Back-to-School Newsletter 2025-2026

Sheldon High School Families,

As our first day quickly approaches, we’re excited to welcome students back into our hallways and classrooms. We have an outstanding staff that is committed to providing a nurturing and challenging environment, and helping each student to reach his or her full potential.

The information included in this newsletter is as currently scheduled. We continue to monitor the construction progress daily and will notify students and parents of any changes.

Our school day will remain the same overall, as we will begin school at 8:20am and will dismiss at 3:20 pm (2:20 pm on Wednesdays). Most classes will run for 41 minutes in an 8-period day over a semester, with the exception of the CAPS 80-minute class or college courses. We will have a 25-minute Intervention period between periods 2 and 3 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Intervention allows time for students to ask for assistance in their coursework or to provide extra study time. Intervention also allows an enrichment opportunity such as ACT test preparation or to attend a club meeting. Students may also see our counselors for personal, academic or college/scholarship needs.

We will continue to have a one-hour early out schedule on Wednesdays to allow professional development for our teachers. This time will be spent utilizing the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) process, allowing teachers to collaborate and develop effective teaching strategies to impact student learning and achievement.

We are excited to welcome several new faces to our teaching and support staff, highlighted further in this newsletter.

Thank you in advance for the active role you play in your child’s education. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (712)324-2501 or by email at nick.miller@sheldonschools.com. I am excited to serve our staff, students and families and cheer on the great things that lie ahead in 2025-2026.

Go ORABS!

Mr. Miller

Principal

Sheldon High School

The Sheldon High School Building Project has made tremendous progress throughout the summer. We're extremely grateful for the work of our construction crews, as well as our school staff members tasked with prepping and cleaning the spaces for use.

Starting the 2025-2026 school year, we're excited to utilize a number of brand new spaces. These include: 7 new general education classrooms, new Science classroom, new Science Lab, new Weight Room, and new Art, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, and Family & Consumer Science Classrooms.

As we enter Phase 3 of our Building Project, renovation begins on spaces within the original High School building. While this will have an impact on our daily experience, we are committed to providing a safe, accessible, high-quality experience for our students.

The map below shows our classroom locations for Fall Semester, as well as the areas that will be under construction. Rooms labeled in *blue* indicate brand new spaces.

Maria Mans - English/Language Arts

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Mans as our new English/Language Arts teacher! Mrs. Mans is a Northwestern College graduate, and has previously taught in Atlantic and Sibley-Ocheyedan.

Jaden Vander Berg - School Counselor

We are excited to welcome Ms. Vander Berg to our School Counseling team! Ms. Vander Berg is an MOC-FV graduate, with degrees from Dordt University and Buena Vista University. Ms. Vander Berg previously served as a School Counselor at Harlan Community High School.

Brittney Youngers - Math

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Youngers as our new Math Teacher! Mrs. Youngers is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, and has previously taught at Indianola Middle School and South O'Brien High School. Mrs. Youngers has also served as a substitute in our district.

Rachel Nickels - Library Associate

Ms. Nickels will serve as our new Library Associate! Ms. Nickels is a South Dakota State University graduate, and has experience in a number of different ventures involving books, students, and customer service.

Kayla Wolf - Special Education Associate

Kayla Wolf will serve as High School Special Education Associate. Mrs. Wolf previously owned and operated Bickering Bakers, with additional experience in a number of areas. We are excited to welcome Mrs. Wolf to our team!

Homecoming 2025 activities will be held the week of September 22-26. Homecoming Coronation will take place on Tuesday, September 23 at 8:00pm in the High School Gymnasium. The Homecoming Dance will take place on Friday, September 26 following the football game vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

Homecoming Week theme and dress-up days will be announced within the first few weeks of school.

Students are expected to dress modestly and abide by the guidelines in the Parent/Student Handbook as the new school year begins. Shorts should be at least finger tip length, a midriff (crop top) or halter top is not allowed and undergarments may not be visible. Hats, caps, bandanas, hoods or any head coverings may not be worn during the school day.

A student in grades 7-12 shall be in school the entire day of performance, practice, scheduled contest, program, or trip if he/she expects to participate in co-curricular activities. Any exception must be cleared through the administration. Seniors are required to be in school for all classes.

Contact will be made with the parent/guardian when a $6.00 balance and below is reached and will continue until the balance is above $6.00. Breakfast is $1.75 and lunch is $2.75.

Weather Announcements If there is bad weather this winter, announcements will be made on KIWA radio, and the district website. We will also notify you via text, email and/or voice if you have signed up for our messenger services.

Senior Photos Needed:

• Digital or Wallet size vertical posed photo (a digital copy is preferred)
• Baby Picture - please put your name on the back of the baby picture

Pictures due to Mr. Uhl by February 6, 2025

If you are not planning on getting seniors photos taken, please let Mr. Uhl know early in the Fall semester.

See our website (sheldonschools.com) for:

• Parent Portal/Pay Schools (where you can check your student’s grades, attendance, lunch balance & pay fees)
• Daily announcements
• Weekly Friday bulletins
• ORAB newsletters at the end of the quarter

• See Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for announcements and other event information

Sheldon Activity passes are now for sale for the 2025-26 school year. They can be purchased at the link below.

Reminders:

• All 9-12th grade students will receive a FREE pass
• Family passes = immediate family (school-age & younger)

https://tickets.gobound.com/.../h202407250236536.../checkout

If you would like to receive an electronic notification when sporting events occur and/or have been changed you can sign up at https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/sheldon

1. Click the green notifications button on the left side of the screen.
2. Enter appropriate information, and select the notifications you would like to receive and how you would like to receive them (email and/or text).

All parents and guardians have access to Campus Parent. This allows access to student grades, attendance and absences, seeing upcoming assignments and exams, as well as District Announcements and Lunch Account information. Please contact the high school office if you need help accessing Campus Parent. To download the app - search Campus Parent in the App Store or Google Play.

Students have access to all of their Sheldon High School courses through Google Classroom. If your student is having trouble locating an assignment, instructions or lesson plans when sick/absent, this is the best place to start.

If your student has questions related to a class or activity, please first encourage them to contact that staff member in person. Students have a 30-minute Intervention period each day (except Wednesdays) to check in with teachers, complete missing work, and receive extra support. If there are additional questions, click on the image to access the Sheldon High School staff directory.