It doesn’t seem possible that we are already looking at “springing” our clocks ahead. Daylight Saving Time, March 10th, is fast approaching, so don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour.

Thank you for attending parent/teacher conferences on February 1st. We always look forward to meeting with each of you and sharing the learners’ highlights and academic successes. We had a great turnout, and it was so wonderful to be able to see so many of you!

Please see the Dates To Remember section of this newsletter for upcoming events as well as the Mark Your Calendars section for dates to know that will happen further in the future. We appreciate you doing your best to schedule doctor appointments and family vacations around those dates as much as possible.

All 3rd-5th grade learners will take part in the South Dakota Smarter Balance Testing in April. Please try to avoid scheduling any appointments or school absences during the testing dates. We appreciate your help and the encouragement you can provide your child. Please watch for more detailed information to come from your child/ren’s teacher.

We had an excellent turnout for our annual LO Family BINGO Night! Thank you to all the teachers and staff who helped put on the event for our LO families. Fun was had and several prizes and family games were given out. Thank you to our Title I teachers for organizing the games for a Family Engagement evening.

Think Spring!

Mrs. Heckenlaible

As it stays dark and cold in the mornings, we want to make you aware that the doors do not open and supervision doesn't start until 7:30 AM. It can be very cold in the mornings so we want you to be aware that if you drop your children off before 7:30 am and leave, our building is not open and that can be very dangerous for them. Please make other arrangements. Thank you for your attention on this matter!

Please update your info in the Campus Portal OR contact the office at 605-995-3092 so we have your information correct. Why does it matter?

• If your child is hurt or injured and we need to get ahold of you or an emergency contact.
• If school is being released early, we could send you a message alerting you to that.
• If school is cancelled due to weather, you may receive a message alerting you, but you should always listen to the radio and/or watch the local news in case our messaging system is delayed.
• Longfellow, or the school district, ocasionally sends letters in the mail especially at the end or begining of the school year. We need an updated address so you can receive that.
• If you have gotten married or had a baby, we need to get that name listed in your family's household.

We have no way of knowing if you moved or your phone number has changed so we really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us to update your info.

May is only a few short months away so please check backpacks for important info that will be coming home. Remember, if we do not receive a signed form, your child may miss out on a fun activity. Things to watch for in the next few months include:

• Spring Picture Forms (photos only taken if packet is returned)
• Yearbook Order Forms
• Teacher Request Forms for the 24-25 School Year
• Field Trip Permission Forms
• Longfellow T-shirt Order Form

When asking your child about their day, ask if they have any papers to show you. The classroom teachers are also good about mentioning these things in their weekly newsletters so make sure you are signed up for SeeSaw or Dojo. If you are not, contact the classroom teacher.

Don't forget that we serve breakfast each morning before school! Please have your child arrive BEFORE 8:10 AM to get through the breakfast line.

Studies show that eating breakfast at school has many advantages.

According to healthychildren.org

• Kids perform even better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast. Maybe because they're eating closer to test time.
• Kids who eat breakfast at school have improved attendance and behavior.
• Kids who eat breakfast at school have improved academic performance.
• Students who eat at school are tardy less often and their math scores are higher.

If your child(ren) qualified for free or reduced lunches last year, you need to reapply each year and it expired October 31st. If you did not reapply, your child(ren)'s lunch account has been adding up. Please ask the office for an application or click the link above and return it to the office ASAP!

There are a lot of things happening in Mitchell! One way to keep up with that is to look at the monthly events calendar for Mitchell Main Street and Beyond.

Please remember to go to the corner and cross the street with the crossing guards. Please do NOT encourage your child to cross in the middle of the street. We want to keep ALL of our students safe and set a good example.

• Stuffy noses ,coughs, etc., are common occurrences and we do not expect kids to stay home for every sniffle.
• Vomiting, diarhea and fevers are reasons to stay home....please.
• You are welcome to bring OTC medications for your child(ren) but they must be kept locked in the nurse's office.

Read Across America week is March 2-6. We will celebrate with dress up days on March 6-8. See the graphic below for our dress up themes.

While we want our Lions to have fun, remember that we still have a typical school day. Those one-piece footie Pjs tend to get very hot. Also, we will still go outside for recess and shoes are required for that. It might be nice out but slippers just won't work. No colored hair spray or face paint.

Join us as we celebrate the silliness of Dr. Seuss!

Spring Break = Mar 14-17, 2024 (No School)

Easter Break = Mar 29-Apr 1, 2024 (No School)

Teacher Development = Apr 15 (No School)

The South Dakota summative testing window runs from March - May 3rd. We do most of our testing in April. Please avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, if at all possible. Testing with their peers is the most normal testing environment for our students. If they miss testing dates, they will have to make them up during important class time. Your help is much appreciated! More detailed grade-level information will come out when the schedule is finalized.

Please check out the Dates to Remember section of this newsletter as well as the section above for dates that we do not have school. They would be the perfect time to schedule appointments or travel.

As we prepare for the Smarter Balance testing, learners will be required to use their headphones. Ask your child if their headphones work. Can their hear out of both ears? Have they been chewing on the cord like a cat? You may bring your own or purchase some from the office for $5.00.

Fun is always found in the art room. Our Lions use so many different mediums. One day they may work with chalk or paint but the next it could be clay. We love seeing what comes out of the art room!

Download the District app and then turn on notifications for Longfellow.

PE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONTH

• BK/K improved their biking skills on the Striders.

• Valentine games, races, and challenges got our hearts pumping.

• Finished up our volleying unit which included the following: balloons, badminton, beach volleyball, and pickleball!

*Remember Tennis Shoes On Gym Days - No Snow Boots Allowed!

Towards the end of the school year (which will be here before we know it), each grade level/den has the opportunity to attend a field trip. Please note that field trips must be earned by the following rules, showing and bing respectful to others, being a positive leader, and upholding their grades (to name a few). Teachers will review their lists and determine all who have earned the privilege.

Pay attention to and do not dismiss another person's thoughts, feelings and ideas; Seek to put myself in the other person's shoes; Tell others when I can relate to what they are expressing; Hold thoughts at a distance in order to respect another person's point of view and feelings.

Think about how something might be done differently from the "norm"; Propose new ideas; Strive for originality; Consider novel suggestions others might make.

We celebrated Mrs. Krell, our school counselor (plus 5th grade band teacher) on National School Counselor Day. We sure do appreciate all Mrs. Krell does from classroom guidance, to spending each and every day in the lunchroom supervising. Mrs. Krell also spends one-on-one time with students as well as small group sessions.

Miss Osthus's class did research on some of the different types of tribes and then chose one to write about. There was so much to learn when reading these essays.

3B read books and then compared them, choosing which book was their favorite.

The students in 5C read the book, "The Day the Crayons Quit". The book is written from the point of view of the crayons who are complaining about about Duncan. They each feel he is not using them them best he could be. So, of course, they are quitting. The students were asked to write a letter back to a color and adress all of the concerns from that crayon, using Dunan's point of view.

The Mitchell Community Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)3 organization created in 2001 and maintained to provide scholarships for every graduating senior from MHS or MCHS that qualifies. This fund assists Mitchell’s graduating seniors to attain their goals of continuing educational opportunities and to demonstrate Mitchell’s belief in their youth. The student must attend a postsecondary institution to receive the scholarship money and complete the necessary claim form. A board of directors oversees the efforts, and all monies raised are done through fundraising and special events. Community members and school representatives are members of the board that has no fiscal relationship with the Mitchell School District or Mitchell Christian School. Funds are held and managed by the Mitchell Area Charitable Foundation with 100% of money raised dedicated to scholarship awards.

The parent portal is a great way to see your child's grades and attendance.

• "I know I asked the doctor's office to send a note for that appointment, but did they remember to do so?"
• "I sent the doctor note with my child. Did she remember to deliver it to the office?"

The best way to check on that is to log on to your parent portal. You may not see daily grades but you will be able to see their quarter grades and, of course, attendance. The parent portal will become extrememly important as your child moves on to Middle School and High School as you can check on missing assignements and current grades. Also, the parent portal is where you update your info at the end of each year, which registers your child for the upcoming school year. PLEASE, famlilarize yourself with the portal. If you do not remember your log on info, please ask the office.