Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary

Hello, March! 🌷

A new month is here, bringing fresh energy and new opportunities to grow, connect, and lift one another up. With spring just around the corner, March is a wonderful time to embrace new beginnings and recommit ourselves to kindness and respect.

In February, we focused on Fuel Your Ride with Positive Energy, and it was inspiring to see students encouraging one another in so many ways. They especially loved noticing the fabulous things their mystery classes were doing around the school! Thank you for helping us continue to build such a supportive and uplifting Golden Arrow community. 💛

This month, our theme is “No Bullies Allowed.” It’s a powerful reminder that kindness, inclusion, and respect should guide our words and actions every single day. At GBR, we are committed to ensuring that every student feels safe, valued, and connected. Together, we will continue learning how to stand up for ourselves and others, strengthen friendships, and choose courage over unkindness.

Here are a few simple ways to reinforce this message at home and at school:

• Practice daily kindness — Small acts like a smile, a compliment, or a helping hand truly make a big difference.

• Encourage inclusion — Celebrate differences and look for ways to make everyone feel welcome.

• Stand up respectfully — If someone is being treated unfairly, support them and speak up in a kind and appropriate way.

Thank you for being such an important part of our positive, caring GBR family. When we work together, we create a school where kindness leads the way and No Bullies Are Allowed!

Let’s make March a month filled with kindness, courage, and respect.

Warmly,
Mrs. Pierson

Thank you, Student Council members!

The Caring Kernel Award is given monthly to teacher nominated students who have shown to go above and beyond. Students are chosen for showing kindness to other at school or within the community, showing true Kernel spirit, having a positive attitude, demonstrating great sportsmanship at school activities, and overcoming hardships in school or at home.

The February 2026 student recipients are:

• BK/K: Zoey
• 1: Sophia
• 2: Aria
• 3: Zoey
• 4: Jack
• 5: Derringer

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Mitchell for sponsoring this honor!

The Attendance Award is given to the class with the BEST attendance each and every month. The February 2026 recipient is Miss Hart's kindergarten class!

Kibbee Park is March's place to go to Parkapalooza! Find the Parkapalooza Facebook post to share pictures, or if you don't have social media, send photos to jeremy.borgan@k12.sd.us.

Monday, March 2, 2026 – SDMEA Elementary Festival Choir @ PAC, 3:30pm

Thursday, March 5, 2026 – GBR Math Night

Friday, March 13, 2026 – End of 3rd Quarter

Thursday–Friday, March 19–20, 2026 – No School / Spring Break

Monday, March 23, 2026 – No School / Staff Development

Thursday, March 26, 2026 – 5th Grade Concert @ PAC, 6:30pm

Thursday, March 26, 2026 – Kindergarten Jumpstart @ GBR, 5:30pm & 6:30pm

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – Young Band Festival @ PAC, 4:00pm

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – Kindergarten Jumpstart @ GBR, 5:30pm & 6:30pm

Friday–Monday, April 3–6, 2026 – No School / Easter Break

Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Kindergarten Concert in Commons, 6:30pm

Monday, April 27, 2026 – GBR Fine Arts Night

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – 1st Grade Reader’s Café

Thursday, April 30, 2026 – 5th Grade District Band Concert @ PAC, 7:00pm

Monday, May 18, 2026 – 5th Grade Recognition @ PAC, 6:30pm

Friday, May 22, 2026 – Last Day of School! End of 4th Quarter

Trade Screens for Discovery.
A summer of deep learning, outdoor exploration, and hands-on experiences.

An exciting opportunity for children to learn, grow, and have fun all summer long! Summer Scholars is a summer program offering flexible scheduling, strong academic support, and unforgettable learning adventures for students who have completed Begindergarten/Kindergarten-4th grade.

We intentionally build academic confidence through 90 minutes of personalized tutoring, small-group ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:3, and traditional school behavior standards that support focus and respect. Our structured, productive learning environment ensures that every student receives attention while developing confidence.

Tuition for Summer Scholars is $1300 per session. Families may earn a $650 tuition reduction through our Success Incentive Program with 80% attendance. Financial hardship scholarships are also available to ensure access for families who qualify.

Attention graduating class of 2026: Be sure to apply for the GBR Scholarship! Applications are available in the Mitchell High School counselor's office. To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a graduating senior of Mitchell High School, have attended Gertie Belle Rogers for three years, and be pursuing any level of higher education upon graduation.

The deadline to apply is, Friday, April 3, 2026.