Edison ECHO
Edison Middle School
PRINCIPAL CORNER
Hello Edison Families,
We are off to a fantastic start this school year! The energy and excitement in our hallways has been contagious, and it’s been wonderful to see students reconnect with friends, meet new classmates, and dive into learning. Our teachers have been hard at work not only planning engaging lessons but also building strong relationships in their classrooms. Those connections—student to student and student to teacher—are the foundation for a positive and productive year.
One of our priorities this fall is helping students build good habits early. Middle school is a time of transition, and learning routines such as using lockers effectively, managing schedules, and arriving prepared to class are important skills that set students up for success.
We’re also reinforcing these habits through our weekly PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) focus, which highlights our schoolwide expectations. During the first week, we focused on the importance of being on time to class. This week, the spotlight was on active participation in class—a key way for students to stay engaged and grow as learners. Our DREAM schoolwide expectations are reinforced by our staff through PBIS points, which students can use to purchase items from our PBIS store.
As we move forward, we want to keep encouraging students to prioritize learning, take pride in their efforts, and build routines that will serve them well not only this year, but for years to come. Thank you for your partnership in supporting your student’s growth and success!
Sincerely,
Amber Blume, Principal
NO BACKPACKS ALLOWED
Just a reminder - no backpacks allowed in the classrooms. They must be kept in the lockers!
WE CAN HELP WITH YOUR QUESTIONS!!
Ms. Jenny - Lead Office
Ms. Erin - Secretary
Ms. Becca - Attendance
ATTENDANCE
Attendance must be called/emailed if anything besides a full day! If your child will be absent for a full school day, please enter it into Infinite Campus.
If you child needs to leave early, please call early in the morning, to help avoid interruptions during learning.
Office number: (605) 367-7643
Back to School Reminders!!!
If your student has a health condition or needs special care during the
school day such as medication, treatments, or monitoring, please inform
the school nurse. Individual health care plans help keep your students safe
and healthy.
If your child will need medicine at school, please contact the school nurse
to verify that we have received the required forms for the new school year.
In accordance with SFSD policy, all prescription medication at school,
including inhalers and epi pens, require parent/guardian and physician signatures on a
SFSD medication administration form. All medication must be brought to
school in the original container.
If your child is bringing over the counter medications to school, they should only bring
enough doses for the day and in the original container.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep students healthy and
safe.
Tracy Rosenbaum, RN, School Nurse
Tracy.Rosenbaum@k12.sd.us
School Day - Reminder
School begins - 8:55am
Last Bell rings - 3:48pm
*Students are allowed in the building at 8:40am. Breakfast is also available at this time.*
All students must be off school property by 4:10pm, unless attending a supervised after school activity!
Music Notes - September
Welcome~
The Music Department at Edison welcomes you to a new school year! We are excited to see students returning to band, choir, and orchestra and we are eager to get to know our new students and make music with them. Mr. Rick Jensen and Dr. Katelynn Doohen are the Edison band directors. Dr. Doohen is new to Edison this year! Mrs. Stacy Sip and Mrs. Angie Larson are the Edison orchestra directors. Mrs. Larson is new to Edison this year! Mrs. Amber Sundvold is the Edison choir director. You can see their pictures and read more about them on the Edison Music Department website at: http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/ Please call the school office or e-mail any one of us if you have questions.
Important Dates for First Semester~
Make sure your child’s concert dates are on your calendar.
Sep. 16, 17, 18 Inventions Auditions in the Choir Room 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Sep. 22, 24, 25 Brio Auditions in the Orchestra Room 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sep. 24 First day of Jazz Band 7:45am
Nov. 20 Edison Orchestra Concerts 6th grade-6:00 p.m., 7th grade-6:45 p.m., 8th grade-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 Edison Band Concerts 6th grade–6:30 p.m., 7th & 8th grade–7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11 Edison Choir Concerts 6th grade – 6:30 p.m. & 7th/8th grade – 7:45 p.m.
High School Concerts with 8th graders~
8th graders in band, choir, and orchestra have an opportunity to perform alongside high schoolers at the school they will be attending next year. This is not a required concert, but we highly encourage our 8th graders to participate if they are able to! Here are the dates:
Band:
Nov. 6 LHS Band Concert w/8th graders (7:30 am rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ LHS
Dec. 15 RHS Band Concert w/8th graders (7:30 am rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ RHS
Choir:
Oct. 24 LHS Fall Choir Concert w/8th graders (6:00 pm rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ LHS
Nov. 24 RHS Fall Choir Concert w/8th graders (6:00 pm rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ RHS
Orchestra:
Dec. 2 LHS Orchestra Concert w/8th graders (5:45 pm rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ LHS
Dec. 8 RHS Orchestra Concert w/8th graders (5:00 pm rehearsal) 7:00 p.m. @ RHS
Musician of the Month~
Each month the band, orchestra, and choir areas will each recognize a 6th, 7th, and 8th grader that shows exceptional dedication, responsibility, and character each and every day in rehearsal. We will always list these students in this section of the ECHO. This program starts in September.
Ensemble Schedule~
Jazz Band will meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. The first day is Sept. 24.
Brio - Students who audition and are selected for the string ensemble, Brio, will meet on Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:10 – 8:45 a.m. Audition dates are 9/22, 9/24, & 9/25 from 4:00-5:00, you can sign up for auditions at the orchestra room door starting in September.
Inventions - Students who audition and are selected for the vocal ensemble Inventions, will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Audition dates are 9/16, 9/17, & 9/18.
Inventions Auditions~
Inventions is a show choir open to 7th and 8th grade choir students. We rehearse two days a week for an hour before school and put a show together that we perform out in the community in the spring. Those interested in auditioning for Inventions should sign up on the door by the choir room. Auditions will be held after school on Sept. 16, 17, & 18 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in the choir room. Students can audition in groups of 1, 2, or 3. They should come prepared with a song of their choice and they will individually sing a scale and the first verse of “My Country Tis of Thee”, which we will practice in choir.
Jazz Band Auditions~
Jazz Band will meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings, starting on September 24. It is open without auditions to any 7th or 8th grader who plays a jazz instrument. Jazz instruments are saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, piano, drumset, bass guitar, and sometimes electric guitar. If we have more students than we have room for on drumset, bass guitar, or electric guitar, we will do an informal tryout during the first two weeks of Jazz Band rehearsal. Contact Mr. Jensen with any Jazz Band questions.
SD Junior Honors Choir~
7th and 8th grade singers have the opportunity to audition for the 2026 SD Jr. Honor Choir. Around 175 voices from around the state of SD will be chosen from all the auditions submitted for these choirs. Students in grades 7, 8, and 9 are eligible to be chosen as part of either the mixed choir or the women’s choir. The honor choirs take place January 23-24, 2026, in Rapid City, SD. It costs $15 to audition and $180 to participate if you're chosen. If you are chosen, you will meet with Mrs. Sundvold a number of times to prepare your music. Choir students in 7th and 8th grade have heard about this opportunity in choir. If you know your child will be auditioning, please email Amber.Sundvold@k12.sd.us. The $15 audition fee is due to Mrs. Sundvold by September 5. Make checks out to Edison MS.
All-State Orchestra~
All middle school students have the opportunity to audition for the South Dakota Middle School All-State Orchestra. The top orchestra students in the state of South Dakota come together to perform for this special event. Auditions are held in October, but interested students need to start practicing the required music now. All students will be shown the music during orchestra class. For more information please contact Mrs. Sip or visit http://sdmea.net/ and look under the Events list for: Middle School All-State Orchestra. All the information you need and the audition music is there for you!
All-State Band~
The South Dakota Middle School All-State Band is a special event designed to inspire and encourage top band students from across the state. Tryouts are held in December, but interested students need to start practicing the required music now. For more information, please contact Mr. Jensen or visit http://sdmea.net/ and look under the Events list and MS All State Band. We encourage you to give it a try!
Edison Music Department Website~
The Edison Music Department has a website! Refer to this website for information and dates.
http://emsmusicdept.weebly.com/
Thank you for encouraging your child to participate in Band, Choir, and Orchestra at Edison! We look forward to making music with them!
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 & Angela Larson – Angela.Larson@k12.sd.us
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” ― Arthur O’Shaughnessy
ATHLETICS
Edison Students and Families,
How to find schedules for practices and games:
Here is the link to the homepage on Bound: https://gobound.com/sd/schools/sfedison
Select your sport on the left side
Select your grade/team from the drop down
Choose what info you need
Welcome back! We are so excited to see you in the Edison Library!
Library Hours of Operation
The library is open from 7:45-4:00 every day.
Library Policies
Students may check out three physical items at a time. In addition to these three physical items, students can check out ebooks and eAudiobooks on SORA.
Library items are due three weeks from the date of checkout. However, students can renew items by themselves or bring the book to the library for renewal. Students do not have to wait until their designated ELA library time to return or check out books. They can return/check out before school, after school, or during the school day with a pass from their teacher.
If your student has overdue books or a fine (even from another school), they can check out one book at a time.
If your child has an overdue book or a fine from another school, the fine can be paid, or the book can be returned to Edison. We will send the payment or book to the appropriate school.
Fines
We do not charge late fees, but if an item is lost or damaged, students will be charged the amount of a replacement copy. (This includes audiobooks, which can cost up to $80 to replace.)
If your child is charged, you can pay the fine by sending cash or a check (made out to Edison Middle School) to the school. If sending a check, it must be for the exact fine amount.
We do not accept replacement copies of books.
Students are given the option to work off one complete book fine per school year. When a student works, we subtract $2.00 from their fine for every 30 minutes they work. To work off a fine, students can visit the library before or after school or during Protime.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Smith at kjerstin.smith@k12.sd.us.
CALLING ALL STUDENTS:
WE WANT YOU FOR STUDENT COUNCIL!
Student Council is back and ready to go! My name is Kjerstin Smith, and I am the Student Council Advisor. I am so excited to get started! Student Council applications are due Wednesday, September 10th. Students can fill out an online application which can be found here https://forms.gle/GLH5DMsLxbAbdjeg6 or they can get a paper application from their protime teacher or from the library. Please keep in mind that Student Council meetings will be once a month before school on Fridays. If transportation concerns are stopping your child from applying, please contact me at kjerstin.smith@k12.sd.us to see what we can do.
Here is the link to the meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9th, 2025 @ 11:30am
Google meet link- https://meet.google.com/wsh-hiko-xhq
PTO Agenda- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-ySpQ2flN75aCnXnhjeNBF_Zwkfa2Iz46MMwgJt3AS8/edit?usp=sharing
