Ms. Simmons' Secondary Scoop

Fall conferences will be held in the north gym on Mon, 9/18 from 2:30-8 PM & Wed, 9/20 from 2:30-4 PM in a first come, first served format. Sign-up links to reserve a specific time will only be utilized by those indicated below. School will dismiss both days at 2:15 PM. Here are the details:

• Mrs. Wold & Mrs. Yackley will still do a sign up & conduct conferences in their classroom/office. Mrs. Wold's conference link is available HERE & Mrs. Yackley's conference link is HERE.
• Special Education teachers will conduct conferences in their classrooms; if their door is shut, please wait outside the classroom until the door opens
• Mr. Harming will be available in his office
• K-12 specials teachers (art, music, PE, & band) will all be in the north gym during conferences
• Teachers will be spread throughout the north gym. A handful of teachers may briefly step away from their table to attend their own child's conference; thank you for your understanding as they do this as quickly as possible.

Homecoming week is next week! The student council and staff have been busy planning and preparing. Please click here to see all the details, including dress up days and special events.

We are looking forward to a wonderful homecoming week and know it will be a highlight for our entire Herd community.

As fall activities are now underway, please take a moment to read through our expectations for spectators at Elkton events. By adhering to these expectations, students and fans can contribute to a supportive and spirited environment that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Go Elks!

It's a common question parents/guardians ask their student(s), and access to online lesson plans provides meaningful conversation concerning homework and what students are learning. Online lesson plans also open lines of communication when students miss school. Students can first check online to see the plan for each of their classes, and follow up with the teacher(s) to complete what was missed. I hope this continues to be a valuable resource for our families.

In an effort to cut down on injuries and other safety concerns, horseplay has been added to the discipline matrix at the secondary level as approved by the school board. Horseplay is defined in the student handbook as rough, rowdy, or boisterous play or pranks, such as pushing, shoving, putting someone in a headlock, jabs, pulling a chair out from someone, dunking, or other actions typically described as “just joking” or “messing around.” Consequences for horseplay will first be a verbal warning, then after school detention if it happens again, and then ISS if there is a third offense. As always, the secondary student handbook is linked at the bottom of this newsletter and available to view on our school website.

While junior high and high school students are striving towards independence, there are three important ways to stay connected to your student’s education:

1. Please make sure all current contact information (cell phone, mailing address, & email address) is provided to the school. All three of these communication outlets are used regularly throughout the school year.

2. Please login to the Parent Portal at a minimum of once per week to check your student’s grades and attendance. If you do not have an account, please contact Mrs. Mirista Bushman or Mrs. Bonnie Yackley by calling the school or emailing mirista.bushman@k12.sd.us / bonnie.yackley@k12.sd.us.

3. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and download our free app, “Elkton School District, SD” to stay up-to-date with school events and activities.

Website: https://www.elkton.k12.sd.us/
Phone: (605) 542-2541
Facebook: facebook.com/ElktonSchool53
Twitter: @ElktonSchool

A few back-to-school reminders as we head into our new year:

• Link to the JH/HS student handbook

• Link to online lesson plans

• Link to all school activities

As always, please let me know if there's anything I can do to serve you and our secondary students.

Sincerely in Education,