Dear Meade School District Community,

In my last newsletter, I welcomed spring, only to find ourselves surprised by a sudden return of winter weather. It seems nature had its own plans for us! Nevertheless, as we move forward, let's remain hopeful that the chilly weather is behind us, and we can look forward to the many exciting activities lined up for April and May.

As we continue to embrace spring, I'd like to share updates on important events and initiatives within our district. We are excited to announce the School Board has approved the launch of our new Homeschool Connections Program, scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024. This program is designed to foster stronger connections between our district and homeschooling families within our community. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please join us for an informational meeting on April 23rd at 6:30 PM in Whitewood Elementary School.

Don't forget to save the date for the Staff Retirement & Recognition Reception on May 22nd at 8:00 AM in the Sturgis Brown High School West Gym. This event is our chance to honor the dedication and service of retiring staff members and celebrate the contributions of all our educators. The public is welcome to attend, and we ask you to sign up in advance using the information provided below. Following this celebration, mark your calendars for the upcoming board election on June 4th. This election will determine the individuals who will serve your school district in three three-year terms on the school board. Candidate responses are linked below in the newsletter. Additionally, Mr. Voight was unopposed for the two-year term.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school district. Together, we continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and community.

Mr. Wormstadt

Superintendent

A school board meeting followed by executive session took place Monday, April 8 at 5:30 pm. Some important topics that were approved and discussed included:

• Amend 2023-24 school calendar
• Homeschool Connections Program
• Issuance of Teacher Contracts
• Policy Reviews & Adoptions
• plus more...
  

Take a moment to read the unofficial minutes or review the agenda for more details.

We are excited to introduce Aaron Odegaard (incumbent), Black Hawk; Thomas C. Schneller, Whitewood; Kolten Odle, Sturgis; Charles M. Wheeler (incumbent), Sturgis; Terry Koontz (incumbent), Sturgis; Scottie Bruch, Whitewood; and Amber Lopez, Sturgis, who are dedicating their efforts to positively influence our local education system. As the school board election approaches, we invite you to join us in delving into the unique ideas and core values motivating each candidate to forge a promising future for our students and educational institutions.

For more information, visit the 2024 Election Candidates website page.

The Meade School Board cordially invites the public to the Staff Retirement & Recognition Reception to honor the Meade School District 2023-24 employees who are retiring, those who have worked 15, 20, 30, 35 and 40 years and those who have been selected as teacher and professional-technical support staff of the year.

This year the banquet will be held the morning of Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. in the west gym at Sturgis Brown High School. A breakfast bar will be served by our very own Lori Jeffery-Kirk!

Staff member retirees for the 2023-24 school year: Lanette Bren, special services teacher (SES), Teresa Froelich, teacher (SBHS), June Guy, Central Copy, Marjorie Small, teacher (PVE), Wanda Russell, teacher (SES).

Staff members with 40 years of service for the 2023-2024 school year: Marjorie Small, teacher (PVE).

Staff members with 35 years of service for the 2023-24 school year: Gary Nelson, teacher (SWMS, SMS).

Staff members with 30 years of service for the 2023-24 school year: Mary Cook, teacher (SWMS), Kim Cunningham, teacher (SBMS), Cindy Ferguson, administrative assistant (SWMS), Steve Keszler, teacher (SBHS), Julie Meyer, teacher (SES), Stacy Schuelke, teacher (Opal), Kerry Skinner, teacher (SWMS).

Staff members with 20 years of service for the 2023-24 school year: Ethan Dschaak, principal (PVE), Carla Evans, food service (SBHS), Stephanie Kaufman, teacher (SBHS), Heidi Kraft, counselor (PVE), Kristi Ortiz, counselor (SES), Vincent Schmaltz, teacher (SBHS), Missy Urbaniak, teacher (Atall), Joan Wilson, teacher (PVE).

Staff members with 15 years of service for the 2023-24 school year: Roger Barker, custodian (SES), Shanna Dschaak, teacher (SBHS), Kelly Halter, teacher (SMS).

The other honorees include:

Teacher of the Year for 2024-25:

Pat Cass, Sturgis Williams Middle School

Building Level Winners:

Blake Proefrock (SBHS), Bailey Zwahr, special services (SES), Julie Carpenter (PVE), Kylie Farrar (SBMS), Trenton Schuelke (CMCS), Allison Zacher (WW)

Professional/Technical Support Staff of the Year for 2024-2025:

Julie Peterson, Piedmont Valley Elementary

Building Level Winners:

Walter Bataille (SBHS), Heidi Komes (SWMS), Celina Sjomeling (SES), Sophie Meyer (SBMS), Brooke Enright (CMCS)

This free event is open to the public. Those attending must make reservations by calling the superintendent’s office at 605-347-2523, ext. 1, or email tanya.ludwick@k12.sd.us.

Students and staff wore purple on Friday, April 12 to show their support of military children. Purple Up! For Military Kids is a day for Department of Defense Education Activity communities to wear purple to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Why purple? Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine Red, and Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy blue. The goal of "Purple Up" is for military youth to actually see the support in their school, youth groups and community.

The screenings are for children planning to attend kindergarten in the fall of 2024 as well as for those children up to six years of age.

School registration for kindergarten and screening for birth to five-year-old children (by Sept 1) will be held in April. Birth to four-year-old is being screened by the Special Services Department by appt only by calling (605) 347-4770 or emailing Carmen.Scarborough@k12.sd.us.

Parents registering a child for kindergarten will need the child’s immunization records and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or affidavit in lieu of the birth certificate as issued by the Department of Health if the original is deemed unattainable. These documents are required by law for every child entering school in South Dakota.

As we continue to embrace digital communication tools, we recognize the importance of having platforms where we can share updates, events, achievements, school closures and other important information at each building within the Meade School District 46-1.

Take the time to "Like" and "Follow" our building level social media pages!

• Sturgis Elementary School 46-1 (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Piedmont Valley Elementary School 46-1 (Facebook)
• Sturgis Williams Middle School 46-1 (Facebook)
• Whitewood Elementary 46-1 (Facebook)

• Stagebarn Middle School 46-1 (Facebook)
• Meade School District 46-1 Rural Schools (Facebook)

With the launch of the new website and app, our key priority is ensuring the accuracy of school notifications. To receive timely updates on school closures, student absences, activity changes, and other important information, it's essential that we have your most up-to-date contact details, including your phone number and email address.

DOWNLOAD THE MEADE SCHOOL DISTRICT APP TO RECEIVE ALERTS & NOTIFICATIONS!

As we navigate this transition, we anticipate there may be instances where notifications are inadvertently missed or received when no longer desired. We value your patience and understanding during this time. Ensuring a smooth and seamless transition is of utmost importance to us, and we're committed to making this period of change as effortless as possible for you.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

SBHS Principal, Pete Wilson received the Bob Davis Award at the Sturgis Chamber Awards Banquet that was held on Thursday, April 4.

Mr. Wilson is known for leading with kindness and by example, instilling a sense of pride and community in our youth. He is always willing to pitch in, no matter the task, further demonstrating the value in hard work and team spirit. He is a visionary, leading our high school to positive changes.

Mica Sulzbach-Bataille, ProStart/Culinary Arts Instructor at Sturgis Brown High School, received a 2024 National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) ProStart Professional Development Educator Grant in the amount of $2000. Scheduled for July 2024, Mrs. Sulzbach-Bataille will join educators from across the US in New Orleans for the ProStart Educator Event.

Several certificated and support staff positions are available for 2023-24 and the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

• 2024-25 Food Service Head Cooks and General Workers
• 2024-25 Rural Elementary School Teacher/Multi-Grade Classroom (Elm Springs, SD)
• 2024-25 K-1 Elementary Special Education Teacher w/wo coaching
  
• 2024-25 Preschool Paraprofessional
  
• 2024-25 Physical Education (Health) / Social Studies Teacher w/wo coaching
• Plus more!!
  

The district is always looking for substitute teachers and volunteers!

Did you know that you can volunteer to work in schools throughout the district? Fill out the volunteer form now!

Educating youth takes a community effort, and because of that the Meade School Board is encouraging parents, guardians and other interested patrons to volunteer their time, knowledge and talents.

Members of the community bring new energies and resources into the schools and expand the walls of the classrooms. School volunteers enrich the educational program and strengthen the schools’ relationships with homes, businesses, public agencies and private institutions. All volunteers in the Meade School District do so without pay or employee benefits, except for workers’ compensation. For those interested in volunteering.

For curriculum, technology and other information, check out their website and newsletters.

Dakota Dreams offers free online tutoring for all South Dakota K-12 students. Led by tutors pursuing education degrees at Northern State University and Black Hills State University, these sessions are valuable tools to help students succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

New this year, they have introduced two unique programs to take advantage of online tutoring. Students can now access tutors using Tutor Tracks, a new subject-specific program, or with on-demand homework help.

Whitewood Elementary offers a FREE after-school program to our district students and families. The after-school program runs from 3 pm to 6 pm Monday - Friday and hosts sports camps, science clubs, robotics group, a video-game design team, and so much more. This year alone, 90% of our students participated in our after-school program.

*Class sizes are limited, please call (605) 269-2264 for more information.

Any child in KG - Fourth grade is eligible to participate on a first come first serve basis. Capable Kids runs from 2:35 pm - 6 pm. Monday - Friday. Please call (605) 787-5295 to check on availability. All necessary forms required will need to be COMPLETED IN ADVANCE before your child can attend.

It is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 pm to 5:20 pm. Parents must contact one of their student's teachers to sign their student up. Space is limited to 25 students. The afterschool program is equipped with three teachers to help students.

The After-School Program is available in the library from 3:15 pm - 5:15 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Three teachers will be available to help students with homework. Students should arrive by 3:30 pm but can leave whenever they complete their work if they have their own ride. Students who need a late bus pass are required to stay until 5:15 pm. Any questions, contact Mrs. Buchholz at sandra.buchholz@k12.sd.us.

Big Air Trampoline Park in Rapid City is trying to raise $5000 to donate to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation by the end of this month and they were kind enough to donate several passes to our own Whitewood Elementary School for its end of year drawings.

Please consider donating to help in this great cause!

The Food Service Department is currently dealing with several negative balance lunch accounts. Please log in to your account and deposit money if necessary. Take advantage of the Free and Reduced Meals Application! All information is confidential!

Titan Family Portal is now LINQ Connect! Parents can deposit money directly into their child's meal account and can receive emails by clicking on the link "LINQConnect Family Portal" website and setting up an account.

April 13: SBHS Prom

April 19: Teacher In-Service (No School)

April 23: Homeschool Connection Program Discussion

April 24: Special Board Meeting - Executive Session

April 29: School Board Meeting - Work Study Session

Sturgis Elementary Newsletters

Sturgis Williams Middle School Announcements

Sturgis Brown High School Scooper Newsletters

Piedmont Valley Elementary Weekly Newsletters

Stagebarn Middle School Stallion Newsletters

Whitewood Elementary School Newsletters

Rural Schools

Sturgis Chamber of Commerce Events & Facebook

Sturgis Community Center Newsletter & Facebook

Foothills Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook

Whitewood Chamber of Commerce & Facebook