September focused on suicide prevention. In October, we tackled the topic of anxiety, and in November, we provided practical advice for parents on setting parameters with digital media. The 40-minute video had been viewed more than 700 times just two weeks after presenting the digital media topic. This video, along with others offered on the third Tuesday of each month, can be found at sf.k12.sd.us under the Counseling Services tab. This partnership is a perfect example of how schools and the community work together to benefit everyone.

• Another exciting collaboration turns the spotlight on student ideas. SFSD is now accepting applications for participants in its first-ever TEDxYouth Event to be held in late March. Any high school SFSD student with a big idea and the drive to perfect it for a live audience is invited to apply. Judges will select 15 participants who will bring their ideas to the stage in a ticketed public performance. We’re excited to have the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation as our premier sponsor, along with Thad Giedd of Pinnacle Productions, whose talent has secured TEDx licensing for this Sioux Falls youth event. Student voices are critical to the success of our schools and our community, and I can’t wait to hear what’s on the minds of our selected speakers.

• Top-notch students are always due in part to top-notch teachers, and the Sioux Falls School District is proud to employ so many of them! Nominations are now open for the 2023 Dr. John W. Harris Sioux Falls Teacher of the Year award sponsored by Vern Eide Motorcars. This is the 35th year for the award showcasing the never-give-up tenacity of teachers who believe in, encourage, and challenge students to stretch and grow daily. You’ve likely encountered one or more of them, so why not make a nomination today? The nomination is easy to complete by the January 16, 2023, deadline. The spring celebration is one of the best ways to show appreciation for an exemplary educator.

This update demonstrates our drive to support parents, students, and teachers, and as we close 2022, your public schools are eager to ring in another new year by giving our very best every day. Thank you for your partnership this semester!

As we wrap up the school year, Edison PTO wants to welcome everyone who will be joining the Edison family next year - all of our future 6th grade families and any new 7th/8th grade families. We also have to say “good-bye” to the 8th grade students and families. Eighth graders, we wish you all the best as you begin your high school adventure. And to the many eighth grade families who have given your time volunteering at events, helped provide and set up meals for conferences, donated money, and participated and supported our fundraisers during your time at Edison…we are truly grateful for the contributions you’ve made to our PTO and school community! Please join me in a special thank you and farewell to our out-going PTO officers: LeAnn Minister, Shannon Huber, and Kristina Sipma. Thank you for your years of commitment and work in supporting the Edison community!

Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week (May 8-12)

Edison has an amazing group of teachers, administrators, and staff who work incredibly hard for the Edison students every day. The PTO is excited to provide daily treats for them. Parents, now is a great time to send your students’ teachers and the office staff a note of thanks!
To sign up to provide food or beverages: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AAEAC29A0FE3-2023
To make a donation for supplies: https://conference-meals-20559.cheddarup.com

May Meeting

Please join us for our last PTO zoom meeting of the year on Wednesday, May 17th, at noon. We will be saying goodbye to our out-going officers, welcoming our new officers, and talking about the events happening next fall.

Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88144870067?pwd=Y3E0ZXgyOU91b1pIQTFpZkhKMzdoZz09

Meeting ID: 881 4487 0067
Passcode: 907743

Thanks from the PTO for all your support!
Have a great summer! Go Cats!
edisonsiouxfalls@gmail.com
www.edisonsf.org

May Music Notes

Middle school singers and instrumentalists, the Edison music department wants to THANK YOU for spending your year with us in band, chorus and/or orchestra! We enjoyed having you in our groups! 8th graders, keep making music in high school! We will MISS you! 6th and 7th graders, we look forward to working with you again next year! Happy summer!

MAIN CONCERTS -

May 16 EMS Chorus Concerts in Gym 6th grade – 6:30 p.m. & 7th/8th grade – 7:45 p.m.

MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH~

Each month the band, orchestra, and chorus areas will each recognize a 6th, 7th, and 8th grader that shows exceptional dedication, responsibility, and character each and every day.

Musicians of the month for APRIL are:

Band: Nate Herbst (8) John Davis (7) Connor Brandt (6)

Chorus: Camila Langenfeld (8) Carter Schochenmaier (7) Parker Roti (6)

Orchestra: Valeria Navarro Herrera (8) Samuel Hartman (7) Eden Hitchcock (6)

WELCOME 5TH GRADERS!!!

We hope many of you 5th graders are considering signing up for BAND, CHORUS, and ORCHESTRA at Edison! These performance groups meet for one period every other day, during the school day. 5th graders can sign up for two of these groups in any combination: band/chorus, band/orchestra, or chorus/orchestra. We hope you decide to participate in one or two of our music groups! Please contact any of the directors with questions. (Directors and their emails are listed below.)

SHOW CHOIR CAMP~

Included in this ECHO is information that I have about any of the show choir camps offered at the high schools this summer. You register through the high school.

Roosevelt HS Show Choir Camp is June 5 - 8, 2023. Registration information is found in this link: https://www.rooseveltchoirs.com/middle-school-camp.html

Jefferson HS: They will hold their show choir camp late summer/early fall. More info to come.

Washington HS Show Choir Camp is June 5 -8, 2023. There is a registration page for the WHS Jr. Show Choir Camp in this newsletter.

BAND NEWS~

All State Band 2024

We are already looking forward to next year’s Middle School All State Band. This special event features the best band students from all across the state. Students are selected by competitive auditions, and the music for next year’s auditions will be posted very soon at sdmea.net. We will be promoting this in 6th and 7th grade classes this spring so that students can get an early start on the music. We encourage students to give it a try! See Mr Jensen or Miss Deinken for more information.

ENSEMBLE SCHEDULE~

Jazz Band meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

Brio meets on Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:10 – 8:45 a.m.

Inventions meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

PRIVATE LESSONS~

Now is a great time of year to consider starting private lessons on your instrument/voice. Individual lessons with a skilled teacher are a great way to learn, grow, and excel as a musician. The private lesson list can be found on the Edison Music Dept. website at http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/private-instructors-list.html

EDISON MUSIC DEPARTMENT WEBSITE~

The Edison Music Department has a website! Refer to this website for information and dates.

http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/

“LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK!~

Edison Music Department has a Facebook page! This page will be used for informational purposes only. You can check concert dates, rehearsal dates, practicing tips, etc. on our page. We will NOT have any pictures of students posted, it will strictly be used for getting information out to you!

The page is: www.facebook.com/EMSMusicDept

There are other Edison schools out there so check before you “like” our site!

• Band directors – Rick Jensen - Rick.T.Jensen@k12.sd.us & Emily Deinken – Emily.Deinken@k12.sd.us

• Chorus directors – Amber Sundvold – Amber.Sundvold@k12.sd.us & Mollie Weflen– Mollie.Weflen@k12.sd.us

• Orchestra directors – Stacy Sip – Stacy.Sip@k12.sd.us & Shannon Abels – Shannon.Abels@k12.sd.us

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” – Confucius

May

Thanks to everyone for another great year in the EMS library!

ITEM DUE DATES

All library items and fines are due Wednesday May 17! Students who have overdue books and/or outstanding fines may miss out on fun final day activities! Please return all items and pay any fines by May 17.

SUMMER READING

If your child is entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the fall:

All Sioux Falls middle school libraries are doing A BINGO SUMMER READING PROGRAM. A copy of the Edison BINGO card is included in the newsletter. Prizes for participation in the summer BINGO challenge will be awarded next fall. Students will receive the BINGO cards at the end of the school year. Students may not begin marking the BINGO card until Saturday, May 27. Please remember that free digital books are available for downloading at any time from the Edison Library and can be used on the BINGO card.

To access these digital books and digital audiobooks, have your student go to Class Link and choose SORA.

If your student is 13 or older, they can also take advantage of free audiobooks by signing up for SYNC. This program delivers two free audiobooks to your student’s email every week until August 2.

Finally, please encourage your child to read regularly over the summer and visit the Siouxland libraries often. They offer several free classes in addition to all the items they have available for check out. To find out more, go to www.siouxlandlib.org.

Happy reading!

Attention Incoming 6th grade families! Please see the graphic below for all of our Running Start Sessions. You can follow the link below to sign up!

Attention 8th grade Families: Connections Classes available this summer.

Why should freshmen attend Connections?

Connections students start high school right and earn a half credit toward graduation. The program is packed with ideas, strategies, people, and new experiences that will help prepare students for a great first day and a successful first year of high school. Connections students review important reading, math, and study strategies. They also learn problem-solving techniques and organizational ideas that make the transition to high school less stressful. Connections students also participate in activities that increase confidence, create relationships, and familiarize them with how high school works so that they are ready for high school. After Connections they will be able to assist other freshmen in the transition to high school as well.

SD Public Universities and Technical College Partner for Student Career Exploration Summer Camps

PIERRE, S.D. – In a cooperative effort with the South Dakota Board of Regents and the South Dakota Department of Education, South Dakota’s rising 7th and 8th grade students will have an opportunity to participate in free, five-day career exploration camps this summer. 2023 is the second year South Dakota's Career Exploration Camps will be offered, with greater capacity for students.

Hosted on South Dakota college campuses, these camps will expose students to various career paths through fun, engaging and hands-on learning. Throughout the week, campers will spend time on university and technical college campuses and visit area businesses to see careers in action. By the end of camp, students will have a better understanding of themselves, their career interests and how their education prepares them for professions.

“We look forward to building off the success of last year’s inaugural career camps by partnering with our state’s technical colleges again this summer to offer more camps and a wider variety of career opportunities,” said South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director Dr. Brian Maher. “We’re excited to showcase career options to our state’s middle schoolers and highlight the possibilities students have right here in South Dakota.

“This unique partnership among our public universities, technical colleges, and the Department of Education signifies a united approach to providing opportunities to our state’s young people so they can identify potential careers early on and narrow their focus as they move forward through their K-12 education,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves.

These career exploration summer camps are provided at no expense to students in South Dakota. The camp dates and locations are listed below. Those interested in learning more about what to expect or to apply can visit: ourdakotadreams.com.

2023 SUMMER CAMP DATES & LOCATIONS

June 18-22 | University of South Dakota + Southeast Technical College

June 25-29 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College

July 9-13 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College

July 9-13 | South Dakota State University + Lake Area Technical College

July 9-13 | Northern State University + Lake Area Technical College

July 9-13 | Dakota State University + Mitchell Technical College

This opportunity is being administered by the South Dakota Board of Regents and funded with federal dollars available to the South Dakota Department of Education through the American Rescue Plan.

Contact your middle school counselor or future high school for more information on times and cost. Each High School has their own unique dates and schedules. Limited space.

Athletics - May 2023

Our soccer, track and field season are coming to close with the Metro Conference meet and the last soccer game the week of May 8-12. We wish the best of luck on their final events of the year.

For the calendar year of 22-23 Edison athletics had 609 participants in all sports, which I believe is a testament to the importance of students getting involved in activities for a sense of belonging and school pride.

Other breaking news:

I will be leaving Edison after over 30 years in education and athletics. In fact, I started my coaching career here at Edison in the fall of 1992. I have many great memories here at Edison and will cherish them for the rest of my life.

Mr. Tyler Robel will be taking over as Athletic Coordinator for the 23-24 school year. He will do a great job and bring some youthful energy to Edison Athletics.

Save the Date:

All current 6th and 7th grade families

Parent Night for Edison Athletics

Edison Gymnasium

Thursday May 18th at 7PM

Summer 2023

I encourage you to contact your child's future high school to see about summer sports camps and training opportunities.

Have a great summer and I look forward to hearing about all the great things happening at Edison in the 2023-24 school year!

Take care,

Dave Christian

Athletic Coordinator