Piedmont Valley Elementary Stallion News

February Newsletter 2015 Upcoming Events Principal’s Corner  2/02: PTA meeting @ 6:00 PM (members only) Dear Parents,  2/17-2/20: Scholastic Book I am happy to see all of our students getting back into the swing of Fair school after the nice relaxing Christmas vacation. The students  2/17:Parent/Teacher seem to be adjusting to the school schedule and we are off to an Conferences 4 - 7 PM exciting start to the winter months of the school year. We have a number of events scheduled for the month of February that you  2/19:Parent/Teacher should all be aware of. Conferences 4 - 7 PM On January 30th, the PTA will be hosting Bingo Night. This will be  2/24: PVE S.O.M. Assembly a fun-filled evening for the whole family. I think it will be a GREAT @ 1:15 PM time and as always the best PTA in the state of will do a wonderful job of hosting this event. We are very fortunate to  3/5: Kindergarten Screening, have a high class, energetic PTA like we have! 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM In addition, I would like to remind all of you of the Parent / Teacher  3/6:Kindergarten Screening, 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM Conferences that will be hosted on February 17th and 19th. Both nights of conferences will run from 4:00-7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for parents to communicate with our dedicated staff in  3/20: Spring Concert K-2 at order to see how your child is doing in school. I look forward to 8:00 AM & 1PM (6th grade seeing all of you in our classrooms and hallways on these two band will perform at 8:00 nights. AM) I hope the upcoming months of the school year find all of you well Concert March 20, 2015 and as always if you would like to visit give me a call. TENTATIVE TIMES: Ethan 6th Grade Band 8:00-8:20 2nd Grade 8:20-8:40 1st Grade 8:40-9:00 Kindergarten 9:00-9:20

2nd Grade 1:00-1:20 1st Grade 1:20-1:40 Kindergarten 1:40-2:00

News from Third Grade Current Happenings in 3rd features and providing and home working evidence from the text when together. Grade answering questions. Students

Our 3rd grade students at have provided input and shared Piedmont Valley Elementary have some of their favorite stories We look forward to seeing they have read thus far: The been working very hard in math. you at conferences! Some things we have touched on Boxcar Children Series, Little have been multiplication and House Series, Magic Tree Mrs. Marso, Mrs. Hertel, division, measuring perimeter and House Series, Series of Mrs. Rath, Ms. Seymour area, and discovering the Unfortunate Events, The characteristics of triangles and Boxtrolls, and Weird but True. quadrilaterals. We are now into a On February 27th, students will unit on fractions. Students have be participating in a reading been investigating the meaning of challenge, Read the Most fractions and the ways fractions Coast to Coast. This challenge can be represented. Although this encourages students to join can be a difficult concept, together to read and enjoy students are enjoying solving books. There will be more math problems in ways that make information to follow. sense to them. Please continue Congratulations to the practicing math facts and playing students who have received math games with your children. awards for student of the Playing these games and month. The character trait for practicing facts definitely helps February is Courtesy. As a 3rd students gain math skills as well grade team, we have set high as clarifies some of the concepts standards for the students not being addressed. only academically, but also Writing has become more socially. It is very important for rigorous this year as we have students to do the best they been introducing a new can and be a person of good curriculum. We began the year character in the process. writing narrative stories and have Parents, we challenge now switched gears into you to ask yourselves: “Does informational writing. The goal of my child read fluently and with this unit is to have students select comprehension? Does my child a topic they feel they are an do addition, subtraction and “expert” at and create a book. multiplication facts accurately? During this unit, students will do Does my child work diligently research to strengthen their on these things at home?” If expertise. Although this has been you can answer a resounding a very thought-provoking and time “YES” to these questions then consuming process, students you can have confidence that have flourished as writers. your child will be ready for the In reading, students have next level of learning. As a been experiencing close reading, team, we all want children to literature circles, using text grow and find success. Success happens with school Happy Birthday!

February: Talia Backes, Zoie Berglund, Elisa Beyl, Zachary Bone, Anya Brady, Hannah Brandner, Kelsy Costello, Chloe DePew, Haleigh Frasier, Kara French, Katelyn Hamm, Carson Hautala, Bonnie Hawley, Hailey Hudelson, Derrick Johnson, Spencer Jones, Laren Krambeck, Gavin Ligtenberg, Marissa Makor, Rose Miles, Jersey Moore, Darren Neiger, Allison Ogden, Rheanna Page, Kiara rath, Isaiah Ratzsch, Justin Ruland, Tiana Rust, Irelyn Salisbury, Ashlee Schrempp, Mae Soyland, Juliette Spotten, Lilly Sweeney, Jacinta Thompson, Dawson Trautman, Syler Van Hout, Owen Volk, Keyton Webb, Ronan Wheaton, Morgan White, Tori Williamson, Andrew Zimmerman

“ The Character School Reach trait for The Meade School District track which phone numbers contact the office. Since this has acquired a program are not being reached. is an automated system, it February is that allows us to may appear that there is a communicate with our You may not be receiving live person receiving the call the calls if: “Courtesy” families. The program is if it starts with “Hi” or “Hello.” called School Reach. This 1. Your phone number Change your message to Graciousness, program is a telephone has changed and you begin “You have reached…” system that provides us have not notified the or “This is…” Politeness, with a tool to notify you of school. special events, school We feel that the automated system will help us to keep Consideration, cancellations, and other 2. Your message on your relevant information. answering service you posted on important events. Good Manners, begins with “Hi” or At this time, we have “Hello.” launched phone calls to Appreciation.” homes and cell phones. If you have changed your

The system allows us to phone numbers, please

School Board Policies File: EBC alter selected bus routes, television stations or dismiss school early KOTA, KEVN, and EMERGENCY when hazardous weather KNBN. If school is PROCEDURES or other emergencies closed during the day threaten the health or and buses cannot run, The superintendent shall be safety of students and parents are responsible r e s p o n s i b l e f o r personnel. Parents will for making implementing appropriate be informed of these arrangements for their emergency procedures for actions on radio stations children. preparedness in case of fire, KBHB, KRCS, KTOQ, LEGAL REFS.: ARSD civil emergency and natural KIMM, KGGG, KFXS, 24:03:03:03 disaster. KOUT, KKLS, KKMK, The superintendent may KDDX, KZZI, KSQY, close the District schools, and KDSJ, and on News From the Nurses

Northern Plains/Lions Club will conduct FREE VISION SCREENINGS at Piedmont Valley Elementary February 19 at 8:30am for 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students. Signed parental consent is REQUIRED. This screening is done in about 30 seconds, and the results are more accurate than the screening done by the school nurses. Please fill out the consent form for your child when you receive it and send it back to school with your child. School nurses screen all 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders in Meade School District each year, even if they are seen by eye doctors. The Northern Plains/Lions Club screenings help school nurses save time, and your child will spend less time out of class.

Dakota Smile Mobile Dental Program will be at Sturgis Elementary School February 9th – 13th . Dakota Smiles program will treat children ages 0-21 who DO NOT have a dental home. No child will be turned away for inability to pay. For more information call the Nurse Office at #605-347-2610

News from Computer In computer class this trimester, 5th and 6th graders were working on creating a newsletter using Microsoft Word 2007. They had to insert a header and columns, use word art and clip art and change up the font style and size as well as write three good articles at least 15 sentences long. Among these newsletters, the one Cael, Jax, Jared and Kaden created was one of the best ones, in my opinion, so I asked them if I could share it in this publication. Enjoy the pages to follow.

Lila Scandrett

Computer Teacher K-6

Piedmont Valley Elementary [email protected] District Mission

“To Build Knowledge and Skills for Success Today and Tomorrow”

Our Vision: "Meade School District will work in conjunction with its community to provide excellent academics and co -curricular activities that develop life-long learners and productive citizens.”

CONTACTS Piedmont Valley Elementary Barb Wagner Don’t Forget! 605.787.5295 phone Food Service 605.787.5954 fax  Your child must be up to date on his/her immunizations before www.meade.k12.sd.us Julie Dobler starting school! Mr. Ethan Dschaak Nurse Principal  School starts at 7:40 AM for 3-6 grade Kelli Wilson  School starts at 7:50 AM for K-2 Cara Wise grade Piedmont Valley Elementary Administrative Assistants  Call the office if your child is go- ing to be absent from school 787 Julie Nelson -5295 Kellie Thomas Counselor

Ginger Johnson

BIRTH TO AGE SIX SCREENING AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Meade School District will be offering free screenings in the areas of motor, concepts and speech for all children birth to six. If registering your child for kindergarten for the Fall of 2015, please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate and updated immunization records. Please call for an appointment, contact information listed.

Sturgis Screening Location: STURGIS ELEMENTARY 1121 Ballpark Road, Sturgis Contact: Shonda Jolley at 347-2610 to make an appointment

Date/Time: KINDERGARTEN, PRESCHOOL AGE & BIRTH TO THREE Monday, March 2, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2015 from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Piedmont Screening Location: PIEDMONT VALLEY ELEMENTARY 16159 2nd St. Piedmont Contact: Cara Wise at 787-5295 to make an appointment

Date/Time: KINDERGARTEN, PRESCHOOL AGE & BIRTH TO THREE Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015 from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Whitewood Screening Location: WHITEWOOD ELEMENTARY 603 Garfield, Whitewood Contact: Cheryl Delzer at 269-2264 to make an appointment

Date/Time: KINDERGARTEN, PRESCHOOL AGE & BIRTH TO THREE Tuesday, March 10, 2015 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2015 from 7:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Rural Area Screening Location: CENTRAL MEADE COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER Union Center Contact: Karen Speed at 269-2264 or 985-5532 to make an appointment

Date/Time: KINDERGARTEN, PRESCHOOL AGE & BIRTH TO THREE Thursday, March 19, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meade School District 46-1, 1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785 Phone: 605-347-4770 Fax: 605-347-8089