Garretson Blue Dragon Tales
January 2023
Superintendent's News by Mr. Guy Johnson
Athletic Complex Improvements
Back in 2005, the Garretson School District put in one of the premier small school athletic complexes in the state. That facility has served us well, as a point of community pride as we host people from other schools in football, soccer and track. The normal life expectancy of a synthetic turf field and track is normally in the 10-12 year range. This year our facility saw its seventeenth year of use. Over the last few years, the facility has begun to show its age. Over the last year, we have been working on plans to replace the turf and track, update the scoreboard and replace concrete that has broken over time. We also intend to install a sidewalk and permanent visitors’ bleachers on the east side of the field.
We have been working with Infrastructure Design Group to create the plans for the refresh. One challenge that our athletic turf presents is that of drainage. The drainage system that was installed back in 2005 is a Brock underlayment system. Engineers have found that this type of system is more appropriate for warmer climates than the upper midwest freeze / thaw cycle that we experience in SD. A different system will be required in order to replace the synthetic turf, requiring us to remove about a foot and a half of substrate from the field and then using a tile drainage system along with fill that is not susceptible to movement in the freeze/thaw cycle.
Our plan is to go out for bids for the project in January, with the hope that we will be able to start the construction in April to be ready for next fall. We will finance the project through our capital outlay fund, using a combination of spending down the reserve in that fund and capital outlay certificates. After the bids come in, the board will need to determine how much we spend out of our Capital Outlay reserve and how much to finance through certificates.
We are excited to make the improvements to the complex. That facility is one of the best in our conference and in our class, something for our community to be proud of. This refresh will ensure that it continues to be a great place to play football and soccer as well as host track meets and other community events.
from Mr. Chris McGregor, Principal
DEEP THOUGHTS from the mind of McGregor:
My previous two newsletter articles have been about attendance, dressing warm for winter, and staying healthy. I know that none of those topics are super-exciting, but they are important to the operation of a school. We sometimes get bogged down with the small things and we lose sight of the big picture and why we are actually here. This has been something I have tried to improve about myself throughout my career. Sometimes I find my center by reminding myself of some things that have been said about education by others who are much smarter than me. So, this month I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes about education, both inspriational and funny. I hope one of them will remind you of why we are all here or at least give you a little laugh.
* “The difference between try and triumph is a little umph." —Marvin Phillips
* “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.” —Helen Keller
* “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” —Oprah Winfrey
* “If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.” – Bill Gates
* “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." —Pele
* “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy – I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” –Art Williams
* “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." —Nelson Mandela
* “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” —Thomas Edison
* “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
* “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” – Albert Einstein
* “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” – Jeff Rich
I wish everyone the happiest of Holiday seasons! Have a great break, be safe, and enjoy your family time.
Little Dragon Corner by Mrs. Katie Hoekman, Elementary Principal
This month in Little Dragon Corner I thought I would give you a piece of my background as an educator and my growing into an administrator. As I completed my master’s degree in Educational Leadership, you must complete a capstone project. My focus was on the ACE Study and implementation of a social emotional learning program within a school district. My abstract from my capstone gives a glimpse of what my research entailed. You will find in my abstract, I mention the Sanford Harmony social emotional program. I was excited to find when coming to the Garretson School District this was a program that you have now been using for several years. If you have any questions or would like to discuss some of my research further, I would be more than willing to sit down with you.
Trauma: The Implentation of A Social Emotional Learning Program
ABSTRACT
The ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences) is one of the largest studies of its kind completed by Dr. Robert Anda and Dr. Vincent Felitti that has begun to have significant impacts on approaching children and adults with trauma-related backgrounds. Understanding ACE’s helps educators and school personal be able to become trauma-informed to make appropriate choices for their students and staff. Social-emotional learning is one way to build resilience in students with high ACE scores, but also to shape the lives of students’ so they can develop healthy strategies to cope with trauma. If students and families are identified in elementary school, they can receive the resources and guidance they need early to help students feel and be more successful through their academic careers. Research from the ACE study and connected studies are utilized in this paper's research to suggest that school districts are in powerful positions to build relationships with students and families to help promote strategies to overcome adverse experiences in life. By implementing a social-emotional learning program into a classroom, educators are not only helping students succeed socially and emotionally, but research has shown academic effects as well. The Sanford Harmony program creates a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between schools and the medical world to help students’ foster relationships and community building through lessons on diversity and inclusion, peer relationships, empathy and critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.
Tech Tips with Mr. Matt Schrank, PK-12 Tech Coordinator
PASSWORDS!
I know. I know. Saving your passwords on your web browser just makes things that much easier! Even if you are someone who has complex passwords and don’t use the same password for every sign-in you have, you should still use two-factor authentication.
What is two-factor authentication. I am sure most of you have it with your banking login information, or perhaps with a login at work. Two-factor authentication either sends an e-mail, a text, or a push notification to a device for you to “authenticate” a login. This helps keep your accounts safer and more secure as you are the only one with access to your device to be able to login to “wherever” you are choosing to log in to. Here are some things to think about with password security:
- Use two-factor authentication
- Don’t use the same password for multiple logins
- Use numbers, letters, capital letters, special symbols, or phrases as a password
- Make your password at least 12 characters (16 is best practice)
- Try not to save your passwords on each website.
From the Desk of the Activities Director, Kevin Steckler
Participation in High School Athletics Has Long-Lasting Benefits
High school athletic programs have been studied for more than a century. Early studies focused on how athletics help create an identity and generated pride for participants and community members. These studies evolved to explain how participation brought about improvements in physical health, stress management and academics. Today there are numerous studies that focus on all types of participation benefits, but what sometimes goes unappreciated is the impact that high school athletics has on students after they graduate.
Participating in high school athletics has long-lasting benefits, especially when athletic leaders create an environment that challenges and rewards the growth mindset. When participants are supported in this way, they develop lifelong habits that last beyond high school.
Three off the most important participation takeaways that students continue to practice after graduation are: 1. Building Relationships Through Team; 2. Understanding Limitations and How to Push Past Them; 3. Foundations of Fitness
*This Month…Part 1
Building Relationships Through Team
Scoring the winning points, attaining a personal record in football, or volleyball are a few moments participants replay over a lifetime, but what students remember most from athletic participation is the relationship and celebration they share with teammates. High school athletes work together daily in strenuous practices preparing for stressful situations in search of positive outcomes. In this pressured environment students build relationships and learn to care for each other.
Being part of a school team is unique because no single outcome can be accomplished individually. Regardless of score, each game is dependent on the contributions of all team members. It is through these experiences that athletes develop a second family and learn to value each other; maximizing both team and individual potential, teammates learn to care for each other both on and off the field of play.
Essentially, athletics allows students to develop care and empathy. They learn to see things outside of their own personal perspective and feel for their teammates. This care for others transfers to post-high school experiences, and athletes can maintain this care and empathy throughout their lives.
Next Month Part 2…Understanding Limitations and How to Push Past Them
Children with Disabilities by Mrs. Kayli Coburn, MS SPED teacher/PK-12 SPED Director
I know days can get long in the wintertime so I have attached a fun challenge for your children to do during the cold inside days!
Reading difficulties are common in many children and the more we practice the better we get. Encourage your children to READ! Help them to find a LOVE for reading for enjoyment.
Have FUN and stay WARM!
Garretson Administration and School Board
Mr. Guy Johnson, Superintendent
Mr. Chris McGregor, MS/HS Principal
Mrs. Katie Hoekman, Elem. Principal
Mr. Jacob Schweitzer, Business Manager
Mr. Matt Schrank, Technology Administrator
Mrs. Kayli Coburn, SPED Director
School Board Members
Mr. Shannon Nordstrom, President
Mrs. Kari Flanagan, Vice President
Mrs. Tana Clark
Mrs. Jodi Gloe
Mr. Andy Hulscher
Email: firstname.lastname@k12.sd.us
Website: www.garretson.k12.sd.us
Location: 505 2nd Street, Garretson, SD 57030
Phone: 605-594-3451
Facebook: facebook.com/GarretsonBlueDragons
Twitter: @GHSBlueDragons