Rough Rider Times
April 2024
Contact us
Attendance: (605) 362-2885
Activity Office: (605) 362-2866
Counselors: (605) 362-2868
Main Office: (605) 362-2860
Fax: (605) 362-2883
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/roosevelt/home
Location: 6600 W 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sfroosevelthighschool/
RIDER REMARKS
March is a busy month at RHS! The winter activities are finishing up and the thought of spring is creeping into our minds. Principals and teachers may be the only people on the planet that hope for a little longer winter to help keep our students focused on school. Springtime is designed to bring new life and energy and we see it every year with our students. I do think that it is safe to say that after the winter we endured last year we will welcome the mild one that we are experiencing now. Even if that means our students have an early energy and the challenges that may bring!
The winter activities are ending at RHS. Congratulations to our Boys Basketball team who have advanced to the state tournament. We will have an early release on Thursday, March 14th because our boys’ team will play in town during the afternoon that day. We will send an email detailing the schedule for that day and hope to see a huge Rider contingent at the Premiere Center cheering on our boys! There is also no school on the 15th of this month as a compensatory day for our teachers who will be working Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, March 11th. That day will be in-person conferences. Please come to RHS from 4:00 to 7:30 to meet with your child’s teachers. The other conference day will be scheduled virtual conferences on Monday, March 18th. Teachers will send you an invitation to sign up for the virtual conferences. The only other day to mark on your calendar is Friday, March 29th which is the beginning of Spring Break.
There is a lot going on at RHS! As always, we encourage you to join us by attending the multitude of activities that take place, but the reason we exist is to provide high level learning opportunities for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at any time. Thank you for your participation and continued support. We are Roosevelt! We are One!
Superintendents Column
Hope for the Future
By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent
In a world marred by the stark realities of war, unrest, and relentless exposure to mean-spirited interactions, the need to safeguard and nurture the innocence of our children becomes an urgent call to action.
The words of the late actor Angela Lansbury, spoken just after 9/11, echo the collective responsibility we all share in creating a haven for the youngest members of our society. "All of us, grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles, we all have to try to do everything that we possibly can to show them that they are safe and loved and that good will triumph over evil and right will prevail."
As we witness the disheartening events unfolding around the globe in real-time, it becomes increasingly clear that the impact on our children is profound. Their tender minds absorb the images and narratives of conflict, shaping their perceptions of the world and influencing their understanding of right and wrong.
In this tumultuous landscape, it is crucial for each one of us to actively engage in the emotional and psychological well-being of our children. We are all custodians of their future, charged with the responsibility of instilling hope, resilience, and compassion in the face of adversity.
By fostering a sense of safety, we enable them to navigate the challenges that arise in their lives with greater confidence and emotional stability. Engage in open conversations, actively listen to their concerns, and reassure them that, no matter the circumstances, they are loved.
In a world where hatred can permeate even the most sacred spaces, we must teach children about empathy and the value of differences. Help them understand that, despite the darkness, there is always the potential for goodness to prevail.
Empower children by modeling the transformative power of kindness. Encourage them to engage in acts of compassion, no matter how small. Whether it's helping a friend in need, participating in community service, or simply spreading joy through kind words, these actions contribute to building a better world.
In a world where darkness tries to overshadow the light, let us unite in our commitment to nurture a generation that believes in the triumph of good over evil. May the joys of the holiday season strengthen our resolve to protect childhood innocence and sow seeds of hope for their bright futures.
Important Dates
April 20 - Prom
April 24 - Honor's Fest
May 2 & 3 - Legally Blonde the Musical 7:00pm
May 4 - Legally Blonde the Musical 2:00pm
May 23 - Last Day of School
Graduation Information
Graduation information
Jostens will be delivering the graduation invitations and announcements on April 10 before and after school / during lunch hours. If you have not ordered your graduation cap and gown yet, please contact Jostens www.sdgradshop.com to place your order. Graduates MUST have a cap and gown if they wish to walk through graduation. If you have any questions regarding graduation please email or contact Lisa Agar or Sarah Leonard.
Prom & Grand March
Roosevelt prom will be held on April 20th from 8-11pm. Grand march will begin at 7pm. The doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets for prom are $20 and will be sold during lunch hours the week of Prom. Grand March is free for students participating but an admission fee of $1 for students and $2 for anyone else who would like to attend.
Senior Speakers for Graduation
Seniors that would like to speak at their graduation need to submit a copy of their speech to Mrs. Agar (A119) or Mrs. Leonard (A150). Speeches should be around 5 minutes in length. Seniors will audition their speeches in front of a panel of teachers and principals where two will be chosen to speak at graduation. The deadline to submit graduation speeches will be April 12.
AP Exam Information
COMING SOON!!
Legally Blonde the Musical Performances:
May 2 & 3 at 7:00pm
May 4 at 2:00pm
SALSA
Want to get involved? Not sure where to start? Come join SALSA (Serve And Learn Student Association) as a great way to connect with opportunities to serve your community! SALSA allows you got get involved through volunteerism, meet new friends, explore careers, gain leadership experience, earn volunteer hours for scholarship applications, and make a difference in their community. Missed the first few meetings? No worries come to the upcoming meeting! This next meeting we will work on projects decided by YAC and learn more about our next large group volunteer outing, Habitat for Humanity on May 20. otherwise known as a SALSA-Wide Event, and other great individual opportunities!
Lunch Accounts
Lunch deposits can be made here:
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home
Free & Reduced lunch application here:
https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=1f26b27eba241f8c89fa1f74af232754#loaded
RHS Senior Class Party Form
Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program
Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program: Free, online tutoring available for K-12 students
South Dakota students and families can access a new, online tutoring program, staffed by college students who are preparing to become teachers. The Dakota Dreams Online Tutoring Program offers FREE online tutoring to K-12 students across the state. One-on-one tutoring sessions can help students with their homework, tackle specific trouble areas, and address broader educational concepts.
PROGRAM BASICS
The program is staffed by university students accepted into their Schools of Education at Black Hills State University and Northern State University.
It utilizes a simple and secure online platform, where students and tutors connect for virtual sessions. The platform is a one-stop shop for scheduling and conducting sessions.
Subject areas include: English/language arts, math, science, social studies.
Tutors will be available Monday through Sunday afternoons and evenings. The service will not be available on holidays and during Christmas and spring breaks.
In order to access this free service, parents first need to register their students to use the platform. Once registered, sessions can either be pre-scheduled or on-demand, depending on tutor availability.
Canvas
Roosevelt Parents/Guardians:
This year, the SFSD is implementing a new online learning management system, Canvas. Canvas will replace Google Classroom, the former learning management system used in Sioux Falls high schools. Teachers will utilize Canvas as an online companion to learning within the classroom. Canvas, like Google Classroom, allows parents/guardians to be connected/paired with the account of their student(s). This will allow families to see updates in the class, work being done in the class, topics being covered as well as grades on assignments.
We will be sharing instructions with your student on how to create a pairing code for you. Attached to this email are two documents that detail how to set up a parent account (first step) and then how your student can generate a pairing code for parents (second step).
Counseling Info
Ride the ROOSEVELT High School Bus for Free this Year
The City of Sioux Falls has approved a plan to allow any Sioux Falls student to ride Tripper buses and Sioux Area Metro (SAM) buses for free during the 2022-23 school year by showing their student school ID. While this is a positive opportunity for our students, we do want to make families aware that seating on those Tripper buses may be limited due to increased demand. Please read this letter and complete the online form with the link at the bottom of this message prior to Rider Day on August 9.
In an effort to plan ahead, we are asking each family interested in riding our Tripper buses to fill out the Bus Information Form linked below. By filling out this form, you will assist us in knowing approximately how many students plan to rely on the two Tripper bus routes to and from school. With this information, we will attempt to work with School Bus Inc on our busing needs for Tripper bus routes.
What does this mean for my student/our family?
• Students can ride the Tripper buses for free as long as they have their school ID to show the driver upon entry to the Tripper bus.
• Tripper buses will fill each day on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no guarantee that your student will have a seat as ridership will likely change daily.
• If the bus is full/at capacity, students will need to have an alternate plan to get to and from school.
o Possible alternative transportation suggestions for your family to consider:
Take the city bus (SAM) - There is a bus stop at JHS– this is also free with a student school ID.
Ride with a friend.
Ride with a relative or neighbor.
Arrange a neighborhood carpool with other RHS families.
You can access Tripper bus routes that are attached to this email.
You can access information on Sioux Area Metro (SAM) routes by copying and pasting the following link.
https://cityofsfgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=cb3dd15de0c842ab9bd18d61f8afd7c5
Please fill out the bus information form below prior to Rider Charge Day on August 9th, 2022. This also needs to be copied and pasted.
https://forms.gle/vCvBTBh5UsPj7fDv9
HS Tripper Bus
Boarding the Bus:
Do not wave down the Yellow school buses. Simply be standing at the stop location and the bus will come to you. If nobody is standing at a stop location, the bus will not come to a complete stop at that location. It will drive on past. However, we will not leave a bus stop before it’s listed loading time.
Discipline Statement:
The School District’s “Rules of Student Conduct and Discipline” apply to bus Stops and on school Buses. Students need to remain seated while in route.
The HS Tripper route buses will be equipped with camera’s to monitor activity on these buses. Students removed from the bus for discipline issues will not receive refunds for their bus pass. For a full list of Sioux Falls School District Policies.
The high school “Tripper” bus routes will be done by School Bus Inc. High School students riding the “Tripper” buses will load/unload on YELLOW school buses. Stop locations have changed as well.