Oscar Howe Elementary Newsletter—October 2017

Phone Number

362-2752

Fax Number

362-2752

DATES TO REMEMBER

October

October 2 PTA Meeting -Library

6:30p.m.

October 17 Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences and Fall Book Fair3:00pm to 7:30pm

October 20 & 23 No School

October 23 Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences and Fall Book Fair12:30pm to 7:30pm

October 26 Picture Re-Takes

October 27 Fall Classroom Parties

PTA Fall Family Dance6:30-8:00PM

November

November 6 PTA Meeting -Library

6:30pm

November 7 5th Grade Musical 7pm

November 10 No School

November 22 - 24 No School

November 30 Band & Orchestra Concert

7:00pm

Parents/Guardians,

EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, ATTENDANCE MATTERS. This is a

Sioux Falls School District slogan that I am sure you have seen before at

school, in newsletters, or on TV. You see and hear about it so much be-

cause it is a critical component to student success that all SF Schools are

working diligently to improve. We understand that some absences are

unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also

know that when students miss too much school, it can cause them to fall

behind academically.

Ten or more absences in a school year is considered excessive by the

Sioux Falls School District. Last year Oscar Howe Elementary had 140

students miss 10 or more days of school. Studies have concluded that

when a student misses 10 or more days during a school year they are 20

percent less likely to graduate from high school. A child is chronically ab-

sent if he or she misses just two days every month. Even with our attend-

ance campaign and incentives last year this number went up significantly

for Oscar Howe. We need your help to reverse this trend.

We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged.

Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on

time (the bell to come into the building rings at 7:55). Here are a few

practical tips to help support regular attendance:

—Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish

a morning routine

—Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before

—Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are

truly sick

—Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when

school is in session

—Talk to teachers, counselors, or principals for advice if your

children feel anxious about going to school

—Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes

up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take

your child to school

We look forward to teaming up with you to develop the mindset: EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY, ATTENDANCE MATTERS.

Larry Larsen, Principal Larry.Larsen@k12.sd.us

Every Student. Every Day. Attendance Matters. By Dr. Brian Maher, Superintendent

Welcome back to another great year in the Sioux Falls School District! We are eager to welcome the 24,000 smiling faces of our students and to watch our playgrounds and parking lots coming alive with the cheerful voices of students.

A new school year is a new opportunity to improve academically, socially, and emotionally. That support is available every day at school. However, research shows as many as 7.5 million students across the country miss nearly a month of school every year. These absences can lead to poor academic performance and create challenges that carry over into adult life. That is why the Sioux Falls School District is declaring September as Attendance Awareness Month.

For some, the absenteeism trend starts surprisingly early - as early as kindergarten - and continues through high school. National research shows one in 10 kindergarten and first-grade students are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10 percent of the school year or about 18 days of instruction because of excused and unexcused absences. In the Sioux Falls School District, any number of absences over ten (10) is considered excessive.

Chronic absence is not just about truancy or willfully skipping school. Instead, children stay home because of chronic illness, unreliable transportation, housing issues, bullying or simply because their parents do not understand how quickly absences add up—and affect school performance.

Chronic absenteeism especially affects students living in poverty. Consistent academic instruction is the key to helping them break the cycle. Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, and students who do not read well by that critical juncture are more likely to struggle in school. They are also more likely to be chronically absent in later years, since they never developed good attendance habits.

While we work hard to prevent it, absenteeism can’t solely be viewed as an administrative matter. We use a pyramid of interventions to support children facing attendance challenges. However, schools cannot do this work alone. We are calling on the entire community to help. Partnerships with health care providers, mental health agencies, transportation groups and others are already in the works. In order to make a difference, we need employers, faith-based groups, parents, and neighbors to encourage school attendance.

Parents can build a habit of good attendance by sticking to reasonable bedtimes and other routines and avoiding vacations while school is in session. Teachers will reinforce these messages regularly. Community members can step forward to mentor children who have attendance issues and encourage them to see the lifetime benefits of being in school every day.

We invite you to join us as we continue to prioritize school attendance.

Every Student. Every Day. Attendance really does Matter!

From left to right:

Kara Bunkers was a student teacher in Paula Dean’s first grade classroom last year. She grew

up in Sioux Falls and graduated from USF with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Edu-

cation. In her spare time, she likes to play tennis and relax with family and friends. Kara is our new

104 teacher.

Ben Hruby is also in his first year of teaching. He is married and has a baby girl, Sydney, who

was born in December. When Ben is not busy doing school related things, he like to golf, read and

watch sports. Ben is the new 402 classroom teacher.

Tia Hemiller is also in her first year of teaching, and recently graduated from USD. Tia is from

Watertown, SD. She has an older brother, Jade and a younger sister, Tatum. Tia enjoys spending time with her family, being active, and reading. She is our new 103 teacher.

Jeff Heavlin is our new school counselor. He has eleven years of school counseling experience.

He and his wife, Katie, have been married for 15 years. They have 2 children, Lucy and Beckett. In his spare time, Mr. Heavlin enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing board games with family and friends.

Amy Staples is our new full time PE teacher. She has worked at Oscar Howe in the past as a

part time PE teacher. She has 14 years of teaching experience. She and her husband, Lance, grew up in Minnesota. They have 2 boys, Ryan and Jacob. In her spare time, Mrs. Staples enjoys spending time outside with her family and going to the lake in the summer.

Katie Blunck (bottom right) is our new Orchestra teacher. She works at

Oscar Howe and Memorial Middle School. This is her 8th year of teaching. Katie grew up in Nebraska with her parents, identical twin, and younger brother. She has been involved with music all of her life. Ms. Blunck plays in a country band in Sioux Falls playing the fiddle, guitar, and singing. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, singing in her band, and spending time with animals, especially her cat, Turbo!

Traffic Safety in a School Zone

It is your responsibility to keep an eye out for children or anyone waiting in the crosswalk and stop with ample room for the pedestrians to cross.

Please do not ever stop on a crosswalk or where children cross the driveways at school!

And, a reminder that the speed limit while children are present in a school zone is 15mph. Please slow

down and watch for children. Let them cross safely. Your attention and patience is appreciated!!

Oscar Howe Parking Lot Information…

A note regarding dropping off or picking up your

child. If you come to the school and you need

to get out of your car for any reason, you need

to park in the lot rather than in the drop-off area.

By not following this simple guideline, the traffic

gets backed up and when 600+ kids need to get

to and from school, this just slows everyone

down. Also, be considerate and let people in/

out of the lots if you can. This helps keep traffic

moving. And always have your child exit your

vehicle on the passenger side in the drop-off ar-

ea for their safety. Your patience and kindness

are appreciated!

School Supervision

Parents/guardians: Before-school supervision does not begin until 7:40am. Students arriving before this time will not have adult su-pervision on the playground. Please do not drop students off before this time unless they are eating breakfast at school. At 3:00pm, the school grounds are swept by staff and any students remaining are brought to the of-fice to call home for pick up.

If your child will be late for

school and they want a HOT

LUNCH, you will need to call the

office before 8:30am so we can

order one for them. Anyone that

does not call and does not bring

a cold lunch will have a lunch kit.

Bus Reminder:

Parents/Guardians: Please remember

that if your son/daughter is on the bus

list they will be sent on the bus every

day unless the school has a note or

phone call from the parent/guardian

stating otherwise. Students cannot just

tell their teacher that day that they are

going to the community center or to a

friend’s house. Without prior parent

notification they will be put on the bus if

they are normally a bus

rider. Thank you!

Outside food / drink

If you bring outside food for lunch to

your child, you will need to sit at the pea-

nut butter table. No soda please!

Congrats to the Fall 2017

Student Council Representatives

Back row (left to right): Mr. Heavlin, Destiney Andrews, Tina Lunic, Emma Kuchenreuther, Josie Hunting-

ton, Lily Kamnikar, Grace Wenzel, Mrs. Heiberger.

Front row (left to right): Maxwell Carter, Carter Mekelburg, Blake Pastian, Cecelia Brodkorb, Caeden

Muller, Emma Wenzel, Emma Meinke (Not pictured: Isaac Bunkers)

The Roosevelt Rough Riders are going on a Rider

Roadtrip across the USA in celebration of Homecoming

week! Join in on the fun & dress up with us!

Music City Monday (New York)– Anything musical (concert shirts,

things with music notes, or dress as a musician (rock star, country star etc.)

Temperature Drop Tuesday (Alaska)– Brrr..Sweaters, Hats, mittens, winter sports (skiers, hockey players, ice skaters)

Wave Riding Wednesday (California)–Beachy, Sunglasses, Tank tops, shorts, bright colors, water animals

(please be mindful of the weather, we will still plan to go outside for recess)

Throttle Down Thursday (South Dakota) –Farmers and ranchers

Finally Home Friday – RHS OR Oscar Howe Spirit Wear or school colors!

(Dress-Up days October 2nd-Oct. 6th)

Back-to-School Reminders From the School Nurse:

If your student has a health condition or needs special care during the school day such as medica-

tion, treatments, or monitoring, please inform the school nurse. Individual health care plans help

keep students safe and healthy.

In accordance with SFSD policy, all prescription and over-the-counter medication at school requires

parent or guardian and physician signatures on a SFSD medication administration form. Cough

drops at school also require a SFSD medication consent form signed by a parent or guardian. All

medication must be brought to school in the original container by a parent or guardian.

**Please remember that our schools are not peanut free. The meals served by the District's school lunch program however are peanut free meals. In addition to providing peanut free hot lunches, we will work with the student, his/her family, and their physician to establish a plan with the necessary precautions / accommodations. **At Oscar Howe we have a student who has a severe/life threatening latex allergy so it is impera-tive that you do not send latex balloons for students to be delivered at the school. This student is highly allergic and cannot come into any contact with latex products. Thank you for please adher-ing to this in order to protect all of our students.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep students safe and healthy!

Michelle Jensen RN

Head Lice can happen to anyone, it’s not uncommon. Most head lice are

transmitted by head to head contact. (Also, keep in mind if your child is try-

ing on Halloween masks and wigs in stores, there may have been numerous

other children that tried the same costume on their head!) Check your

child’s hair regularly; if head lice are found consult a health care provider

regarding treatment options. Follow package directions and comb out lice

and nits thoroughly. While this is a time consuming task, it is also very ef-

fective at preventing repeat cycles. Clean all items that may have been in

contact with your child’s head. (Combs, brushes, linens, stuffed animals).

Let your child’s close friends and parents know so they too can check regu-

larly. Report all cases to the school nurse and I will provide you with more

detailed information on treating your child, and can re-check your child

when they return to school. For more helpful information visit:

www.kidshealth.org/parents/infectious/common/head_lice.html

Michelle Jensen, RN School Nurse michelle.jensen@k12.sd.us

Oscar Howe Lunch Schedule:

Kdg. — 11:25-11:45

1st Grade— 10:55-11:15

2nd Grade — 11:10-11:30

3rd Grade — 11:40-12:00

4th Grade — 11:55-12:15

5th Grade — 12:10-12:30

Based on the 2016-2017 South Dakota DOE Report Card, Oscar Howe has again been classified as a Pro-

gressing School. The School Performance Index looks at academic growth, attendance, and student

achievement. The Smarter Balanced assessment scores are used to determine growth and achievement.

At Oscar Howe, we continue to use Response to Intervention in reading to address learning gaps for all

students, and provide small group interventions to support student learning.

For more information and a full report for Oscar Howe Elementary, please visit: http://doe.sd.gov/

reportcard. Use the drop down to select Report—School, District—Sioux Falls, School—Oscar Howe.

SMART Bus Rules

STAY in your seat while

the bus is moving.

MANAGE yourself and

your space on the bus.

ACT like you are in the

classroom.

REMAIN inside the bus

at all times.

TREAT other people and

property with respect.

Music Group & Private

Babysitting

Cooking

Woodworking

Acrylic Painting

Languages

Crochet

Heartsavers

Martial Arts

“Take Them ALL!” To view online catalog & to register:

www.sf.k12.sd.us/our-district/community-education or call – 605-367-7999

Youth...the best time of your life?

We don’t think so!

Join the School District’s Gold Card Program...and have the time of your life!

As a valued Gold Card member, enjoy the following perks:

Discounted entrance fee to public school sporting & fine art events

Invitations to three Gold Card events per year!

Community Education catalogs mailed directly to you!

Membership is FREE! Ages 60+!

Applications for Gold Cards are available in all public school front offices, theInstructional Planning Center, or call 605-367-7999