SVE Hiltunen Happenings
Coping Skills March 2025
Hello April. We are celebrating this month focusing on Self-Control and Coping Skills!
(Photo: Left to right-Crystal Niemann (Administrative Assistant), Heather Hiltunen (SVE Principal), and Tiffany Thompson (Medical Office Assistant).
🌸 Spring Learning in Full BLOOM
Students are diving deep into core content areas, and we’re proud of their continued growth! Reading, writing, and math instruction are all in full bloom, and we are starting our spring benchmarking and state assessments.
📚 RTI in Action
Our Response to Intervention (RTI) groups are going strong! Teachers are using data to provide targeted support, ensuring every student has what they need to succeed in reading.
🔬 Upcoming Events & Celebrations
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Spring Music Concerts for 4th & 5th
5th Grade DARE GRADUATION
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Field Trips 🚍 (Be sure to watch for specific grade level information from your child's teacher)
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SVE Assemblies led by students, celebrating learning and leadership
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State Testing (Grades 3–5) – Please help your child be well-rested and ready!
🎨 Creative Learning Moments
Classrooms are buzzing with science experiments, art projects, and spring-themed writing prompts. It’s a joy to see the creativity shine!
💙 Character Focus
This month, we are focusing on self-control and coping skills—finishing strong, treating others with compassion, and showing school pride in all we do.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It takes a village—and we’re grateful you’re part of ours! Let’s make this April a memorable and meaningful one. 💙🤍
With Cossack Pride,
Mrs. Heather Hiltunen
SVE Principal
Our Title I Interventionist is Mrs. Bezdichek.
April 2025
Thank you to all the families who attended Literacy Night! It was wonderful to see so many students and their loved ones enjoying books and learning together. Your involvement makes a big difference in fostering a love for reading, and we appreciate your support.
This month, I’m sharing strategies to help young learners strengthen their short vowel skills—an essential foundation for reading and spelling. Small, simple activities at home can make a big impact!
Check out this month’s Title I newsletter for tips and resources: April Newsletter
Thank you for all you do to support literacy at home and at school!
Ms. Whitney Schnose, Sioux Valley Elementary School Counselor
Hello spring! In April we will continue our focus on self-control and coping skills, all while embracing our SEL-ebrations this year in Powerup!
JK-K is finishing the year strong with the book “7 Habits of Healthy Kids” along with some activities, you will see all these put together at the end of the year.
1st-2nd is finishing the year strong with creating their “I Can Cope” tab book they are making. You will see these put together at the end of the year.
3rd-5th is finishing the year strong with State Testing! We will be doing more mindless activities during our time together to save their brain power for the test. As their testing coordinator I am so proud of their hard work and want to celebrate that.
It has been such an honor to work with your kiddos another year at SVE. I mentioned “SEL-ebrating” earlier, let me get back to that. We will review topics we covered within their end of the year projects to tie in the year as a whole. Here are some important takeaways that I am HOPEFUL the students have learned throughout the year:
Emotional Intelligence: SEL fosters self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy, helping individuals understand and manage their emotions effectively.
Building Positive Relationships: By improving communication and conflict resolution skills, SEL promotes healthy relationships in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Academic & Career Success: Research shows that SEL improves focus, decision-making, and problem-solving, which are crucial for both academic achievement and professional success.
Mental Well-Being: Developing emotional resilience through SEL reduces stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues, leading to better mental health.
Inclusion & Respect: SEL teaches individuals to respect diverse perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Preparing for Life Challenges: By teaching adaptability, responsible decision-making, and coping strategies, SEL equips individuals to handle life’s ups and downs effectively.
As always, reach out with any comments, questions, concerns.
I will send resources out as needed/at the end of the month.
Thank you all for your continued support.
-Ms. Schnose.
Hello Kid Whisperer Nation!
Click the title above to explore "Kid Whisperer Nation Tips for Parents" from Scott Ervin on building strong relationships with students, sharing control, and promoting positive behaviors. All current Sioux Valley staff have been trained in-person by Mr. Ervin, which is why we’ve introduced classroom names, Delayed Learning Opportunities (DLOs), explicit teaching strategies, "Nows & Laters," greetings at the door, and more! These techniques help create a supportive and positive learning environment for all students. You might also find these techniques helpful at home—our hope is that your children will carry over what they are learning at school into everyday life. THIS MONTH'S TIPS:
Allow Your Kids To Get Hurt Safely, Notice Unpromptive Positive Behaviors, Give Your Kids Proper Due Process, Good Intentions Produce Nothing, Assume That Your Kids Are Becoming Constantly More Capable, or They Won't Be.
If you haven't lately, be sure to check out the Podcasts section of their website. They are adding new episodes each month for parents and educators!
Check them out here.
Scott Ervin is launching a pilot Online Behavioral Leadership for Families sessions in late May! If you are interested in signing up for this series, please send an email to: support@ervineducationalconsulting.com.
Keep up the good work! And as always, thanks for reading.
Lost & Found
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our Lost & Found organized, any unclaimed clothing and other items will be donated on the last Friday of each month. We kindly ask for your cooperation in labeling your child’s belongings to help ensure they are returned if lost. Recently, we made our 5th donation to the Brookings Area Goodwill. We already have a handful of hats, gloves/mittens, and boots that have been left behind by his/her owner. 😮
UPCOMING EVENTS at Sioux Valley Elementary. CLIP and POST on YOUR REFRIGERATOR
APRIL 2025
April 14-18: 3rd & 4th Grade STATE Assessment Week
April 16: STAAR Club for 4th & 5th Grade – 1:45 PM
April 17: DARE Graduation – 2:00 PM
April 18: No School or BASE (Good Friday)
April 21: No School or BASE (Easter Monday)
April 22-25: 3rd & 4th Grade STATE Assessment Week
April 23: Midterms Due – 4:00 PM & NO STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students
April 28: State Assessment Make-Up Dates Begin & 4th Grade Spring Concert – 6:00 PM. PAC
April 30: SVE Assembly – 1:00 PM. Cossack Gym
May 2025
May 2: Last Day of RTI (JK-3)
May 5-9: Teacher Appreciation Week-PTO will be seeking donations to "Fill the Fridges."
May 5: EOY DIBELS Testing (JK–3)
May 6: 5th Grade Field Trip
May 8: Breakfast with Deputies – 7:45 AM. Cossack Castle
May 9: 1st Grade Field Trip
May 13: 5th Grade Water Festival (SDSU)
May 14: 4th Grade Field Trip
May 15: 3rd Grade Field Trip
May 16: Moving On Up Day – 2:00 PM & JK Graduation – 2:45 PM
May 19: 2nd Grade Field Trip (Madison)
May 20:
Kindergarten Field Trip (Watertown)
9AM-First Grade Showcase
SVE Field Day – 11:45 AM
May 21: Last Day of School – SVE End of the Year Assembly – 8:45 AM & Students Dismissed at 12:00 PM
May 23: Final Grades Due – 4:00 PM
Remaining 2024-2025 Elementary Concert Dates:
April 28-4th Grade Spring Music Concert. Performing Arts Center. 6pm
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY/MESSAGES AT END OF DAY (Taken from our 24-25 SVE Student Handbook)
When your child is ill, has a doctor’s appointment, is going to be with you on family business, or will be absent for other reasons, please contact the school before 8:50 a.m. If we do not hear from you, we will make every attempt to call you at home or work to make sure your child is safe. A written excuse sent with a sibling is necessary unless parents have called the school beforehand. Please note that if your primary students have a change in dismissal routine, a note or a call to the office or teacher is needed before1:00PM, if possible.
For the protection of your children, no student is permitted to leave the school at any time during the school hours without permission from the office. Students should call their parents from a school phone and/or on their cell phone (if they have one) with permission of a staff member and with the staff member present.
Parents desiring early dismissal for students with appointments should send a note of explanation to their child’s teacher or call the elementary office prior to dismissal. Students will be released only to parents, guardians, or other authorized persons registering at the office.
If the student becomes ill during the day, the school administrative assistant or the principal will contact the parents and a designated adult will pick the student up at the office.
We prefer a phone call or email to the elementary office as teachers are busy teaching and may not be able to check email and/or to take the time to let the office know. It is important for the office to know so we can make sure attendance is recording correctly and to be aware of the whereabouts of all students.
