Tiger Cub Tidbits

Upcoming events at Groton Area Elementary

April 24:  4th quarter mid-term notices will be sent home

May 1:  6th grade field trip to Aberdeen

May 5:  spring music program at 7:00 pm in the GHS gym

May 6 & 8:  kindergarten visitation days ~ call the office to schedule a visit

May 15: 3rd grade Biography Fair;  Track and Field K - grade 2 am; grades 3 - 6 pm

May 22:  5th grade field trip to Fort Sisseton

May 27:  last day for students ~ dismiss at 1:00

Welcome Home Derrick!

Derrick is now home after 93 days at Mayo Clinic! There will be a Welcome Home benefit for him on Saturday, April 25 at the Groton American Legion, beginning at 5:00. If you would like to contribute a raffle basket of any kind, you may bring it to the Legion or give to Mrs. Swisher at the elementary school.  Thank-you for your support!

Spring Pictures

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 9. Sibling and pre-school pictures will take place 7:45 - 8:30 that morning. Individual student pictures will continue throughout the day.

The large panoramic picture will be taken at 2:00 that afternoon in the Arena. Students should try to have color coded shirts per their grade level.

JK - white;   Kindergarten - red;  1st grade - green;  2nd grade - last year AR t-shirt;  3rd grade - tie dye;   4th grade - blue;   5th grade - DARE;   6th grade - orange. 

If you have any questions, please call the elementary office at 397-2317.  You can also visit www.lifetouch.com for more program details. 

Today is Gabbie Kramer Day!

Groton student Gabbie Kramer achieved a perfect score on the 2008 Dakota State Test of Educational Progress, or Dakota STEP.

Earlier this month, Gabbie received a congratulatory letter from Gov. Mike Rounds. Now a fourth grader, Gabbie is the daughter of Dale and Michele Kramer.

I, Susan Foster, Principal of Groton Area Elementary School, hereby proclaim the day of March 27, 2009 as GABBIE KRAMER DAY in Groton, South Dakota in full recognition of her academic excellence.

 

You are the POWER in your child's education.

Your child's success in school - begins at home!   Parent Night - Thursday, April 2  7:00 pm

The evidence is clear and convincing! Parent involvement improves student achievement. Here are some of the possible benefits for your child:

*  higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates;   *  enrollment in more challenging academic programs;   *  better school attendance;    *  improved behavior at home and school (lower rates of suspension);    *  increased motivation, better self-esteem;   *  greater enrollment rates in post-secondary education. 

Join Us!  The presenter is from South Dakota Parent Information & Resource Center.

"I Hate Winter Week"

Elementary students ~ Join the fun!

Tuesday, Feb. 17:  Flip-Flop Day;  Wednesday, Feb. 18:  Beach Towel Day;  Thursday, Feb. 19:  Crazy Sunglasses Day;  Friday, Feb. 20:  Hawaiian Day. 

Be My Valentine!

Valentine/sucker sales begin on Monday, February 9 and continue through Thursday, Feb. 12. You can send a Valentine to anyone for only 25 cents. Valentines will be delivered on Thursday afternoon to all classrooms and the high school. 

Valentines for family members will be sent home with the sending student. Valentines can also be bought from moms, dads, grandmas & grandpas to send to their students at the elementary school.

Let's promote Acts of Kindness and support the Mehlhaff family and Derrick Halsey family.  All profits will be divided between the two families. 

Elvis appears at Elementary School!

Mrs. Herrmann celebrated her 60th birthday at school today.  A special visitor helped with that celebration.  In case you didn't know, Mrs. Herrmann is a HUGE fan of Elvis! 

It was interesting to hear some of the comments made by our elementary students.  "Who's Elvis?"  "I thought Elvis was dead!"   "Why is he dressed like THAT?"  Perhaps it was more fun for the staff ~ rather than the students ~ to have Elvis here. But I know that Mrs. Herrmann had a great birthday with her school family. 

         

Conference Schedule

In addition to February 3, the elementary teachers will also have a half day for conference times. Letters will be sent out with your scheduled time and day.  Please! Check your time and day carefully! Not all conferences will be on February 3. 

We request that you make every effort to attend at the scheduled time.  If you must request a change, please call the elementary office ~ 397-2317 ~ as soon as possible. 

Conferences dates include: January 26 - grades Kdg & 5;  January 28 - grades 1 & 4;  January 29 - JK; January 30 - grades 2 & 3;  February 2 - grade 6. 

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I appreciated the break ~ but it's really nice to be back in the routine and structure of the school day.  I've heard it said numerous times that this is the "meat and potatoes" time of the school year.  There is lots of learning to happen ~ and hopefully not too many interruptions!

Our school family suffered some bad news upon our return to school.  One of our kindergarten friends, Derrick, was very sick and doctors discovered a brain tumor. He is now in the Rochester Hospital recovering from surgery.  He will need to stay at the hospital for an extended amount of time. His parents are staying at the Ronald McDonald House so they can be close to Derrick. This week ~ we are doing Dollar Days for Derrick!  We are collecting money to help Derrick and his family with their expenses. All donations can be dropped off at the elementary school.  We continue to send many thoughts and prayers from the elementary school. 

Things aren't "official" yet, but my resignation as elementary principal will be on the School Board agenda on Monday, January 12.  I have been offered the position of elementary principal for the new Fred Assam Elementary School in Brandon. (Brandon Valley School District). So . . . pending School Board approval in Brandon on Monday, January 12, I will be trading in my tiger stripes to become a Brandon Valley Lynx!