Susan B. Anthony School News
2020-21 ~ April Edition
Notes from Mr. Sheets, SBA Principal
Wow! We have completed three quarters of our school year, and we have stayed in school learning together. Although we've had to adjust some procedures, we've been very successful in keeping each other safe. April will hopefully bring weather that allows us to enjoy being outside. It will be fun to watch the grass green up and the flowers began to grow. Spring is a beautiful season of new growth. At school your child(ren) will continue to grow and learn as well.
In April and the first part of May, our students will have a couple of opportunities to demonstrate the growth they've made this year. March 30th - April 23rd our 3rd - 5th Grade students will take the SD Assessment for English Language Arts, Math, and Science (5th Grade only). When taking the SD Assessment, our 3rd - 5th Grade students will be able to demonstrate the learning they have done since starting school. The test adapts to the student and will challenge them to exceed what they think they can do. Please encourage your student(s) to do their very best and never give up. The first two weeks of May our K-5 students will take the MAP Assessment to show their growth over this school year. We will be excited to see the amazing growth we know our students have made this year!
March Dates To Remember
April 1 - 23 ~ State Testing Continues for 3rd - 5th Grade (More Information Below)
April 2 & 5 ~ Spring Break - No School
April 22 ~ Kindergarten Registration Event (In-person) *See Information Below*
If you ever have any questions, please contact us by e-mail (jeff.sheets@k12.sd.us or laura.siebenborn@k12.sd.us) or phone (367-4560). Let's work together to continue to have a great school year learning together!
Mr. Sheets & Miss Siebenborn
150 Years: Celebrating Public Education in Sioux Falls
ses·qui·cen·ten·ni·al - /ˌseskwəsenˈtenēəl/
adjective
1. relating to the one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of a significant event.
If the Sioux Falls School District was holding a spelling bee in 2021, a good word to
stump even a few of our best spellers might be “sesquicentennial.” A common practice at spelling bees is for the announcer to say the word, define it, and then use it in a sentence. That sentence might be “The Sioux Falls School District is celebrating its sesquicentennial in the 2021-22 school year.”
The Sioux Falls School District was formally established on July 3, 1871. Old records indicate the first school opened in 1870 in the Government Barracks under the direction of teacher Mary A. Benton who trained 17 pupils. However, it was the summer of 1871 when newly elected Minnehaha County Superintendent John Bippus divided the county into seven school districts as one of his first official acts. District #1 was comprised of the entire Sioux Falls township. Still, it took another two years for its first school board to be established with elected members being A. Gale, Director; R.F. Pettigrew, Clerk; and D.S. Goodyear, Treasurer.
It is humbling to think about the exponential value public education has brought to the community through the students who have graduated with a Sioux Falls School District diploma over the past 150 years. We have launched so many successful people who fill every career and job title currently and previously needed and known. We believe this is a feat worth celebrating!
A Planning Committee made up of parents and community members has been meeting since February to determine a fitting theme, and design memorable activities that can be embraced by all stakeholders.
Before school starts again in the fall, we will launch our plan for activities and events to be held throughout the 2021-2022 school year. The theme is “Rooted in Our Past ~ Reaching for Our Future.” The committee is hoping to engage with former staff members, alumni, community members, current parents, students, and employees to highlight all we have achieved in the previous 150 years and to establish new and exciting goals to launch us into the next 150 years. If your path took you through SFSD, dig out your old photos and memorabilia. We are setting up a digital time capsule by decade.
The launch of the District 150th Anniversary celebration will also include the unveiling of new strategic priorities to guide our work as we aspire to be the best school district in the nation. This is a lofty goal, but who better to achieve it than a school district that has 150 years of success in its rearview mirror and one that is committed to continuous improvement for the next century and beyond.
Sesquicentennial isn’t an easy word to say or to spell. But, paraphrasing the great Theodore Roosevelt, we believe nothing worth doing comes easy. We look forward to celebrating this milestone in our history with all of you!
Kindergarten Open House - April 22nd
- A-E 4:00 – 4:30
- F-K 4:30 – 5:00
- L-R 5:00 – 5:30
- S-Z 5:30 – 6:00
South Dakota Assessment of English Language Arts, Math, & Science ~ Grades 3rd - 5th
- March 29 - April 1 ~ 5th Grade ELA
- April 5 - 9 ~ 5th Grade Math & 4th Grade ELA
- April 12 - 16 ~ 4th Grade Math & 3rd Grade ELA
- April 19 - 23 ~ 3rd Grade Math & 5th Grade Science
Susan B. Anthony PTO Fundraisers
Ready To Start ~ Summer School for Incoming Kdg. Students
Lost & Found ~ Student Items
If you see something that belongs to your child, please have them talk to Mr. Haggerty at school or send a note to their teacher.
iPad & Chromebook Care - IMPORTANT!
Junior Achievement
Every year South Dakota schools welcome Junior Achievement (JA) volunteers into classrooms to share lessons and activities about money, careers, owning a business, and ethics. Although it looked different this year, the impact of the program remained strong.
During the 2020-21 school year, schools and JA volunteers modified their plans to ensure students did not miss out on JA programs. Thanks to classroom teachers and JA volunteers who were innovative and adaptable to host the program remotely, JA was able to continue its longstanding partnership with our school despite challenging circumstances.
JA volunteers virtually shared information about their career journey and examples of how businesses adjusted to a changing economy. By describing their personal and professional experiences, JA volunteers led students to make the connection between what they learn in school and how it applies to life after graduation.
Please extend a special thank you to the volunteers and teachers listed below who participated in JA during the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and business experience with students in our community or would like to sponsor a student for $25, please contact the JA office at (605)336-7318 or jasd@ja.org.
Thank you to the following volunteers that served students at SBA this year!!!
Grade Teacher/Classroom Volunteer/Employer
1st Emalee Farley (103) Katie Bossman ~ PREMIER Bankcard
1st Lynn Hofer (101) Melissa Fossell ~ First Bank & Trust
1st Melissa Raak (102) Lindsey Brashear ~ Weisser Distributing, Inc.
2nd Lindsey Hinsch (202) Greg Hintgen ~ Johnson Controls, Inc.
2nd Melissa Hultgren (201) Lacey Rippentrop ~ MetBank
3rd Jaime Rockvam (303) Brenda Kibbe ~ Sanford Health
3rd Jon Garry (302) Laurie Knutson ~ The Interim CEO
3rd Krista Brost (301) Brenda Kibbe ~ Sanford Health
4th Jessica Carson (403) Ashley Bott Schmidt
4th Jordon Johnson (402) Shane Laible ~ First Dakota National Bank/Loft Advisors
4th Lori Heitzman (401) Kris Graff ~ Stewart Title Company
5th Emily Elliott (503) Sean Ervin ~ TSP
5th Kristi Hauck (501) Kayla O'Neal ~ The First National Bank of Sioux Falls
5th Mindy Walters (502) Stacy Wrightsman ~ Sanford Health
Kdg. Becky Davis (K01) Kayla Eitreim ~ Junior Achievement of South Dakota
Kdg. Erica English (K02) Paul Tschetter ~ Boyce Law Firm, LLP
Kdg. Kristin Engelson (K03) Cassandra Duggan ~ Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Daily Health Screen
Birthday Treats
This year we are asking parents/guardians not to send their child with any food items
to share on their birthday. We continue to seek ways to maintain the safety of our students and staff throughout the school day. We are asking for your help in this manner to help protect those students who may have a food allergy. We also know with the COVID-19 pandemic still happening this will help us have an additional safety precaution in place.
More information regarding non-food birthday options will be communicated to parents by the classroom teachers in newsletters/notes home.
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS NEEDED!
Job Description:
School Bus Inc is looking for part time school bus drivers who will make it a priority to provide students with a safe and enjoyable experience to and from school each day.
· *No experience necessary, paid Training
· *$500 sign on Bonus ($1000 for those who come with CDL w/passenger & school bus endorsements)
· *$18.15 hourly rate
· *20-25 hrs./weekly (possibly more at certain times of the year)
· *No nights, weekends, or Holidays!
· *A work schedule that matches your child’s school schedule!
Why Join Our Team?
· *Safety: Our top priority is the safety of all passengers and employees
· *Value our Employees: People are the foundation of any great business.
· *Customer Focused: SBI will continue to build on the strong partnerships that we have built over the years, based on trust and integrity.
Minimum Requirements:
· *18 yrs. Of age or older
· *Able to pass a background check.
· *Drug Screen
· *Willing to work a flexible schedule.
Apply today as it will take a minimum of 20 days for licensing and training.