February Newsletter 2023
Memorial Middle School
Feb. 6...............No Classes - Teacher Inservice
Feb. 13.............Evening Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:15-8:15pm
Feb. 16.............Evening Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:15-8:15pm
Feb. 20-21........No Classes - Holiday - Presidents' Day Break
Memorial Social Media
Memorial is excited to share with you our social media sites. We showcase all of the amazing things that happen in our school every day!
FACEBOOK: MemorialMSSF https://www.facebook.com/MemorialMSSF
INSTAGRAM: memorialmssf https://www.instagram.com/memorialmssf/
TWITTER: @memorialmssf https://twitter.com/memorialmssf
Note from the Principal
Dear Memorial Parents,
As we enter into the short month of February, we look forward to the events ahead! February brings spring parent teacher conferences, boys basketball, National History Day competition, rehearsals for the March musical, and a Signature Show Choir performance for friends and family. In addition, our 8th graders are in the process of registering for high school.There is no doubt that the month will fly by quickly.
Memorial will be conducting parent teacher conferences on Monday, February 13th and Thursday, February 16th from 4:15 to 8:15 p.m. In-person and virtual conferences are available on both evenings. Parent teacher conferences are a great time for teachers and parents to connect. These conversations will allow teachers to share student’s academic progress and for parents to share information about the student’s strengths, needs, and learning styles. Teachers have sent a link to SignUpGenius which will allow parents to schedule a conference by viewing the dates, times, and options available.
I also want to share with you that, after 32 years of service, I have decided to retire from my position as principal of Memorial Middle School at the end of June. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to have worked with such a talented and dedicated group of people, and for the privilege of serving the students, parents, and staff at Memorial Middle School. I am confident that Memorial will continue to thrive, and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure a smooth transition from this great school year to the next.
Sincerely,
Nancy C. Hagen
Principal
Superintendent's Column
SFSD Heap of Happenings
By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent
By now, our bodies have somewhat adjusted to the shortage of daylight that comes with the winter season. The cold weather pushes most of us indoors for activities, yet the dream of a slower pace is quickly replaced by holiday concerts, long to-do lists, and for our high school students - preparing for semester tests.
The District Office doesn’t slow down either. This month, I wanted to share some exciting, education-related news with you that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to becoming THE BEST school district in the nation:
SFSD is delighted with the ongoing interest in the Avera Family Forum Series launched in September. After an out-of-state company approached SFSD about offering monthly sessions to support families, SFSD knew it had one of the best resources available just down the street. We contacted our partners at Avera Behavioral Health, and as we anticipated, they eagerly jumped at the opportunity to participate. Our first online collaboration in September focused on suicide prevention. In October, we tackled the topic of anxiety, and in November, we provided practical advice for parents on setting parameters with digital media. The 40-minute video had been viewed more than 700 times just two weeks after presenting the digital media topic. This video, along with others offered on the third Tuesday of each month, can be found at sf.k12.sd.us under the Counseling Services tab. This partnership is a perfect example of how schools and the community work together to benefit everyone.
Another exciting collaboration turns the spotlight on student ideas. SFSD is now accepting applications for participants in its first-ever TEDxYouth Event to be held in late March. Any high school SFSD student with a big idea and the drive to perfect it for a live audience is invited to apply. Judges will select 15 participants who will bring their ideas to the stage in a ticketed public performance. We’re excited to have the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation as our premier sponsor, along with Thad Giedd of Pinnacle Productions, whose talent has secured TEDx licensing for this Sioux Falls youth event. Student voices are critical to the success of our schools and our community, and I can’t wait to hear what’s on the minds of our selected speakers.
Top-notch students are always due in part to top-notch teachers, and the Sioux Falls School District is proud to employ so many of them! Nominations are now open for the 2023 Dr. John W. Harris Sioux Falls Teacher of the Year award sponsored by Vern Eide Motorcars. This is the 35th year for the award showcasing the never-give-up tenacity of teachers who believe in, encourage, and challenge students to stretch and grow daily. You’ve likely encountered one or more of them, so why not make a nomination today? The nomination is easy to complete by the January 16, 2023, deadline. The spring celebration is one of the best ways to show appreciation for an exemplary educator.
This update demonstrates our drive to support parents, students, and teachers, and as we close 2022, your public schools are eager to ring in another new year by giving our very best every day. Thank you for your partnership this semester!
Counselor Connections - February 2023
Counseling Assignments:
Alex Dobbs: 6th Grade
Kerri Andela: 7th Grade
Renee Halde: 8th Grade
Counseling Office Phone #: 362-2789 Website: http://memorialcounseling.weebly.com
Our Mission: As professional school counselors we help provide an environment in which students can achieve academic, career, and personal/social success. It is our goal and challenge to help students “Become the Best Version of Themselves.”
Second Step (Social Emotional Learning) Program
Here is a summary of the January Second Step Lessons being taught in PRO Time (1st period) & parent/guardian follow-up questions to go with each lesson:
What should parents know about teens & screen time?
Watch this four minute video from the Second Step Program and find out: Video
Is screen time affecting teens' sleep patterns? Check out these resources: Sleep
Keeping Youth Safe - Drug/Alcohol and Vaping Prevention
Helping adolescents make good decisions and avoid negative peer pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and vaping is very important. Parents/Guardians play a very important role in providing support and helping their adolescents make good choices. The research says that having conversations with youth about these topics, explaining your expectations, and providing support make a positive impact on adolescent decision making. We encourage you to check out the following resources and set a specific time to talk about these important topics with your adolescent:
Doctors will explain the effects of vaping on a teen’s brain and lungs (3 min. Video - scroll down to the 2nd video)
“Talk. They Hear You” App. (3 mins. Video Description) which has discussion guides, videos, etc. to help protect your child: https://youtu.be/JL2XMiOO0Fg
For more information about this app, you can visit: Talk. They Hear You Website https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/mobile-application
Here are some additional refusal skills from the CATCH My Breath Program: Refusal Skills
Questions or Concerns: If there are questions/concerns or anything you feel it would be helpful for use to know about your child, feel free to contact your child’s assigned counselor.
Thank you to these Mustang Club Business Sponsors!
Every Day..........Every Period..........On Time
Don't Be Late!
We ask all Memorial families to make a renewed commitment to arriving on time. This helps your child's teacher and classmates and your child. With the cold and snowy weather, the car drop off line can be long, so please plan accordingly. Here is a review of our morning routines.
- The school doors open at 8:40 a.m. for students to enter the building.
- When the temperature is below 32 degrees, students can come into the cafeteria starting at 8:10 a.m.
- Breakfast starts at 8:25 a.m.
- Our school day starts at 8:55 a.m.
- Students are considered tardy if they are not in their seats at 8:55 a.m.
Please note, when students get their 4th tardy for the quarter, they will receive an office referral and 1 hour detention afterschool. It is important to be on time to school, so students have time to visit with teachers and friends in the morning, gather items from their locker for classes, and get to class early. If students come to school late, then they start their day with anxiety and stress which is not a great way to start the day.
Thank you for renewing your commitment to arriving on time. We appreciate your help!
Memorial Parents,
An exciting new attendance option within Infinite Campus called Absence Request Processor is available to parents and staff!
Absence Request Processor allows parents to log in to their Parent Portal account and submit absence requests for their students. Staff can then go into the staff processor side and approve/process these requests. As parents get more comfortable using this option, it will reduce the amount of attendance related phone calls, messages and emails that staff receive each day.
See link below for Infinite Campus log in.
January Student of the Month
Elsa Nesheim
James Roemen
Hailey Wallace
Deklan House
Bennett Laughlin
Kellen Hunhoff
Paige Schmidt
Keegan Spindler
Eva Petersen
Avelyn Kirkvold
Michael VanDeventer
Ella Thurman
Emersyn Lynch
Mason Nesbitt
Taylor Paul
Jackson Romine
Sara Newitt
Ryan Ehlers
Music Department Notes
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Congratulations to our top three finalists from the Memorial Spelling Bee, which was held on January 9th: 1st place - Nolin An, 2nd place - Avery Johnson, and 3rd place - Jackson Neeley. On Saturday, February 4th, these three students will have the opportunity to compete against K - 8 school finalists from across the city and state. Good luck to you all!!
Parents, please remind students to use their school badge to scan in when getting on the bus and to scan out when leaving the bus. Thank you in advance for visiting with your student about the School Bus Inc. procedure.
Student Council Happenings
Child Nutrition Newsletter
Sports Physicals
Contact Us
Office Hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday - Friday)
After Hours: (605) 362-2792
- Press 1 for attendance
- Press 2 to leave a message
Cafeteria: (605) 362-2799
Counseling Office: (605) 362-2789
After School Program: (605) 370-9649
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/memorial/home
Location: Memorial Middle School, 1401 S Sertoma Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Phone: (605) 362-2785
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemorialMSSF/
Twitter: @MemorialMSSF