Jefferson High School Newsletter
November 2021
Mission: To educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world.
Contact Us
Main Office: (605) 367-6184
Counselors: (605) 367-6189
Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/Jefferson
Location: 1600 N Marion Rd, Sioux Falls, SD 57107, USA
Twitter: @SFJeffersonHS
Message from Principal Conrad
The month of November signals the midterm of our semester and the close of our fall activity season. Our Fall Semester is now halfway complete; however, there is still plenty of time for students to move their grades in a positive direction. Parents, we encourage you to log into your Infinite Campus parent portal to check your child’s grades and attendance. If you need help getting into your Infinite Campus parent portal, please contact the JHS Counseling office at 367-6189.
We also want to encourage students to access academic support during our Cavalier Halftime, by meeting with their teacher after school, or by attending our Saturday Open Study (SOS). Cavalier Halftime is a 65-minute study/lunch period where every student has an opportunity to receive academic support from any of their teachers. Saturday Open Study (SOS) runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays and is an opportunity for students to get caught up on missing work and receive academic support from teachers. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or counselor with any questions you may have about their academic progress in their classes. Together we can ensure the success of our students.
During the month of October, we have had an opportunity to celebrate a variety of student achievements as our fall activities have completed successful inaugural seasons. Our girl’s tennis team finished 8th, and Avery Summers became Jefferson High School’s very first state champion in flight one singles. The Cavalier Competition Cheer Team finished their season with a 3rd place finish at the State Meet, and the JHS Dance Team finished 9th. The Boy’s Cross Country team placed 8th at the state meet, and were led by Sam Castle finishing 11th and Eli Johnson finishing 16th. The JHS Marching Band placed 3rd in two competitions this fall and finished 7th out of 25 schools at the Dutchmen Field Championships in Orange City, IA. Congratulations to all of our students and activities for their achievements this fall as October certainly has been a great month to be a Cavalier!
The energy of the Jefferson High School Community continues to rise as we work together to meet our goals of each student graduating in four years with a rigorous and meaningful education, and All of our students getting involved in an activity, club, or attending school events. Parents and families of Jefferson, we need your efforts and support to meet our goals. As parents you truly have the greatest impact on your child’s success. Be involved, be active, and encourage your child to get involved! The winter activity season is just around the corner and now is the time to be an involved Cavalier!
Go Cavs Go!
Dan Conrad, Principal
Upcoming Important Dates
Project Based Learning Academy Open House ~ 6:00pm-7:30pm
Orchestra Fall Concert ~ 7:00pm-9:00pm
November 11th
NO SCHOOL ~ Veteran's Day
November 24th, 25th, 26th
NO SCHOOL ~ Thanksgiving Break
September
Gerson Arevalo
Wendy Heranadez Luna
Johana Meja Amaya
Johnathan Texley
Sierra Kappes
Samantha Anderson
Marissa Haensel
Tayliya Hayes
October
Rylie Olson
Kimberly Alvarado
Julio Saenz-Salazar
Thomas Chap
Mia Rasmussen
Ryan Treadway
Katelyn Erickson
JHS October Department of the Month ~ Food Service
Front Row ~ Jean Barber, Beth Bratton, and Yelena Demchuck
Jefferson High School Project Based Learning Academy Updates
The month of October has really flown by for the JHS PBL Academy. Our Jefferson counseling staff worked in conjunction with the middle school counselors at all six middle schools to visit with 8th graders about Project Based Learning. The link to our new JHS Project Based Learning Academy video created by Medio One is listed here.
Our next step is hosting 8th grade PBL Family Visitation Nights. The next session will be held at Jefferson High School from 6:00pm - 7:30pm on November 9th. Families interested in having their student attend the JHS Project Based Learning Academy must attend one visitation evening to be considered for acceptance.
Students interested in applying for the JHS Project Based Learning Academy must complete an online application. Applications are due December 3rd, 2021. The link to the online application is here. We can’t wait to meet the class of 2026!
In addition, this past month we hosted a site visit filled with administrators and teachers from across the state. The USD Administrator Interns and Professor Dr. Diana Messick toured the PBL Academy to learn more about Project and Problem Based Learning. These current and future administrators were impressed with our classroom environments and our students!
We are thankful for your continued support of the PBL Academy. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us at 367-6184.
October Community Partners:
Kevin Gansz - Curator for Education for the Siouxland Heritage Museums/Civil War Reenactor (American Experience)
Stefanie Kagone and Olena Boiko, Cartographers - EROS (Humanities I)
Barbara Roberts, Spanish Teacher - SFSD (Spanish IV)
Berk Ehrmantraut, Executive Director - South Dakota Democratic Party (Government)
Tom Loofe, Financial Advisor - Edward Jones (Single Survival)
Holly Meier, Sustainability Coordinator - City of Sioux Falls (AP Environmental Science)
Sulyman Dibba, Admissions Coordinator - Augustana (Single Survival)
Colton Burleson, Special Warfare Recruiter - US Airforce(Single Survival)
Ashley Rathsachack, Admissions Coordinator - Southeast Tech (Single Survival)
November Counseling Updates
Visits/Resources
Southeast Technical College -Dual Credit information every Thursday from 12-1
Department of Labor - 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 12-1 that will focus on job shadows
Dakota State University –November 1st from 12-1
South Dakota State University – November 4th from 12-1
Testing/Assessment Information
ASVAB - November 3 at JHS for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. The test is free to take. Students interested in the military are required to take the test, however it is open to any student. The ASVAB helps predict future academic and occupational success and is a great interest survey to help with career goals. Students interested in taking the ASVAB sign up in the counseling office by Nov. 1.
Scholarship Information
Check out Scholarship information on our website to stay up to date on availability.
Saturday Open Study (S.O.S) anytime between 9-12 - this is an opportunity to get caught up on missing work and/or getting help with homework.
Free College Application weeks in South Dakota goes until November 30th. Go to www.selectdakota.org or to sfjefferson.com for more information. Typically, application fees run between $20-$50, making this a great opportunity to apply to colleges early and to save money.
Food Bag Program
Please let your child’s school counselor know if you are interested in them taking home a bag of food for the weekends. They can pick it up on Thursday’s after school.
Cavalier Closet
The Cavalier Closet is up and running and in need of some donations! The Cavalier Closet is a resource for students who need basic clothing and/or food items. Items accepted for donation are socks, underwear (women’s – all sizes) (new only please) and gently used leggings, sweatshirts and coats. Please drop items off in the counseling office. Thank you
ALI – Ask, Listen, Inform
All JHS students are hearing about our ALI reporting form and the importance of Asking about feelings thoughts of friends, Listening to what is being said and Informing an adult about any concerns. A speaker from the Helpline Center also spoke to freshman and sophomores about signs of suicide in peers and friends. The ALI program helps students look out for each other and report concerns to counseling staff.
As always, please check the counseling website sfjefferson.com for information or contact the counseling office!!
The Counseling Office at Jefferson High School empowers all students to reach their potential by using a comprehensive model that addresses academic, personal, social, and career goals. We actively promote an environment that encourages personal inquiry and growth, social responsibility, self-advocacy, and academic excellence.
Featuring Freshmen: It’s Not a Hallway
Parents, when you were here, did you see the furniture in the hallway of Jefferson High School? I stared at it all summer wondering how in the world does this work. After nine weeks, it suddenly hit me: The hallway is not a hallway. The hallway is actually an extension of the classroom. That’s why there are couches and chairs and tables. And it seems to be working.
As I wander the hallways . . . nope, the open spaces of JHS during class, there are students sitting on the furniture talking, writing, typing on their Chromebooks, or huddled over a white board.
Instruction usually happens in the classrooms. As practice begins, some of the students head for the furniture. Many love it out there.
But what about supervision? Does anyone know what these students are doing? I would say, “Yes.” That’s where the glass walls come in. Teachers are watching those students. And when teachers head into those furnitured spaces, they can look back into their classrooms and monitor what’s going on there. Those glass classroom walls worried me when I first walked through the building. Now I see their purpose.
The goal of all this glass and extra places to sit is learning. We want students engaged in dialogue that fosters thought. We want those cell phones in their backpacks so they can be present with their friends and classmates.
Learning is better when we are present. I am learning that Jefferson High School is built in a new way that echoes back to the old way of gathering around a problem and figuring it out together.
People walk into our school and marvel at its size. It is amazing, but maybe the true measure of a great school is how many small groups of students it can gather together for learning. I think JHS is beginning to figure out how to do just that.
Tripper Bus Information
Monthly Tripper Bus Pass Pricing Information:
$6.00 per month for students who qualify for free lunch
$12.00 per month for students who qualify for reduced lunch
$30.00 per month for a full price ticket
Attention parents and guardians!
The free and reduced price lunch application for the 2021-2022 school year must be completed before your student can purchase a reduced price bus pass. If you believe your family will qualify, please complete the application as soon as possible at www.schoollunchapp.com
JEFFERSON BOOSTER CLUB NEWS
Booster Club Mission Statement: The Jefferson HS Booster Club is committed to supporting inclusive, courageous student activities that compete for excellence in lifelong learning. The JHS Booster Club supports student activities through funding resources, school pride, and community spirit and support.
Board Members: Tony Erickson, Chris Altenburg, Tyler Bowen, Jason Silvernail, Liz Carlson, Amber Blume jhscavsbooster@gmail.com
WEBSITE- The JHS Booster Club website is active. Check it out for meeting dates, membership information, and lots more coming soon!
MEETINGS- Meetings take place the 2nd Wednesday of every month
Meeting Minutes Link- previous meeting minutes
JHS Booster Club Membership Link
SLACK- Information Hub! Sign up to get updates and hear what is going on in the different committees within the JHS Booster Club.
FUNDRAISING- Fundraisers are already underway for many clubs/activities at JHS. The JHS Booster Club will also be hosting a golf fundraiser to raise funds for the JHS Booster Club (see next page for flyer).
JHS SPIRIT WEAR- Each month the JHS Booster Club has a spirit wear store through MRG Sports & Promo. 25% of sales are donated back to the JHS Booster Club.
SOCIAL MEDIA- Follow JHS Booster Club on social media!
Facebook- @JHSBoostersSFSD
Twitter- @JHSBoostersSFSD