Noticias de la Manada

We are well into April, and it’s hard to believe that only a few weeks of school remain before summer break! While the end of the year is quickly approaching, we still have important learning ahead of us. It’s essential that we stay focused, motivated, and strong all the way through the last day of school.

We are looking forward to our upcoming MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress) testing, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate how much each child has grown this year. While achievement is important, we place a strong emphasis on growth—and our students have so much to be proud of!

Recently, I had the chance to talk with students who demonstrated significant growth in math from the fall to winter. When asked what contributed to their success, many shared simple but powerful habits: completing at least five lessons in DreamBox each week, staying focused during math instruction and daily practice time, and even playing math-related games at home like Yahtzee and card games with their families.

When I asked students who showed strong growth in reading, their answers were consistent—they read every single day outside of school.

The message is clear: practice leads to improvement. Encouraging your child to read daily—whether in English or Spanish—makes a tremendous difference in their literacy development.

As we look ahead to summer, we encourage you to continue weaving reading and math into your child’s daily routine. Simple, consistent practice can help maintain and even grow their skills, preventing the “summer slide” and setting them up for continued success.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

Proud to be your principal-

Tracy Vik

Beginning April 1, families can complete their Annual Information Update through the Parent Portal. This update is required for every student each year and helps us keep your child’s information accurate and up to date.

What you need to know:

• The Annual Update window is open April through September.

• Please complete your update as soon as possible to help us prepare for the upcoming school year.

• Log in to your Parent Portal account and select “Annual Update” on the right side of the homepage.

• During this process, you can:

  • Update your student’s current information

  • Add a new student to your household (such as an incoming kindergarten student or foster child)

Important details:

• Only Household A parents/guardians can complete the Annual Update through the Parent Portal at this time.

• Household B parents/guardians will see the link but will not be able to complete the update yet—they will receive access later this summer via email.

If you have trouble accessing your Parent Portal account or need help resetting your password, please contact the school office.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important update!

Our students have begun spring assessments, and your support at home can make a big difference in helping them do their best.

A few simple ways to help set your child up for success:

• Encourage an early bedtime so they are well-rested
• Start the day with a healthy breakfast (lower in sugar and higher in protein)
• Pack a nutritious snack that will provide steady energy and avoid sugar crashes

You can also use the Meal Viewer website or app to see what’s being served for lunch each day. This can help you decide whether to have your child eat at school or pack a well-balanced lunch from home.

To learn more about the assessments our district participates in, please visit the district's website.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students shine!

We’ve noticed an increase in smartwatch and cell phone use at school, which can be distracting during the learning day. To help students stay focused, smartwatches and phones should be turned off and kept in backpacks from 7:55 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

This is a District-wide expectation, and our staff will be reinforcing it consistently. We truly appreciate your partnership in reminding your child each morning to leave devices at home or safely stored in their backpack. When families and staff work together, it makes a big difference for our students!

Thank you for your continued support 💙

Stay connected and up to date by downloading the Infinite Campus Parent Portal app on your mobile device. The app provides quick and easy access to your child’s grades, attendance, and important school information—all in one place. This app will give you real time updates on your student and quick access to attendance records and progress reports/grades.

If you do not yet have an active Parent Portal account or need help accessing an existing account, we are happy to assist! Please email the school office and we will send you initial set-up information or help reset your password.

Links to Download Parent Portal App

Apple App Store Link - Google App Store Link

Join us for our 2nd Grade Vocal Music Concert, Sing a Song of Aesop, on Thursday, April 16th in the Sonia Sotomayor Gymnasium. Performances will be held at 1:30 PM (matinee for SSE students) and 7:00 PM.

This engaging concert brings 5 of Aesop’s fables to life through original music by Brian Hiller and Don Dupont. Our second-grade students will narrate in both English and Spanish while showcasing their talents through singing, acting, instruments, and dance.

We hope you can join us to support our amazing 2nd graders!

Our exciting annual Rompecocos Fundraiser is right around the corner! This unique event combines academics, community, and fundraising in a fun and meaningful way for our students—and it’s similar to a quiz bowl, where students demonstrate what they’ve learned.

Teachers from each grade level have create a set of questions and answers based on what students have been learning throughout the year. Students will spend two weeks studying and preparing, building both their knowledge and confidence.

As part of the fundraiser, students are encouraged to gather sponsors—family and friends—who can either pledge a certain amount for each correct answer or make a flat donation in support of their participation. Students will receive plege sheets on Thursday, April 16th.

On May 1st, students will take part in the Rompecocos Event, where they will be quizzed one-on-one by Spanish-speaking volunteers. This provides a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their learning while also engaging in real-world language experiences.

We are proud to offer Rompecocos not only as a fundraiser, but also as a celebration of our school community and a meaningful academic experience that promotes excellence in learning.

More information will be sent home in mid-April—stay tuned!

Thank you for your support!

Big things are ahead for our 5th graders—and we’re so excited to give them a glimpse of the incredible music opportunities waiting at middle school!

Mark your calendars for these upcoming performances featuring Edison Middle School students alongside our 5th graders:

• Band Concert: April 21 at Edison Middle School (with the Jazz Band)
• Orchestra Concert: April 28 at Edison Middle School (with the Brio Orchestra)

These concerts are a fantastic way for students to experience what middle school music is all about—and start imagining themselves on that stage next year!

Even more exciting, students will also have the opportunity to see Edison’s Fine Arts groups in action right here at Sonia Sotomayor during school on April 12—featuring Brio(Orchestra), Jazz Band, and Inventions (Choir). You won’t want to miss it!

At Edison, students can join Band, Choir, and Orchestra—and yes, they can participate in all three! These classes meet during the school day every other day, making it easy to stay involved while building skills, confidence, and friendships. Whether your student loves to sing, play an instrument, or try something new, there’s a place for everyone.

✨ This is more than just music—it’s a chance to belong, perform, and shine.

We would LOVE to have your student join one (or more!) of these amazing programs next year!

If you have any questions, please reach out to our directors:

• Band Directors: Rick Jensen (Rick.T.Jensen@k12.sd.us) & Katelynn Doohen (Katelynn.Doohen@k12.sd.us)
• Choir Director: Amber Sundvold (Amber.Sundvold@k12.sd.us)
• Orchestra Directors: Stacy Sip (Stacy.Sip@k12.sd.us) & Angie Larson (Angela.Larson@k12.sd.us)

Update: Last day to turn in pop tabs is Friday, April 24!

Reminder: Collect tabs from any can (soda, soup, pet food, and more) and send them to school. Students can drop tabs in our RMHC Pop Tab House in the building. Pop tabs are recycled to support families with children facing medical emergencies, proving small items can make a big impact.

The competition runs through April, making now a great time to start collecting.

Let’s do this, Lobos—help us become the TOP collector! 🐺

PASI (Parents Advocating Spanish Immersion) needs Intern Host Families for the 2026-2027 school year! Having Interns in our schools is a big support for our programs. For more information on hosting, please take a look at our Host Family FAQ. Hosting an intern is a meaningful way to connect with a new culture, support our school community, and even bring more Spanish language into your home.

If you you are interested in hosting (yay!), please complete this form: 2026-2027 Host Family Application.

If you would like more information, please feel free to reach out to our Intern Coordinators:

• Paula Fitzsimmons (pfitzsimmons16@gmail.com or 605-360-1894)

• Elizabeth Gotham (gotham.elizabeth@gmail.com or 605-366-4964)

Spring is officially in the air! While the flowers are starting to bloom outside, we are focusing on a different kind of growth inside our classrooms this month: Career Exploration. April is our designated "Career Month," but don’t worry—we aren’t asking our elementary students to pick a lifelong profession just yet. At this age, career exploration isn’t about making a final decision; it’s about fostering curiosity, encouraging self-discovery, and helping students see the connection between their current schoolwork and the "real world" waiting for them.

When we talk about careers with younger students, we are actually helping them identify their unique strengths. Whether a child is naturally gifted at drawing, organizing their desk, or helping a friend resolve a conflict, we want them to realize these are "transferable skills" that professionals use every day. By introducing them to a wide variety of paths, we broaden their horizons and increase their motivation. It’s much easier to stay engaged in a math or writing lesson when you understand how an architect or a journalist uses those same tools to build houses or tell stories.

You are your child's first teacher when it comes to the world of work, and you can help spark this curiosity at home through simple, low-pressure conversations. For example, you might play the "Why" game at the grocery store by discussing the different roles people play to keep the community running. You can also try "skill spotting" during playtime; if you notice your child being particularly focused while building with blocks, you might mention how those same patience and observation skills are vital for engineers. Sharing stories about your own career—including what you enjoyed in school that helps you now—is another wonderful way to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace.

As we move through the month, I encourage you to try a small shift in how we talk about the future. Instead of asking the heavy question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" try asking, "What kind of problems do you want to help solve?" This moves the focus away from a specific job title and toward a sense of purpose. Whether a student wants to fix cars, cure illnesses, or simply make people laugh, they are learning that their unique talents have a meaningful place in our world.

We love to highlight our students and their success! Take a look below at all the amazing things some of our students have accomplished this last month. If your student would like to share their achievements, please email the information and pictures to mary.boen@k12.sd.us. #UnaManada

"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

-Rudyard Kipling

A huge thank you to our 4th and 5th grade Sonia Sotomayor students who performed the Mexican National Anthem at Saturday night’s Skyforce game!

They represented our school with confidence and talent, delivering a beautiful performance that truly impressed the visiting coaching staff and players from Mexico City. What an incredible opportunity and experience!

We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and heart these students put into preparing for this special moment—what a night to remember! 👏

Each month, we celebrate students who shine by living our values: Leader, Aware, Responsible, and Kind. One student per class is nominated for consistently showing these qualities.

👏 Congratulations to this month’s honorees! Thank you for leading with heart and showing what it means to be a true Lobo! 🐺

We did it!

As a school, we surpassed our goal with an incredible 20,063 books read—way to go, readers! Even more exciting, across all participating schools, a grand total of 495,123 books were read!

We are so proud of our students for their dedication, enthusiasm, and love of reading. Thank you to our families for supporting this effort and encouraging reading at home. This is truly something to celebrate!

Keep turning those pages! 📖✨

Lace up your hiking boots and get ready to hit the trail, because every great adventure begins with a good book!

Mackenzie competed in the state gymnastics meet and came out on top in the Bars Event! We are so proud of her! Here are her SD Level 3 State Competition results:

Vault - 9.15 -4th place

Bars - 9.525!! - 1st place

Floor - 8.725 - 9th place

Beam - 9.025 - 6th place

Lauren was 2nd All Around Level 7 at the SD state gymnastics meet with a score of 37.4

Coale Devish participated in the Sioux Falls City Chess Tournament and won the title of Third Grade Champion! Awesome job Coale!!

Cece Sullivan , Emery Devish, and Storie Linn won 1st place in the mini rising star division at the Starz Dance Competition!

Showing up to school every day is one of the best ways to show our value of being Responsible. To earn this recognition, students needed to be present at school every single day in in the month—even if it was just for part of the day.

Click on the picture to view each grade's perfect attendance winners!

We are excited to share information about an upcoming community event hosted by Dakota Dental that provides free dental care for those in need.

Donated Dental Day is designed to support individuals and families who do not have dental insurance or Medicaid—and are unable to apply for Medicaid—and who may not have the financial means to cover necessary dental treatment. This event is open to both children and adults, with the goal of serving those who truly have no other options for care.

Important Details:

• Appointments are required and are expected to fill quickly. Families are strongly encouraged to call as soon as possible to secure a time.
• Walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event, but only as space and time allow.
• If your family schedules an appointment, please be sure to complete all required registration forms ahead of time and bring them with you to the event.

This opportunity can make a meaningful difference for families in need of dental services, so we encourage you to take advantage of it if it applies to your situation.

If you have questions or need help accessing the registration forms, please reach out to your school’s support staff for assistance.

Thank you for helping us spread the word and support the health of our community!

2025-26 Year Books are available for pre-order from Lifetouch. You can purchase using the link below. Our Yearbook ID is 13018626. Yearbooks will be delivered at the end of the school year.

Having involved parents/guardians is a huge blessing to our school! It takes a team and thank you for being apart of it! Every school year, we do need to have a current Volunteer Registration Form on file. If you plan on Volunteering in any capacity during the school day, please fill out the Google Form below. While filling it out, you will not need to complete the background check. This is only if you will ever be with students without staff present. If it is needed in the future, we will contact you to complete it.

Volunteer Registration Google Form

A reminder that paper report cards will not be sent home with students. You can view your student's grade by visiting the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. If you have any questions about accessing the Parent Portal, please call the office at 605-367-4655.

To keep our classrooms clean and safe, only water in a bottle with a lid is allowed inside. Because our classrooms have carpet, drinks other than water can be difficult to clean up. Any student who brings another beverage will be asked to dispose of it upon entering the building.

Please remind your students to bring only water for use in the classroom. Staying hydrated supports both cognitive focus and physical well-being, and we strongly encourage students to have water bottles with them throughout the day.

For more information about nutrition at our school, visit our Nutrition Services webpage.

Student safety is our highest priority. To help us maintain a secure environment, all visitors and volunteers must check in at the school office with a valid government-issued photo ID—every time you enter the building.

This policy applies to all adults, including regular volunteers.
Please remember to bring your ID each time you visit.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school safe and welcoming for all!

If your student(s) requires medication, the school requires paperwork signed by a parent and a medical doctor. We will need to have a doctors order prior to being able to administer any medication. To start the paperwork process, please call our school nurse, Mariana Mauss, at 605-367-4655.

Parents/guardians must deliver any medication in its original labeled container to the school office. Students should not bring medications to school.

Parents now have a time-saving option to report student absences within the Parent Portal. To report an absence you can either call or email the school office or use the Absence Request option within your Parent Portal account. You are only able to use the Absence Request Processor for Full Day requests. For all other requests, please email (mary.boen@k12.sd.us and andrea.fowler@k12.sd.us) or call the office (605)367-4655.

To submit an absence, simply log in to your Parent Portal account, select 'More' and then 'Absence Requests.' From here you will be able to submit either a full day for any of the students in your household.

Email: tracy.vik@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.sses.sf.k12.sd.us/o/ssspes
Location: Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-367-4655
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SFSpanishImmersion/