Roadrunners Report
Robert Frost/Challenge Center
Mission: To educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world.
Newsletter Date:
February 2021
Volume 2, Issue 7
RF/CC Month at a Glance...
-Monday, February 15: No School (Presidents' Day Break)
-Tuesday, February 16: No School (Presidents' Day Break)
*If you're planning to send valentines/treats they must be store bought and individually prepackaged. They must be brought to school no later than Wednesday, February 10th.
Dreambox Winter Challenge Results
winning a Dress-Up Day and Donuts were classes K02, K03, 101, 102, 302, 311, 312, and 501. Winning Dress-Up Day, Donuts, and Drinks were classes K01, 103, 201, 211, 303, 403, 411, 502, and 511.
We are so proud of our students' grit and perseverance! All students will continue setting goals throughout the year, and meeting with teachers for one-to-one feedback sessions.
*Below, are pictures of the students from each grade level who completed the most Dreambox lessons over the break!
Principal's Corner
This year has been filled with unique challenges, and we are surviving and thriving because of the healthy, positive climate and culture created by our students, staff, and families. Our strength, perseverance, and commitment to creating the best learning community for our students has never been stronger. As I look back at the uncertainties we faced to begin a new school year, I am incredibly proud of the way our staff, our students, and our families have pulled together to create an incredibly productive, stable school year thus far. Thank you, all, for your unwavering support and dedication to Robert Frost and Challenge Center. May our second semester be as strong and productive as our first semester!
We are gearing up for our 2nd Annual Roadrunner Fun Run to take place March 15 - 18. Last year's Fun Run was a PHENOMENAL success and resulted in our students and staff earning $43,000 for Robert Frost/Challenge Center. The funds provided us these opportunities to enhance Roadrunner Land in the following ways:
- Gaga Ball Pit for our playground
- Bleachers for our newly expanded gym
- $26,600 into our playground savings account
- Funds for each classroom teacher to self-select and purchase items for the classrooms:
Supplies for STEM challenges
Picture books and chapter books
Craft Supplies
Science Materials
Incentives/Rewards and Treats
Bulletin Board Supplies
Supplies to create students' individual ELA kids and math kits
Flexible seating
Teaching resources
Webcams
Team "swag" for the next Fun Run(matching head/wrist sweatbands)
High quality, individual whiteboards for students
Back to school items
Storage baskets for students' chairs
Headphones for students
Fun Run t-shirts for each and every student.
Materials to create remote learning folders
Math manipulatives: meter sticks, snap cubes, fraction tiles
Classroom organizational items: crates, caddies, bins
Clothing rack and hangers for lost and found
And, yes, even a sweet, red velvet rope for a classroom's doorway where VIPs enter every day!
This year, our goal is to raise funds for:
- Funding the remaining portion of a new bank of swings and zip lines for our playground to be installed this summer
- Funds for classroom teachers to self-select and purchase items for their classrooms
- Funds to purchase each and every student a Fun T-shirt
- Funds to provide staff with gestures of recognition and gratitude
Beginning in mid-February, families will be receiving information about the Fun Run and how we can work together to make it another amazing success. In the meantime, interested students are submitting their t-shirt designs from which a design will be chosen and used for this year's Fun Run t-shirt. Our students' creativity is shining through!
Thank you, again, for your support of our Roadrunners!
Best wishes,
Mrs. Gillette
Roadrunner Staff Spotlight
Hello, fellow Roadrunners!
My name is Mrs. Kemnitz. Last May, I graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with my bachelor's degree in elementary education. Before finalizing my major I started college as an Interior design student! In my free time, I live at the hot yoga studio, spend time with my family, and escape to the outdoors. Before COVID I would travel as often as I could. My favorite place I've traveled to in the United States is Glacier National Park in Montana where I was able to backpack and hike through the mountains for 2 weeks. Outside of the United States, I had the opportunity to travel around Peru. I am incredibly thankful that I was able to become a Roadrunner this fall. Having grown up in Sioux Falls (Go Warriors!) my pride for the Sioux Falls School District is overflowing. I may be biased but I truly believe that the best students and staff work at Robert Frost Elementary/Challenge Center. My first year in fourth grade is flying by and I am thankful for my amazing 4th-grade rock stars. As I tell my students every day, make today a beautiful day!
Blessings,
Mrs. Kemnitz
P.S: Here is one of my favorite Peruvian adventure pictures of myself, a local, and two alpacas!
Winter Playground Expectations
- Winter coat
- Hat/headband
- Mittens/gloves
- Snowpants
- Snowboots
Without all of these items, students will not be allowed to play on the snowhills. Thank you for helping your child(ren) pack their winter gear so they can enjoy playing in the snow!
Updated COVID-10 Student Daily Screening Checklist
PTO Making Impact in Roadrunner Land
QUIZ BOWL RESULTS
Congratulations Road Runners! Your studying and hard work on the Quiz Bowl paid off - we have REACHED our school-wide goal of raising $16,000. We hope that you enjoyed your movie and treat party sponsored by the PTO for raising a grand total of $16,062!
Here are our classroom winners - the PTO will contact your teachers to coordinate a special treat.
Classroom Winners:
Highest % of Participation (turning in pledges) - 311 Hindbjorgen with 82% of the class turning in pledges
Highest % of answers correct - 411 Bleil with an amazing 99% correct
Most $$ raised - 211 Ivey with a total of $1,718 raised
A special socially-distant high-five goes out to 4th grader Dylan Beaty for raising $600 all by himself!
Thank you everyone for your hard work!
SPIRITWEAR
TEACHER CONFERENCE MEALS
Thank you to everyone who donated to help cover the costs of conference meals! In a matter of hours we raised all the funds we needed to provide our teachers and staff 3 amazing meals from CNC Food Factory and Papa Woody's.
HOBBY FAIR GOES VIRTUAL
This year we transformed our Hobby Fair to a VIRTUAL event! Parents submitted photos and videos of their child showcasing their favorite hobby! You can view them all on our PTO website. Thank you to the children and parents for participating!
BOOK FAIR
Our Book Fair is set to close at midnight on Sunday, January 31st! In the event you haven't placed your orders yet you can visit https://www.scholastic.com/bf/rfcc. Remember, All book-only orders $25+ ship for free! Consider rewarding your child for all of their hard work during these first few months of school! Thank you to all those that have purchased books to help support our school!
ON-GOING ACTIVITIES
Coca-Cola Give
Our school can earn money when you drink a Coca-Cola brand beverage! Simply enter the product codes from your bottle caps, 12 and 24-packs at coke.com/give/schools and our school receives a donation. You can also scan codes from bottle caps directly from your phone! Each bottle cap code scanned deposit .05 to our account. Payments to our school are made quarterly when a minimum of $10 each reached. If you'd rather, collect your Coca-Cola branded caps and along with codes from 12 and 24-packs and deposit them into the collection container in the school entryway. We'll do the scanning for you! Get started by signing in at Coke.com/Give and choose "Robert Frost Elementary School, Sioux Falls, SD".
Box Tops for Education
As most of you may have noticed, General Mill's Box Tops for Education has gone digital! All you need is your phone! Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then use the app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase.The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit our school’s earnings online. Twice a year, we will receive a check and can use that cash to buy whatever the school needs! If you discover a traditional unexpired Box Tops clip on a product, you can still clip it and send it to school and place it in the collection container in the school entryway. Every valid Box Tops clip is still worth 10¢! (Make sure each clip has a clearly visible product acronym and expiration date.)
Ronald MacDonald Pop Tabs
Collect pop tabs from aluminum cans from your family and friends, your work and neighbors. Monies earned from redeeming the tabs donated to our school go to support the annual operating budgets of the Ronald McDonald Houses of South Dakota. Bring your pop tabs to school and deposit them into the collection container in the school entryway. Visit https://www.rmhcsodak.org/ to learn more.
Make a donation
As a PTO, we function solely from donations and Quiz Bowl fundraising as we have no membership dues. Funds raised will help enrich our student’s learning experiences as well as provide for staff, student, and classroom needs along with continued library updates. If you would like to support the PTO, donations can be made online at www.robertfrostpto.com/donate or you can send a check in an envelope marked “Robert Frost / Challenge Center PTO” and leave it with the office staff. Thank you!
PTO OFFICERS:
President: Jennifer Stensaas
Vice-President: Alison Hanes
Treasurer: Tim Purinton
Secretary: Dori Perkins
CONTACT US:
Email: rfelem.pto@gmail.com
Facebook: @robertfrostchallengecenterpto
For the latest info, past minutes of meetings and budget information, visit www.robertfrostpto.com.
As a reminder, we host five PTO meetings virtually this year and our next meeting will be held on March 1 @ 6:30pm. Watch for a zoom link closer to that date.
Robert Frost / Challenge Center PTO
PTO Reward Programs
School Lunch Information
THE LIBRARY CARD - Mr. Erickson
Health Office - Nurse Val
PICTURES From ROADRUNNER LAND
411 and 412 Supporting the Community Through a Cereal Drive
Superintendent Stavem was a guest reader in Mrs. Sigl's class!
Remind
Winter Weather Information
Library Cards
Reading is the most important skill you can teach a child. Of all the skills children learn, it is the one you can influence the most. Giving kids access to good books and the opportunity to choose books will motivate them to read more. Like most acquired skills, the more kids practice reading, the better they’ll get.
Siouxland Public Libraries would like to help you with getting good books into the hands of your children! Click here to get more information on how to get a library card for your child(ren) and/or families!