Susan B. Anthony School News
2020-21 ~ October Edition
Notes from Mr. Sheets, SBA Principal
We have completed our first full month of school. It's been fun to get to know the wonderful students and staff at Susan B. Anthony Elementary. We are blessed with a great school community! Your children are busy learning new content standards, practicing previously learned skills, and demonstrating their learning in a variety of ways. They are learning and growing academically and socially every day! Thank you for sharing your child(ren) with us.
October Dates To Remember
October 12 ~ Native American Day Observance ~ No School
October 13 ~ Teacher Inservice ~ No School for Students
October 13 ~ Parent Teacher Conferences (12:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.)
October 15 ~ Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.)
October 22 ~ Picture Retakes (more information can be found below)
October 28 ~ Last Day of 1st Quarter
Parent Teacher Conferences are an excellent time for you to learn more about your child's progress. We will be holding most of our conferences virtually (either on the computer or via phone). If you feel that you need an in-person conference, please call Mr. Sheets to schedule it. Our staff is looking forward to meeting with all of our students' parents during Parent Teacher Conferences. You will receive a note from your child's teacher on Monday, Oct. 5th with your scheduled conference times.
If you ever have any questions, please contact us by e-mail (jeff.sheets@k12.sd.us or laura.siebenborn@k12.sd.us) or phone (367-4560). Let's work together to make it a great school year!!!
Mr. Sheets & Ms. Siebenborn
School Picture Retakes - Thursday, October 22nd
Superintendent's Colum from Dr. Stavem
Our Work Amid COVID
By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent
I recently worked on a document and before sending it, applied a watermark to indicate it was a DRAFT copy. You’ve probably all seen a document with a watermark at one point or another. You can clearly see the copy, but on every page the watermark serves as some type of reminder.
That’s how COVID feels this year. There is an ever-presence about it, yet we recognize other priorities cannot be overlooked.
- · Student achievement data must be to reviewed to guide instructional decisions.
- · Two new schools are opening next fall with construction going on every day.
- · Seniors are beginning to make post-graduation plans.
- · Decisions about summer program offerings are upon us.
- · Winter sports and activities will be starting just around the corner.
- · Work on the updated strategic plan begins second semester.
No matter what challenges lie in front of us, each day students, staff, and parents/guardians have an opportunity to get better. How can we incorporate a mindset of continuous improvement into everything we do? John Maxwell says that continuous improvement “comes to the steady people who keep working at getting better.” That means hour to hour, day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year.
As stakeholders help the District envision the next strategic plan, a continuous strategic improvement mindset must be embedded in everything we do. But long before we have that document finalized, we can all be putting this firmly in place now, despite COVID or any other barrier.
- · Are more students present and engaged in their learning today than yesterday?
- · Did my child read more pages this week than last week?
- · Are we, as a family, focused on doing our best today with a goal of being even better tomorrow?
COVID has proven to be a challenge. But, we cannot let it win. As educators and parents, our work never ends – is the “continuous” in continuous improvement. We need to celebrate successes, and when we have the mindset of getting better, every day is an opportunity for celebration – for students, for staff, and for our district.
I am trying to see the gray word in the background less and focus on the real work at hand more. I hope you will, too. Together, we’re going to keep moving forward and help our students do the same.
Fall Parties ~ Friday, October 30
Fall Parties will be held in our classrooms on Friday, Oct. 30th at the end of the day. Due to our current District building access being limited to students and staff, we will not be able to have volunteers help at the parties. We also ask that any treats sent are pre-packaged, and for parents to communicate with their classroom teacher prior to sending any to school due to allergies in some classrooms. During the Fall Party our teachers and students will continue to maintain social distancing and our other health safety measures.
Birthday Treats
This year we are asking parents/guardians not to send their child with any food items
to share on their birthday. We continue to seek ways to maintain the safety of our students and staff throughout the school day. We are asking for your help in this manner to help protect those students who may have a food allergy. We also know with the COVID-19 pandemic still happening this will help us have an additional safety precaution in place.
More information regarding non-food birthday options will be communicated to parents by the classroom teachers in newsletters/notes home.