Rough Rider Times

Attendance: (605) 362-2885

Activity Office: (605) 362-2866

Counselors: (605) 362-2868

Main Office: (605) 362-2860

Fax: (605) 362-2883

Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/roosevelt/home
Location: 6600 W 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfroosevelthighschool/

The month of December is an important academic month for teachers and students at RHS. We have three weeks of school leading up to the Holiday Break that are important to help prepare for the upcoming semester tests that will be taken on January 10th and 11th. Please encourage your children to focus and finish as strongly as they can! We highly encourage everyone to be present on the semester testing days. Making tests up can be very time-consuming and often leads to a lower score than if you take the test when scheduled. Please prioritize attendance on semester test days!

You have received notice that the school lunch policy will be going into effect. If a student’s account becomes $20 in debt, the student will be able to buy a “Smart Snack” for one dollar until the account reaches $75 in debt. If there are debts greater than $75 there will be no food provided. Please fill out the free and reduced meals application if you think you may qualify. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at RHS. If there are circumstances that arise that may affect your ability to pay for lunches, please contact the school and we will work towards a solution with you.

Holiday Break will begin December 22nd and we will not have classes until January 3rd. I hope this break will allow you to rest and enjoy all the season has to offer. Please take the time to support all the winter athletics and activities! Our students are working hard in so many areas and we are extremely proud of them. Have a great month and enjoy the Holidays! We are Roosevelt! We are One!

Hope for the Future

By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent

In a world marred by the stark realities of war, unrest, and relentless exposure to mean-spirited interactions, the need to safeguard and nurture the innocence of our children becomes an urgent call to action.

The words of the late actor Angela Lansbury, spoken just after 9/11, echo the collective responsibility we all share in creating a haven for the youngest members of our society. "All of us, grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles, we all have to try to do everything that we possibly can to show them that they are safe and loved and that good will triumph over evil and right will prevail."

As we witness the disheartening events unfolding around the globe in real-time, it becomes increasingly clear that the impact on our children is profound. Their tender minds absorb the images and narratives of conflict, shaping their perceptions of the world and influencing their understanding of right and wrong.

In this tumultuous landscape, it is crucial for each one of us to actively engage in the emotional and psychological well-being of our children. We are all custodians of their future, charged with the responsibility of instilling hope, resilience, and compassion in the face of adversity.

By fostering a sense of safety, we enable them to navigate the challenges that arise in their lives with greater confidence and emotional stability. Engage in open conversations, actively listen to their concerns, and reassure them that, no matter the circumstances, they are loved.

In a world where hatred can permeate even the most sacred spaces, we must teach children about empathy and the value of differences. Help them understand that, despite the darkness, there is always the potential for goodness to prevail.

Empower children by modeling the transformative power of kindness. Encourage them to engage in acts of compassion, no matter how small. Whether it's helping a friend in need, participating in community service, or simply spreading joy through kind words, these actions contribute to building a better world.

In a world where darkness tries to overshadow the light, let us unite in our commitment to nurture a generation that believes in the triumph of good over evil. May the joys of the holiday season strengthen our resolve to protect childhood innocence and sow seeds of hope for their bright futures.

December 7th - Band Concert 7:30 pm

December 21 - Choir Concert 7pm

December 22-January 2 - No School

Doors open at 8:00am and 7:45am if students are eating breakfast. As it gets colder, please take note of these times. If your student is in need of coats, gloves, or hats please let us know! At the end of the day students must exit the building by 3:15 unless they are going to see a teacher or have an after school activity. If this creates a hardship, please call Mr. Hazlett at 605-362-2860 and we can talk about your circumstances.

Sioux Falls School District has kicked off the newest sport this fall, E-Sports. The Coaches for E-Sports are Valerie VanHeuveln, SF Washington Computer Science Teacher, and Jonathan Halleen, Ben Reiffel Middle School SPED and Rise Teacher. The practices and games will be played at the CTE Academy. Currently, there are 14 Teams in the State that are involved in the E-Sports Programs with Fenworks. Fenworks is the platform in which the Teams are ranked.

Students involved in E-Sports are from 3 of the 4 different high schools. They are:

Red Team (Rocket League): Preston May (JHS), Charlie Grismer (JHS), Dawson Aberson (RHS), Brandon Sailor (RHS)-Alternate.

Green Team (Rocket League): Dakhym Sheffield (JHS), Jacob Marley (RHS), Seth Langrock (LHS), Ben Foutz (RHS)-Alternate.

Inverts Team (League of Legends): Jonah Paul (LHS), Easton Strum (JHS), Alexander Loisell-Carlson (JHS), Kaden Byrkland (LHS), Gabriel Turner (RHS).

The Teams have been paired up as Varsity and JV, according to their scores and ability to play other positions. The Teams have had Pre-Season practices from Nov. 13-Dec. 1. The first match will be on Thursday, Dec. 7. Both Rocket League teams will be playing. Red Team will match off with Aberdeen, and the Green Team will play Leola. On Monday, Dec. 11, the Inverts will play Hot Springs. We are anticipating a successful first-year season.

Lunch deposits can be made here:

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Free & Reduced lunch application here:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=1f26b27eba241f8c89fa1f74af232754#loaded

Roosevelt Parents/Guardians:

This year, the SFSD is implementing a new online learning management system, Canvas. Canvas will replace Google Classroom, the former learning management system used in Sioux Falls high schools. Teachers will utilize Canvas as an online companion to learning within the classroom. Canvas, like Google Classroom, allows parents/guardians to be connected/paired with the account of their student(s). This will allow families to see updates in the class, work being done in the class, topics being covered as well as grades on assignments.

We will be sharing instructions with your student on how to create a pairing code for you. Attached to this email are two documents that detail how to set up a parent account (first step) and then how your student can generate a pairing code for parents (second step).

Parents- Create a Canvas Account

Students- Generate a Canvas Pairing Code

Want to get involved? Not sure where to start? Come join SALSA (Serve And Learn Student Association) as a great way to connect with opportunities to serve your community! SALSA allows you got get involved through volunteerism, meet new friends, explore careers, gain leadership experience, earn volunteer hours for scholarship applications, and make a difference in their community. Missed the first few meetings? No worries come to the upcoming meeting! This next meeting we will work on a holiday service project and learn more about our next large group volunteer outing, helping wrap gifts at the Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety and serving at Sallie’s Table, otherwise known as a SALSA-Wide Event, and other great individual opportunities!

Seniors, now is the time to submit your senior picture. Please send your senior pictures to the following e-mail address.

SFSDYearbook.Rhs@k12.sd.us

The key points to remember are as follows.

1. Please submit your senior picture by Friday, December 15, 2023.

(If you have a concern about this deadline, please contact Michael.Powers@k12.sd.us.)

2. Please send your senior picture in a jpg or jpeg format.

• Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program: Free, online tutoring available for K-12 students

• South Dakota students and families can access a new, online tutoring program, staffed by college students who are preparing to become teachers. The Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program offers FREE online tutoring to K-12 students across the state. One-on-one tutoring sessions can help students with their homework, tackle specific trouble areas, and address broader educational concepts.

PROGRAM BASICS

• The program is staffed by university students accepted into their Schools of Education at Black Hills State University and Northern State University.

• It utilizes a simple and secure online platform, where students and tutors connect for virtual sessions. The platform is a one-stop shop for scheduling and conducting sessions.

• Subject areas include: English/language arts, math, science, social studies.

• Tutors will be available Monday through Sunday afternoons and evenings. The service will not be available on holidays and during Christmas and spring breaks.

• In order to access this free service, parents first need to register their students to use the platform. Once registered, sessions can either be pre-scheduled or on-demand, depending on tutor availability.

The City of Sioux Falls has approved a plan to allow any Sioux Falls student to ride Tripper buses and Sioux Area Metro (SAM) buses for free during the 2022-23 school year by showing their student school ID. While this is a positive opportunity for our students, we do want to make families aware that seating on those Tripper buses may be limited due to increased demand. Please read this letter and complete the online form with the link at the bottom of this message prior to Rider Day on August 9.

In an effort to plan ahead, we are asking each family interested in riding our Tripper buses to fill out the Bus Information Form linked below. By filling out this form, you will assist us in knowing approximately how many students plan to rely on the two Tripper bus routes to and from school. With this information, we will attempt to work with School Bus Inc on our busing needs for Tripper bus routes.
What does this mean for my student/our family?
• Students can ride the Tripper buses for free as long as they have their school ID to show the driver upon entry to the Tripper bus.
• Tripper buses will fill each day on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no guarantee that your student will have a seat as ridership will likely change daily.
• If the bus is full/at capacity, students will need to have an alternate plan to get to and from school.
o Possible alternative transportation suggestions for your family to consider:
 Take the city bus (SAM) - There is a bus stop at JHS– this is also free with a student school ID.
 Ride with a friend.
 Ride with a relative or neighbor.
 Arrange a neighborhood carpool with other RHS families.
You can access Tripper bus routes that are attached to this email.

You can access information on Sioux Area Metro (SAM) routes by copying and pasting the following link.

https://cityofsfgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=cb3dd15de0c842ab9bd18d61f8afd7c5

Please fill out the bus information form below prior to Rider Charge Day on August 9th, 2022. This also needs to be copied and pasted.

https://forms.gle/vCvBTBh5UsPj7fDv9

Boarding the Bus:

Do not wave down the Yellow school buses. Simply be standing at the stop location and the bus will come to you. If nobody is standing at a stop location, the bus will not come to a complete stop at that location. It will drive on past. However, we will not leave a bus stop before it’s listed loading time.

Discipline Statement:

The School District’s “Rules of Student Conduct and Discipline” apply to bus Stops and on school Buses. Students need to remain seated while in route.

The HS Tripper route buses will be equipped with camera’s to monitor activity on these buses. Students removed from the bus for discipline issues will not receive refunds for their bus pass. For a full list of Sioux Falls School District Policies.

The high school “Tripper” bus routes will be done by School Bus Inc. High School students riding the “Tripper” buses will load/unload on YELLOW school buses. Stop locations have changed as well.