Cossack Connection

Dear Cossack Families,

March brings new momentum to our school community, and I'm excited to share some highlights with you!

Registration Night Success

Thank you to all the families who attended our Registration Information Night sessions! The turnout was outstanding, and it was wonderful to see so many parents and students planning for the upcoming school year. A special thank you to those who joined us for Dr. Kevin Smith's "Navigating the Digital Storm" presentation.

FFA & FCCLA Week Celebrations

We've had an incredible time celebrating our FFA and FCCLA programs! Both organizations are thriving under the outstanding leadership of Mr. McMullen and Mrs. Jaquet. Our students are developing leadership skills and making meaningful contributions to our school and community. Thank you to Mr. McMullen, Mrs. Jaquet, and all our FFA and FCCLA members for representing Sioux Valley so well!

Testing Season Ahead

As we move further into March, testing season is upon us. Our 11th grade students will be taking the ACT assessment later this month. We're confident they'll do their best! Students, remember to get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, and arrive on time on test day. Parents, please help support your student by ensuring they're prepared and relaxed going into the assessment.

Congratulations, Mrs. Hageman!

Finally, I'm thrilled to share that Mrs. Hageman has been named our Teacher of the Year! This recognition is well-deserved and reflects the positive impact she has on our students. Mrs. Hageman exemplifies the excellence we strive for at Sioux Valley, and we're incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our Cossack family. Please join me in congratulating her on this outstanding achievement!

As always, thank you for your continued partnership in your student's education.

With Cossack Pride,

Mr. Bolstad

March 2 - Singo Start Day! 🎤

March 4 - National History Day at NSU

March 5 - 8th Grade Science Fair 🧪

March 11 - End of the 3rd Quarter

March 12-13 - No School

March 17 - Baked Potato Bar in Conference Room

March 23 - Juniors Meeting in Tile Town for SLA Presentation with Dr. Talcott @ 3:10

March 24 - Sioux Valley ACT Date for 11th Graders

March 27 - Staff Development Day; No School; Cell Phone Committee Meets at 8:30 AM

April 1 (periods 2-6) - MS ELA state testing - Spring 2026

April 2 (periods 2-4) - MS ELA state testing - Spring 2026

April 22 - Senior Retreat in the PAC

May 13 - Main Thing Day & MS Championship (Quiz Bowl & Volleyball)

Dr. Kevin Smith presents "Navigating the Digital Storm" at our Registration Information Night, sharing practical strategies for managing screen time and digital wellness. Drawing on insights from Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation," Dr. Smith emphasized the importance of bringing back play-based childhood experiences and understanding the unique digital challenges our students face—including the impact of social media on girls and violent video games on boys. Parents learned how to use built-in parental controls on both iPhone and Android devices to support healthy digital habits at home.

What an incredible month for our Career and Technical Education programs! Both FFA and FCCLA celebrated their respective weeks in February.

Under Mr. McMullen's leadership, our FFA program celebrated with Drive Your Tractor to School Day, school board presentations, an elementary petting zoo, and a staff breakfast. Meanwhile, Mrs. Jaquet's FCCLA program took the lead in organizing and hosting our annual Career Fair, in addition to their own school board presentation and staff breakfast celebration.

Both programs demonstrated the outstanding leadership development and real-world skills our CTE students are gaining. From agricultural education to family and consumer sciences, our students are serving their community and building the skills they'll need for future success.

Thank you to Mr. McMullen, Mrs. Jaquet, and all our FFA and FCCLA members for making this such a memorable and successful month!

Get ready for some friendly competition! The Middle School Championship takes place Wednesday, May 13 from 12:30-1:45 PM in Tile Town. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will compete for bragging rights through State Assessment Growth, Quiz Bowl, and Volleyball Tournament competitions. Points are earned through academic achievement and athletic performance. It's all about showing Cossack Pride!

Mark your calendars for Main Thing Day on Wednesday, May 13! We're setting aside the textbooks for a day focused on real-world skills that matter. Our middle and high school students will learn valuable life skills like changing a tire, cooking a basic meal, and other practical abilities that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. It's hands-on learning at its best!

Congratulations to this year's Sioux Valley Teacher of the Year recipients! Our staff gathered to celebrate the many outstanding educators who were nominated and to honor this year's award winners.

Mrs. Vicky Schneider was named Elementary Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Schneider teaches 3rd grade at Sioux Valley Elementary and was recognized for the love and care she brings to her students every day. She takes on every challenge head-on, always has her students' best interests at heart, and is known for going the extra mile for students and colleagues alike.

Mrs. Carissa Hageman was named both Secondary Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Hageman teaches 8th grade math and Algebra 1 and was recognized for her passion for teaching, her dedication to student success, and her innovative approach to instruction. She creates a classroom where students feel comfortable and engaged, posts her lessons online so students can review at any time, and keeps students consistently informed about their progress. As District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Hageman is eligible to apply for the Regional and South Dakota State Teacher of the Year Award.

We are grateful for the incredible educators we have at Sioux Valley. If you see Mrs. Schneider or Mrs. Hageman, please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to our Students of the Month! These Cossacks exemplify Gratitude, Continuous Improvement, High Expectations, Commitment, and Community. Way to represent Sioux Valley with excellence!
6th Grade: Emma A. & Hudson J.
7th Grade: Tayley K. & Annabelle H.
8th Grade: Maddyx L. & Kinsley S.
9th Grade: Caleb B. & Baleigh S. (not pictured)
10th Grade: Barron C. & Josie F. (not pictured)
11th Grade: Tyson N. & Colten S. (not pictured)
12th Grade: Cian Y. (not pictured) & Logan H.

March is Music in Our Schools Month, and we're celebrating with Spring Singo, our twist on music bingo!

Starting March 2nd, one song will play over the announcements each morning at the start of first period. Every first-period class has their own Singo card, and if the song is on their card, they mark it off! The first class to get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) and call the office to say "BINGO!" wins!

The winning class and their first-period teacher will score a Flyboy Donuts breakfast treat because donut you love music in our schools? 🍩

Students, make sure you're listening up each morning and helping your class keep track of that Singo card. Who will be our Spring Singo champions?

A Caring Community Stays Connected

At Sioux Valley, we believe in supporting one another through life's challenges. Safe2Say South Dakota is one way we can look out for each other and make sure everyone in our community has access to help when they need it.

What is Safe2Say SD?

Safe2Say SD is a free, confidential way to share concerns about yourself or someone else in our school community. Available 24/7, it connects people to caring adults who can provide support and resources.

How to Reach Out:

• Website: www.safe2say.sd.gov
• Mobile App: Download the Safe2Say SD app
• Call: 1-844-3SD-SAFE (toll-free, anytime)

Your privacy is protected, and trained staff will respond with care and support.

When Someone Might Need Extra Support

Life can be challenging, and sometimes we notice that a friend, classmate, or even ourselves could use some extra help. Safe2Say SD is available when you're concerned about:

• A friend who seems to be struggling
• Bullying or unkind behavior
• Someone who's talked about feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
• Any situation where you think someone could benefit from additional support

We're Here for Each Other

Reaching out when you're worried about someone shows that you care. It's an act of friendship and courage.

How would you like a chance to win $10,000 — and another $10,000 for your school?

Now through April 10th, DriveSafeSD.com and Lessons Learned are teaming up once again to award $10,000 to one lucky South Dakota student and $10,000 to a school program of that student’s choice!

Entering is easy:

1. Visit https://drivesafesd.com/lesson-learned/

2. Take a short quiz about safe driving habits

3. Submit your information at the end — and you’re entered!

That’s it! It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll learn important tips about making smart, safe decisions behind the wheel.

Entries are accepted through April 10th, so don’t wait!

Drive smart. Give back to your school. Take your shot at $10,000 today!

Take the Plunge for Special Olympics South Dakota!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14 and join us for the Brookings Polar Plunge! This fun community event supports Special Olympics South Dakota and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Why Take the Plunge?

High school and college students have an incredible opportunity to make a difference while having fun with friends and classmates. For every 25 students who raise the minimum $50 to participate as a Polar Plunger or Too Chicken to Plunge, they'll be eligible for a $500 scholarship!

Event Highlights:

• Support an amazing cause - Special Olympics South Dakota
• Have fun forming teams, creating costumes, and taking the plunge with friends
• Create friendly competition between grades or against rival schools
• Win scholarship money to help cover college expenses

Get Involved:

Whether you want to brave the icy water or support as "Too Chicken to Plunge," there's a way for everyone to participate. Visit www.sosd.org to find all the resources, ideas, and tools you need to start your fundraising efforts.

Scan the QR code on the attached flyer to learn more and get registered!

Let's show our Cossack spirit and support this worthy cause together. Contact [school contact person] if you have questions or want to form a school team.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
• Location: Brookings
• Fundraising Minimum: $50
• Scholarship Opportunity: $500 for every 25 participating students
• More Info: www.sosd.org

As you look ahead to your senior year, we want to share an opportunity that puts your class in control of earning a full year of senior privileges.

🎯 The Goal

Your junior class can earn full senior privileges for the entire 2026–2027 school year by meeting the following benchmark:

• Class average ACT score of 20 or higher (Science included)

• 100% participation in ACT testing across all offered test dates
  (Every junior must take the test on one of the available days)

For reference, the national ACT average is 19.4—this goal is both attainable and competitive.

💡 Why This Matters

• ACT scores are returned quickly and allow us to compare our performance to national data.

• Full participation matters. This is a team effort, and every student plays a role.

• Strong ACT performance opens doors for scholarships, college readiness, and future opportunities—while also unlocking meaningful senior privileges.

🏆 The Reward

If your class meets the goal:

• You earn a full year of senior privileges next year.

• Note: You remain eligible based on meeting criteria with attendance, grades, and positive behavior. More details to come!

The South Dakota Math and English Language Arts (ELA) assessments are administered to students in grades 3–8. South Dakota Science Assessment is administered to grades 3, 8 and 11 only. The testing window for these assessments is March 30 through May 8, 2026.

Beginning in spring 2026, 11th-grade students will take the national ACT to measure mastery of state standards. All juniors are registered to take the Sioux Valley ACT, which will be administered at 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. As this assessment is mandated by the South Dakota Department of Education, it is essential that 11th-grade students arrive on time. Because the ACT is a nationally normed assessment, late entry into the testing rooms will not be permitted.

Families are encouraged to schedule appointments, vacations, and other commitments outside of the March 24 testing date.

If an absence is unavoidable, the ACT make-up day will be Friday, March 27, 2026. Please note that students do not have regular classes on March 27; however, students taking the make-up ACT are required to report to school by 8:20 a.m.

Information regarding all assessments can be located on the South Dakota Department of Education site at www.doe.sd.gov.

Test Preparation Resources:

• ACT Test Prep: www.act.org
• Methodize ACT Prep: www.sdMyLife.com
• On to College ACT Prep: www.ontocollege.com
• March2Success: www.march2success.com
• Method Learning: www.methodlearning.com
• YouTube: Numerous videos offering testing tips and strategies

South Dakota State University's Child and Family Resource Network is offering a free six-session "Common Sense Parenting" series this spring, open to any parent or caregiver of school-aged children (K–12). Sessions run Thursdays from 6–8pm beginning March 19th at the Pugsley Center on the SDSU campus in Brookings, with classes continuing through April 30th.

The series covers practical strategies to reduce family stress, strengthen your relationship with your child, support school success, and navigate challenging behaviors with more confidence. A certificate of completion is awarded at the end, and the course is approved by Court Services and the Department of Social Services. A Spanish language option is available upon request.

Registration is required. To sign up, call 1-800-354-8238 or 605-688-5730, or email SDSU.FRN@sdstate.edu. Space is limited, so don't wait!

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!

Our staff regularly engages in professional learning focused on strengthening classroom practices and supporting student growth. From instructional strategies to student engagement and behavior, these readings help ensure we are aligned, reflective, and continually improving. We’re sharing a few highlights that may also be helpful for families at home.

When “Boring” Really Means “Difficult”

One of the most important things we can do as parents and educators is help our kids understand that struggle is a normal, healthy part of learning. When students hit a challenging section of a book or wrestle with a tough math concept, their instinct is often to say, “This is boring.” But researchers are finding that boredom and difficulty are easy to confuse, and our response to that complaint matters.

“When students say, ‘This is boring,’ parents and educators should query whether the student is truly bored or has been tasked with wading through a difficult section of text. Our cultural values right now seem bent on avoiding boredom at all costs, which almost certainly means sacrificing difficulty.”

– Liz Cohen, Education Next

This connects to another insight from researcher Carl Hendrick: the strategies that feel the hardest are often the ones that produce the deepest learning. Summarizing, self-testing, and working through confusion are more effective than rereading and highlighting, even though rereading feels more comfortable. As Hendrick puts it:

“We should impress upon students the value of short-term struggle in order to achieve long-term gain, a pattern we see again and again in achievement in many different domains of expertise.”

– Carl Hendrick, Academica University

Students moving from This is impossible to Oh wait, I can do this is one of the best experiences they can have in school. At home, you can reinforce this by encouraging your child to stick with a challenging assignment a little longer before giving up, and by celebrating the effort and persistence rather than just the final grade.

Every Day Counts: New Research on Attendance

Most schools define “chronic absenteeism” as missing 10% or more of the school year, which works out to about 18 days. But a new study from the University of Michigan tracked nearly 9,000 students from pre-kindergarten through middle school and found that academic problems begin showing up at just a 7% absence rate, or roughly 12-13 days. The research also showed that as students move into the upper grades, the connection between missed days and lower achievement in both reading and math grows stronger.

The takeaway for families: every day at school matters more than we might think, and the impact of missed days adds up over time. Of course, sick kids should stay home. But for those borderline days when your child could go either way, this research suggests that getting them to school makes a real difference.

Thank you for all you do to support your students at home. We are proud to partner with you in their education. Have a wonderful March!

Looking for ways to help your student stay organized? ADHD expert Dr. Russell Barkley suggests that low-tech tools often work better than apps and digital devices. Why? Smartphones and tablets are designed to be distracting, even when using helpful apps.

Simple strategies that work:

• Sticky notes in visual areas (desk, mirror, door) for daily tasks
• Paper journals to record assignments and break down big projects
• Paper calendars with week-at-a-glance or day planner formats
• To-do list pads for daily task tracking

The key: Keep information visible where your student works and studies. External reminders work better than relying on memory alone.

Watch Dr. Barkley's full video: https://youtu.be/XU5LPcpF_tI

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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