Welcome Back to School

Whether you are returning to Simle or joining us for the first time, I want to take a moment to welcome all of you to our school.

Orientation for 6th graders and students new to Simle will be held on Tuesday, August 4th in the Auditorium - see the Important Events below to know which one your family should attend.

I appreciate your patience with Simle as we navigate through statewide system changes. At this time, we are unsure of how the schedules will be handled in the fall due to those changes. We will send out further updates as the school year gets closer.

The supply list is available below or on our website. Our academic school year begins on Thursday, August 20th: 6th grade @ 8:40 a.m; 7th grade @ 9:00 a.m; and 8th grade @ 9:20 a.m, all with a regular end of day dismissal at 3:30. Students will meet in the gym and then be dismissed to their homebase class. Our regular schedule begins on Friday, August 21st, with school beginning at 8:40 a.m. and dismissing at 3:30 p.m.

I encourage all of you to join us for our Open House on Monday, August 17, 2026. See event information below for details. If your child will be taking medication at school, please bring the required paperwork, along with the medication to the main office.

The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a great opportunity for parents to get involved in their child's school. If you are interested, please sign up here. You can find PAC meeting dates, agendas, and minutes all posted on Simle's PAC website.

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the school. I look forward to a successful school year here at Simle, as well as working with you and your child.

Sincerely,

Russ Riehl

Principal

We operate a closed noon period. All students will remain inside the school building for lunch. Students can eat school lunch, bring a lunch from home (milk may be purchased at the school), or if they choose not to eat, a place will be provided for them to spend their time. Parents must come into the office and sign your child out if you plan to take them out for lunch. Students are not allowed to bring outside food or drinks back with them, so please have them finish it before checking back in.

We operate a computerized meal payment program. Students use their school ID number to access their account. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:40 a.m. and lunch is served during each grades lunch period. Students are notified by the cashier when their account dips to a low balance. Please help in monitoring your child's account to ensure they have adequate funds. A la carte items range from $.40 to $2.50. Meal payment may be brought to Student Services or through the district's online payment program, LINQ Connect. If paying by check, please write the student's ID number on the check. Sorry for the inconvenience, but we do not accept payment by card in school.

At Simle, we recognize that safety for our students is an important issue. Simle has developed a comprehensive safe school plan to ensure our students' safety. Our staff, parent advisory council and our school emergency team have reviewed this plan. Specific procedures have been put in place should a safety emergency arise at our school.

Please notify us of any changes to home, work, and emergency contacts phone numbers. It is very important that we have current information as those numbers are used for alerts. Please email registrar@bismarckschools.org to request an address change form. Be sure to include your email address, full name, student(s) name, and a phone number in case of questions. More information can be found here regarding address changes.

Due to the Statewide system change, your information will not be processed until the new system is up and functioning.

Behind the scenes, the district is working to seamlessly move all of our student information from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. We will send out further updates regarding Infinite Campus as the school year gets closer. We truly appreciate your patience as we work together through this change.

Please do not double park in front of the school. This causes congestion and danger for students on foot. Please do not drop off or pick up students in the parking places reserved for staff and school buses. This will help in getting the area cleared as quickly as possible. Attempt to meet your child in a designated spot near the school to avoid congestion. Students arriving at school before 8:30 a.m. may go to the cafeteria for breakfast, to their assigned grade level gathering area, or remain outside. In the morning, students can be dropped off on both the West side (19th Street) or East side (Simle Dr.) entrances. Once the school day begins at 8:40 a.m., all students must enter on the East side entrance. This is the same for any guests entering the building.

All buses will load and unload on the West side of the building at the 19th Street entrance. After school, we ask parents to NOT pick up their students on the West side, as it is for buses only. Parents can pick students up to the North, East, or South of the campus. If you have any questions, please let us know.

It is required that all students taking physical education wear the shirt that is being used in all BPS middle and high schools. Shirts may be purchased for $5 on MyPaymentsPlus and then picked up from the gym instructor once school starts. Students can also wear the same shirt from last year, or from a sibling, and they are more than welcome to purchase more than one if they would like an extra. Students are also required to wear tennis shoes.

End of nine-week dates are October 21, January 15, March 19, and May 26. The link to your student's quarterly report cards will be emailed accordingly after each quarter. The final report card link will be emailed after June 2, 2027. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress, feel free to call or make an appointment with your child's team.

Through federal education law, parents have the right to request information on the professional qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals at our school. If you are interested in learning this information, please contact the school administration office at 701-323-4600. Upon this request, you will receive a detailed explanation of licensing, education, and experience of our teachers. You will also receive information regarding the names and qualifications of the paraprofessionals at our school.

Parents are required to notify the attendance office of any student absences. You can either call, email sms_attendance@bismarckschools.org, or send a note with your student to drop off in the main office. This should be done immediately the morning of the absence. You may need to leave a voicemail if you call as the main office can be quite busy. Students will be marked unexcused by their teachers if they are not physically in the classroom when it starts and by the attendance office if we are not notified by a parent that the student will be absent. Please be patient with us as we manually enter each student's absence. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Pictures will be taken:

• Wednesday, September 16th
• Thursday, September 17th

Retakes will be:

• Wednesday, October 28th

More information will be sent for scheduling your parent teacher conference closer to conference time.

• October 19, 2026 4:00 p.m. -- 7:45 p.m.
• October 20, 2026 4:00 p.m. -- 7:45 p.m.

• February 8, 2027 4:00 p.m. -- 7:45 p.m
• February 9, 2027 4:00 p.m. -- 7:45 p.m.
  

PLEASE USE MY PAYMENTS PLUS OR LINQ CONNECT FOR PAYMENTS. If necessary to bring a check to school for lunch, sports fees, lab fees, etc., we ask that you do not combine checks for these fees. It would be helpful if you would note on the memo part of the check the student's name and purpose of the check (Memo: Brian Smith - Football fee). All fees are distributed to separate accounts for bookkeeping purposes and the office does not keep change readily available.

Backpacks are not permitted in classes or hallways during the school day. Students may bring a backpack to school, but it will remain in their locker during instructional hours. Students will develop the skills to prioritize their needs to be successful in class and utilize their locker accordingly.

Cell phones and/or electronic communication devices will be stored in the homebase of the individual student during instructional time. Students will pick up their communication devices at the end of the day from their homebase teacher. If a student arrives late to school, they are to turn their communication device into their homebase teacher prior to going to class. If a student leaves throughout the school day, they can retrieve their communication device from their homebase and return it once they return to school. Communication devices are not permitted for use in locker rooms or restrooms at any time while on campus. Continued defiance with this plan will result in a referral to the school administrative office. Smart watches are classified as a communication device for this policy. Further, the school is not responsible for personal property which includes cell phones.

DO NOT BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS TO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY!! Also, please record the serial number of their instrument at home and also place an insurance rider on their homeowner's insurance policy as a protection to lost instruments.

Illness During School Hours

Simle will be staffed with a nurse, part-time. Students should see the nurse if available, if not then go to the main office to notify their parents when they are ill. Parents must come into the school office to sign their child out of school.

School Immunization Requirements

To Return to School After Illness Your Child Must

• Be without vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours
• Be without an uncontrolled or persistent cough
• Have an oral temperature less than 100 degrees without the use of medication
• Feel well enough to take part in the usual school day

Medications

Under most circumstances, prescribed or non-prescribed medication should be dispensed before or after school, and under parent or medical supervision. If you would like staff to administer, or have your student self-administer any medication while on school property or during district-sponsored events, his/her parent must first complete the Medication Administration Authorization: Middle/High Schools form. If written parental authorization is not on file at our school, students' medication may be confiscated, and parents notified.

Click the BPS Health Services button below to navigate to the correct document.

Simle offers a wide variety of activities for all students. Activities are a great way to stay active, get involved with the school, and meet new friends! All students are highly encouraged to join at least one activity this fall! Please refer to our Simle Activities website for up-to-date schedules and information as we near the start of fall activities.

You'll be able to access the registration link directly from your school's activities/athletics page on the BPS website. Registration for the 2026-27 sports seasons will be available after June 1.

Look for this picture!

• Attend the first scheduled meeting or practice date.
• Complete Online Registration (available June 1st)
• Have a yearly sports physical and upload clearance form with your online registration.

1. The online registration site will not allow you to register without providing documentation of your child's completed physical exam.
2. VERY IMPORTANT - ALL athletes must have their physical exam AND online registration completed prior to the first practice date of the activity they are participating in. They CANNOT practice until these items are complete!
3. Yearly physicals are not required for 6th grade activities, though 6th grade students are encouraged to have a yearly physical completed before participating.

• Pay your activity fee online through MyPaymentsPlus or in the office.

• $40/season, $100 maximum per year/student, family maximum $200/family
• $20/season for 6th grade activities
• MyPaymentsPlus will be available for the 2026-27 school year in mid-August.

Please have your activity fees paid before the first practice date.

6-8 Cross Country: Boys & Girls

• First Practice: Monday, August 17th - 4:15-5:15 PM @ Hillside Park (meet in parking lot east of the pool)
• Parent Meeting: Monday August 17th @ 5:15 PM following practice @ Simle Auditorium
  
  

7-8 Cheerleading:

• First Practice: Monday August 17th - 5:30-6:30 PM @ Simle Commons Area
• Parent Meeting: Monday, August 3rd - 5:30 PM @ Simle Cafeteria

7-8 Football:

Wednesday, August 12th

• 5:00-5:30: Parent Meeting in the Auditorium
• 5:30-6:30: 7th & 8th Grade Concussion Baseline Testing (SWAY TEST)
• 7th & 8th Grade gear handout to follow the concussion baseline testing

**ALL 7TH & 8TH GRADE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WILL COMPLETE A NEW BASELINE CONCUSSION TEST THIS YEAR ("SWAY TEST"). PLEASE BRING A MOBILE DEVICE (SMARTPHONE, TABLET, IPAD) TO THE MEETING SO THIS TEST CAN BE COMPLETED. DOWNLOADING THE "SWAY MEDICAL BALANCE & COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT" PRIOR TO THE MEETING IS ALSO ENCOURAGED**

Monday, August 17th:

• First Day of Practice: 4:30-6:00 PM

7-8 Volleyball:

• Parent Meeting: Tuesday, August 11th - 7:00 PM @ Simle Auditorium
• Monday August 17th - First Day of Practice
• 7th Grade: 4:15-5:45 PM
• 8th Grade: 6:15-7:45 PM

6-8 Boys Soccer:

• Parent Meeting: Tuesday, August 11th - 5:30 PM @ Simle Auditorium
• 7th-8th Grade First Practice: Monday, August 17th - 5:45-7:00 PM @ Rita Murphy
• 6th Grade First Practice: Monday, August 17th - 4:30-5:30 PM @ Rita Murphy

7-8 Boys Golf:

• First Practice: Monday, August 17th - 4:30 PM @ Pebble Creek Golf Course
• Parent Meeting: Monday, August 17th @ 6:00 PM following practice

6th Grade Girls Basketball:

• First Practice: Monday, August 24th - 6:30-7:30 PM @ Simle Gym

Adult season tickets are $90.00, Senior Citizen (age 62+) are $55.00, and student season tickets are $30.00. These are available for payment on MyPaymentsPlus or at the school office. Single admission prices are $5/student, $7/Adult, $6/senior citizen. Season tickets include admittance to the following sporting events for BHS, CHS, and LHS: baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, swimming, track, volleyball, and wrestling. None of the season tickets cover invitational tourneys or NDHSAA sponsored events.

The Bismarck Public School District is a member of the NDHSAA (North Dakota High School Activity Association) but not a member of the NDHSAA Accident Benefit Fund. Therefore, parents are responsible for all costs associated with a school related injury.

Principal

• Russ Riehl

Assistant Principals

• Jeremy Burgard
• Randy Lamberth

School Counselors

• 6th Grade - Mr. Willis ext. 5313
• 7th Grade - Mrs. Winckler ext. 5315
• 8th Grade - Mrs. Boyce ext. 5314

Important Phone Numbers

• School Office: 323-4600
• Attendance: 323-4603
• Student Lunch Accounts: 323-4612

**ATM now available near the gym**