Cossack Connection

The Finish Line Is in Sight

May is one of my favorite months in a school year. It is full of celebration, reflection, and the kind of energy that only comes when students and staff can see the finish line. From Teacher Appreciation Week to Graduation Day, there is a lot to look forward to, and I hope you and your family can be part of as many of these moments as possible.

To our Class of 2026 families: thank you for sharing your senior with us. It has been an honor to be their principal, and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for each of them. The best is truly yet to come.

To our middle school families: May brings its own highlights too. Main Thing Day, the MS Championship, and our 8th Grade Milestone Ceremony give our younger Cossacks plenty to be proud of. Keep encouraging them as we close out a strong year.

May 4 - May 8 - Staff Appreciation Week

May 6 - Senior Scholarship Awards Program @ 8:30 AM; 3rd annual SVHS Slip & Slide into Summer Event

May 8 - Little Prairie Coffee Company in the Commons in the AM

May 12 - Seniors' Last Day of Classes; Senior Sunset Beginning @ 7:00 PM

May 13 - Senior Check Out Sheets Finalized @ 9:00 AM; Main Thing Day & MS Championship (Quiz Bowl & Volleyball), Baccalaureate @ 7:00 PM in the PAC

May 15 - Senior Breakfast & Graduation Rehearsal @ 9:00 AM; Moving on Up Day for Next Year's 6th Grade Students and Parents

May 16 - Graduation Ceremony @ 2:00 PM

May 21 - Last Day of School; 8th Grade Milestone Ceremony; Noon Dismissal

June 3 - 2026 Student Built House Auction

Want to recognize a Sioux Valley teacher, coach, or staff member during Teacher Appreciation Week? For $25, the Climate Team will send your hero a gift certificate to their favorite spot, a free drink from Hello Larsons, and a certificate of appreciation with your personal message. Your donation also supports the Climate Team Fund, which has brought our staff and students fun events like Spring Singo, March Madness Brackets with prizes, and the $25 Gift Card Drawings for the Behavior Honor Roll. Scan the QR code on the flyer to get started! Note - The form will close on Sunday, May 3rd at noon.

• Senior Scholarship Awards Program — Wednesday, May 6 at 8:30 AM in the Cossack Center. If your senior has received an outside scholarship and would like it announced, notify Mrs. Jorgenson (Monica.Jorgenson@k12.sd.us or 627-5657) by Wednesday, April 29.
• Senior Sunset — Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 PM outside the Commons and at Cossack Field. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and yard games for a night of laughter and memories.
• Baccalaureate — Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center. Seniors should gather in the Commons by 6:45 PM in cap and gown.
• Senior Breakfast and Graduation Rehearsal — Friday, May 15 at 9:00 AM in the Commons. Attendance is mandatory for all seniors.
• Graduation Ceremony — Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 PM in the Cossack Center. Seniors report to the library by 1:30 PM for photos.

Get ready for some friendly competition! The Middle School Championship takes place Wednesday, May 13 from 12:30-1:45 PM in Tile Town. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will compete for bragging rights through State Assessment Growth, Quiz Bowl, and Volleyball Tournament competitions. Points are earned through academic achievement and athletic performance. It's all about showing Cossack Pride!

Mark your calendars for Main Thing Day on Wednesday, May 13! We're setting aside the textbooks for a day focused on real-world skills. Our middle and high school students will choose from hands-on sessions covering everything from cooking a meal and changing a tire to budgeting, self defense, career exploration, and more. It's practical, real-world learning at its best. We're also looking for community members who would be willing to come in and share their skills or expertise with our students. Whether you're a mechanic, a nurse, a financial advisor, a first responder, or just someone with a great skill to teach, we'd love to have you. If you're interested in presenting or know someone who would be, please reach out to Tyler Bolstad at tyler.bolstad@k12.sd.us or call the MS/HS office.

One of the most impressive things that happens at Sioux Valley each year often goes unnoticed by those who haven't seen it up close: our Building Trades students build a house. From the ground up. A real one.

This year's class, led by Mr. McMullen and Mr. Sutera, completed a 1,720 square foot, three bedroom, 1.75 bath home right here on school grounds. The finished product features a vaulted ceiling in the great room, an 8-foot kitchen island, a tray ceiling in the master bedroom, main floor laundry, a built-in mudroom, custom cabinets from Preferred Woodworking of Brookings, and solid core doors throughout. These are not student project details — this is a move-in ready home, and the students built it.

We could not be more proud of what this group accomplished this year, and we are grateful for the leadership of Mr. McMullen and Mr. Sutera in making it happen.

The home will be sold at public auction on June 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM at 200 Hansina Ave in Volga. Viewing is open June 1 and 2 from 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM. For more information or to schedule a private viewing, contact Mr. McMullen at 605-627-5657 ext. 325 or Laura Schuster at 605-627-5657.

View the floor plan here: https://aptg.co/82v_xV

Congratulations to Sioux Valley MS/HS counselor Mrs. Jorgenson, recipient of the Orv Schmieding Award from the South Dakota School Counselors Association. This is the top honor SDSCA gives, recognizing outstanding service to school counseling over an extended period of time. Mrs. Jorgenson has spent her career showing up for students, families, and staff with care and commitment, and we could not be prouder to see her recognized at the state level.

Congratulations to Mr. Aasness on being named the South Dakota Middle School Arts Educator of the Year! Michael teaches 6-12 Art here at Sioux Valley and pours so much into his students — in the classroom, on the stage as assistant theater director, and beyond. This is a well-deserved honor for an incredible educator. We are so proud to call him a Cossack!

What a phenomenal showing at the 2026 South Dakota State FFA Convention in Brookings! We could not be prouder of our chapter and everything they accomplished at this year's "Step Up" convention.

STATE CHAMPIONS – Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE

Congratulations to Owen Vande Weerd, Marcus Olson, and Landon Sapp for being crowned the BEST in South Dakota! A special shoutout to Marcus Olson (1st place individual) and Landon Sapp (3rd place individual) for their top finishes within the CDE!

2nd Place Overall – Ag Mechanics CDE

Outstanding work from Cooper Vander Wal, Jordan Ries, Hudson Schlimmer, and Jackson Schlimmer — runners-up in the entire state! Congrats to Jackson Schlimmer for taking 1st place individual in the CDE!

State FFA Degree Recipients

The highest honor a state FFA association can bestow on its members. Congratulations to Marcus Olson, Dillyn Loban, Cheyenne Vander Wal, Zoey Larson, Owen Vande Weerd, and Carson Wosje on this achievement!

State Proficiency Winners – 1st in State!

Brooke Bjerke – Poultry Production

Jackson Schlimmer – Turf Grass Management

District 2 Star Greenhand – Cooper Vander Wal

Recognized as the top first-year FFA member in our district!

A huge thank you to Mr. McMullen and all the parents, alumni, and community partners who make moments like these possible. These students represent the very best of Sioux Valley — hard work, leadership, and a love for agriculture.

Way to STEP UP, Cossacks!

Congratulations to Keneth Sequeira Galeano, sophomore visual arts student at Sioux Valley, who earned 3rd Place at State for Class A in the Traditional Cultural Art category at the 2026 SDHSAA State Visual Arts Competition! Keneth's stoneware sculpture "The Last Indomitable Warrior" earned him 3rd Place overall for Class A in the Traditional Cultural Art category.

Keneth also competed in the Crafts category with his paper mache artwork "Jack, The Halloween Pumpkin". The artworks were on display at the Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center (ARCC), Aberdeen, SD, April 10-11, 2026. The SDHSAA State Visual Arts Competition is South Dakota's largest visual art competition, and an awards presentation was held at 3 pm on Saturday, April 11th.

There are a number of free college and career exploration events happening this spring across South Dakota, including several right in Watertown and in Brookings. Visit ourdakotadreams.com/events-calendar/ to see the full list and get your student signed up.

A Caring Community Stays Connected

At Sioux Valley, we believe in supporting one another through life's challenges. Safe2Say South Dakota is one way we can look out for each other and make sure everyone in our community has access to help when they need it.

What is Safe2Say SD?

Safe2Say SD is a free, confidential way to share concerns about yourself or someone else in our school community. Available 24/7, it connects people to caring adults who can provide support and resources.

How to Reach Out:

• Website: www.safe2say.sd.gov
• Mobile App: Download the Safe2Say SD app
• Call: 1-844-3SD-SAFE (toll-free, anytime)

Your privacy is protected, and trained staff will respond with care and support.

When Someone Might Need Extra Support

Life can be challenging, and sometimes we notice that a friend, classmate, or even ourselves could use some extra help. Safe2Say SD is available when you're concerned about:

• A friend who seems to be struggling
• Bullying or unkind behavior
• Someone who's talked about feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
• Any situation where you think someone could benefit from additional support

We're Here for Each Other

Reaching out when you're worried about someone shows that you care. It's an act of friendship and courage.

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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