Mrs. Svihovec's News
February 2023
Farewell My Friends
As many of you may have heard, I have decided to retire June 30th, 2023. I have been in education for 32 years. I started as a Special Ed Teacher, and I have taught 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th grades before pursuing my first principal's job at Prairie Rose. I have been at Centennial since 2013.
I have always considered myself lucky to work for Bismarck Public Schools. I am so grateful for the amazing experiences I have had as a teacher, and principal of BPS. Of course, this is a bittersweet moment because I will miss all the wonderful people I have worked with over the years including staff, parents, and students. I truly enjoy coming to work everyday. Centennial parents have been amazing and I appreciate the support over the years. I am a little sad that I won't get to see kids everyday. They truly make me smile.
I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life in which I get to spend more quality time with my family, including my precious grandchildren. I am lucky to have them in Bismarck. I am also looking forward to traveling more, reading, catching up on my scrapbooks, and of course, spending more time with my two Schnauzers, Jett and Maxx.
Kindergarten Registration 2/1-2/28/23
Children who are 5 years old on or before July 31 can register for fall kindergarten in Bismarck Public Schools starting February 1st. You can find more details on our District Registration website here: https://www.bismarckschools.org/Page/3781
Registration is open throughout the school year but parents are strongly encouraged to register as soon as possible to help ensure placement in their neighborhood school. The sooner a student is registered, the higher the probability of them attending their boundary school. Due to capacity limitations, those who wait too long may be placed in a different school and required to wait until the following year to be enrolled in their boundary school.
Camp Edventure Registration Deadline is 3/20/23
Camp Edventure is a free six-week elementary summer school program focusing on reading and math. Children entering grades 1 through 5 in the fall and whose parents live in the Bismarck Public School District are eligible to attend. Camp Ed begins June 5th and goes through July 18th (no school on July 4th and 5th). Classes will be in session each day from 8:00-12:00.
We encourage parents to register online to simplify the process. To register online, simply log on to PowerSchool at https://bismarck.ps.state.nd.us. If you don't have a login, contact our secretaries at (701) 323-4250 to get started.
- Once you've signed in, click on the "Forms" link on the left side.
- Select the "Camp Edventure Registration Form '', fill out your student's information , and submit.
The deadline for registering is Monday, March 20, 2023. All registrations received by the deadline will be guaranteed a spot. Late registrations will be placed on a waiting list and parents will be notified if space becomes available.
Centennial is Your Child's School Family
I cannot believe it is February already. At Centennial, we work on creating a Centennial School Family so students feel safe, connected and ready to learn at school. This is why coming to school every day is so important. See chart about missing school and how it adds up to many days of missed instruction over the years.
Just like your family at home, Centennial staff are here for students to guide them to make the right choice so they are respectful, responsible and safe. Teachers use the Second Step program as their core curriculum to teach students to manage their own emotions, form healthy relationships, make good decisions, and cope with everyday social and academic challenges, so they are better equipped to learn. We promote the “Roughrider 3” daily at Centennial by giving Roughrider Roundups. If staff see a student displaying one of these characteristics they may issue a Roughrider Roundup to a student. Miss Bothun, school counselor, visits classrooms weekly or every other week and does a lesson to teach students how to manage emotions, problem solve, make good choices, etc. in school and home.
Centennial teachers are always looking for ways to inspire students to own their learning. Our greatest hope is for students to achieve at a high level, be successful, and be happy. We know that along the way they may make a mistake, and that is okay, because we will be here to help them learn from their mistake, just as parents help them navigate through life. As parents, you can help us at home when your child gets a Re-teach or Major Behavior Report by sitting down with your child and discussing the incident at home.
At Centennial, we use 30 second interventions or a Re-teach to help students problem solve through a conflict. A Re-Teach is seen as a teaching opportunity for behavior. A staff member may talk through the situation with your child, then when the Re-teach goes home, parents have another opportunity to visit with their child about the behavior.
Lastly, if the behavior is severe such as physical aggression, then a Major Discipline Referral would be issued. These are always handled by a principal or assistant principal, and parents will be notified. I would also like to point out that we may discuss only your child’s behavior and consequences even though another child may be involved. We will only discuss another child’s behavior or consequences with their parents because of confidentiality. Please trust us that we will address problem behavior with all students involved.
American Heart Association Fundraiser by Mrs. Doppler
The American Heart Association fundraiser flyer will be coming home the week of February 6 and will be due back to school by the week of February 24. If the students raise $5 they will get to participate in duct taping Mrs. Doppler to the wall during the last hour of the school day in March. Also, whichever student raises the most they will get to name the gym and have it posted on a banner in the gym for a whole year!!! Money raised go to help with American Heart Association research and Centennial Physical Education receives a % of the money raised to purchase PE equipment.
Guidance for Seasonal Influenza and Colds by Nurse Mrs. Suchy
Tis the season for colds and flus. However, there are some things you and your family can do to prevent the spread of these germs.
- Washing your hands is your #1 line of defense. Use warm water with soap and have your child sing the alphabet song once or the happy birthday song twice (approximately 20 seconds).
- Stay home if you are sick. Rest and drink fluids.
- Remind children to cover their coughs and wash their hands frequently.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Clean surfaces frequently!
When any symptom of a communicable disease appears, please keep your child at home.
BPS Illness Guidelines;
To return to school after illness your child must:
- Be without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours.
- Be without an uncontrolled or persistent cough.
- Have an oral temperature less than 100.4 degrees without the use of medication.
- Feel well enough to take part in the usual school day.
Sincerely, Nurse Shyla
Parking: General and Handicapped Parking
Thank you for abiding by these parking rules.
The Elk's Hoop Shoot by Mrs. Doppler
The Elk’s Hoop Shoot is an annual nationwide sponsored free throw contest for boys and girls ages 8 to 13. Over three million boys and girls participate each year nation-wide in the Elks Hoop Shoot program.
The Elks Hoop Shoot contest consists of five levels of competition with winners advancing at each level. The levels being: 1) local school 2) city 3) state 4) regional and 5) national finals.
The contest consists of two rounds: Round (1) 5 practice shots, 10 shots for score. Round (2) 15 shots for score. Total shots are 25.
Centennial Elementary held their local school event during PE classes in November. Winners from our school were as follows: 8-9 age group Iris Drewlo and Vincenzo Cimarosti; 10-11 age group Piper Farthing and Aiden Hipp.
The City-wide contest was held December 3, 2022, at Wachter Middle School. We had two students win their division and advance to the state contest. The winners were Iris Drewlo and Piper Farthing. The state contest was held January 28, 2023, in Jamestown.
Iris Drewlo won the state contest for the girls 8-9 age division. She made 23 out of 25 shots and all 15 of her second-round shots!!! Iris will be representing Centennial Elementary, Bismarck and North Dakota at the Regional contest on March 10-12 in Rapid City, SD.
Piper Farthing placed second at the state contest for the girls 10-11 age division. She received a large trophy and the chance to move onto regionals if the first-place finisher cannot go.
Congratulations to both girls and GOOD LUCK!!!!