Dear Parents/Guardians and Students –

As we prepare for the end of the school year and the return of student personal property, as well as the collection of SFSD property, we wanted to share the plan for those details. I know I am speaking for all the staff when I say, we truly miss your wonderful children. I know as we have worked through Remote Learning it has been met with some growing pains and quite frankly, something none of us wish we had to do. We all know how important relationships and personal connections are and it is hard to do that through social distancing and Remote Learning. A sincere thank you for providing the support, encouragement, and guidance to our students during this very difficult time for everyone. Thank you as well for the continued support, flexibility, and grace you have given staff as they work through learning a new teaching platform.

Student personal items, as well as the collection of SFSD property, will begin on May 14th and conclude on May 20th. The schedule for return of student items/collection of SFSD property is listed below. While we know that the scheduled times may not work for all families, it is important that we follow the schedule as close as possible. If families cannot make it on their designated date and time, they can choose any of the days or the evening session. However, please know that we have tried to spread out the number of students/parents coming through, so please only use this option if it is a necessity. We will be minimally staffed to ensure that we are following all CDC guidelines and Sioux Falls ordinances. If families have students on multiple teams, they can pick one of the scheduled times for one of their students and attend that session to pick up all personal items.

May 14th

Team 6-1: 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Team 6-3: 12:30 pm -4:00 pm

May 15th

Team 6-2 and Team 6-4: 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Team 7-1: 12:30 pm -4:00 pm

(If your student has a high school course, please wait until May 20th)

May 18th

Team 7-2: 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Team 7-3 and Team 7-4: 12:30 pm -4:00 pm

(If your student has a high school course, please wait until May 20th)

May 19th

Team 8-2: 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Team 8-3: 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Evening Session: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

(If your student has a high school course, please wait until May 20th)

May 20th

Team 8-1: 8:30 am -12:00 pm

Make up Session: 12:30 pm -4:00 pm

Returning 1140 student’s personal items is an undertaking that will take the cooperation of all involved. We have tried to facilitate the flow of traffic on the days we are returning items to ensure efficiency in the process. Please see the map that is attached that lays out the process on the days. Please note that several streets will either be closed or restricted to one-way traffic to ensure a natural flow. Glendale Ave. at the intersection of 28th Street will be closed to traffic and 28th Street at the intersection of West Ave. will be one-way traffic. Traffic will not be allowed to go west on 28th St. All vehicles should start on South Hawthorne Ave. heading north and then turn right onto 28th St. going East. After leaving the parking lot, you will not be able to turn left out of the parking lot, but rather turn right towards West Ave.

During the return of student personal items, families/students should not get out of their cars. We are required to follow all CDC guidelines and Sioux Falls ordinances. Staff working the stations will be in masks and gloves and will be following all CDC guidelines. If there are walk-ups, families/students must practice social distancing staying at least 6 feet apart. They should walk through the same process as families that are doing drive up. You would get in line on the sidewalk and walk with the car in front of your position in line.

Families should ask the following questions prior to coming to retrieve student items:

• Have you had any close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
• Do you have new or worsening shortness of breath?
• Do you have a new or worsening cough?
• Do you have a fever of 100.4 or greater?
• Do you have chills?
• Do you have repeated shaking with chills?
• Do you have muscle pain?
• Do you have a headache? (Not related to a previously known health condition such as migraines.)
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have a new loss of taste or smell?
• If YES to ANY of the above questions, the family should call the school to make other arrangements for their student items to be retrieved and for turning in SFSD property.
• If YES to ANY of the above questions, the individual should seek guidance from their medical provider. They may also contact South Dakota Department of Health at 1-800-592-1861.

There will be five stations that parents and students will work through. Please see the “End of the Year Checklist for Students and Parents” link below for an outline of the stations. Please make sure to read through the checklist prior to your designated day. You will be provided the checklist, Chromebook check in form, index card, and pencil in a two-gallon bag on the day students are gathering their personal items. Please know that we will only give your student’s personal items to you and cannot return other student’s personal items to you.

If a student needs to retrieve PE items from their PE locker, parents will park in the South parking lot. (see link to map below) The plan for student personal items from their PE locker is outlined on the “End of the Year Checklist for Students and Parents.”

Please know that the documents below are for your reference and will be available the day you pick your personal items up and return SFSD property.

From the Edison Family and my family to yours, we want to extend our sincere gratitude for sharing your wonderful students with us. Take care and please let us know if there is anything that we can do or if you have any questions.

End of Year Checklist for Students:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/126j9ER7dVzPEuTGAcjp_hOSYAASsW61trZhOcgjl4GY/edit?usp=sharing

Chromebook Check-in Form:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mlpGNnE_srJxYa6K-OhKJkuoWHvkn9v3l_VJwJA6peI/edit?usp=sharing

Map for May 14-May 20:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Og-nLnGJ6oWHAyb-wWxFGYxybxtdokXd8abLznBlE6Y/edit?usp=sharing

Where has the school year gone? It seems just like yesterday that our 6th graders were getting acquainted with lockers, passing time, and learning about ala carte at lunch, our 7th graders were getting ready for a year of extracurricular activities for the first time, and our 8th graders were already thinking about high school in September. As the 2019-2020 school year ends, we want to extend our sincere appreciation for your continued support of Edison and your dedication in supporting your student in their education over the last nine months. We truly believe a strong relationship between home and school is an essential component of academic, social, and emotional success for all students.

With that said, please continue to encourage your students to finish strong. Our staff and students are working extremely hard right up to the last few days to make sure every minute of instruction and learning is not wasted. I often compare the school year to running a marathon. When you run a marathon, you need to have a steady, consistent pace throughout the race so that you have a “little kick” at the end, and in some instances, just enough energy in the tank to make it the 26.2 miles. We are currently in that “little kick” stage and need to push through the last few miles of the “school year marathon.” Please continue to encourage your student to finish strong and to give that extra “little kick” at the end of the race.

A special thank you to Mrs. Alvey, Dr. Andrews, Mrs. Johnson, Senora Betancur-Arango, Sr. Montoya, and Mr. Hofer for their dedication and commitment to Edison Middle School. They have made valuable contributions to the SFSD, to education, and to our students. These fine educators will be retiring or moving on to new adventures at the end of this school year, and we wish them the best in their new endeavors.

Thanks again for a wonderful school year. I truly am honored to be able to work with such an amazing group of students, staff, and parents. Have a relaxing and enjoyable summer!

SUMMER READING

Please encourage your child to read regularly over the summer.

If your child is entering 6th 7th or 8th grade in the fall:

All Sioux Falls middle school libraries are doing a summer reading BINGO promotion. The Edison BINGO card is included in the newsletter. Prizes for participation in the summer BINGO challenge will be awarded next fall. We would prefer students start this BINGO May 22. .

If your child will be in 9th grade in the fall:

There is not currently a required book to read unless your student will be in Accelerated English. Accelerated English students will receive that information at a later date.

Musician of the Month~

Each month the band, orchestra, and chorus areas will each recognize a 6th, 7th, and 8th grader that shows exceptional dedication, responsibility, and character each and every day.

Musicians of the month for MARCH are:

Band: Eric Erbentraut/Jadelyn Stokke(8) Tessa Blom(7) Kyra Gurath(6)

Chorus: Siyanne Redda/Ryker Lee(8) James Jensen/Autumn Lacher(7) Grant Wiessner/Quinlan Blount(6)

Orchestra: Trinity Endsley(8) Luke Brenden(7) Maverick Ikeh(6)

Musicians of the month for APRIL are:

Band: Mackenzie Ford/Shea Stein(8) Dorian Ness(7) Louisson Akossi(6)

Chorus: Connor Sergeant/Miracle Slewion(8) Kera Olson/Hannah Basel(7) Lily Sheets/Madyson Jarrott(6)

Orchestra: Sage Clark(8) Meena Broveleit(7) Lorin Montes(6)

Musicians of the month for MAY are:

Band: Jacklyn Mollison/Ian Smith(8) Emma Terveen(7) Eileen Baumgarten(6)

Chorus: Carson Cisneros/Joslyn Anderson(8) Ethan Hanson/Charlotte Crawford(7)

Lucy Hennies/Bobby Parker(6)

Orchestra: Alice Masters(8) Madeinny Tuchez(7) Chivalry Straatmeyer(6)

Welcome 5th graders!!!!

We hope many of you 5th graders are considering signing up for BAND, CHORUS, and ORCHESTRA! These performance groups meet for one period every other day, during the school day. 5th graders can sign up for two of these groups in any combination: band/chorus, band/orchestra, or chorus/orchestra. If you sign up for one music group you will have Directed Studies on the opposite day. We hope you decide to participate in one or two of our music groups! Please contact any of the directors with questions. (Directors and their e-mails are listed below.)

Orchestra All State News~

The middle school all state orchestra music for next year (auditions will be in Oct and Nov) has just come out! It can be found on the SDMEA website, www.sdmea.net

You may also join the google classroom that has been set up for all state. The class code is: pmhwp4x

Band News~

All State Band - Tryouts for next year’s All State Band are in November, but summer is the best time to start working on the music. Keep an eye on http://www.sdmea.net/events/middle-school-all-state-ban/ and watch for updated information. As soon as information and music becomes available, Mr. Rygg will send out an email to everyone.

Private Lessons~

Now is a great time of year to consider starting private lessons on your instrument/voice. Individual lessons with a skilled teacher are a great way to learn, grow, and excel as a musician. The private lesson list can be found on the Edison Music Dept. website at http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/private-instructors-list.html

Cleaning Your Closets?

The Sioux Falls School District is always on the lookout for donations of gently-used band and orchestra instruments. Given our funding challenges, this is a great way to increase our instrument supply and allow more students to play in band and orchestra. Please contact Mrs. Sip or Mr. Rygg for more information.

Ensemble Schedule~

Jazz Band meets Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:40 – 8:40 a.m.

Wind Ensemble meets Thursday mornings from 8:00 – 8:40 a.m.

Brio meets Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:10 – 8:45 a.m.

Inventions meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:40 – 8:45 a.m.

Illuminations meets Monday mornings from 7:40 – 8:45 a.m.

Edison Music Department Website~

The Edison Music Department has a website! Refer to this website for information and dates.

http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/

“Like” us on Facebook!~

Edison Music Department has a Facebook page! This page will be used for informational purposes only. You can check concert dates, rehearsal dates, practicing tips, etc. on our page. We will NOT have any pictures of students posted, it will strictly be used for getting information out to you!

The page is: www.facebook.com/EMSMusicDept

There are other Edison schools out there so check before you “like” our site!

Band directors

Jason Rygg - Jason.Rygg@k12.sd.us

Tim Eckart – Tim.Eckart@k12.sd.us

Chorus directors

Amber Sundvold – Amber.Sundvold@k12.sd.us

Mollie Weflen– Mollie.Weflen@k12.sd.us

Orchestra directors

Stacy Sip – Stacy.Sip@k12.sd.us

Shannon Abels – Shannon.Abels@k12.sd.us

“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.” -Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Due to Covid-19, the yearbooks will not be arriving until after school is out for the year. We will be communicating with you on how they will be distributed at a later date.

YOU CAN SCAN ANY RECEIPT FROM PLACES LIKE TARGET, WALMART, HY-VEE, SAMS, COSTCO, ETC. AND IT WILL TELL YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY BOX TOPS ITEMS!!!