Cossack Connection

What’s the first sign in your house that the holiday season has officially begun?

December is always an exciting time of year at Sioux Valley. Hallways feel a little more merry and bright, and there’s a shared sense of anticipation—both for the season of Advent and for all that is still to come in our school year.

One of our core values is Continuous Improvement, and I truly believe the best is yet to come for our students and our school community. That belief only becomes reality when we work together—trusting the good intentions of one another, communicating clearly, and staying aligned around what matters most: creating a place where every student feels valued, supported, and known.

Recently, during a visit from a Junior Achievement volunteer, we had a conversation about the environment here at Sioux Valley. Their comment stuck with me: “There’s just something special about this place.” I couldn’t agree more. What makes Sioux Valley special isn’t any single initiative or event—it’s the people.
Our staff. Our students. Our parents. Our community partners.
Each of you contributes to the culture that makes being a Cossack something we can all be proud of.

As we enter this busy season, I hope you also find moments to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us—both inside and outside our school walls. May this month stay merry and bright for you and your family, and may we continue to walk forward together with gratitude and purpose.

With Cossack Pride,

Mr. Bolstad

December 1 - Junior Achievement Ethics for 6th Grade Students during 3rd Period

December 2 - CTE Meeting for Capstone & New Clusters in Bolstad's Office at 3:35

December 3 - 2nd Cell Phone Review Committee Meeting @ 3:00 - 4:00 in the MS/HS Conference Room

December 8 - School Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM

December 15 - How Sweet the Sound @ 7:00 PM

December 23 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter - 1:45 PM Dismissal; Little Prairie Coffee in the Commons

As we enter this joyful season, we want to invite everyone—MS/HS students and staff—to join us in our 12 Days of Holiday Cheer at Sioux Valley!

Each day leading up to the holiday break, we’ll have a fun theme or spirit activity to help spread a little extra joy throughout the building. Participation is completely optional, but encouraged—because a little holiday spirit can go a long way in brightening someone’s day.

We’re excited to celebrate the season together and finish the year strong as a Cossack family.

Let the holiday cheer begin! 🎅✨

We want to share an update on our finalized 2025–2026 Continuous Improvement Plan. At Sioux Valley, we remain grounded in our core value of continuous improvement—the belief that the best is yet to come, and that we get better by working together with clarity, consistency, and purpose.

View the Full Plan

Families who would like to see the complete details—including our data, root causes, goals, and strategies—can download the 2025–2026 6-12 Continuous Improvement Plan using the link below:

Thank you for your partnership in helping Sioux Valley continually grow, improve, and serve our students with excellence.

Our Promise to You

Continuous improvement isn’t a slogan—it’s a mindset shared across our staff, students, and community. We are committed to:

• Being transparent with our progress

• Evaluating what’s working

• Adjusting when needed

• And celebrating growth along the way

Thank you for partnering with us in making Sioux Valley a place where students thrive. With your support, we are confident that the best truly is yet to come.

In January, we will be partnering with our School Resource Officer, Deputy Kriese, to provide age-appropriate ALICE safety training for all students in grades 6–12. These trainings will be delivered by grade level during SRP times, ensuring that the content is developmentally appropriate and tailored to what each age group needs to know to feel informed and prepared.

The purpose of ALICE training is to empower students with knowledge and options to help them stay safe in the unlikely event of an emergency. Our approach will be calm, age-sensitive, and focused on safety and preparedness—not fear.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out to the Middle School/High School office at any time. We are committed to supporting our students’ well-being and ensuring they feel safe at school.

Thank you for your partnership.

Cossack students and families,

As we move into the middle of the year, we want to take a moment to revisit our cell phone expectations so that classrooms remain focused, consistent, and distraction-free.

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

• Cell phones should stay in lockers for the entire school day.

• This means phones are not checked during passing periods or restrooms.

• If a student needs to contact home, they may request to use the office phone.

High School (Grades 9–12)

• Phones must be checked in for the full duration of each class period.

• Earbuds and listening to music are not allowed during instructional time unless a teacher specifically gives permission for an activity.

• Phones may not be taken to the restroom from the classroom.

For Parents & Guardians
If you need to reach your child during the day, please call the MS/HS office, and we will make sure your message is delivered. This helps us avoid disruptions to learning and keeps our expectations consistent.

Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms focused, safe, and supportive for every learner. Consistency with these procedures makes a significant difference—and we appreciate your partnership.

As we head into the heart of cold and flu season, we want to remind all students and families about the importance of doing our part to stop the spread of illness at school.

Here are a few simple but important ways we can all stay healthier together:

• Wash Hands Often: Frequent handwashing with soap and water—especially before eating and after using the restroom—is one of the best defenses against germs.

• No Sharing Food or Drinks: We know it’s tempting to share snacks with friends at the lunch table, but doing so can spread bacteria and viruses. Please remind your child not to share food, drinks, or utensils.

• Cover Coughs & Sneezes: Using a tissue or coughing/sneezing into the elbow helps prevent germs from spreading to others.

• Stay Home When Sick: If your child has a fever, persistent cough, or other symptoms of illness, please keep them home to rest and recover—and to protect others.

We’re grateful for your partnership in keeping our school community healthy and thriving this season!

The South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health, part of the Department of Social Services, is launching an opportunity of which anyone may sign up to receive weekly affirmations via SMS text. These affirmations are geared for a wide variety of audiences and provide reminders and positive notes to self.

Once 100 individuals are signed up, weekly texts will begin.

Sign up here.

Attention Senior Families: We’ve gathered everything in one place to help guide you through this important year. Our Senior Information Hub includes key details on:

• ✅ Graduation Requirements

• 🧠 ACT & Testing Resources

• 🎓 Post-Secondary Planning & College Visits

• 💰 Scholarship Opportunities

• 📅 Important Dates (Senior pictures, caps & gowns, etc.)

• 🔗 Helpful Resources and Links

Please encourage your senior to review the information and reach out to the school counseling office with any questions. Let's make senior year a success!

Please remember to send a high-resolution senior picture to Donna.Kahler@k12.sd.us by December 23rd. This photo will be used for senior recognition throughout the year, so make sure it’s a high-quality image.

Thank you!

Methodize is a simple, yet effective online learning platform that empowers students to learn new skills and reach their potential. It offers a self-paced ACT preparation course that provides students in grades 9 to 12 with a comprehensive overview of the most effective strategies and the most relevant content for raising their ACT scores. Students who have used Methodize to study for the ACT have seen an average increase of 3 points!

Methodize is available at no cost to all South Dakota students in grades 9-12. This resource is provided by the South Dakota Department of Education and can be accessed through SDMyLife powered by Xello. Students and educators can simply log into their accounts and access Methodize at any time.

To learn more about utilizing Methodize as an ACT test preparation tool in your district, a free tutorial is available via Canvas, and you can register and view that here:

Methodize - Free ACT Test Prep Tutorial

https://sded.sd.gov/browse/division-of-college-career-and-student-success/office-of-student-wellness-and-supports/courses/methodize---free-act-test-prep-tutorial2025

Welcome back to the 25-26 school year! I found a resource I wanted to share with you that is now available at the South Dakota State Library.

Whether you have students prepping for exams or you yourself may need a little extra prep, you should check out Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep, available at https://library.sd.gov. Go to Electronic Resources and search for Gale and choose Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep. You and/or your students will need to log in or sign up to use this resource.

Browse menu to:

• Improve a Test Score in Foundational Skills, High School, College, Grad School and international tests
• Find a School – includes school and scholarship search tools, Financial Aid Quiz and a Teen’s Guide to College & Career Planning
• Explore Careers – includes career advice, online resume builder, job search and a Teen’s Guide to College & Career Planning
• Vocational Test Prep – includes prep for many of the CTE exams

Choose a category and when you click “View all”, you can add the courses to “My Resources” for quicker access.

Praxis exam prep is also available. The library will have this available for 1 year but the more it is used, the more likely they are to renew it.

If you wish to learn more, the library will have a session on Sept 3rd at 3:00pm and Sept 18 at 10:00am. Sign up is required and can be completed at https://library.sd.gov under the Training Calendar tab.

Please call the library at 605-773-3131 if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Do you know a student who loves science, asks great questions, and enjoys learning how things work? The PROMISE Scholars Program at Sanford Research is an incredible opportunity for motivated high school students interested in biomedical science.

This 10-week, hands-on summer research internship immerses students in real laboratory work alongside professional scientists. Scholars become part of a research team, learn advanced lab skills, connect with other science-minded students, and present their work at the Sanford Research Symposium.

Students selected for the program will:
• Work in a real biomedical research lab
• Learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and interpret results
• Participate in Journal Club to review and discuss scholarly articles
• Explore scientific ethics, including data integrity and responsible research
• Present their research through a scientific poster and written reflection
• Attend career coaching sessions and explore post-secondary opportunities
• Earn 3 undergraduate elective credits through the University of South Dakota
• Receive a $4,000 scholarship
• Engage in outreach projects that bring science to the community

2026 Summer Program Details

• Dates: May 26 – July 31, 2026

• Time Commitment: Minimum of 35 hours/week for all 10 weeks (with up to 5 discretionary days)

• Eligibility:

  • Must be at least 16 years old by May 26

  • Must be entering senior year in Fall 2026 (home-school students also eligible)

  • Must have a strong interest in a research-related career

• Scholars will work directly with a Sanford Research mentor as part of their research team

• Finalists must attend a Science Boot Camp on Saturday, January 31 from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

• Students are encouraged (not required) to take part in other PROMISE programs such as Research Shadowing, Teen Science Café, or Biomedical Research Investigations

How to Apply

Applications are available online, and the deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.
Program Information & Application: https://bit.ly/PROMISEScholars

Please note: Housing is not provided, so this program is intended for regional students.

This is a remarkable opportunity for students to explore biomedical research, build college-level skills, and learn from leading scientists. We encourage interested students to apply!

To provide real-time access to attendance and grades, we have the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus. Many parents/guardians and teachers are embracing technology tools like Parent Portal on Infinite Campus, Google Classroom, and email communication as alternatives to in-person conferences. These tools offer information most relevant to parent/guardian interests.

If you need help connecting to the Parent Portal to view your child's attendance and grades, please feel free to contact Angie Andreasen in the MS/HS Office. We're here to assist you with any inquiries you may have.

Website: https://www.svs.k12.sd.us/
Location: 200 Hansina Avenue, Volga, SD, USA
Phone: (605) 627-5657

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