Dear Parents,

There are a number of things that I want you to be aware of as we begin the final three months of the school year.

1. Cold Weather:

We are still dealing with inconsistent weather and will probably continue to through the month of March. It is extremely important to make sure you dress your child appropriately. Coats, gloves, boots, and wind resistant pants may be necessary items out in the elements. In addition, please remember that if you see the ORANGE FLAG up outside that means students should report to the “old gym” before school.

2. Spring Music Concert:

Please remember that the Kindergarten-2nd Grade spring music concert is March 20th. There will be two showings. The first one will occur at 8:00 AM and the second one at 1:00 PM. In addition, the band will also be performing.

3. Kindergarten Screening:

On March 5th & 6th Kindergarten Screening will occur at Piedmont Valley Elementary. On March 5th the screening will occur from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. On March 6th it will occur from 7:00 am until 2:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for families to come in and help determine their child’s strengths and weaknesses.

4. Smarter Balanced Assessment:

It is important to keep in mind that the South Dakota Spring Assessment is quickly approaching. The Smarter Balanced Assessment for 3rd-6th Graders will occur during the month of April. The testing window will begin April 7th and will continue through April 30th.

Principal’s Corner March Newsletter 2015

Piedmont Valley Elementary

Stallion News

Upcoming

Events

3/5: Kindergarten Screening,

11:00 am - 6:30 pm

3/6: Kindergarten Screening, 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

3/9: PTA meeting @ 6:00 pm in the library

3/12: In-service, No School

3/13: Spring Break, No

School

3/20: K-2 grade Spring Concert 8:00 am & 1:00 pm (6th grade band will perform at 8:00 am)

3/24: P iedmont Va l ley Elementary S.O.M. Assembly @ 1:15 pm

3/27-28: PTA Talent Show

4/3 & 4/6:Easter Break, No

School

Spring Concert

6th Band - 8:00 am

2nd Grade - 8:20-8:40 am

1st Grade - 8:40 - 9:00 am

Kindergarten - 9:00 - 9:20 am

2nd Grade - 1:00 - 1:20 pm

1st Grade 1:20 - 1:40 pm

Kindergarten 1:40 - 2:00 pm

What do the 5th

Graders

think about iPads in the

Classroom?

Mrs. Dolney’s Room:

Carlie Schlosser: IPads have been great so far. It is very nice to have the technology at our finger tips. The cons are people not using them for what they are supposed to. In all, they are helping us a lot. We are not wasting paper as much. They are a lot of fun and I’m glad we have them!

Keaton Fierro: IPads are very helpful in fifth grade. We can research with them on the internet and then type it. We also can do partner work easier using Air Drop. Testing can be done without leaving the classroom. We are so lucky to have our iPads.

Hannah Rose: The iPads have been really helpful to us. We use the iPads for a lot of things like Dreambox. When we get done with all of our work we sometimes get to play Stack the States or Social Studies Friendzy. Most of the time it is Dreambox. The iPads help us with spelling words, looking for synonyms to words, typing, doing research, and also taking tests. The iPads have been an amazing, helpful tool.

Tabatha Palmer: We used iPads in many ways this year. The iPads are useful because you can do research. The downside is that we don’t have full access to everything we look up, but most of the time we do. The iPads make it easier on us when

we do writing on the app called Pages. The iPads are cool!

Hayden Kinnan: IPads are helpful in so many ways. Here are some reasons why. I play Stack the States in social studies. I learn about countries and states. I also use Brain Pop which are videos about many things. But I find Pages being the most helpful for essays and classroom work. The internet, Safari, helps with research and looking up pictures. The dictionary app helps me find words in lickity spilt. IPads are very, very useful!

Meja Helstein: I have

many thoughts about an

iPad. I like how it helps with

research for science and

social studies. It has very

educational games such as

Dreambox, Social Studies

Friendzy, etc. There are

dictionaries and they help

me a lot with spelling a very

challenging word. The

Pages app helps me the

most because you can print

off a paper and do the rest

at home. Those are all the

pros that I think are very

important about iPads.

Mr. Wilson’s Class:

By Kelli Siemieniak and

Kendall Peldo

Since the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, Piedmont Valley Elementary's class of 2022 has had a very helpful educational and academic tool, the iPad. Although our iPads may be very helpful, they can also be a disadvantage.

Our iPads are helpful for educational and academic convenience. We can take tests on our iPads with the tap of a finger and study without a text book. We have our own iPads and can do more work faster since we don't have to share a computer or other source of knowledge. Our iPads save resources through e-mail and air drop, a paperless way of sharing messages, essays, pictures, and other articles. Having an iPad helps us advance in our understanding of technology. It saves us room in our desks and lockers because it is light weight and small in size. If some of the kids choose to be on the wrong site, teachers and other advisers can check history of the sites that the students have been on. Also to assure that students do not see things on the internet, go on inappropriate sites, or do and see other things that are unwise, there is a Meade Schools fire wall for the internet usage. There are many

disadvantages with

iPads along with the

advantages. Some

disadvantages include

students being off task

and doing things that are

not allowed by the

teacher. Some kids also

take advantage of the

technology by doing

things that are not

allowed like playing

games, web searching,

News from Fifth Grade and signing up for social

media (unless it is blocked

by the fire wall) that is

otherwise prohibited in

school.

By Konner, Bill and Slade

At our school in Piedmont we have gotten the amazing privilege of having iPads. They help us with many things but they can also be used for bad things. They help with things like researching projects so that we don't have to wait for the computers to open up so we can go and research something. Another way they are helpful is we can send an e-mail to our teachers showing our test results or send something like a picture of your paper so they know that you got it done. Another good thing about the iPads are you don't have to wait for the laptops to get done with, you can just go on your iPad and take the test or do your research. Something else good about them is they are light and easy to carry so you don't have to carry a big textbook around all day, you can just carry the light iPad all day. The school can also block bad web sites so if you accidentally type something in wrong and it is something inappropriate it will say it is blocked. Some negative things about the iPads are they are very fragile and easy to drop. Another bad thing is some kids will look up inappropriate sights so they see bad things. Some kids will also get games they are not supposed to get and then play the games in class while the teachers are

Fifth Grade News Continued... explaining something in class. One really bad thing about them is that we can't take them home to research the last few steps before a test. Sometimes they will freeze and we won't be able to get into any of our apps to get more research or play a game we needed to. It has been a great privilege to get to use these iPads. They have helped us a lot and we are very thankful to have gotten to use them.

Mr. Stanforth’s Class:

Pros/ Cons of Having IPADs in the Classroom

Pros Cons

Use IPADs to conduct research They can distract students from paying attention in class

Can download and use educational apps to assist in our learning.

Can be tempted to play games instead of do our work.

We can use them to type our writing assignments.

Students will rush through work to get time on IPADs, resulting in poor quality of work.

Available every day, don’t have to sign up and wait for Computer Cart.

Disputes over the IPADs may happen among the students

They can help us answer our own questions, when doing work assignments.

Won’t work if Internet is down; may take long to load a website.

Help makes learning, assignments, and research more fun.

Will slide off desks and fall to the floor if not careful.

Can earn free time on them, if we get work done correctly and on time.

Sometimes they won’t work, and we have to make another plan.

Congratulations Geography Bee Winners!

1st: Kayden La Framboise

2nd: Joey Bryan

3rd: Chris Schuman

March:

Tanner Barton, Tayah Bertolotto, Ethan Bohlen, Rachel Bryan, Travis Cassen, River Clendenin, Collin Dunn, Keaton Fierro, Lillian Heisinger, Heidi Hopkins, Grady Jobgen, Carson Jolley, Elika Leep, Jakobie Lepp, Kalyn Limbo, Izabelle Lowell, Kameron Lukkes, Colten Morlang, Joslyn Page, Miaa Ponce, Hunter Pond, Hannah Robertson, Hannah Rose, Lincoln Ruiz, Nathanael Stabber, Ayla Swanson, Shane Timm, Airelyn Trimmer, Isaac Tweedy, Kamea Ulrich, Mason Venjohn, Ayden Volk, Gage

West, JoLee White, KayLeigh Williamson, Tiana Williamson

a. Mastery of skills

b. Attendance

c. Physical maturity

d. Emotional maturity

e. Social maturity

f. Potential for

growth

Problems of promotion

or retention shall be

addressed by those most

knowledgeable about the

File: IKE PROMOTION

AND RETENTION OF

STUDENTS

Promotion or retention in

Meade School District 46-1

shall be based upon the

individual needs of the

students, taking into

consideration all conditions

affecting each student.

Considerations for

promotion (including

acceleration) or retention

shall include the following:

students—the teacher

(s), the principal, the

parent(s), and other

available school and

community services or

agencies.

If conflicts concerning

promotion and

retention cannot be

resolved otherwise, the

Board has the authority

to make the final

determination.

School Board Policies

School Reach The Meade School District has acquired a program that a l lows us to communicate with our families. The program is called School Reach. This program is a telephone system that provides us with a tool to notify you of special events, school cancellations, and other

relevant information.

At this time, we have launched phone calls to homes and cell phones. The system allows us to track which phone numbers are not being reached.

Happy Birthday!

“The Meade School

District Title I

program’s goal is to

help students meet

the state content

and achievement

standards for their

grade level and be

successful and

confident

learners.”

You may not be receiving the calls if:

1. Your phone number has changed and you have not notified the school.

2. Your message on your answering service begins with “Hi” or “Hello.”

If you have changed your phone numbers, please contact the office. Since this is an automated system, it may appear that there is a live person

receiving the call if it starts with “Hi” or “Hello.” Change your message to begin “You have reached…” or “This is…”

We feel that the automated system will help us to keep you posted on important events.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

During the past several months I have been approached by numerous parents with concerns about their children’s sense of

entitlement. As a result I am including the first of a two part article written by James Lehman, MSW, a renowned child behavior

therapist, published in Empowering Parents online magazine. (http://www.empoweringparents.com ) Next month I will include ways

of challenging the false sense of entitlement in children. Interesting food for thought!

Ginger Johnson, MSW, CSW

Meade School District Social Worker

News from Family Services

“The Character

trait for March

is

“Cooperation”

Helpfulness,

support,

teamwork,

working

together.”

Do you know a teacher or other staff member who is dedicated, inspiring, and makes a difference?

Nominations for Meade School District Teacher of the Year and Professional Technical and Support Staff of the Year for 2015 are now being accepted. The nomination forms are available at the district office and all school administrative offices, and on the school district website www.meade.k12.sd.us.

Nominations are welcome from parents, community members and staff members. The official nomination form must be used and must be accompanied by a minimum of three letters of recommendation from persons other than the nominator. All nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, March 10, to the principal/supervisor of the person being nominated.

For further information email MeadeCommunications@k12.sd.us.

Library News

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults at its Midwinter Meeting in Chicago on February 2, 2015. The book list winners that I concentrate on for the Meade elementary libraries are as follows: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: “The Crossover,” written by Kwame Alexander, is the 2015 Newbery Medal winner. Two Newbery Honor Books also were named: “El Deafo” by Cece Bell, illustrated by Cece Bell. “Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson. Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend,” illustrated by Dan Santat, is the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Dan Santat. Six Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Nana in the City,” illustrated by Lauren Castillo, written by Lauren Castillo. “The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art,” illustrated by Mary Grand-Pré, written by Barb Rosenstock. “Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett. “Viva Frida,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Yuyi Morales. “The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus,” illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant. “This One Summer,” illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: “The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus,” written by Jen Bryant, is the Sibert Award winner. Five Sibert Honor Books were named: “Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson. “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia,” written by Candace Fleming. “Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker,” written by Patricia Hruby Powell. “Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands,” written and illus-trated by Katherine Roy. “Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. If you would like the complete list please use the following link. Notice that some books win more than one award. You may want to use your public library to check out these books.

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners SD/AASL Standards Crosswalk 2.12.6 Identify special awards for print, nonprint and multime-dia works. (Understand) In March the students who have read at least five of the 16 books on the Prairie Bud (grades K-2) or Prairie Pasque (grades 3-5) lists will be invited to vote for their favorite.

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

605.787.5295 phone

605.787.5954 fax

www.meade.k12.sd.us

Mr. Ethan Dschaak

Principal

Kelli Wilson

Piedmont Valley Elementary

Administrative Assistant

Cara Wise

Piedmont Valley Elementary

Administrative Assistant

Julie Nelson

Kellie Thomas

Counselor

Ginger Johnson

Family Services

Barb Wagner

Food Service

Julie Dobler

Nurse

Don’t Forget!

Your child must be up to date on his/her

immunizations before starting school!

School starts at 7:35 AM for 3-6 grade

School starts at 7:45 AM for K-2 grade

Call the office if your child is going to be

absent from school 787-5295

Source: KidsHealth & SD Department of Health

What is fifth disease? It is a viral infection that affects the red blood cells and is caused by a human

parvovirus (B19).

Monthly Nurse’s Notes

Randi Oviatt, RN ~ Marcia Potts, RN ~ Julie Dobler, RN

Who can get fifth disease:

• Anyone can be affected but occurs more often in elementary school-age children. • It is believed that once a person has been affected by the virus, long-term or lifelong immunity occurs. • Studies show that approximately 50% of adults are immune to the virus.

Symptoms:

• Begins with a low-grade fever, headache, and mild cold-like symptoms (stuffy or runny nose). • These symptoms pass and then a rash appears a few days later. May take 1-3 weeks for the rash to

completely clear. o Bright red rash usually begins on the face. o Rash spreads and red blotches extend down to the trunk, arms, and legs. o Lacy net-like appearance to the rash. o May be itchy o Sunlight, heat, exercise and stress may reactivate the rash until it completely fades.

Contagiousness:

• Person is most contagious during the week prior to the appearance of the rash. • Person is probably not contagious once the rash appears.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

• Most practitioners can diagnose by the distinctive rash on the face and body. • A specific blood test to confirm the diagnoses has recently been developed but is not widely available. • No specific treatment at this time • Getting plenty of rest is important • Acetaminophen for fever

Prevention:

• Isolating someone with a fifth disease rash will not prevent the spread of infection since the person usually isn’t contagious during that time.

• GOOD HANDWASHING is you best defense against the human parvovirus and any other viruses!!!