R.F. Pettigrew Panther Tracks
April 2025
PAWS
o Be Positive
o Be Accountable
o Be Wise
o Be Safe
From the Principal's Desk
Mr. Kevin Dick
As I look in the rearview mirror of my tenure at Pettigrew Elementary, there are so many great memories of events we have planned and participated in, together. Over 13 years, many families have come and gone, our first classes at Pettigrew are now out of high school and off and pursuing their life after public school.
As I reflect on the past 13 years at R. F. Pettigrew Elementary School, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who have made this journey so meaningful. Leadership is never a solo endeavor, and I have been blessed to walk this path alongside extraordinary individuals who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me every step of the way.
First and foremost, to my wife, Judy—there are no words that can fully capture the depth of my appreciation for her. She has been my rock, my greatest encourager, and my source of strength through every challenge and triumph. Her unwavering belief in me, her patience through many busy seasons, and her endless love have made all the difference. Without her, I could not have given my best to this school community.
To the incredible teachers and staff—your passion, dedication, and tireless efforts have been the heartbeat of this school. You have shaped the lives of countless students with your wisdom and kindness, and I have been honored to stand beside you in our shared mission. Your support, your friendship, and your commitment to excellence have lifted me up more times than I can count.
To our parents and families—thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us to create a nurturing, thriving school community. Your involvement, encouragement, and belief in our vision have been invaluable.
And to our students—you have been my greatest inspiration. Your curiosity, resilience, and boundless energy have made every day a joy. Watching you grow and succeed has been the most rewarding part of my time here.
As I step into a new chapter, I do so with a full heart, knowing that I have been surrounded by the best. Thank you for 13 unforgettable years. I will always cherish the memories, the friendships, and the profound impact we have made together.
We still have a little over a month of school this spring, and I know that this time will slip away very quickly, so I wanted to get this article in our newsletter, this month. May will be full of many wonderful, end of year events, and I hope you can participate in as many as possible. In May, I have invited Tim Wagner, the incoming principal at Pettigrew, to write an introductory article, so please stay tuned for that feature. Until then, Happy Spring!!
March Students of the Month-Live to Give
K01 Austin Auld
K02 Kiersten Knudsen
K03 Houston Ladd
K04 Reis Fischer
K05 Dayton Jaber
101 Kaiya Baldwin
102 Georgia Meyer
103 Logan Fitzgerald
104 Noah Van Emmerik
105 Harrison Fox
201 Lorelei Aughenbaugh
202 Sofia Simonetti Navarrette
203 Jameson Lambert
204 Kendall Van Oort
205
301 Clara Beth Keegan
302 Ashton Weischedel
303 McKenna Mcknelly
304 Kali Singh
305 Jayden Munoz
401 Vivienne Fulker
402 Jovie Lappegard
403 Isaac Sheaffer
404 Jaden Wensing
501 Micah Brady
502
503 Raina George
504 Brynlee Aschmeller
505 Avery Weyer
506 Vanessa Samayoa
Fine Arts Feature
Fourth Quarter Music!
Kindergarteners will be demonstrating how music notes go higher and lower, performing word rhythm patterns, and will be learning about composer, Mozart.
1st Graders will be creating rhythm and melody patterns using the pitches so, mi, la, and do.
2nd Graders will be performing their program, "Pajama Party," learning about composer, Edvard Grieg, and will be singing pitches mi, so, la, do, and re. Learning alley dances will also be on our radar.
3rd Graders will be learning to play their recorders. Third grade students focus on left hand notes, GAB. Third graders will also be learning how to perform folk dances.
4th Graders will be learning about composer, JS Bach, major and minor music, and will be playing some basic chords on the ukulele. Students will also learn about accents, staccato, and legato.
5th Graders will be finishing their two-part octavo and will be doing drumming ensembles. They will learn call and response chants/rhythms, how to put several drumming rhythms together in an ensemble, and will create their own drumming ensemble in small groups.
Happy Spring!
-Mrs. Wahl & Mr. Ferri
Art
We will be finishing up the year with lessons about form/3D art and the Principles of Design.
Kindergarteners will learn about the difference between flat (2D) and not-flat (3D) artwork, while creating examples from both types.
1st Graders will transform 2-dimensional materials into 3-dimensional art forms while creating 3D art.
2nd Graders will learn about 3-dimensional art and create art through paper manipulation, sculpting, or building techniques.
3rd Graders will learn about paper manipulation, sculpting, and building techniques to create 3-dimensional art.
4th Graders will learn how to utilize 3-dimensional sculpture techniques to create 3D art.
5th Graders will learn a variety of sculpture techniques to create original 3-dimensional artworks.
At the end of the quarter, all grade levels will also have a lesson inspired by art history or cultural connections that builds upon the 3rd quarter skills. At the end of the year, all grade levels will explore the creative process to create art that utilizes the comprehensive skills learned throughout the year.
Please join us for the Pettigrew Art Show and Book Fair on Friday, April 25, 4:00-7:00pm! The students have prepared their art for display and are excited to show it to you! Have a great rest of the school year!
-Mrs. Meyer and Ms. Selberg
Physical Education Feature
We have made it through 3 quarters already this school year, wow that’s hard to believe. The 3rd quarter was filled with many different activities in physical education. We wrapped up our test for the year, which included the last Pacer day of the year. Ask your student how they did on the Pacer this year and if they like it, most students were very happy that they won’t have to run it again this year. We worked on new skills using implements as well as played many team games and also continued to build on skills from the past two quarters. Here is list of many of the activities that we did throughout the 3rd quarter, please ask your students what some of their favorite activities are. As we head into the 4th quarter we will look forward to hopefully some outdoor activities as long as the weather allows
Quarter 3 Activities
Mat Run
Curl Up test
Battle ship
Sticky Target Toss
Launch Boards
Hurdles
Basketball Shooting
Roller Racers
Rock Wall
Power Climbers
Bump Tag
Valentines this or that
Dribbling Relays
Pancake Flippers
Compliment Tag
Birdie and Paddles
Scooter Basketball
Floor Ball
Butterfly Run
Jump Roping
Pettigrew Speedway
Fruit Loop Tag
Badminton
Hula Hoop Competitions
Hula Hoop Team Activities
Hot Dog Tag
Jump Rope Challenges
Clicker Run
Jump Rope Relays
Deck of Fitness
Omnikin Activities
St Patrick Day Activities
Partner Dice Fitness
Team Bowling
Pettigrew Activity Schedule
PTO Fundraisers and Events
School District and Community Wide Events and Information
R.F. Pettigrew PTO
Email: rfp.president@yahoo.com
Location: 7900 West 53rd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-362-3560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1HUjZX8FsW/