Cossack Connection

Gratitude in Every Corner

As we step into the month of November, I’m reminded of one of our core values at Sioux Valley—gratitude. It’s easy to get swept up in the hustle of the school year, but this season serves as a powerful reminder to pause and reflect on the blessings around us.

At the top of my list: our students. If you ask any teacher or administrator why this job is so meaningful, the answer comes without hesitation—it’s the kids. Their energy, their laughter, their curiosity… it’s the heartbeat of our school. I consider it one of life’s greatest joys to walk alongside such tremendous young people each and every day.

I’m also grateful for our incredible staff—those who’ve served here for years and continue to lead with wisdom, and our newer team members who bring fresh energy and spark. We are truly fortunate to have a group of educators and support staff who are not only skilled, but deeply committed to our students and school community.

In a world that often pushes comparison, especially through the lens of social media, I want to emphasize just how special this place is. Our students, families, staff, bus drivers, custodians, and everyone in between contribute to making this school not only function, but thrive. It takes all of us, and I’m so thankful to be part of this team.

Here’s to a month filled with appreciation, perspective, and purpose.

With Cossack Pride,

Mr. Bolstad

SV Secondary Principal

November 5 - 1st Cell Phone Review Committee Meeting @ 2:30 - 4:00 in the MS/HS Conference Room

November 10 - School Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM

November 11 - Veteran's Day Program @ 9:00 AM in Cossack Center

November 15 & 16 - Fall Play

November 19 - Climate Team Meeting - Open to Parents @ 3:30 - 4:00 in the MS/HS Conference Room; Midterm for 2nd Quarter

November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break: No School

December 3 - 2nd Cell Phone Review Committee Meeting @ 2:30 - 4:00 in the MS/HS Conference Room; Junior Achievement Ethics Presentation to 6th Grade

December 8 - School Board Meeting

December 23 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter; Little Prairie Coffee in the Commons

Sioux Valley Schools invites all community members to join us in honoring our nation’s veterans at our annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 11th at 9:00 a.m. in the Cossack Center.

Following the program, all veterans, their families, and community members are warmly invited to stay for coffee and muffins in the Commons area as we continue to celebrate and express our gratitude to those who have served our country.

We look forward to seeing you as we come together as a community to honor our heroes.

As we approach Veterans Day, we’re proud to recognize three Sioux Valley seniors who have officially taken their oath to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Each has demonstrated tremendous courage and commitment to something greater than themselves.

• Machaela Gerasch – Army National Guard

• Tysen King – U.S. Air Force

• Dubhlainn Vermeulen – U.S. Army

We are deeply proud of these Cossacks for their dedication and willingness to serve our nation. Their swearing-in photos are shared with permission from their families as a tribute to their upcoming service.

With gratitude and Cossack Pride, we thank them for answering the call.

We are so proud to recognize these outstanding students for their hard work, leadership, and positive example at Sioux Valley:

6th Grade

Ty K.

Landon A.

7th Grade

Treyton N.

Oliver L.

8th Grade

Addison B.

Bergan O.

9th Grade

Levi L.

Deacon K.

10th Grade

Riley K.

Turner H.

11th Grade

Rylee D.

Kassidy S.

12th Grade

Abigail A.

Kamryn G.

Way to go, Cossacks! Keep leading with pride!

Northern State University is hosting the 32nd Annual NSU High School Art Invitational Exhibition, which is held online through the NSU Art Department. Students were able to submit up to two images to compete in this juried competition, and the top 50 entries accepted will be posted to the NSU Art Department Facebook page. Awards will be given to the top three places as well as certificates for honorable mention. The awards ceremony is held at the conclusion of the NSU High School Art Workshop Day on Nov. 4, 2025, and there will be a live stream of the event at 2pm on the NSU Art Department Facebook page.

Sioux Valley has nine students submitting artwork for the competition and they are pictured with their artwork(s) from left to right: Keneth Sequeira Galeano (10th), Thaily Mercado Landin (9th), Broden Teske (12th), Macy Bohnet (12th), Cian Young (12th), Weston Pitts (10th), Elise Lemme (12th), Riley Stirling (12th), Faith Johnson (12th).

"This is once again an awesome opportunity for students to submit artwork to a visual arts competition in SD. This show is juried by the NSU Art Department faculty, and part of the submission process is that only 50 artworks are chosen for this competition. I always tell students that even if their artwork is not selected, it is still a wonderful opportunity to go through this process and have jurors review their artwork from different perspectives. I am very proud of my students and the artwork they have created!" -Michael Aasness, 6-12 Art Instructor, Sioux Valley School District.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are pleased to inform you that the South Dakota Department of Education has released the school report card results, which are now publicly available for viewing.

🔗 You can access the results for Sioux Valley and all school districts here: https://sdschools.sd.gov/#/home

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and achievements of our elementary, middle, and high school students. These results reflect the commitment of our students, teachers, and families to academic excellence.

At Sioux Valley, we remain dedicated to continuous improvement and are working diligently this school year to build on the positive momentum established through last year’s efforts. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students grow and succeed.

With Cossack Pride,
Sioux Valley Administration

We’re excited to host a freewill donation bake sale during intermission of the fall play on Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 16 at 2:30 PM. All proceeds will go toward student and staff morale boosters through our Climate Team initiatives.

Donations of baked goods—homemade or purchased—are greatly appreciated! Items can be dropped off in the MS/HS office Thursday or Friday before the play.

Please note: bake sale items will be available only in the lobby during intermission. Food and drink will not be allowed in the theater.

Thank you for your support in helping make this fundraiser a success!

With Cossack Pride,
Sioux Valley Climate Team

As we head into the heart of cold and flu season, we want to remind all students and families about the importance of doing our part to stop the spread of illness at school.

Here are a few simple but important ways we can all stay healthier together:

• Wash Hands Often: Frequent handwashing with soap and water—especially before eating and after using the restroom—is one of the best defenses against germs.

• No Sharing Food or Drinks: We know it’s tempting to share snacks with friends at the lunch table, but doing so can spread bacteria and viruses. Please remind your child not to share food, drinks, or utensils.

• Cover Coughs & Sneezes: Using a tissue or coughing/sneezing into the elbow helps prevent germs from spreading to others.

• Stay Home When Sick: If your child has a fever, persistent cough, or other symptoms of illness, please keep them home to rest and recover—and to protect others.

We’re grateful for your partnership in keeping our school community healthy and thriving this season!

As we move into November with a heart full of gratitude, I want to take a moment to address an issue that stands in direct contrast to the culture we strive to build at Sioux Valley — respect for our school facilities.

Recently, we’ve seen an uptick in intentional vandalism and careless behavior: food and trash left behind in locker rooms, desks being written on, and toilet paper rolls deliberately stuffed into toilets, damaging plumbing systems. These aren't accidents — they are deliberate acts, and while they come from a very small number of students, they affect everyone.

Let’s be clear: this building belongs to every student, every staff member, and every family in our community. We take great pride in our facilities, and it’s up to all of us to care for them. When resources are spent repairing intentional damage, that’s money not being used to enhance classrooms, buy equipment, or improve student opportunities.

Our custodial team works hard, and they shouldn’t have to spend extra time undoing damage done for laughs. These actions aren’t funny — they’re disruptive, disrespectful, and ultimately hurt our community.

We talk a lot about gratitude here at Sioux Valley. One way we can live that value is by showing respect for the people and places around us — by cleaning up after ourselves, calling out behavior that doesn’t align with our expectations, and modeling what it means to take pride in our school.

Let’s continue to make this a place we’re all proud of — together.

At Sioux Valley Middle and High School, we want our mission, vision, and core values to guide our daily culture—not just hang on the wall. Your input will help us reflect and grow as a school community. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts!

https://forms.gle/J5rJRTp8tiW3cayx6

The South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health, part of the Department of Social Services, is launching an opportunity of which anyone may sign up to receive weekly affirmations via SMS text. These affirmations are geared for a wide variety of audiences and provide reminders and positive notes to self.

Once 100 individuals are signed up, weekly texts will begin.

Sign up here.

Attention Senior Families: We’ve gathered everything in one place to help guide you through this important year. Our Senior Information Hub includes key details on:

• ✅ Graduation Requirements

• 🧠 ACT & Testing Resources

• 🎓 Post-Secondary Planning & College Visits

• 💰 Scholarship Opportunities

• 📅 Important Dates (Senior pictures, caps & gowns, etc.)

• 🔗 Helpful Resources and Links

Please encourage your senior to review the information and reach out to the school counseling office with any questions. Let's make senior year a success!

Please remember to send a high-resolution senior picture to Donna.Kahler@k12.sd.us by December 23rd. This photo will be used for senior recognition throughout the year, so make sure it’s a high-quality image.

Thank you!

Methodize is a simple, yet effective online learning platform that empowers students to learn new skills and reach their potential. It offers a self-paced ACT preparation course that provides students in grades 9 to 12 with a comprehensive overview of the most effective strategies and the most relevant content for raising their ACT scores. Students who have used Methodize to study for the ACT have seen an average increase of 3 points!

Methodize is available at no cost to all South Dakota students in grades 9-12. This resource is provided by the South Dakota Department of Education and can be accessed through SDMyLife powered by Xello. Students and educators can simply log into their accounts and access Methodize at any time.

To learn more about utilizing Methodize as an ACT test preparation tool in your district, a free tutorial is available via Canvas, and you can register and view that here:

Methodize - Free ACT Test Prep Tutorial

https://sded.sd.gov/browse/division-of-college-career-and-student-success/office-of-student-wellness-and-supports/courses/methodize---free-act-test-prep-tutorial2025

Welcome back to the 25-26 school year! I found a resource I wanted to share with you that is now available at the South Dakota State Library.

Whether you have students prepping for exams or you yourself may need a little extra prep, you should check out Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep, available at https://library.sd.gov. Go to Electronic Resources and search for Gale and choose Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep. You and/or your students will need to log in or sign up to use this resource.

Browse menu to:

• Improve a Test Score in Foundational Skills, High School, College, Grad School and international tests
• Find a School – includes school and scholarship search tools, Financial Aid Quiz and a Teen’s Guide to College & Career Planning
• Explore Careers – includes career advice, online resume builder, job search and a Teen’s Guide to College & Career Planning
• Vocational Test Prep – includes prep for many of the CTE exams

Choose a category and when you click “View all”, you can add the courses to “My Resources” for quicker access.

Praxis exam prep is also available. The library will have this available for 1 year but the more it is used, the more likely they are to renew it.

If you wish to learn more, the library will have a session on Sept 3rd at 3:00pm and Sept 18 at 10:00am. Sign up is required and can be completed at https://library.sd.gov under the Training Calendar tab.

Please call the library at 605-773-3131 if you have any questions.

Thanks!

We’d like to share an article this month that we believe raises an important question for our school community to consider:

Teachers College, Columbia University — “Schools Are Accommodating Student Anxiety — and Making It Worse.” (Teachers College Columbia University)

Link to the article: Schools Are Accommodating Student Anxiety — and Making It Worse

Why this matters:
The authors argue that while accommodations made for anxious students are well‑intentioned, some may unintentionally reinforce avoidance rather than help students build resilience. The piece suggests that when everyday challenges (such as presentations, group work, or timed tasks) are removed, students may miss key opportunities to learn coping‑skills, perseverance, and confidence under real conditions.

Here are some questions you might discuss with your student or reflect on as a family:

• When have you (or your child) experienced a situation at school that felt uncomfortable—maybe a presentation, timed test, or group activity—and how did you respond?

• How does the balance between “supporting” and “enabling” look—especially when it comes to preparing for future challenges?

• What kinds of small discomforts or challenges might actually serve as “practice” for bigger ones ahead?

• How can we, as a school community, continue to create an environment where students feel safe and challenged?

We encourage you to read the article and have a conversation at home. It’s not about removing all anxiety, but about helping our students grow, adapt, and thrive—even when things are uncomfortable at first.

To provide real-time access to attendance and grades, we have the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus. Many parents/guardians and teachers are embracing technology tools like Parent Portal on Infinite Campus, Google Classroom, and email communication as alternatives to in-person conferences. These tools offer information most relevant to parent/guardian interests.

If you need help connecting to the Parent Portal to view your child's attendance and grades, please feel free to contact Angie Andreasen in the MS/HS Office. We're here to assist you with any inquiries you may have.

Website: https://www.svs.k12.sd.us/
Location: 200 Hansina Avenue, Volga, SD, USA
Phone: (605) 627-5657

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