Note from the Principal
Memorial Middle School Parents,
As we enter into November, I am grateful for the support of the Memorial Community. Thank you for attending your child’s fall parent-teacher conference. We know how important it is for your child’s success that we work together on their behalf. At conferences, it was our goal to communicate important information with you and to set future goals.
I would also like to thank you for supporting Memorial throughout our fall fundraiser. Giving is from the heart, and your generosity will have a positive impact upon students and our school community. Please plan to turn in your Butter Braid Fundraising form to the office by November 2nd. On Monday, November 14th, parents can pick up their frozen butter braids from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Memorial cafeteria.
I am also grateful for all the hard work of our teachers and staff. We are here to serve you and your child. If you have questions regarding your child’s social, emotional or academic needs, please feel comfortable contacting a teacher, counselor, clerical or administrator to get your questions answered as we continue to work together in the best interest of our students.
Building Up or Tearing Down
By Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent
Raising children is difficult.Working with children can be difficult. But parenting and working with children can also be the most rewarding and meaningful things we can do.
When we care for our babies, we focus on their basic needs, and our entire lives are consumed with feeding and sleeping schedules. I often looked back and wondered why it was so hard to get something done when my children were babies when all they did was sit in one place and smile at me!
When we reach the toddler stage, we deal with busy hands and feet that require constant monitoring to keep children safe from power outlets, falling objects, and eating dog food. Well, maybe the dog food was just at my house! There are tantrums in the toy aisle, bargaining over candy in the grocery store checkout lanes, and the continual need for reteaching and redirection as we train children about what is right and wrong.
Finally, children are ready for school, and the focus shifts to helping them learn, dealing with friendships and social settings, and learning accountability and responsibility through activities and new challenges.
At last, independence arrives, and worries shift to safe driving, safe choices, and hoping they don’t head down a path that leads to failure or hinders their adult trajectory.
My youngest child graduated, and I felt this overwhelming relief. We had run the gauntlet and come out on the other side. Now I had to worry about my children from a distance. I would no longer be able to monitor their daily life, and it was time for them to be responsible for their adult choices.
When I think about the community of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls School District, I am continually amazed and reminded of so many things that have been put in place to support children and families through the journey of parenting and school. From essential resources to awesome activities, we live in this fantastic place where the focus is on helping families thrive.
As we look to the future, there are new challenges and opportunities, and for me, there is a clear line for determining what should become part of our Sioux Falls life.
- Does it build kids and families up or tear them down?
- Does it make it easier to be a child in Sioux Falls, or does it make it more difficult?
- Does it help families thrive or create new avenues for challenges?
Every day, thousands of people come to work in Sioux Falls to make a difference in a child's life. It has never been easy work, and it never will be. Let’s make sure we’re doing everything possible to increase those things that make parenting and working with children better and reduce and eliminate obstacles to that goal whenever possible.
Our children depend on us for a bright future!
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.”
Holiday Assistance - Family Needs
As we prepare for the colder months and the holiday season, there are different needs that arise for families. We are very fortunate to have many resources available in our community to help with providing coats, clothing, food, and gifts for families in need. Here is a list of local holiday assistance resources on the 211 Helpline Website:
8th Grade Career Exploration: SD MyLife/Xello Program
Renee Halde (8th Grade Counselor) has gone into all 8th grade social studies classes recently to introduce students to the SD MyLife/Xello Program. This program introduces students to a variety of careers and resources at their fingertips. Students have taken a career interest inventory, which suggests careers matched with their interests. We encourage you to have your son or daughter login to their account and discuss the careers that match their interests.
Importance of Family Dinners - Connecting Time
A stack of studies link regular family dinner with lowering a host of high risk teenage behaviors parents fear: smoking, binge drinking, marijuana use, violence, school problems, eating disorders, and sexual activity. In one study of more than 5,000 Minnesota teens, researchers concluded that regular family dinners were associated with lower rates of depression and suicidal thoughts. In a very recent study, kids who had been victims of cyberbullying bounced back more readily if they had regular family dinners.
Second Step (Social Emotional Learning) Program
Here is a summary of the November Second Step Lessons being taught in PRO Time (1st period) & parent/guardian follow-up questions to go with each lesson:
Drug & Alcohol Prevention - Talk Early & Often
Research shows that parents are the #1 reason young people decide not to drink or do drugs. So, start talking to your children about alcohol before they start drinking—as early as 9 years old. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, they really do hear you. Here are some additional resources:
Gently Used Shoes for PE
Contact Us
Office Hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday - Friday)
After Hours: (605) 362-2792
- Press 1 for attendance
- Press 2 to leave a message
Cafeteria: (605) 362-2799
Counseling Office: (605) 362-2789
After School Program: (605) 370-9649
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/memorial/home
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