Ben Reifel Middle School
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https://www.instagram.com/brmsbisonEmail: SFSDBRMSOffice@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/ben-reifel/home
Location: 6700 East 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-371-4155
From the Principal's Desk
Developing compassion, empathy, and selflessness is something all parents/guardians strive to instill in their children. As parents/guardians, we want our children to look at the world through a lens of compassion, empathy, and selflessness to demonstrate a caring, loving, compassionate world. The Ben Reifel staff also strives to instill those character traits in all our students. We encourage our students to demonstrate acts of kindness towards one another and towards staff each day (UNITY), as well as an appreciation for everyone (EMPATHY).I might be a tad biased, but I truly believe our staff and students do a wonderful job demonstrating compassion, empathy, and selflessness towards one another and championing one another. Studies show that when we understand another person’s hardship and the desire to alleviate that hardship, we feel better about ourselves and exhibit greater satisfaction in our life. In many instances, we benefit more from the act of compassion, a demonstration of empathy, and an act of selflessness than the recipient of the act.
Our students have been working on exhibiting compassion, empathy, and selflessness through their continued partnership within our community and the Ben Reifel Community.
StoneyBrook Assisted Living Center: The students make cards for the residents to celebrate a variety of celebrations.
Delivering Hope: Chemo Care bags filled with comfort items utilized during treatments. If families would like to donate items such as fuzzy socks, small Kleenex packs, Chapstick, mints, hand sanitizer, or fleece, they can drop off the items at school.
Project Warmup: the students are working on making fleece blankets for students and families throughout the greater Sioux Falls area. If you would like to make a monetary donation or donate fleece, please contact the office.
We absolutely love seeing the caring attitude and excitement on our student’s faces when they can help someone else and put others’ needs before their own. They are truly exhibiting a compassionate and caring attitude, and I must say it is refreshing to witness. The BISON WAY in its truest form.
At this time of the year, when life can be extremely hectic with all that goes on around us, I would like to encourage our Ben Reifel Family to add at least one act of kindness a week in their lives. The challenge is not to make this a holiday challenge, but more importantly, a lifestyle challenge. A simple act of kindness can make such a difference in another person’s life. You can simply take the time to give of yourself by serving others, buying a stranger a meal, delivering a plate of cookies to an elderly neighbor, etc. The selfless and compassionate act that you do can make a tremendous difference in your home, at school, in the community, and in your life. I truly believe you will see a change in your daily outlook on life and your attitude toward others. If you are living your life with this philosophy and character trait, continue to do so and encourage a friend, family member, or neighbor to join you.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. We are blessed to be able to work with such a compassionate, empathetic, and caring group of students. From the Ben Reifel Family and my family to yours, we want to wish you a happy holiday season and a blessed new year.
Take care,
Mr. Shane Hieronimus
Principal, BRMS
Office Tips
Human Rights Day Essay Contest Winners
Ben Reifel Middle School PTO
The BRMS PTO is always looking for new members! Get involved at school and help us fulfill our mission to strengthen, complement, and encourage the educational and social culture of BRMS and to unify and enhance the school experience with other opportunities for families, staff, and students to learn, socialize, connect and flourish. There are no membership costs to becoming part of the PTO, either!
The best way to learn about PTO activities and get involved is to follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BenReifelMiddleSchoolPTO
Greetings from Student Council!
First, thank you to all who came and supported our first ever movie night! We had an amazing turn out with lots of students excited to see our feature film Home Alone. Your continued support allows us to do great things like purchase gift cards for our wonderful bus drivers who help so many of our students get to school each and every day.
Need something other than the long holiday break to look forward to in December? Student council has you covered! During the month of December, the student council is asking all Pro-Times to participate in a holiday door decorating contest. Each grade level will be given a theme, and it is up to the individual Pro-Times to come up with the best design to fit their theme and deck their doors. There will be one winning Pro-Time per grade level and one winning administrative/ support staff door. Time to get creative and work together to show your BRMS school spirit!
With Bison Pride,
Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Todd
Student Council advisors
Welcome to Ben Reifel Choir Department
South Dakota Junior Honor Choir
Congratulations to Harper Fonder who was selected for South Dakota Junior Honor Choir. Approximately 520 students in grades 7-9 from all over the state auditioned for this event. South Dakota Junior Honor Choir will take place in Rapid City January 20-21, 2023.
Winter Concert
Winter Concert – December 6, 2022 in the BRMS auditorium.
6th grade – 6:00 p.m. performance time; report to BRMS choir room at 5:40 p.m.
7th grade – 7:00 p.m. performance time; report to BRMS choir room at 6:40 p.m.
8th grade – 8:00 p.m. performance time; report to BRMS choir room at 7:40 p.m.
Each concert session should last no more than 30 minutes, so please make sure you have transportation arranged for your singer at the conclusion of his or her concert session.
Concert attendance is mandatory. Absences due to non-school activities of any kind will not be excused. Choir is a graded class, and performances are our main form of assessment. In addition, it is vital to the success of our program that students honor the commitment made to the BRMS choirs.
We ask that the students wear nice clothes. We do not specify colors. If they have black and white for other events or concerts that's fine, but we do not specify. Ideally, student performers would wear nice pants (not jeans) with a nice shirt. We know that for some families, purchasing new outfits for concerts could cause hardship, especially around the holidays, so we leave it fairly open-ended. If there are questions or more specific clarification is needed, please e-mail Jennifer.Spencer@k12.sd.us or Pamela.Green@k12.sd.us.
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Spencer at Jennifer.Spencer@k12.sd.us or Ms. Green at Pamela.Green@k12.sd.us.
Ben Reifel Stampede Night - December 9, 2022
Connection, the BRMS 6th grade show choir, will be singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Stampede game on December 9. The Stampede will be playing the Lincoln Stars that evening.
Through this special ticket offer (https://fevo.me/brms), you will be able to sit with your friends and other families from the Ben Reifel Family. Parent, family, and friend tickets will all be at the Will Call window. Doors open at 6 p.m. with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night (Bring a Teddy Bear chance to win prizes and support the Teddy Bear when the Stampede score a goal!) The deadline to order discounted tickets is 6:00 p.m. December 9.
The Denny Sanford Premier Center is cashless so please plan accordingly for concessions.
All Choirs Skyforce singing opportunity
All Ben Reifel Middle School choir members are invited for a fun, family-friendly night at the Skyforce game on Tuesday, January 31. We will sing the Star Spangled Banner and then stay to watch the Skyforce take on the Texas Legends from Frisco, Texas. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Students who choose to sing the Star Spangled Banner will get free admission to the game. Friends and family will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets. Specifics about how to order tickets, report time, attire, and a sign-up for students interested in singing will be included in the January newsletter and sent home via e-mail.
Annie, Jr.
The musical cast list was posted in Schoology on November 22. The full cast and crew list can also be seen here: Annie Jr Cast List. We had roughly 75 students audition and look forward to great shows January 26-28.
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Spencer at Jennifer.Spencer@k12.sd.us or Ms. Green at Pamela.Green@k12.sd.us.
Band at BRMS!
6TH-8TH WINTER BAND CONCERT
Thursday, December 15, 2022
6th Grade - 6:00pm - Students Arrive by 5:40pm
7th Grade - 7:00pm - Students Arrive by 6:40pm
8th Grade - 8:00pm - Students Arrive by 7:40pm
Wear all black
Middle School All-State Band Auditions
Some of our BRMS Band Members have been busy preparing for the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band auditions. These auditions involve practicing and recording selected scales and etudes specific to their instrument. The auditions are recorded at BRMS (in most cases) in November and early December. All recordings must be submitted by Dec. 16. Results are posted in January. Those who are selected prepare special music for an All-State concert in Huron on the first Saturday in March. We highly encourage your child to give it a try!
Middle School All-State Jazz Band Auditions
Similar to All State Band, audition materials for All State Jazz Band are now available. Those selected will be part of an event that takes place February 4-5 at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center. The audition deadline is Friday, January 6, 2023.
CALLING ALL BARITONE & TUBA PLAYERS!
Linked Here is a great playing opportunity for all baritone and tuba players! If your child is interested in playing some Christmas music with fellow baritone and tuba players of all ages please encourage them to be a part of this great experience! Feel free to email one of the band directors if you have any questions. The rehearsal and performance both happen on Saturday, Dec. 10th.
Private Lessons
At BRMS, we have a number of students who study privately (take private band lessons) with someone who specializes in their instrument. Private lessons can really spark their enthusiasm and boost their playing ability. If you would like more information on private lessons or would like us to help connect you with a private teacher, please contact one of the band directors and we can help you with that.
January Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band & Ben’s Bows Pops Concert
Monday, Jan. 30, 2023
7:00pm
BRMS Gymnasium
This will be the first performance for both the Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. Bows of the Bison will also be a part of this concert. Please see emails from Miss Bigge & Mrs. Dunbar for more details.
Ali Dunbar
BRMS Head Band Director
Brooke Bigge
BRMS Assistant Band Director
Ben Reifel Orchestra
Greetings BRMS Orchestra Students and Families,
Welcome to the Winter Solstice Season! Please look forward to our BRMS Choir Concert on Tuesday, December 6th starting at 6:00pm for 6th graders, 7:00pm for 7th graders, and 8:00pm for 8th grade choirs in the BRMS Auditorium.
The following week on Thursday, December 15th, is our BRMS Band Concert also beginning at 6:00pm with the same model of performance. Since the BRMS Orchestra had our concert on November 8th at the Arena, we do not have a performance until our Spring Concert next calendar year: Tuesday, April 25, 2023!
During the next many weeks before winter break, we are working on:
1) A Composition Project
2) Make-Ups for those that missed the 11/8 performance
3) Completing Orchestra Videos (seven in total)
4) Introducing New Music for the Spring Concert
5) Restoring our String Playing Life Force (good habits in practice and playing, especially as we approach the New Year!
As always, daily practice (5-7 days per week) is hoped for of all musicians. I know that there is a continued barrier to large instruments like cello and bass being impossible to get home on the bus. I’m working on a solution as BRMS has almost enough instruments to have large instruments stay home with a classroom set available at school. More info to come!
Please make music, share music, and let me know if you have any further questions!
Musically,
Andrew Travers
Ben Reifel Middle School Orchestra Director
605-299-5223 (Text Only)
