Sturgis Elementary Newsletter

March 2025

A Note From Principal Chantal Ligtenberg

South Dakota State Assessment:

Preparations are being made for the annual state assessment which is given to all third and fourth students. Students will be assessed in the areas of English Language Arts and math. Students will be taking this assessment in April. Delivered entirely online, the South Dakota assessment offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways. The test results provide a more meaningful picture of what the students know and can do. It is important to remember that your child’s score on the state assessment only reflects their performance at one moment in time. Throughout the school year, your student’s teacher is continually measuring his/her progress through a variety of methods.

Students’ Attendance

Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better chance of graduating from high school.

When students are absent for fewer days, their grades and reading skills often improve—even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who attend school regularly also feel more connected to their community, develop important social skills and friendships, and are significantly more likely to graduate from high school, setting them up for a strong future.

But when kids are absent for an average of just two days of school per month—even when the absences are excused– it can have a negative impact. These absences can affect kids as early as Kindergarten.

For example, young elementary school students who miss an average of just two school days per month often have difficulty keeping up with their peers academically and tend to fall behind in reading. But when students are able to read on grade level by the end of third grade, which is when kids transition from learning to read to reading to learn, they are three to four times more likely to graduate high school and attend college, post-graduate, or professional development classes than their peers who struggle with reading. www.absencesaddup.org

2025-2026 Roster Development

If you have a concern or would like to give input for the 25/26 school year, please complete the form using the image-link below. Please know you are unable to request certain teachers and

once rosters are developed and teachers are assigned, no requests to

have a child move to another class will be approved.

All input due by March 14, 2025

Important Dates & School District Calendar

Meade School District Calendar

Yearbook Orders - Online Only

There will not be any yearbooks available for purchase in the office.

All orders are made and paid for online.

Reading Challenge

Scholars of the Month

School Activities & FUN

We are grateful for the Junior Achievement volunteers who have been visiting our classrooms again this school year! By combining JA programming with their own personal and professional experiences, JA volunteers teach students about careers, money management, entrepreneurship, and ethics. They help students connect what they learn in school with the skills needed for success in both their personal and professional lives.

Junior Achievement (JA) gives students hope for a brighter future. This school year, nearly 2,000 JA volunteers are committed to teaching JA programs, empowering over 56,000 South Dakota

students to pursue their dreams.

Teacher & Staff of the Year

Kindergarten, 3rd & 4th Music Programs

In the month of March, Sturgis Elementary, along with the Special Services

Education Department, will be joining the 2025 "Spread the Word" campaign.

Together we continue to fight to create an inclusive and welcoming world

for all to be part of a powerful new generation that celebrates all abilities.

Monday, March 3

Everyone needs to be heard. Everyone needs to feel included.

Tuesday, March 4

We are celebrating 15 years of Spread the Word, but the work continues. We're eager to inspire change, one word at a time. Join me in taking the pledge and commit to acknowledging the hurt caused by disparaging words towards people with intellectual disabilities #pledgetoinclude

Wednesday, March 5

Today is the official day of Spread the Word "WORDS AFFECT ATTITUDES, ATTITUDES IMPACT ACTIONS". When was the last time you totally committed to something? Bring that level of courage and commitment to our movement for a more inclusive world! The SPED office will be in your buildings today handing out pencils, stickers and having students/staff sign the banner to #pledgetoinclude

Thursday, March 6

Challenge your students to learn more about inclusion. https://www.generationunified.org/games/inclusion-tiles/

Friday, March 7

Thank you, students, staff and families, for your overwhelming support of the Spread the Word "WORDS AFFECT ATTITUDES, ATTITUDES IMPACT ACTIONS"