March Newsletter 2026

Important Dates:

March 1-7 ... National School Social Work Week

March 2 ... No Classes - Inservice

March 5 & 10 ... Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

March 11-13 ... JA BizTown Simulation for 6th graders

March 12 ... Region National History Day competition

March 19 ... End of 3rd Quarter

March 20 ... No Classes - Compensatory Day

March 23 & 24 ... 8th Grade SDSU Field trip

Follow us on social media and keep up on all of the amazing things that happen in our school!

FACEBOOK: MemorialMSSF https://www.facebook.com/MemorialMSSF

INSTAGRAM: memorialmssf https://www.instagram.com/memorialmssf/

TWITTER: @memorialmssf https://twitter.com/memorialmssf

Memorial Families,

March has arrived, and with it comes an exciting milestone — we are officially welcoming our incoming 5th grade families to the Memorial Middle School community! For many of you, this is your first MMS newsletter and the beginning of your child’s middle school transition. We are honored you are here and look forward to building a strong partnership as your student begins this next chapter. Please scroll all the way to the bottom of the newsletter to see the Running Start registration information and link.

There is a great deal happening at Memorial this month, and March always brings a wonderful mix of academic growth, student activities, and community connection. A few highlights include:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences – An important time to connect with teachers and review student progress. We hope to see you March 5th or March 10th.

• MMS Student Talent Show – Our students are excited to showcase their hard work and talents on stage this spring. We hope to see you the evening of March 26th or 27th.

• 8th Grade Field Trip to SDSU – An engaging learning opportunity for our 8th graders, with more information to come. All 8th grade students will attend a day on SDSU campus either March 23rd or 24th.

• National History Day Regional Competition – We are proud of the students advancing to the regional level and wish them the best as they continue their impressive academic work. They will be competing March 12th

Amid all the excitement, our commitment to our core values — Community, Acting Responsibly, Respect, and Excellence (CARE) — remains at the heart of everything we do. These principles shape our school culture and guide how we learn, collaborate, and support one another each day.

Spring often brings a renewed sense of momentum. While the end of the school year may begin to feel within reach, there is still meaningful learning ahead and many memorable experiences to come. Thank you for your ongoing support and for being such an important part of the Memorial Middle School community. We look forward to a month filled with growth, connection, and celebration.

Wishing you a beautiful spring,

Dr. Demi Moon, principal

Memorial Middle School

Heather Summers | Eric Hettinger | Cesar Ramirez-Ruano | Ali Carlson

Danielle Ceretti | Claire Campbell

With 62 combined years of teaching experience, we’ve survived every trend, every phase, and at least 4,372 middle school sound effects. We’re unique because we genuinely like each other — which in middle school years is basically a superpower — and we show up for one another daily. That positive energy spills straight into our classrooms as we focus on building strong relationships that actually make kids want to come to school (yes, willingly). We run on Casey’s sausage-and-bacon breakfast pizza and pure determination. If we had a mascot, it would absolutely be Skateboarding Cats: chill, slightly chaotic, surprisingly athletic, and somehow always landing on their feet. Our most legendary moment this year? A student impersonated Mrs. Carlson… and then yelled at himself. Iconic. Our culture is accepting, our vibe is confident-but-fun, and our unofficial walk-up song is “We Will Rock You” by Queen — because after 62 years of experience, we’re not just rocking… we’re headlining.

Nick Gerdes | Ann Tschetter | Nikki Vander Wolde | Holly Matzen | Elizabeth Walberg

With 88 combined years of teaching experience, our team has mastered the art of education — and holiday shenanigans. We fully commit to dress-up days (no half-costumes here) while proudly encouraging those Mustang CORE values all year long. We’re fueled by donuts, muffins, and impressive amounts of caffeine, which explains our positive energy and possibly Mrs. Tschetter’s legendary enthusiasm that may have single-handedly ended the 6–7 craze by going all in on celebrating the 67th day of school. If we had a mascot, it would obviously be a Gator — strong, proud, and slightly intimidating before coffee. And if you’re wondering about our theme song, just cue up “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey — because we absolutely won’t.

Just leave a note in the comments section if the student is going to be late or needing to leave early.

We will adjust the attendance accordingly.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to set up a Parent Canvas account (SFSD’s learning platform for K–12) and pair it with their child’s account to view assignments, due dates, and access the MMS Parent/Student Information course.

• If you connected last year, your account is still active.

• If you are new or need to add your MMS student, follow these steps (computer recommended):

  1. Have your child generate a Pairing Code from their Canvas account. The directions for this are HERE.

  2. Create or log in to your Parent Canvas Account and link it using the code. (If you already have an account, just pair with your MMS student.) The directions for this process are HERE.

  3. Join the Memorial Middle School Parent/Student Information course using the provided link.

Help will be available at Fall Conferences or in the MMS office.

The Counselor Connection

Counseling Assignments:

Alex Dobbs: 6th Grade

Kerri Andela: 7th Grade

Renee Halde: 8th Grade

Counseling Office Phone #: 362-2789

Website: http://memorialcounseling.weebly.com

Our Mission: As professional school counselors we help provide an environment in which students can achieve academic, career, and personal/social success. It is our goal and challenge to help students “Become the Best Version of Themselves.”

Second Step (Social Emotional Learning) Program Here is a summary of the March Second Step Lessons being taught in PRO Time (1st period) & parent/guardian follow-up questions to go with each lesson:

• 6th Grade Lessons

• 7th Grade Lessons

• 8th Grade Lessons

Registration Updates for Current 6th & 7th Graders for the 2026-27 School Year:

• 7th to 8th Grade Registration

• Mrs. Andela will be talking with 7th grade students about registering for 8th grade. She will be doing this during the 2nd week of March. Registration forms will be sent home at that time and will need to be returned as soon as possible.

• 6th to 7th Registration

• Mr. Dobbs will be talking with 6th grade students about registering for 7th grade. He will be doing this towards the end of March. Registration forms will be sent home at that time and will need to be returned as soon as possible.

7th Grade Counseling Curriculum Lesson - Mr. Dobbs was in Social Studies Classrooms teaching the 3rd Quarter Counseling Lesson on conflict resolution. During the lesson, students learned about:

• Calming techniques

• Using of positive body language (eye contact, standing more to a person’s side vs. directly in front of the person)

• Maintaining a respectful distance from the other person

• Keeping your tone of voice even and calm

• Seeking to understand each other

• Restating what the other person says, then ask, “Is this right?”

• Apologizing if you’ve done something wrong

• Working together to solve the problem (create a win-win solution)

Family Forum Series - The Sioux Fall School District and Avera Health are partnering to strengthen families by presenting on topics of interest throughout the school year. Here is a link to the recorded presentations that you can watch at your own convenience: Family Forum Series

Summer Activities - Local studies show that cost and lack of awareness are reasons some children are not able to join the numerous activities available to them across the Sioux Empire. Here are some summer activities available in the community:

• Connecting Kids (Sioux Empire United Way Program - Provides Vouchers for Kids in Need)

• Summer Enrichment Opportunities on the Sioux Falls School District Website

• Boys and Girls Club - Sioux Empire

• YMCA Summer Camps

Questions or Concerns: If there are questions/concerns or anything you feel it would be helpful for use to know about your child, feel free to contact your child’s assigned counselor.

How do I donate to Memorial's Mustang Club?

Log into Infinite Campus as a campus parent to pay online.

CLICK HERE

1. Click the "Fees" tab

2. Click Optional Payments

3. Find the “Club Level” you would like to donate to and click “Add to Cart”

4. Submit payment and checkout

Scan the QR Code to make a payment through PayPal.

1. Scan Code

2. Must leave a note in PayPal on what level of membership you'd like.

The Running Start program is a summer program designed especially for incoming sixth graders. The four-day session will help students gain confidence for the middle school transition.

With the Running Start program, students will:

• Find out about the middle school concept - teams
• Learn middle school rules and expectations
• Meet the office and administrative staff
• Learn their way around the building (in a stress-free summer setting)
• Tour the cafeteria, and get familiar with lunchtime logistics
• Practice opening combination lockers
• Enjoy team-building activities and make new friends

⏩ Register Online HERE

📋 Print and fill out the pdf. Bring it to the MMS office with cash or check.

💲When sending lunch money to school with your student, please tell them to bring it to the office (or lunch money mailbox) first thing in the morning so it can get put in their account by lunch time.

❓Please call the SFSD Nutrition Office with any questions or concerns regarding your student's breakfast/lunch account. Unfortunately, MMS does not have access to food accounts.

Click HERE to see more information on our StopFinder app for bus riders.

• Once routes are assigned, people that do not have the app yet will be receiving weekly emails (email addresses that are in Infinite Campus/Parent Portal) from our transportation department on how to download and activate the Stopfinder app. That email from transportation is the only way to get signed up for Stopfinder. Memorial MS does NOT have access to it.

Click HERE for SFSD busing and boundary information.

Check out SAM On Demand that spans across the entire city of Sioux Falls. You can get yourself, your family, or even just your kids to any destination (even school) by requesting a ride.

Kids under 18 are FREE. Adults ride for $1.50!

Download the SAM Transit app, call customer service @ 605.367.7151, or visit the online booking portal.

After booking your ride, the app will let you know the following information: pickup location at the nearest corner, estimated time of arrival, vehicle model, and license plate. You can follow the vehicle's progress in real-time. You can also share your ride details with someone.

SAM Busing

*SAM is not associated with the SFSD. Please contact the Sioux Area Metro with any questions.

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✅ Register online via BOUND

🩺 Submit preparticipation physical forms

🎫TICKETS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH BOUND

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS OFFERED

Fall Sports - REGISTRATION CLOSED

👟Girls Cross Country

👟Boys Cross Country

🏈Coed Football

⛳Boys Golf (at High Schools)

🎾Girls Tennis (at High Schools)

🏐Girls Volleyball

Winter Sports - REGISTRATION CLOSED

🏀Girls Basketball

🏀Boys Basketball

🤸🏻‍♀️Girls Gymnastics (at High Schools)

🕺Coed Performance Dance

🤼Girls Wrestling

🤼Boys Wrestling

Spring Sports - REGISTRATION OEPN

⛳Girls Golf (at High Schools)

🎾Boys Tennis (at High Schools)

⚽Girls Soccer (8th only)

⚽Boys Soccer (8th only)

🏃Girls Track and Field

🏃Boys Track and Field

🟢 Memorial Middle School Athletics Coordinator: Eric Hettinger – Eric.Hettinger@k12.sd.us

You may download the pdf of the instructions below.

Memorial is in need of mentors (age 18+) for our students. Currently, our mentors volunteer their time once a week for 30 minutes. During that time, our mentors and mentees play a game, do an activity, or just chat. The small amount of quality time is invaluable to our students.

Sign up by clicking on ONE of the links below:

Lutheran Social Service School-Based Mentoring Application

or

TeamMates School-Based Mentoring Application

Office Hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday - Friday)

Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/o/mms
Location: Memorial Middle School, 1401 S Sertoma Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Phone: (605) 362-2785
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memorialmssf
Twitter: @MemorialMSSF