ROOSEVELT TIMES Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, SD

(605) 362-2860 Volume 25, Edition 4

November, 2016

Rider Remarks By Tim Hazlett, RHS Principal

The month of November marks the end of the first quarter of school. One down and three

to go! I don't say this insinuating that I am looking forward to the end already, but rather to

remember that from an academic stand point, there is a lot of time left for learning and

improvement. One of the qualities that we stress as a staff at RHS is fortitude. Fortitude is a

leadership quality that was highly valued in the certain Native American cultures, but maybe less so

in our society today because it is not a glamorous leadership trait. However, the longer I work as a

principal and the more experiences I gain in life, the more I value this quality.

Fortitude is defined as follows: Mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger or

temptation courageously. To me that is a pretty good definition of what we all face in our everyday lives, but often

choose to pretend that we don't. The degree of life challenges certainly varies for each of us, but we all have

obstacles in our lives that will require fortitude. We intentionally challenge our students to face difficulty and

adversity to help prepare them for whatever they pursue after high school while helping them reach their goals.

The development of fortitude is something that will help our students (and all of us) remember that having courage

to do the tough things in life and remain steady and hopeful throughout is a great way to lead and make a

difference. We are in this together and we have three quarters left to make the most of it, challenge ourselves and

reach our goals, and support one another. We are Roosevelt! We are one!

November is also a month of transition from Fall activities to Winter activities and the action never stops!

It is great to see our student body supporting each other by attending events and we are all proud of what our

students accomplish. Some of our activities are reaching the end of their seasons and we wish them all the best of

luck. Go Riders!

This month we will not have school on November 11th (Veteran's Day), and November 23-25th for

Thanksgiving. SO please mark your calendars accordingly. As always, if you have any concerns about your child

and their education please contact us. We have great teams of people who will be glad to listen and help.

Literacy for a Lifetime By Dr. Brian Maher, Superintendent

The lights are low. Books are open and pages are turning. Soft instrumental music plays in the

background. Students are comfortably sprawled out on colorful carpets and in special chairs that do

not resemble the same desks and tables where more traditional learning takes place. Today’s schools

are working hard to create spaces that inspire students and help them build the academic skills

necessary to succeed.

A primary skill - reading, or more broadly, literacy - is the skill that makes all other learning

possible. So, it’s probably no surprise then that the Sioux Falls School District’s Strategic Plan places strong

emphasis on the importance of developing literacy skills with specific goals to improve math and reading scores in

the next few years.

In fact, the goal identified in the Student Outcomes section of the Strategic Plan says, “By 2020, each

school's average reading and math results on the state-required assessment will increase to be above the state

average and be maintained if already above state level.”

While we’re monitoring math and reading scores at all levels, District leaders are paying close attention to

third grade scores because research shows early literacy skills determine lifelong academic achievement. Third

grade is also the first time Sioux Falls students take assessments that compare them to their statewide peers. The

most recent results show Sioux Falls third graders behind other South Dakota students.

This needs to change. And, it will. The District is currently studying strategies and implementing

programs like Summer Climb to reverse that trend. We are reviewing the structure of the student day, ensuring

that we have an effective and engaging curriculum and top-notch instruction in the classroom to maximize student

growth and reduce the achievement gap in all content areas.

But, we could also use your help. Reading isn’t a skill we just learn as first graders by sounding out words.

It is a skill that requires further development each and every day. As parents/guardians and community supporters,

you can help by picking up a newspaper, magazine or a book and modeling good reading habits for your child.

Short-term the results may increase your student’s test scores. Long-term it will improve their understanding of

the world in which we live.

RHS PHONE NUMBERS Main office 362-2860 Fax 362-2883

Activity Office 362-2866

Counselors 362-2868 Fax 362-2867

Attendance 362-2885 Music Dept. 362-2871

Registrar 362-2877

Special Ed 362-2875

Student Store 362-2870

ATTENDANCE OFFICE:

362-2885

Parents: An absence must be reported either by note, email or phone call. When sending notes

with your student for absences, be sure they are dated and signed. Students: Please bring your

appointment notes to the attendance office first thing in the morning. You will be given a slip to

check out of class.

Attendance Information Ten or more absences in a school year is considered

excessive by the Sioux Falls School District and

detrimental to a student’s ability to achieve success.

The School Board recently made changes to Policy

JH and its Regulation JH-R regarding Student

Attendance.

Elementary – Attendance is tracked by the

instructional minute with the exception of the lunch

period. Students who report within the first 30

minutes of the start of the school day (tardy), or leave

within the last 30 minutes of the day (leaving early)

will NOT be marked absent, but will be marked

tardy.

Middle School - Students will be marked ½ day

absent for every five cumulative periods of absence.

Students will be marked one day absent for every

nine cumulative periods of absence.

High School - Students will be marked ½ day absent

for every three cumulative periods of absence.

Students will be marked one day absent for every six

(6) cumulative periods of absence if in 12th grade,

and seven (7) cumulative periods of absence if in 9th

– 11th grade.

NOTE: All Levels – Absences are no longer

categorized by ‘excused’ or ‘unexcused’ or by

‘before 10’ and ‘after 10.’ Instead, absences are

categorized by the reason for the absence.

Parents/Guardians will continue to be notified when

their student is absent from school on the day of the

absence. Parents/Guardians will also receive a letter

at five and eight days of absence, regardless of

reason*, or any other time attendance issues become

a concern.

* School sponsored activities are exempt from the

count to five and eight

No Food Orders Delivered

to RHS

This is a reminder to all parents/guardians and students

that you and your child are not allowed to bring in food

from outside vendors for lunch. We participate in the

Federal lunch program which stipulates that we may not

have food in the lunch room from outside vendors. Thank you very much for your help.

RHS Booster Club

The Roosevelt High School Booster Club helps support

over 30 activities and sports at Roosevelt High School.

The Booster Club funding resources come from two

major sources: the President’s Bowl and friends like

you. Please help support the Booster Club through

memberships and gifts.

Booster Club meeting minutes, meeting schedules and

activities can be found at www.rooseveltboosters.com.

We encourage all RHS supporters to attend Booster

Club meetings and to volunteer when the need arises. If

you have any questions about the RHS booster club you

can contact any of the officers via their contact info

located on the RHS Booster site.

RHS Football Football End of season Banquet

Nov. 21 at 6:30 pm

in the RHS Commons

RHS Winter Formal

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017

8-11 PM

All RHS students are invited to attend! Guests not attending RHS are allowed, but must be under 21.

Non-RHS guests must be registered with Mr. Hansen by Feb. 9. Advance tickets will be sold Feb. 7-10,

2017, during the lunch hours, and are $10. Admission at the door will be $15. Please contact a

student council member or Mrs. Jensen at michele.jensen@k12.sd.us if you have any

questions.

Winter Sports Night

Please add to your calendar the upcoming Winter

Sports Night for winter sport athletes and their

parents. Winter Sports Night will be held on

Monday, November 7, 2016 at 7:00pm in the

Roosevelt High School Main Gym. This is a

mandatory meeting for both school sponsored sports

and club sports that are played in the winter (Girls

and Boys Basketball, Girls and Boys Bowling,

Gymnastics and Wrestling). From 6:00 pm to 7:00

pm that night, staff will be available to answer any

and all questions regarding your current Triennial

Physical or Online Registration status. If you have

any questions pertaining to the documents needed to

participate, please show up at this time. Please do

not hesitate to contact the activities office at

605.362.2866, if you have any questions.

Online Registration is now open from October

12th through December 1st. All parents of Winter

and Spring Sport Athletes as well as parents of

students involved in Fine Arts or Activities will need

to complete the Online Registration before their

student can tryout or participate in their Activity. If

you have already completed this process for a student

that has participated in a fall sport or activity, please

disregard this email. This can be done by logging in

to Infinite Campus with your parent User ID and

Password and clicking on the Online Registration

Link. Please note:

you must complete the Online

Registration for all students linked to your

parent ID before you can submit it.

Also, Online Registration cannot be

done on a mobile device like an IPad or

Smartphone; it must be completed on a

computer or laptop in order to be

submitted.

Remember, this must be completed before your

student will be allowed to tryout or

participate. Again, Online Registration will be open

from October 12th through December 1st. If you

have any difficulties with Online Registration, please

call Roosevelt’s Counseling Office at 362-2868.

RHS Library….

www.libraries.sf.k12.sd.us

Library Hours – 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Each year a committee of South Dakota librarians

meets to choose a list of highly recommended

books for teenagers. Teens may go to the RHS

Library website to vote for books from that list.

The name of the list is the Young Adult Reading

Program (YARP) and their vote goes toward the

selection of the 2017 South Dakota Teen Choice

Award. Teens may vote throughout the year and

the Teen Choice Award is announced in April

during National Library Week. Below is this year’s

YARP high school booklist:

Infinite in Between – Carolyn Mackler

Nearly Gone – Elle Cosimano

Nimona – Noelle Stevenson

Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon

Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo

Until Friday Night – Abbi Glines

The Wrath and the Dawn – Renee Adieh

Laughing at My Nightmare – Shane Burcaw

The Rig – Joe Ducie

Dumplin ‘ – Julie Murphy

Salt to the Sea – Ruta Sepetys

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky

Albertalli

Pretending to be Erica – Michelle Painchaud

Tunnel Vision – Susan Adrian

Don’t Even Think About It – Sarah Mlynowski

“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” – Neil Gaiman

Scholarship Bulletin #2

The HyVee Foundation awards 80- $1,000 scholarships to applicants employed at HyVee or children of HyVee

employees. For more information and application go to www.hy-vee.com under company info. Deadline: Feb.

10, 2017. South Dakota Society Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship offers one $500.00 State Scholarship to

any SD high school senior or student receiving an accredited high school diploma or GED, is a resident of SD, and is the direct descendant of a US military veteran. Application deadline: March 15, 2017. For more information visit

www.sfroosevelt.com. Students / Scholarships.

2017 Honorsgradu Multimedia Scholarship awards five $1,000 scholarships in the following media categories: Art, Photography, Music, Creative Writing, Video (for current college students). There will be one awardee per medium. For

more information: https://www.honorsgraduation.com/graduation-scholarship.htm Deadline: April 16, 2017.

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards: Qualified candidates must be graduating seniors who operate their own

small business. Visit www.NFIB.com/YEA for more information and online application. Deadline: Dec. 18,

2016.

AXA Achievement Scholarship Visit www.axa.com/achievers to learn more and apply online by December 15,

2016.

Sioux Valley Energy awards scholarships to dependents of Sioux Valley Energy customers. There is also a

scholarship for students interested in the power line work field. Applications are available at

www.siouxvalleyenergy.com. Deadline: January 13, 2017.

October

Congratulations!

9th Macey Nielson

Anders Svenningsen

10th Rylan Kuhle

Macy Schroedermeier

11th Aaron Diaz

Kauryn Krier

12th Carla Graciano

Jacob Sjovold

Dear Parents and Seniors,

The Jostens company presented their graduation products to the senior class during AD room. They distributed a packet with information and ordering forms for graduation materials such as graduation announcements, invitations, class rings, Class of 2017 clothing, etc.

The order form also includes the cap, gown, tassel and stole set that are required at graduation. Seniors MUST have a cap and gown in order to walk through the graduation ceremony. The individual products on the back of the order form list the basic cap / gown set. If your family cannot afford the cap / gown required for graduation, please contact Mrs. Heavlin in the counseling office.

Order forms are due November 3rd, 4th & the 8th. Jostens will be back at Roosevelt to collect the order forms on these days. They will be outside the auditorium before school, during lunch hours, and after school on those three days.

If your student missed the presentation or lost their order packet, extras are located in the Student Services office.

If you have any questions regarding graduation, please email or call Lisa Agar or Jared Fredenburg

at 362-2860.

Just a quick note from your senior class advisors... Here are the dates / times on all upcoming events.

Important dates:

November 3,4,8 Before/after school/lunch Cap/Gown ordering Staff entrance

March 15, 16 Before/after school/lunch Announcements delivery Staff entrance

April 13 Before/after school/lunch Cap/Gown delivery Staff entrance

April 22 8:00 PM Grand March/Prom Main Gym

June 4 4:00 PM Graduation Arena

**Attention Senior Class Parents**

There will be a Planning meeting on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 6:45 in the Library. Please come join us in

planning this fun event.

The December meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 19, 2016 at 6:45 in the Little Theater.

If you would like to receive information about the planning of 2017 Senior Class Party, send your email to Kathy

Ragels at kathyragels@gmail.com.

RHS SENIOR CLASS PARTY

SUNDAY June 4th, 2017

1. Student registration is $30. Forms and payment must be submitted no later than April 24, 2017. Tickets will not be available at the door. NO REFUNDS.

2. The doors will open at 9:30pm on Sunday June 4 and will close at 10:30pm. Please provide advance notice if you know you must arrive later or leave early. Student must be accompanied and signed in/out by a parent/guardian if arriving late or leaving early. Parent or guardians will be called if a student who purchased a ticket has not checked in by 10:30pm.

3. Each student MUST wear the unaltered class party T-shirt as their ticket to for admission to the event; and are required to show a picture ID (driver’s license, school ID, etc.) to obtain entry to the party.

4. No food or beverages are allowed. Food and beverages will be available throughout the night free of charge.

5. Do not bring personal items such as purses, billfolds, cameras into the school. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR STOLEN ARTICLES. No money will be required for the activities or food/beverages at the party.

6. A checkroom will be used to store coats and pocket contents with a shopping bag provided for each senior’s belongings (including any prizes that may be received throughout the night.)

7. Please be considerate of all decorations and leave them intact, as they will be used by upcoming senior classes.

8. School policies will be in effect for the duration of the party. There will be zero tolerance for any possession of weapons, tobacco, alcohol, or other mood altering substances; any violation will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

9. Students are encouraged to go directly home following the conclusion of the party.

10. Volunteer medical professional will be available throughout the entire event should any health problems arise.

11. WAIVER OF LIABILITY: No member of the volunteer of the Senior Class Committee or Roosevelt High School and the Sioux Falls School District and its respective officers and employees shall be liable for any personal injury, loss or damage to person or property that may occur to me or my personal property as a result of my voluntary attendance at the RHS Senior Class Party whether occurring before, during or after such event. Admission to the event constitutes a release of all liability for negligence or otherwise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BOTTOM PORTION WITH A PAYMENT

(A signed acceptance MUST be on file in order for admission to the RHS Senior Class Party) I have read and accept the guidelines applicable to the RHS Senior Class Party, including the policy that no student will be allowed to leave the party prior to its conclusion at 5:00am on Monday June 5 unless he or she is signed out by a parent/guardian. I acknowledge my attendance at RHS Senior Class Party and the Sioux Falls School District, for any personal injury or damage that may occur to me or my personal property as a result of my voluntary attendance at the RHS Senior Class Party. _____________________________________ _______________________________ ______________

(Printed Student Name) (Student Signature) (Date)

_____________________________________ _______________________________ ______________ (Printed Parent/Guardian Name) (Parent/Guardian Signature) (Date)

Parent/Guardian Phone: ______________________ Email: _____________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT T-SHIRT SIZE: _____SM _____MED _____LG ______XL______XXL _____XXXL

SEND YOUR PAYMENT OF $30 AND SIGNED CONSENT FORM BY APRIL 24 TO:

Roosevelt High School ATTN: Senior Class Party

6600 W. 41st St. Sioux Falls, SD 57106

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School Related Cancellations and Postponements It is important to be prepared for the winter storms and extreme cold that every South Dakota winter brings. Please

read the following information so you are aware of the procedures for school related cancellations and

postponements.

We rely on experts from the weather service and city/county officials when we make decisions on school

cancellations, late starts or early dismissals.

Cancelling School/Late Start

When a severe storm hits the area, or is forecast, we start contacting local officials as early as 3:00 a.m. We communicate with our Operational Services Department, the Weather Bureau, the City Street Department, Sioux

Falls Transit, and our transportation contractors. It is our goal to decide whether or not to cancel school by 5 a.m. to allow time for parking lots and sidewalks to be cleared, food services to prepare meals and the bus

company to begin operations. In the event that school needs to be cancelled or delayed, families will be alerted via a ParentLink phone call. These calls will generally be sent between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to

accommodate families whose children are picked up by buses at 6:45 a.m. Announcements are also made on KLRN-TV (Cable Channel 20) and over the local radio and television stations.

Because the public schools have a limited rural area, it is often possible for Sioux Falls to have school when nearby towns may not.

Early Dismissal Storms occasionally move in during the day, making it necessary to assess whether or not to dismiss school early. We choose early dismissal only under the most extreme circumstances. In most cases, it is safer for students to remain at school due to the need for transportation and proper supervision. In the rare instances when schools are dismissed early, families will receive a ParentLink phone call and the information will appear on the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us. Announcements are also made on KLRN-TV and over the local radio and television stations.

Notifications refer to dismissal “one hour early” or “two hours early” because of the number of different building schedules. In addition to noting the early dismissal, announcements about evening activities are

normally included.

It is very important that every family has a plan for early dismissal. Be sure your student knows where to go in case no one is at home. Talk to your student about his/her safety during winter weather emergencies.

Be safe this winter

The school system offers these suggestions concerning cold weather and emergency situations:

1. Listen for a ParentLink phone call regarding school closings, late starts, or early dismissals. Check the District’s

website at www.sf.k12.sd.us for updated information. Announcements will also be made on KLRN-TV and local

radio and television stations. (Please avoid calling schools or the Instructional Planning Center. Phone lines are

needed for emergency communications.)

2. Make sure students are properly dressed for predicted weather conditions so they are prepared for walking or

waiting for a bus in the cold or for being delayed on a bus in a weather-related situation.

3. Students should not arrive at school until the scheduled time for outdoor staff supervision or the breakfast program begins.

4. Have a plan of action as to where your student will go if school is dismissed early.

5. School officials will use their best judgment about school closings, late starts, or early dismissals, but please

remember that a parent has the right to keep children home or to pick them up from school early if they feel weather

conditions require this action.