Looking for the latest updates from Sioux Valley Elementary? You can find the monthly Hiltunen Happenings newsletters on our SV Website under the Elementary Learning Hub! Stay informed about upcoming events, student highlights, and important school news—all in one place.

Visit the website today and never miss an update! 💙📚✨

(Photo: Left to right-Crystal Niemann (Administrative Assistant), Heather Hiltunen (SVE Principal), and Tiffany Thompson (Medical Office Assistant).

🍀 Dear Sioux Valley Elementary Families,

March is here, and with it comes a renewed focus on growth and resilience! This month, our skill focus is coping skills—an essential part of learning how to handle challenges, regulate emotions, and navigate everyday experiences. 🧠💪 Throughout March, our teachers and staff will be reinforcing these skills in the classroom to help students develop healthy strategies for managing stress and problem-solving. We encourage you to ask your child about what they’re learning and practice these skills at home as well! 🏡💙

As we move into spring, we are excited to invite you to 🌟 Family Fun Night on Monday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. in Tile Town Gym and the High School Commons! 🎉 This event is a fantastic opportunity to bring our SVE families together for food 🍕, fun 🎈, games 🎲, and engagement 🤝. Plus, our PTO will be hosting a Cossack Gear Swap 👕🔄 during the event—so if you have outgrown Sioux Valley gear, bring it to trade or find something new!

Schools that thrive are schools that jive! Mark your calendars, and we can’t wait to see you there! 📅

Thank you for your continued support of Sioux Valley Elementary! 💙🤍

With Cossack Pride,

Mrs. Heather Hiltunen

SVE Principal

Our Title I Interventionist is Mrs. Bezdichek.

Happy March & how crazy! This month we will be focusing on self-control and coping skills, all while embracing our creative minds. We are all different in some ways including how we feel, what triggers our feelings, and our tools we use to move forward.

Self-control and coping skills are incredibly important for children as they are foundational to their emotional, social, and academic development. Here's why:

1. Emotional Regulation

- Self-control helps young children manage their emotions, reducing the likelihood of impulsive reactions like tantrums or outbursts. Students with better self-control are able to pause, think, and choose more appropriate responses when they feel angry, frustrated, or sad.

- Coping skills teach students how to manage difficult emotions in healthy ways, like taking deep breaths, talking about their feelings, or using positive self-talk. These skills help them navigate challenges without becoming overwhelmed.

2. Improved Social Skills

- Students who practice self-control are better at sharing, taking turns, and listening to others, which are crucial for building positive relationships.

- Coping skills, like problem-solving and managing frustration, also contribute to resolving conflicts with peers more effectively. This can lead to better friendships and fewer social issues.

3. Academic Success

- Self-control plays a huge role in academic performance. Children with self-control are better at staying focused on tasks, following directions, and resisting distractions. This helps them succeed in schoolwork and follow through on assignments.

- Coping skills also help students manage stress related to schoolwork, exams, or challenges, allowing them to stay calm and think clearly in high-pressure situations.

4. Building Resilience

- By learning coping strategies, students can develop resilience — the ability to bounce back from setbacks. For example, if a child doesn’t do well on a test, coping skills can help them process their disappointment and motivate them to try harder next time.

5. Long-Term Benefits

- The skills learned early in life contribute to overall well-being and success later in life. Children who develop self-control and coping strategies are more likely to make thoughtful decisions, avoid risky behaviors, and maintain healthy relationships as they grow older.

6. Promoting Mental Health

- Self-control and coping skills are protective factors against mental health issues. When children can manage stress and emotions effectively, they’re less likely to develop anxiety, depression, or behavioral problems. These skills provide a solid foundation for mental health and emotional well-being.

Teaching Strategies

- Modeling: Teachers and parents can model self-control and coping strategies through their own behavior.

- Role-Playing: Giving students opportunities to practice coping strategies, like taking deep breaths or expressing their feelings with words, through role-playing or scenarios.

- Encouraging Positive Reinforcement: Praising children when they show self-control or use coping strategies helps reinforce these behaviors.

Teaching children self-control and coping skills not only supports their current development but also prepares them for future challenges in school, at home, and in life.

I look forward to diving into this topic with the students and working on emotional regulation.

As always, reach out with any comments, questions, concerns.

I will send resources out as needed/at the end of the month.

Thank you all for your continued support.

-Ms. Schnose.

SVE is excited to enhance our playground with Turf Surfacing through multiple phases of upgrades! Our plan includes six key areas for improvement, providing a safer and more enjoyable play space for all students and our community.

99 students participated in the KIDS HEART CHALLENGE and raised an impressive $8,039.66—far exceeding our original goal of $5,000. Surpassing this goal so effortlessly is a testament to the strong bond we share and the meaningful heart stories that connect us. This challenge is about more than just fundraising; it’s about learning how to take care of our hearts and supporting organizations that do truly make a difference in the lives of many. Thank you for making a difference and supporting the American Heart Association!

SVE receives a portion to be used specifically for playground equipment such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, kickballs, jump ropes, and wobble boards.

Click the title above to explore "Kid Whisperer Nation Tips for Parents" from Scott Ervin on building strong relationships with students, sharing control, and promoting positive behaviors. All current Sioux Valley staff have been trained in-person by Mr. Ervin, which is why we’ve introduced classroom names, Delayed Learning Opportunities (DLOs), explicit teaching strategies, "Nows & Laters," greetings at the door, and more! These techniques help create a supportive and positive learning environment for all students. You might also find these techniques helpful at home—our hope is that your children will carry over what they are learning at school into everyday life. THIS MONTH'S TIPS:

You Have Dangerous Evil in You, Don't Add, Just Take Away, Your Kids Will Not Enjoy Their Chores, Keep Your Advice to Yourself, and Allowing Hurtful Stuff Isn't Nice.

If you haven't lately, be sure to check out the Podcasts section of their website. They are adding new episodes each month for parents and educators!
Check them out here.

And families, Scott Ervin is launching a pilot Online Behavioral Leadership for Families sessions in late May! If you are interested in signing up for this series, please send an email to: support@ervineducationalconsulting.com.

Keep up the good work! And as always, thanks for reading.

We are incredibly grateful for the Junior Achievement (JA) volunteers who have been bringing real-world learning into our classrooms again this school year! By blending JA’s dynamic programming with their own personal and professional experiences, these dedicated volunteers inspire students to think big about their futures. Through engaging lessons on careers, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and ethical decision-making, they help students see the real-world value of what they’re learning in school.

Junior Achievement is making a powerful impact by equipping students with the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed. This school year alone, nearly 2,000 JA volunteers are empowering more than 56,000 South Dakota students to dream boldly and take steps toward a successful future.

Please join us in extending our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers and teachers listed below for their dedication to JA during the 2024-25 school year. If you’re interested in making a difference by sharing your knowledge and business experience with local students—or would like to sponsor a student for just $25—please reach out to the JA office at (605) 336-7318 or jasd@ja.org.

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our Lost & Found organized, any unclaimed clothing and other items will be donated on the last Friday of each month. We kindly ask for your cooperation in labeling your child’s belongings to help ensure they are returned if lost. Recently, we made our 4th donation to the Brookings Area Goodwill. We already have a handful of hats, gloves/mittens, and boots that have been left behind by his/her owner. 😮

March 12-End of 3rd Quarter; STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students; 1:45-2:30pm

March 13-14-NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

March 17-St. Patrick's Day. Wear Green. Grade Check for 3rd-5th Grade

March 19-NO STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students

March 20-Breakfast with Deputies. Cossack Castle

March 24-STATE ASSESSMENTS begin for 5th Grade (Science)

March 26-NO STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students

March 27-SVE Assembly. Cossack Gym. 2:45pm

March 28-4th Grade Wax Museum. 2:30. Cossack Castle

March 31-SVE Family Fun Night. Tile Town/HS Commons. 5-7pm. Food, games, and fun

April 1-25-State Assessments for 3rd-5th (Math and ELA)

March 31-April 4-3rd & 4th State Assessment Week

April 2-STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students; 1:45-2:30pm

April 4-Last Day for 4th & 5th Grade RtI

April 14-5th Grade Music & Band Concert. 7pm. Cossack Gym.

April 18-NO SCHOOL-Good Friday

April 21-NO SCHOOL-Easter Monday

April 23-NO STAAR CLUB for 3rd-5th Grade Students

April 28-4th Grade Spring Concert. Performing Arts Center. 6pm

April 30-SVE Assembly. Cossack Gym. 1pm

Remaining 2024-2025 Elementary Concert Dates:

April 14-5th Grade Music & Band Concert. Cossack Gym. 7pm

April 28-4th Grade Spring Music Concert. Performing Arts Center. 6pm

Over the past few months, we’ve had the joy of celebrating the musical talents of our students at Sioux Valley Elementary!

On February 13th, eight of our singers had the incredible opportunity to participate in the SDSU Festival Choir. This prestigious event brings together students from across the state who auditioned to earn their spot in the choir.

Then, on March 3rd, we continued our celebration of Music in Our Schools Month by sending 29 Sioux Valley students to the South Dakota Music Festival in Brandon.

Both events provided our students with an amazing experience—singing alongside peers from across the state, learning from talented directors, and creating unforgettable musical memories. These were fun-filled days of collaboration, learning, and, most importantly, making music!

A special thank you to Mrs. Pingleton, our dedicated JK-5th music teacher, for her passion and commitment to fostering a love of music in our students. Her guidance and encouragement help make opportunities like these possible!

We are so proud of our students for representing Sioux Valley with talent, dedication, and enthusiasm. Keep singing, SVE! 🎤🎼💙

When your child is ill, has a doctor’s appointment, is going to be with you on family business, or will be absent for other reasons, please contact the school before 8:50 a.m. If we do not hear from you, we will make every attempt to call you at home or work to make sure your child is safe. A written excuse sent with a sibling is necessary unless parents have called the school beforehand. Please note that if your primary students have a change in dismissal routine, a note or a call to the office or teacher is needed before1:00PM, if possible.

For the protection of your children, no student is permitted to leave the school at any time during the school hours without permission from the office. Students should call their parents from a school phone and/or on their cell phone (if they have one) with permission of a staff member and with the staff member present.

Parents desiring early dismissal for students with appointments should send a note of explanation to their child’s teacher or call the elementary office prior to dismissal. Students will be released only to parents, guardians, or other authorized persons registering at the office.

If the student becomes ill during the day, the school administrative assistant or the principal will contact the parents and a designated adult will pick the student up at the office.

We prefer a phone call or email to the elementary office as teachers are busy teaching and may not be able to check email and/or to take the time to let the office know. It is important for the office to know so we can make sure attendance is recording correctly and to be aware of the whereabouts of all students.

If you’ve got something you’re wondering about, don’t be shy! Shoot me an email, and I’ll make sure to tackle your question in next month’s newsletter.