PASI News
February 2020
2020-2021 HOST FAMILY SEARCH - WE WANT YOU!
WANTED
Families to host an intern for the 2020-21 school year! As we begin the process of selecting interns for next school year we also need to ensure we have enough host families available as well. We are looking for around 25 families who are willing to open their homes and hearts to hosting an intern for either the full year or a semester. We will need families for both Sotomayor and Edison interns.
QUALIFICATIONS
Intern must have a private bedroom and private or shared bathroom access. The host family provides room and board for the intern for the duration of their commitment. Most important qualities are open communication skills, patience, and an interest in learning about a new culture. Parents do not need to be able to speak Spanish to host! Interns are 21-28 year-old college students or recent graduates, male or female, from a variety of Spanish speaking countries (Spain, Colombia, El Salvador, and more). Their university focus is on Education.
WHY HOST?
Hosting is a rewarding experience that allows your family to make connections around the world. You will see the American culture through someone else’s eyes and your children will get the gift of language in your home as well. You will likely taste new foods, learn about new holidays that are celebrated in other countries and make amazing memories as a family during your time as a host.
If interested please contact Shelley Nolan-Hefty or Megan Konz.
Ready to dive in? Complete a host family application.
Have questions? Join us for a Host Family information sessions on February 11 or 13 at 6:30 PM in the Sonia Sotomayor Library.
INTERESTED IN EARNING FUNDS TOWARDS YOUR STUDENTS' TRIPS?
START USING SCRIP TODAY!
You can earn money to pay for your students' fifth grade Concordia Language Village trip, as well as future PASI trips abroad just by making your usual purchases.
Heard about Scrip before but still not really sure how it all works?
Scrip is a simple, effective way for non-profit organizations to raise money. Families purchase electronic or physical gift cards with rebates associated with them and the amount of the rebate is the amount earned for their student’s fifth grade class trip. For example, if you purchase a $100 Hulu gift card - which has a 6% discount - you just put $6 in your student's account, all while not spending any more money than you would have by just paying that monthly bill! Ane remember, the money you earn is earmarked specifically for your children.
Scrip is available to many local and national retailers including Best Buy, HyVee, Starbucks, Kohl's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Walmart/Sam’s, Target, Amazon, and many more. Just look at this list of available merchants!
Ready get started?
- Go to the shopwithscrip.com and create an account
- Associate your account with PASI by using enrollment ID 23534FCB28631
- Place your order online and sign up for Prestopay to pay online as well.
- Use myscripwallet.com to access your e-cards and make purchases from your smartphone to earn even faster!
Questions? Contact PASI Scrip coordinator Shannon Huber
We typically place hard copy gift card orders each Monday at 10am and then send them home in your students' backpacks on Thursday.
SEEKING 2020-21 PASI BOARD MEMBERS
This spring PASI will be ready to fill several open board positions. These elected positions are a great way to be involved with PASI.
General Board Members
Each of the two available open board member positions is a two-year commitment, with a possibility of running again to serve up to two more two-year terms.
Vice President
The vice president/president/president emeritus position is a three-year commitment, with the elected person serving their first year as vice president, the next year as president, and the third year as president emeritus.
Board elections will be held in April and new members will begin their term July 1. The PASI board meets once a month. If you have questions about serving on the board please reach out via email.
MEETING MINUTES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
Missed a PASI general meeting or middle school/high school meeting? Feeling like you need some updates? Meeting minutes available on the PASI website at any time.
IMMERSION IS LIKE FAMILY - RATHER LIKE COUSINS
The Spanish Immersion "family" is once again pulling together to help one of our own. Jerry and Krista Olivier, with two children in the Spanish Immersion Program, received devastating news in December: Jerry has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Jerry and Krista’s son, Ian, is a freshman at Lincoln High school. Reagan, current junior at Lincoln High School, started in the pioneer kindergarten class of Spanish Immersion, in 2008. We remember well that year as Reagan and her mother were featured in the Argus Leader. The Sioux Falls community asked the Oliviers, and still is asking, “Why put your child in the Spanish Immersion Program?”
Little did we know that accompanying the incredible gift of bilingualism, there was instant membership with an incredible group of caring, supportive families that rally when times are good, and when times are tough.
Many Immersion families are asking “what can we do to help the Oliviers?” In response, a GoFundMe account was created. Please forward to anyone who may be interested in helping.
THANK YOU for considering a donation.
MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
EIGHTH GRADE END OF YEAR CELEBRATION
Dear 8th Grade Spanish Immersion Families,
Congrats parents!!! Our kids are wrapping up their 9th year in the Spanish Immersion Program! We would like to celebrate that accomplishment with an end of the year gathering.
May 7, 2020 at the Tuthill House
THIS IS NOT
- The same party being held at Edison for all 8th graders on the last day of school
- The Great Gatherings pool party you may have purchased at the Great Gatherings fundraiser event last fall.
THIS IS
- For all 8th grade Spanish Immersion students
- To celebrate all their hard work and friendships made over the last nine years.
HEADS UP
We will be asking for:
- Pictures to make a slideshow
- Donations
- Chaperones
TO VOLUNTEER PLEASE CONTACT A COMMITTEE MEMBER
Michelle Albrecht
Jolene Gordon
Heidi Leuning
Sarah Malchow
Danette Sauer
Hosted by the PASI Middle School/High School Council
GREAT GATHERINGS 2020 - JUST NINE MONTHS AWAY!
SEEKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PASI is looking for help pulling off GG2020. There is room for a variety of talented people including those interested in the following positions:
- Silent auction team
- Wreath sales team
- Venue team
- Gatherings coordinators
- Corporate donation requests
If you can help out, please reach out via email.
GG SURVEY
Please complete the post event survey to help make GG2020 even better!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Host Family Informational Session
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020, 06:30 PM
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary Library
Host Family Informational Session
Thursday, Feb 13, 2020, 06:30 PM
Sonia Sotomayor Elementary Library
PASI General Meeting
Monday, Mar 9, 2020, 06:30 PM
Instructional Planning Center; 201 E 38th Street, Sioux Falls (Near Robert Frost Elementary)
PASI General Meeting
Monday, Apr 27, 2020, 06:30 PM
Instructional Planning Center; 201 E 38th Street, Sioux Falls (Near Robert Frost Elementary)
MEET OUR INTERNS
VIVIAN BENAVIDES DIAZ
My Name Is:
Vivian Benavides Diaz
My Students Call Me:
Señorita Vivian or Señorita Benavides
I Am An Intern In These Classes:
First, Second and Third Grade.
My Host Family Is:
The Nelson Family
My Partner Family Is
The Miller Family
I Am From:
Colombia
The Best Part About Living In My Country Is:
In Colombia you can find friendly and happy people who make a lot of effort to get ahead. Also, we have green and beautiful places that people can enjoy.
Let Me Tell You A Little About My Family:
We are a loving family and we support each other to continue the life and reach our goals.
My Favorite Things to Do Are:
I love to play basketball, sometimes volleyball; also, I like to watch movies and ride my bike.
My Favorite Part About Being In Sioux Falls So Far Is:
My favorite part is to learn each day about a different way of life both with host families and people of the school. It lets me see the great diversity in the world.
EMERSON BERNAL
My Name Is:
Emerson
My Students Call Me:
Señor Bernal
I Am An Intern In These Classes:
104, 204, and 304
My Host Family Is
The Gilbertson Family
My Partner Family Is:
The Hoyme Family
I Am From:
El Salvador
The Best Part About Living In My Country Is:
The tropical weather, mangoes and pupusas!
Let Me Tell You A Little About My Family:
I have two siblings. Both are older than me so I’m kinda like the baby. My sister, Fátima, is a laboratory technician. She just had a baby over the summer! His name is Josiahs. Oscar, my brother, is a barber but he also does church missions in Honduras and rural towns in the country. I live in the capital city of my country- San Salvador. I visit my mom on the weekends and holidays.
My Favorite Things to Do Are:
Hang out with friends. Drink coffee twice a day. Do lettering and watch videos about it. Go to concerts. Being with family in a Sunday afternoon. Going to the beach.
My Favorite Part About Being In Sioux Falls So Far Is:
The people I spend time with at school and at home!
STAY CONNECTED
Make donating to PASI a snap with Gracias Giving!
Don't forget to keep earning toward your students' trips with Scrip!
Email: pasi.sf.sd@gmail.com
Website: pasisf.org
Location: PO Box 75 Sioux Falls, SD 57101
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PASIsf/