The Explorer

The school year is quickly moving along with winter knocking at our door. Please make sure your student is dressed appropriately for the weather. The playground does not have any coverage from the wind.

Students who want to play in the snow need to have the proper snow gear: winter coat, snow pants, snow boots, gloves, and hat/hood. When the temperature and/or wind chill is zero or below, students will be inside before school and during recess. Also, please be sure to read the inclement weather information included in this newsletter.

Reminder - If you are going to meet your student on the playground or by their classroom door after school, please park in the parking lot or on the street. Do not park your vehicle and leave it in the circle drive. We want to keep the flow of traffic moving. This is especially important during the winter months.

Students will be off from school for a few days in honor of Thanksgiving. We hope you have a wonderful holiday with many things to be thankful for!

Mr. Dan Fischer, Principal

• November 2: Second grade field trip to Brookings Children's Museum.
• November 5: Daylight saving time ends. Turn clocks back one hour before bed.
• November 10: No School - Veterans' Day Observance.
• November 16: 5th grade music concert at 7:00 pm.
• November 21: Unclaimed lost and found items will be donated at the end of the day.
• November 21: PTO meeting at 6:00 pm in the Discovery library.
• November 22: No School - Compensatory Day.
• November 23: No School - Thanksgiving Break.
• November 24: No School - Thanksgiving Break.

Daylight saving time is ending! Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour (fall back) before you go to bed on Sunday, November 5.

All students must be picked up by 3:00 pm. Students not picked up by 3:00 pm will be brought to the office. The office will try calling parents/guardians. If the office is unable to reach parents/guardians, they will call the student’s emergency contacts.

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.

LATE START OR CANCELLED

In the event that school needs to be cancelled or delayed, families will be alerted via a phone call. You can also check the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us for updated information. Announcements will also be made on local radio and television stations. Please avoid calling the school or the Instructional Planning Center. Phone lines are needed for emergency communications.

• If school is one hour late, breakfast will be served.
• If school is two hours late, breakfast will NOT be served.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Storms occasionally move in during the day. If school is dismissed early, families will receive a phone call and the information will appear on the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us. Dismissals will be referred to as “one hour early” or “two hours early” due to the number of different building schedules.

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. Make sure students are properly dressed for predicted weather conditions: walking home, waiting for the bus, or being delayed on a bus in a weather-related situation.

School officials use their best judgment about school closings, late starts, or early dismissals; however, 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.

Missing anything? We have several items in our lost and found. Items not picked up by Tuesday, November 21, will be donated. You can look during school hours by checking in at the office.

It's that time of year - runny noses, sore throats, and stomachaches! Below are some of the basic health guidelines that we follow.

SICK AT SCHOOL: If a child becomes ill (vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc.) at school, the parents/guardians are contacted and asked to make arrangements for their child to go home.

COLDS: A child with a “heavy” cold and a hacking cough belongs at home, even though there may not be a fever.

VOMITING & DIARRHEA: Children who are vomiting or have diarrhea should be kept at home. A child should be free from vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has vomiting or diarrhea at school, the child will be sent home.

SORE THROAT: A child with a sore throat, accompanied by a fever should be seen by the family physician. A child with a sore throat and fever should not be sent to school and will be sent home from school if it occurs during school hours.

FEVER: A child with a fever over 100.4 degrees should not be sent to school. If your child has a fever at school, your child will be sent home. A child should be fever free for 24 hours (without Tylenol, Motrin, etc.) before returning to school.

If your student(s) is absent, please let us know. If we do not hear from you, we will call you. If we are unable to reach you, we will call the emergency contacts that you have listed for your student(s). To ensure student safety, all students must be accounted for.

On behalf of our PTO, a HUGE thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped at the Fall Dance! It was a success, and we couldn't have done it without you. You are appreciated!

211 Holiday guide - If you are looking for resources or a way to give back, the 211 Holiday guide is a great place to go: https://www.helplinecenter.org/2-1-1/resource-guides/create/?templateid=703071.

In 4th grade, students are taking charge of their wellness by discussing and assessing our "Wellness Triangle".

In Kindergarten, students are learning about Kelso’s Choices and the difference between a BIG problem and a small problem. A BIG problem is one where we feel hurt or scared, and a small problem is one that we are smart enough and strong enough to try using Kelso’s Choices.

In 1st and 2nd grade, students are practicing the Kelso’s Choice of Talk it Out by doing short acting skits together.

Talk it Out steps are:

1. Both are calm or close to green zone. If we aren’t ready to talk it out, use a different Kelso’s Choice.
2. Say, “Can I talk to you?” This is to make sure it’s a good time.
3. Start with, “I feel ______ when ______.” Do not start with "You ______ .

This is a skill students can continue to develop into adulthood!

Principal: Mr. Dan Fischer

Email: Daniel.Fischer@k12.sd.us

Dean of Students: Mrs. Kristina Becker

Email: Kristina.Becker@k12.sd.us

Website: https://www.des.sf.k12.sd.us/o/des
Location: 1506 South Discovery Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-362-3530
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064085161299