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:

February 11th, 2022

Volume 2, Issue 7

Attendance Matters

One of the most important things students can do to achieve success is also one of the most basic: attend school every day and on time! Students who attend school regularly achieve at higher levels than students who do not have
regular attendance

Please remember to call or email the office if your student will be absent for any reason. If your student needs to leave early for an appointment, let the office know before the school day if possible. The office will provide students with a pass before school begins to avoid classroom interruptions. You can email the Edison Attendance Office at SFSDEdisonAttendance@k12.sd.us

Hello Edison Families,

It is hard to believe it February! The school year is going by so quickly! As we begin second semester, we start fresh with opportunity to build on what was learning in the first semester. This is an opportunity to continue or build new habits for success at home. Here are some tips to support your students as we continue into second semester.

1. Monitor Infinite Campus: Monitoring grades on Infinite Campus is the best way to be up to date on your student’s progress throughout the semester. Downloading the app and setting notifications will allow you quick access to graded assignments or missing assignments. Call the Edison office 367-7643 if you need support.

2. Sign up for Conferences: Conferences take place Feb 10 & 15. Teachers sent out signups for conference sign ups. Communicating with your student’s teachers will support the work your students do in the classroom. If you need to sign up, please call the Edison office and we can assist.

3. Establish Routines for Homework: Establish a nightly routine for homework that includes a quiet workplace. If your child does not have homework, reading for 20 minutes is great practice.

4. Establish Routines for Students to Come Prepared: Establish a routine for your child to prepare for the day. This would include charging Chromebooks each night, setting out mask and water bottle, and packing up backpacks to be prepared for the school day.

5. Edison EXTRA Help Sessions: Each full week of school we offer Edison EXTRA sessions beginning at 8am. These sessions are designed to give students extra practice and support in concepts they may be struggling with in class. All sessions start at 8am. Students can come into the office and be directed to the room for the session.

Mondays: Science
Tuesdays: ELA

Thursdays: Math

Fridays: Social Studies

We look forward to the learning that will happen this semester. Thank you for your partnership in your student’s learning!

Sincerely,

Amber Blume, Principal

PTO News

Many thanks to those who have been able to attend the PTO meetings! We appreciate your input on our events and projects as we determine the best ways to support our students, teachers, and staff. There are some important events occurring in February along with opportunities to help! Please see below for more information:

Parent Teacher Conferences: February 15

Conferences make for long days for our teachers and staff, and they have greatly appreciated having meals provided for them by our Edison families. Thank you! We are looking for both food and monetary donations for the upcoming conferences. For the monetary donations, please send cash or check (payable to “Edison PTO”) to the school office in an envelope labeled “PTO conference meals.” You can also make an online donation through Cheddar Up: https://my.cheddarup.com/collection/337972/161853/manage/payments

To donate a meal item or volunteer to help with set-up or clean-up, please visit this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AAEAC29A0FE3-spring4

Thank you!

Go Cats!

LeAnn Minister and Nikki Schmaltz

2021-22 PTO Co-Presidents

Contact us

edisonsiouxfalls@gmail.com

www.edisonsf.org

February Music Notes

MAIN CONCERTS -

Mar. 31 EMS Orchestra Concerts in Gym 6:00-6th gr., 6:45-7th gr., 7:30-8th gr.

Apr. 21 EMS Band Concerts in Gym 6th grade–6:30 p.m. & 7th/8th grade–7:30 p.m.

May 3 EMS Chorus Concerts in Gym 6th grade – 6:30 p.m. & 7th/8th grade – 7:45 p.m.

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES -

Mar. 12 Band Solo/Ensemble Contest at BRMS (Ben Reifel MS) 8:00 am–1:00 p.m.

Mar. 24 Brio Concert with 5th Grade Orchestra Festival Concert 7:00 p.m.

Apr. 8 Brio/Inventions/Jazz Band Tour Day All Day

Apr. 11 5th Grade Area Band Festival with Jazz Band 7:00 p.m.

April 23 Orchestra Contest at Susan B Anthony Elementary All Day

April 29 Inventions Final Concert in auditorium 7:00 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 JANUARY are:

Band: Hudson Schumacher (8) Lola Schoenwald (7) Jackson Stroh (6)

Chorus: Mya Brooks (8) Alyka Gubbels (7) Mary Ingram (6)

Orchestra: Grant Wiessner (8) Desiree Hinsch (7) Edwin Konz (6)

SD Jr. Honor Choir Congrats~

Congratulations to the Edison students who auditioned and were selected for the South Dakota American Choral Directors Association Junior Honor Choirs. They worked to prepare their music and participated in an honor choir with students from all over the state here in Sioux Falls in January. Students that made the honor choir from Edison are: Alyka Gubbels, Liv Hendrickson, & Elise Jordan.

All State Band Congrats!~

Congratulations to Hudson Schumacher for being selected to represent Edison at the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band! Hudson was chosen through state-wide competitive tryouts and will be performing in Mitchell on March 4-5. We are so proud of all the students who tried out. It’s not an easy process, but one that we hope improves your playing regardless of placement. Thanks for your hard work and dedication! Music for next year’s tryouts will be posted at sdmea.net on or around May 1st.

Congratulations Orchestra Students!

Congratulations to Eva Hernandez and Jeremiah Borgum for making the All State Orchestra! This is the sixth year that All State Middle School orchestra is taking place and these amazing students were chosen through state-wide competitive tryouts. They are some of the best orchestra students in the state of South Dakota! Way to go!

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

Sign Language Interpreter~

Please notify your child’s director if you need a sign language interpreter for the spring concert. Notify the director at least ONE MONTH before the concert date. (Concert dates and director emails are included in this ECHO.)

Ensemble Schedule~

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

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

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

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 washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life.” – Berthold Auerbach

Electronic books and electronic audiobooks

Throughout this last month, students have been instructed in accessing electronic books (eBooks) and electronic audiobooks (eAudiobooks). Our two main platforms are SORA and MackinVia, both of which can be accessed through Class Link on students’ chromebooks. Additionally, both apps can be downloaded onto smartphones, tablets, etc. Directions for getting into SORA and MackinVia are included in the links below.

One added perk in SORA is that students can also access public library eBooks and eAudiobooks through the app. You DO NOT have to have a library card to check out public library electronic material when you go through SORA. Instructions for adding this feature to SORA are also listed below.

SORA

Logging in to SORA on a chromebook: https://tinyurl.com/SORAchromebook

Adding SORA to a device: https://tinyurl.com/addingSORA

Adding the public library to SORA: https://tinyurl.com/siouxlandlib

MackinVia

Logging in to MackinVia on a chromebook: https://tinyurl.com/Mackinchromebook

Adding MackinVia to a device: https://tinyurl.com/addMackinVia

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Looking for a great gift? How about a book? Here are some suggestions.

6th grade and up

Scar Island by Gemeinhardt

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot by Kinney

Unplugged by Korman

New Kid by Craft

Refugee by Gratz

Blended by Draper

7th grade and up

Not if I Save You First by Carter

Girl in the White Van by Henry

Warcross by Lu

Darkest Minds by Bracken

Compound by Bodeen

The Brave by Bird

8th grade and up

Wild Bird by Van Draanen

Dry by Shusterman

One of Us Is Lying by McManus

Cruel Prince by Black

Enigma Game by Wein

Hollow Inside by Davis

Edison Family’s,

Our boys’ basketball season is underway. Edison has over 100 boys (43- 8th graders and 62 -7th graders) participating in basketball. That is great, but also brings some challenges to have that many athletes play in a game. Each grade level is broken up into 4 teams A, B, C, and D. The 7th grade coaches, and I have decided that what is best for the players to give them the best experience is divide the B, C, and D teams into 2 teams each. For example, B1 and B2 and so on. This will allow for more playing time during the game, but unfortunately takes a few games away.

I look forward to seeing you at our games cheering on our student athletes at Edison.

Please wait for a stoppage of play before walking by the basketball court.

The student athletes as well as your safety is most important. A big thank you goes out to our boys’ basketball coaches.

Coaches are as follows:

8th grade: Mr. Frank and Mr. Randall

7th grade: Mr. Punt and Mr. Beacom

Track and Field

I know we still have snow on the ground and at times have subzero temperatures, but the 2021-22 boys and girls track season is just around the corner. The first practice is March 21, 2022. All student athletes are required to have a sports physical and complete a parent permission packet. If your son or daughter has already participated in a school sport, they are ready to go. Track is not only for the runner. There are field events such as shot put, discuss, long jump, and high jump.

Edison Athletic Events

Code of Conduct

The following criteria has been established to ensure that all athletes, officials, event workers, and visitors will have a positive experience attending an athletic event at Edison.

Attending events:

1. Gym opens at 3:55PM—please wait for gym to be prepared for the event.

2. Student must be in the gym by 4PM unless have a pass from a teacher due to academics.

3. Students may leave once, 1person at a time to use the restroom in the hallway by cafeteria.

4. The second time a student must leave the gym for any reason they are not allowed back into the event.

Edison encourages:

• Enthusiastic support of your team
• Good sportsmanship
• Family friendly atmosphere
• Commitment to safety
• Welcoming attitude to all fans and visitors

Unacceptable behaviors:

• All school rules apply towards dress code
• No hats, bandanas, etc.
• Disruptive or unruly behavior
• Foul or obscene language
• Rudeness to fellow fans or Edison staff.

The Athletic Coordinator retains the right to remove you from the event and must leave the building or football field if you are in violation of any of these conditions. Failure to comply will result in suspension of your privilege to attend future events.