Garretson Blue Dragon Tales

I’ve been taking lots of walks and enjoying the nice weather when I’m not busy playing games with my family.

I really miss not knowing how many loose teeth we have in the building....and all of the smiles and hugs I get from kids each day ❤️

Through all of this, I've really missed my students! Outside of navigating through distance learning though, I've been able to spend lots of time with my family. I've also had the opportunity to reach out to some family and friends that I don't get to see as often--which has been really nice! My dog, Lucy, has thoroughly enjoyed the extra attention that she has been receiving! :)

When I’m not at school planning and prepping or attending Zoom meetings I have enjoyed reading, getting outside, and baking cookies! My favorite recipe is monster cookies! One thing I am truly missing about not being at school is seeing all the students and the energy they bring!

Happy April!

What a unique time that we are living in right now. My classroom has grown too quiet without all of you students and don’t have any students to start the Skol chant with! I have been spending my time getting items ready for my students. My daughter and I have been busy outside taking walks and playing toss. Remember to get up and move, make time to make a craft and learn something new!

Greetings from Mrs. Pliska and Puck!

This old cat and I have been together for over 21 years. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, but never anything like this! Even in this time of social distancing I am here for you for the tough stuff and to celebrate the good stuff.

Feel free to stay in touch me via email Michelle.pliska@k12.sd.us or call or text me (605) 496-9967 during regular school hours.

From the character my old cat is named after, Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Nights’s Dream”.

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended:
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend. (V.i.)

Hello Blue Dragons! I miss seeing you on the playground before school, in the hallways, and in class. I have been reading some of the wonderful Dragon books I added to my student library this year! Keep reading! I can't wait to hear what your new favorite book is!

Ms. Lundberg has been spending her time spoiling her puppy. He goes with her wherever she goes. He is sure loving the extra attention!

What I miss the most about school is all the beautiful children ad their heartwarming smiles and all the beautiful staff! And all the joy they bring my life!

I like to spend my free time sending out cards to loved ones, Facetiming family, tending my plants, doing tile and glass mosaics, reading, and listening to music. My pug, Ginger loves to play tug-o'-war with me and go on hiking adventures! During this time of isolation, I deeply miss the excitement and wonder of all pre-k through twelfth-grade students.

So this has been a whole different kind of busy but so far it’s been full of family time especially since Caylix just celebrated his 7th birthday at the end of March. We’ve been playing games, reading books, tearing the house apart, and living in the kitchen as my Betty Crocker home cooking skills (pictures are homemade waffles for breakfast and celebrating with the birthday boy) are definitely getting a workout! I still celebrated baseball’s opening day with my boys and we anxiously await it’s return (among many other things). Don’t worry students...I’m still getting my daily dose of tea and my cats (Reeses is pictured) like to help me with e-learning...always new adventures. I miss you all and can’t wait to see you again.

Because of the early school closure, the Garretson Yearbook was not able to get all the pictures they wanted for various pages including academic pages. We are also looking at creating pages dedicated to the unique ways our Garretson Blue Dragon students are passing the time while practicing social distancing. If you have any creative pictures of you working through our "virtual formats" or working from home or staying entertained while quarantined, please send to Mrs. Buchholz (kelsey.buchholz@k12.sd.us).

As I sit at home looking out my window, I find it hard to believe that this is my new classroom for the next month! I will miss your smiles, the good morning’s and the bustling hallways. This change to on-line learning is going to be an adjustment, but together we can make it a positive experience. Hope to see you soon!

When I'm not talking with my students or at school getting packets ready, I have been loving all the extra time I'm getting to spend with my daughter. We've been spending a lot of time playing outside and reading.

Sitting at my work station with Bella!

I miss you all so much! I would much rather be working with you than making packets, but we will all get through this! While I am at home I have been playing games with my 3 kids, helping them with their homework and having video meetings with the family that we can’t visit. We started adding themes to our video meetings and this is a picture of my husband and me on “Disco Night”. Hope to see you all in May!

E-learning is an interesting experience!! I definitely miss the kids and am so glad we have the technology to stay in touch, even face-to-face with Zoom! Students are doing a great job and keeping me busy looking at all the work they are getting done. The days go by quickly, but I do find myself needing to get up and move to interrupt the long hours on the computer. So in those cases, I enjoy working out in my basement, taking walks, and just getting some fresh air. Hope the weather cooperates soon so I can take my computer outside to work! Hang in there everyone!!

I have been keeping busy with school work, catching up on housework, and some TV watching! I miss all of you kids so much! I can't wait for all of us to get back to school! I hope you are enjoying extra time with your families!

I miss laughing and learning with the kids!

Our college boys are home doing their online learning so I’ve been doing some extra cooking (and laundry!). We like to play board games together.

Well our new reality at least got me to clean out my clutter-collecting office! Much of my time has been spent plugging away at my computer while my three dogs sleep at my feet. One thing that I've found consuming a lot of my time has been just playing with technology and figuring out new tools that I can use. Who knows, with some serious work on my camera presence, maybe I can start making Youtube videos or something!

I miss the little things I took for granted. Like greeting my students at the door every morning, circling up for our daily class meeting, and my students dancing to the “clean up” song at the end of the day. Most of all I miss the students and noise of a full school house!

Learning new Zoom technology so I had to buy blue light glasses to protect the retinas!

Physical Education Online

This has been an interesting past few weeks. I have been coming up with online curriculum ideas from shapesd, openphysed.org and spark curriculum. Elementary have been given weekly calendars with assortment of exercises, stretches, and games. These are individual and family opportunities to stay active and have fun participating. Staying in contact with the students with use of DoJo and Seesaw Apps. has been an opportunity that gives all of us interaction during this time of social distancing. My high school and middle school classes have been actively continuing online education through google classroom, flipgrid, and zoom. The students have been doing a very good job of working on their classes as we go through this pandemic. With interaction, through these web services the process of sharing has been a positive. We all know with technology it may have complications but with Mr. Schrank here to guide us the process is easier. By staying active, staying positive, and following the guidelines through this time we will make it through this!

What am I doing? Nothing but school and bottle lambs. And I mean nothing.

My days are mostly filled with the bright smiles of my growing girl. We spend mornings and evenings together while she goes to daycare during the day.

On days I go up to school to work are days I really miss the busy hallways filled with staff and students. High fives, hellos, and the frequent horsing around in passing time gives life to the building and a small smile in my heart.

Hey everyone! While I’ve still been working at school most days to make take home packets and communicate with everyone, I’ve enjoyed the flexible schedule. My kids’ daycare is closed as well and we’ve been able to have lunch together every day! I sometimes sneak in nap time snuggles and have also enjoyed being able to find creative ways to keep the kids entertained! We’ve done lots of puzzles and just started taking some trips to different parks! We’ve been a lot more conscientious about washing our hands before and after playing on park equipment, but are still trying to have fun during this difficult time. I miss you all every day! It’s seeing your smiles, laughs, and fun personalities that make me love teaching and I can’t WAIT to see you all again!! It’s not the same without you!

My family and I have been enjoying extra cuddles with the newest member of our family. We are getting outside as much as the weather allows and are reading lot of books!

I miss my preschoolers, their smiles and laughs everyday! The classroom is too quiet without them.

While I am not teaching my students online, I am teaching my preschooler and entertaining my other two young ones with games, puzzles, crafts, books, and outdoor activities.

I miss the busyness of school and interacting with students and other staff members face to face! I miss the routine, but I am loving the slow mornings and wearing my comfy clothes.

Wow it still seems odd to be at home and not school. I miss seeing your smiling faces, and hearing about your day. With this unexpected time off, I am looking forward to catching up with some reading. I have several books on my ‘to read’ list. I am also excited to paint another picture. I think I’m going to try a mountainous sunset scene.

I am at the school from 7:45 to 2:30 on a daily basis and look forward to the students responses and Zoom sessions(although they can't replace meeting with them in person). I am willing to set up individual or group Zoom sessions to help our students out. Just email or call and we will set it up

It has been a new challenge to teach my cat Ferguson how to sing! He always has to be around when music making is happening. However, he does NOT like to hear me practice my recorder. I love to bake and tried a new recipe for cinnamon rolls. They were tasty!

I miss you, students! Keep singing and making music to share!

What is Mr. Schrank doing with his "extra" time?

Thanks for all of your extra Tech time Mr. Schrank!! And Mrs. Schrank was a great videographer!!

She's not very good at taking selfies, then again neither am I. She's a 6 year old beagle-mix named Jojo (just for the record, she wraps herself up in the blanket. How cute is that?) Going on long walks with her and spending time at the Exercise Place has kept me sane lately. I've spent too much time watching the Office and Parks & Rec as well. Luckily, I've been able to keep a pretty normal work schedule and still spend plenty of time at the school.

With my extra time at home, I have been learning new songs, watching a lot of movies and TV shows, and cooking a lot! Also, one of my favorite musicians released a new album so I have been listening to that on repeat. I have also rearranged the furniture in my house because I felt like switching it up. It has not been very exciting.

I miss seeing the students every day. I miss the energy the school has when it is filled with students! I was also excited to see how our athletes performed in the spring season because I am a big golf fan. Hopefully I still get to see that.

I have been taking care of the 22 chickens that my class incubated. They are happy and loud little birds!

I also had the time to do some spring cleaning and organizing.

Of course I am enjoying some time sewing and crafting. I finished some aprons, quilts, and made a dozen music paper roses.

Here's my selfie! I've been riding my horse, Alice!

With my college freshman back home and two boys bugging me to go ANYWHERE, I've found myself getting grayer by the day. I'm thinking I need to practice better social distancing!

Hello Middle School Math Students!

I can honestly say that in all the years of teaching, this is the most unique and weird time of all! I have been keeping busy making instructional videos for you and keeping you on track in MS math! When I'm not in front of my computer, I try to keep busy by taking my dog for long walks in the park, rake leaves, take long road trips with my family, bake, cook, and pray that we can all go back to school soon! I hope you are making the best of this situation and please email or call if you have questions or concerns. Hope to see you in May! Take Care!!

My fun things to do at home when I'm not working on my online teaching are to play ping pong, cards, and board games. I've also started using my elliptical that had been sitting idle. It has been fun to have group video communication with my mom and three sisters.

What I have been doing: To fill my time when I am not engaged with E-Learning and planning I have enjoyed picking up some of my hobbies and interests I have neglected; It has been fun finding new recipes to cook and bake, picking up books to read for fun, and I began investing some of my time in the world of podcasts. I have also taken this time to slow down and hand write some letters to close friends and family members.

What I miss most: I miss the "Never thought I hear this" moments the students present and the genuine life chats with them too.

Well, the farm has grown. The Mrs got some more chicks yesterday and I get to build a new chicken coop. That would be our big news.

April Calendar

Since the world is in a different place right now, we have a different sort of monthly calendar. Enjoy!

Social Studies

Hello! It's been a busy few weeks as we've transitioned from having students in our hallways and classrooms to keeping in touch with them via Social Media. Overall the transition has been a success! It has been nice to keep in touch with students via Zoom Classroom Video Conferences, to say it has been interesting would be an understatement, but productive none the less.

The nights and weekends that had been consumed with Music, Art, FFA, and Sports activities has been replaced by extended time with my 2 Grandsons...snow football, and baseball games have taken place on a regular basis in the backyard.

Athletic/Activities

At this time all practices and contests have been cancelled through May 4th. The SDHSAA did meet last Friday to discuss the future of the 2020 spring sports season, as well as the remaining winter championships, including the state basketball tournaments, all of which were suspended/postponed earlier this month due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. No action was taken however the SDHSAA did present potential plans if things take a turn for the better and activities are allowed to resume. First and fore most all proposals/recommendations by the SDHSAA are under the assumption that school resumes May 4. If Gov Kristi Noem recommends that school building closures continues through the end of the year, everything will be cancelled.

Reminder: 6th graders need to have a Tdap & MCV4 before starting 6th grade

Remember lunch is available for pick up in the Lunchroom for all K-12 Garretson students free of charge every school day 11:30-1:00.

A big thank you to the lunch gals for preparing around 170 breakfasts and lunches each day!! And for several of the bus drivers for delivering them to the country kids!!!

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to the Paras also!! Several of them disinfected the school from top to bottom and a couple of them helped with filing!

We really miss seeing all of the kids and staff! We even miss putting bandaids on scraped knees and letting everyone in at the front door! We are both working from home. But if you need something just email us ~ leslie.longhenry@k12.sd.us or norinda.sandbulte@k12.sd.us or you can leave a voicemail and we can get that from home also!

On the first Wednesday of the month, Palisade Oil donates 10¢ per gallon of fuel bought from all of their pumps.

March's donation of $296.69 was given to Garretson School's SWAT.

Administration

Mr. Guy Johnson, Superintendent, 605-594-3451, ext. 300

Mr. Chris Long, MS/HS Principal, 605-594-3451, ext. 302

Mrs. Teresa Hulscher, Elem. Principal, 605-594-3451, ext. 303

Mr. Jacob Schweitzer, Business Manager, 605-594-3451, ext. 301

Mr. Matt Schrank, Technology Administrator, 605-594-3451, ext. 174

School Board Members

Mr. Shannon Nordstrom, President

Mrs. Kari Flanagan, Vice President

Mrs. Rachel Hanisch

Mr. Tony Martens

Mrs. Ruth Sarar

Email: firstname.lastname@k12.sd.us
Website: www.garretson.k12.sd.us
Location: 505 2nd Street, Garretson, SD 57030
Phone: 605-594-3451
Facebook: facebook.com/GarretsonBlueDragons
Twitter: @GHSBlueDragons

If you know of anyone not receiving the monthly newsletter and would like to, have them drop me an email... norinda.sandbulte@k12.sd.us