EdisonEcho
Edison Middle School
Mission: To Prepare students to succeed academically, responsibly, and socially in an ever-changing world.
Office: 605-367-7643
Email: SFSDEdisonOffice@k12.sd.us
Counseling Center: 605-367-8331
Fax: 605-367-8457
Edison is now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Facebook: @WeAreTheCats
Twitter: @EdisonCats
Instagram: @sfsdedisoncats
Newsletter Date:
October 1, 2020
Volume 1, Issue 3
Dates to Remember...
Oct 6 & 8
- Fall Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences
Oct 12-13
- No School
Oct 28
- End of 1st Quarter
Oct 29
- Picture Retake Day
Nov 11
- No School-Veteran's Day Observance
Nov 25-27
- No School
Tips from the Office...
...REPORTING AN ABSENCE – If a student will be absent for any reason, a parent/guardian must call the office at 367-7643 or email SFSDEdisonAttendance@k12.sd.us by 8:45am.
...PICKING UP STUDENTS BEFORE THE SCHOOL DAY IS OVER – A parent/guardian is required to call the office at 367-7643 or email SFSDEdisonAttendance@k12.sd.us with requests for students to leave early. Please notify the office by 8:45am. Students are required to sign out and remain in the office until a parent, guardian, or emergency contact arrives in the office to pick up the student.
...DROPPING OFF STUDENTS LATE/TARDY STUDENTS – A parent/guardian is required to call the office at 367-7643, email SFSDEdisonAttendance@k12.sd.us, or send a note with the student for late drop-offs; otherwise, students will be marked tardy. We encourage students to return from medical appointments with a doctor’s note. Students must sign in and receive a pass from the office before going to class.
Principal's Corner
Parents and guardians, please note that we have Parent Teacher Student Conferences on October 6th and 8th. This year our fall conferences will be conducted virtually. Recognizing that a virtual conference is not possible for all families, some conferences will need to be face to face or via phone. If an "in-person" conference is needed due to technology/connectivity, please make sure to reach out to your student’s PRO-Time teacher or indicate that on the Signup Genius form that was sent to you. In most instances, our conferences are “student-led conferences;” however, this fall the conference will feel a little more teacher led. Please note that we would request that you and your student be present during the virtual conference. The presence of your student provides your child the opportunity to show you the progress s/he has made in their classes. Conferences are a great time to have your student share with you what they are doing in school, share some of their strengths with you, and possibly areas they might need to improve on. Whether it is for extra help in a particular subject area, perhaps a concern they are having in school, or a time to share personal goals and expectations for the upcoming year, students are encouraged to share those with their teachers and parents.
Please know that we are all working together to ensure that all students are safe, supported, and are learning in a highly motivated environment in which to succeed. If you have concerns or questions regarding your student’s social, academic, or emotional needs, please feel free to contact a teacher, counselor, or administrator to get your concerns and/or questions addressed.
Please continue to support your student’s teachers in their effort to provide the best learning environment possible. I know with teamwork between the home and school, we can ensure that all students will succeed. Our staff is committed to ensure that through teamwork, hard work, and dedication, as well as our love for children as our compass, we can meet the needs of all our students, and we will have a successful year.
As we continue to adjust to the new normalcy in school, we have been so impressed with the safeguards that our students and staff are implementing daily. Their actions are a true representation of “#together.” The students and staff have worked extremely hard to ensure that the protocols are being followed to ensure that we are able to stay in school. One of those protocols that we have expected students and staff to follow is the wearing of a mask. We are encouraged with the number of students wearing a mask daily. While all of us would rather not have to wear a mask, we recognize the benefits of wearing one for ourselves and the Edison Community as a whole. The first few weeks we saw most of our students wearing a mask with fidelity and wearing it appropriately with the mask covering the nose and mouth. Unfortunately, the last few weeks we have seen a decline in the number of students wearing a mask and/or wearing it appropriately. We all know that as time goes on, many of us let our guard down and we get lackadaisical with routines. With that being said, we want to stress the importance of renewing our efforts and encouraging our students to continue with supporting our mission of keeping everyone healthy, safe, and all of us staying in school.
There are many reasonable and respectable viewpoints on face coverings, and while masks are not required, we respect each family’s perspective on mask wearing. Please know that the Sioux Falls School District is committed to the health and safety of all students and staff and the District is following the latest research, physician advice, and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specific to face coverings in schools.
We are all one TEAM, and we all have the same DREAM. That dream is to educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world. One of our primary roles as educators is the focus on academics and helping students become proficient in their studies; however, we are also here to help our children and families have the information so they can make safe and healthy choices, so that all their dreams come true. We help our children achieve their dreams by working together to ensure that our students are successful and healthy each day and throughout their lives. Please feel free to contact the office with any questions or concerns. Take care!
Edison's PTO
Attend our monthly zoom meetings
- Held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from NOON to 1pm
- October 21
- November 18
- December 16
- January 20
- February 17
- March 17
- April 21
- May 19
- Zoom link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76621663468?pwd=VE02TDZsY0tiREd1S21QUGRVQ0JmUT09
The Meeting ID is: 766 2166 3468
The Passcode is: 679743
- We have room for the first 100 participants
- If you cannot attend the meeting, minutes will be posted and we hope to have them recorded through Zoom. Check out the Edison PTO site for more information
Fall Conference Meals
Fall Conferences are fast approaching. Please help us provide a hot meal for our teachers and staff on these long days (Teachers and staff will be on premise, even though the majority of conferences will be online. School staff will serve, ensuring the meals meet social distancing requirements).
Please click here to sign up to bring something or donate.
Important Information:
· Please drop your donated items to the office.
o Soda and non-food items can be dropped off at the office anytime starting September 28th.
o Hot items are requested to be dropped between 2pm-3pm on the day of the applicable conference.
o Dishes or crockpots can be picked up in the office the following morning.
· Crock pot signups: We will send a crockpot liner home in advance with your child, please indicate your eldest Edison child's name and protime with your signup.
· Please mark items to be returned clearly with your name.
Tuesday, October 6 Soup and Chili Night
Thursday, October 8 Taco Night
Scholastic Bookfair
We’re excited to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair is back! For some, chasing that feeling of the Book Fair is something to look forward to each semester, and we couldn’t be happier to bring that feeling back to the school and the students in the form of a Virtual Scholastic Book Fair for this semester.
The Edison Middle School Scholastic Book Fair will be held online from October 5th - 18th and, because it’s 100% virtual, parents and students are able to browse and purchase books and other items at any time, not just during conferences. This also allows us to continue to provide the safest possible environment for our students and families to interact with a school event.
Seeing as you are your child’s first teacher and knowing that reading is so fundamental to a student’s success, we encourage all parents to take a look at what our Scholastic Book Fair has to offer with your child, just as you would if you were coming to the school. Get excited about books and spread that excitement for reading to your child. Share some of your favorite books from and stories of book fairs and have them do the same. This event may be virtual, but make the experience very personal, and let’s get some children excited to read.
More information, including links to the Edison Middle School Scholastic Book Fair, will be sent directly to parents and students and any Language Arts teacher at your school would be happy to help answer questions that you have. In the meantime, you may also check out bookfairs.scholastic.com for more information or to find your school’s book fair.
Thank you so much for your support and the excitement you build in your children for learning and for reading, and know that we’re very excited to see your children sharing their Virtual Scholastic Book Fair experience in our classrooms!
Middle School Author & Book Highlight Video
Middle School Digital Book Fair Flyer Fall ‘20
Make a donation
This year may bring more demand for PTO funds with little ability to fundraise. Funds raised will help enrich our student’s learning experiences, including continued library updates, as well as counselor, student, and classroom needs. If you would like to send money to support the PTO, you can send cash in an envelope marked “PTO” or send a check made out to “Edison PTO” and leave it with the office staff.
Amazon Smile
Don't forget about AmazonSmile when shopping! Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of
your purchase to the charitable organization of your choice. Just start your shopping at
Amazon Smile and choose Edison Middle School of Sioux Falls.
PTO OFFICERS:
Co-Presidents: Nikki Schmaltz and Allison Pay Crawford
Treasurer: Kristina Sipma
Secretary: Katie Sumey
Book Fair: Karen Walters
Spiritwear: Mary Grandi-Koball
Go Cats!
Allison Pay Crawford and Nikki Schmaltz
2020-21 PTO Co-Presidents
Contact us
edisonsiouxfalls@gmail.com
www.edisonsf.org
Edison Middle School on Facebook
For the latest info, past minutes of meetings and
budget information, visit our website at edisonsf.org.
Gifted Education
Mathcounts
Mr. Gerszewski will be hosting the Mathcounts meetings for the Edison team once again this year. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 15 at 7:30 a.m. in room 203. The Mathcounts competitions will be held virtually this year, but I will still be holding weekly meetings for students to work with and learn from other students while improving their math skills. If your son/daughter loves being challenged and is willing to work with and learn from others, please encourage them to participate in our Mathcounts competition this year. They can also ask Mr. Gerszewski any questions they have about Mathcounts.
Music Notes
Important Dates for First Semester~
Oct. 19, 20, 21 Brio Auditions in the Orchestra Room 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
**Important Concert Announcement -
THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON EVENING PERFORMANCES THIS SEMESTER. INFORMATION ON HOW WE WILL HANDLE OUR CONCERTS WILL BE SHARED BY THE DIRECTORS OF EACH GROUP.
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 September are:
Band: Ivy Pudwill (8) Callaway Weeks (7) Sage Gripkey (6)
Chorus: Naoma McLean(8) Rachel Kramar/Isabella Larson(7) Sara Newitt/Daniella VanZee(6)
Orchestra: Jacob Pagone (8) Brooks Heiser (7) Moa Hein (6)
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.
All-State Band~
The South Dakota Middle School All-State Band is a special event designed to inspire and encourage top band students from across the state. Tryouts are held in December, but interested students need to start practicing the required music now. For more information, please contact Mr. Rygg, and/or Mrs. Gage, or visit http://sdmea.net/ and look under the Events list and MSASB (Middle School All-State Band). We encourage you to give it a try!
All-State Orchestra~
The South Dakota Middle School All-State Orchestra is in its fourth year! The top orchestra students in the state of South Dakota come together to perform for this special event. Auditions are held in October/early November, but interested students need to start practicing the required music now. For more information please contact Mrs. Sip or visit http://sdmea.net/ and look under the Events list for: Middle School All-State Orchestra. All the information you need and the audition music is there for you!
Sign Language Interpreter~
Please notify your child’s director if you need a sign language interpreter for either the winter or spring concert. Notify the director at least ONE MONTH before the concert date. (Director e mails are included in this ECHO.)
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
- Holly Gage - Holly.Gage@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
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” ― Arthur O’Shaughnessy
Library Info
LIBRARY WEBSITE!
Are you looking for a way to get to all things Edison Library? Then check out www.catsread.com! This site contains book recommendations, brain puzzles, educational videos, podcasts and much more! Check it out today!
Congratulations to the following students that completed the Summer Reading BINGO challenge this summer! We are proud of their accomplishments and dedication to reading. Students with a star (*) next to them got a blackout which means they completed every single box!
6th grade
Crawford, Leighton*
Eastman, Abigail*
Glanville, McKinley*
Huber, Lauren
Jensen, Muriel*
Madsen, Jacob
Mazariegos-Corrales, Keylen
Meyers, Juliet*
Murray, Emmeline*
Newitt, Sara*
Osmundson, Lilian
Rojas, Tirzah*
Van Zee, Daniella
Wessels, Jacob*
7th grade
Anderson, Evan*
Engelson, Tara*
Erickson, Jacqueline
Gongopoulos, Eliot
Jarrott, Madyson*
Johnson, Meredith*
Kenyon, Chalease*
Marlette, Matthew
Marsh, Melanie*
Nowick, Mason
Oien, Noah*
Petersen, Rheanna*
Sumey, Elijah*
Wheeler, Brady
Wigg, Aiden*
Woche, Bethel*
8th grade
Buck, Drew
Crawford, Charlotte
Glanville, Jackson*
Grau, Sadie*
Groher, Elise
Miller, Laila
Olson, Kera*
Sieler, Hunter*
Ulin, Sarah*
Athletic Information
Edison Athletics 2020-2021
Parents and students, I know that it has been a very interesting year, and it has only been about 5 weeks in length. It is my hope that we get to continue with more athletic seasons as we move into the winter months. Just know that we appreciate your attention to detail when it comes to District Covid-specific policies as we continue our Fall Athletic seasons of volleyball, football, & cross country. The policies are in place to help ensure that your student can continue in school as well as continue to participate in athletic activities.
A couple of reminders as we move forward. The District has put together an AWESOME ATHLETIC WEBSITE that has all the information that you will need as we move into the winter athletic seasons.
District Athletic Website is: sfsdathletics.k12.sd.us
Once there, go to “Middle Schools” and then “Edison.” Here, you will be able to find information such as: event schedules, practice schedules, parent letters, athletic season sign-up tabs, Parent Transportation Release Form (COVID), along with much more including the MESSAGE BOARD. Do not forget about the MESSAGE BOARD - please check it on a regular basis.
7th & 8th Grade Girls Basketball will kick off our winter athletic season. Practice begins on Monday, November 9th. On-line sign-up begins on Monday, October 19th. To sign up, go to the Edison Athletic Website – the SPORTS INFORMATION section. Click on the “down arrow” icon next to Girls Basketball (Winter) to get to the sign-up tab.
7th & 8th Grade Boys, we have not forgotten about you. Your basketball season will begin in mid-January – January 19th to be exact.
Again, thank you for supporting the CATS as we continue to be the best we can be – in the classroom as well as on the athletic front.
“Go Cats”
Darwin Brown – Coordinator of Athletics
Flu shot information
Box Tops!
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!!!
Contact us
Email: SFSDEdisonOffice@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/edison/home
Location: 2101 South West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-367-7643
Facebook: facebook.com/WeAreTheCats