November Newsletter

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Soup N’ Pie Supper on October 14th at Neil Dardis Elementary School!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, donated, contributed pies, purchased raffle tickets, and helped make this event a success. It was wonderful to see our school community come together to support NDES and continue a tradition that has been part of our school for decades.

A special thank you to our students and staff for all their hard work preparing for the event!

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching November and have completed the first quarter of the 2026–2027 school year at Neil Dardis Elementary School! The past few months have been filled with learning, activities, celebrations, and opportunities for our students to grow. As we settle into the second quarter, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has taken place and share some updates about what lies ahead.

We kicked off the school year in August by welcoming students and families back to NDES. Since then, our students have been busy establishing classroom routines, building relationships, and working toward their academic goals. Our teachers and staff continue to emphasize the importance of consistent expectations, student responsibility, and academic growth. As we move through the school year, our focus remains on strengthening student achievement in reading and mathematics while providing a positive, supportive learning environment for all students.

September brought plenty of school spirit with Homecoming Week! Our students enjoyed participating in dress-up days, school activities, and the Homecoming Parade. These events are always a great opportunity for our elementary students to connect with the larger school community and show their Raider and Charger pride.

October was another busy month, highlighted by our annual Soup 'n' Pie Night on October 14. This long-standing school tradition was once again a success, bringing students, families, staff, and community members together for an evening of food and fellowship. Events like Soup 'n' Pie continue to demonstrate the strong connection between our school and the community.

We also recently completed our first quarter and held Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 15. These conversations are an important part of student success, and we encourage families to continue communicating with teachers throughout the school year. Our first-quarter assessments have provided valuable information about student progress and areas where additional instruction or support may be needed. We will continue using this information to guide instruction and help students work toward their academic goals.

As we look ahead, preparations are already underway for our Elementary Christmas Concert on December 7 at the Lakota Community Center! Under the direction of our new music teacher, Ms. Emelia Stover, students have begun practicing and preparing for their performances. The Christmas Concert is always a special opportunity for students to showcase their hard work and musical talents while bringing families and community members together to celebrate the holiday season. We look forward to seeing everyone there, and additional information regarding the concert will be shared as the date approaches.

As the weather begins to change, I also want to remind families of the importance of sending students to school dressed appropriately for North Dakota's colder temperatures. We will continue to have outdoor recess whenever conditions allow, so winter coats, hats, gloves, snow pants, and boots will soon become part of our daily routine. Please make sure your child has the necessary clothing to enjoy recess comfortably and safely.

Regular attendance and arriving at school on time also remain important priorities. Every school day provides opportunities for learning, and consistent attendance helps students maintain routines, develop skills, and stay connected with their classmates and teachers. We appreciate families making school attendance a priority.

As we continue through the second quarter, our emphasis remains on maintaining high expectations, encouraging student independence, and providing meaningful learning opportunities. Academic growth takes consistent effort, and we want our students to develop not only the skills needed to be successful in the classroom but also the responsibility, perseverance, and positive habits that will benefit them beyond elementary school.

Finally, I want to thank our teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, families, and community members for everything they do for our students. The success of our school depends on the collective effort of everyone involved. Our staff continues to work hard to provide meaningful learning experiences, maintain high expectations, and help each student grow academically and socially.

There is much more to look forward to in the months ahead. Thank you for your continued support of Neil Dardis Elementary School and for being an important part of our school community.

Go Raiders and Go Chargers!

Mr. Sam Preble
Principal, Neil Dardis Elementary School

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We absolutely love seeing your children at school every day, but their health and well-being—and the health of our school community—are our top priorities.

As a friendly reminder, if your child has been sick, they must be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. This helps ensure a full recovery and prevents the spread of illnesses to others.

We kindly ask for your vigilance in monitoring any symptoms your child may experience and encourage you to keep them home if they are unwell. Together, we can keep our classrooms happy and healthy for everyone!