The Panther

Newsletter Date:

September 1, 2023

Want to stay informed with what is happening at Patrick Henry all year? The PHMS PTO is selling wall calendars for the 2023-2024 school year! The goal of the calendar is to help inform families of all the amazing opportunities happening throughout the year. Each calendar is $15. The proceeds will be used to support the students and staff at Patrick Henry. PTO funds support the Panther Caring Closet, Panther Party, Staff Appreciation Week, Student Recognition, 8th Grade Party, dinner for the staff during conferences. Calendars are available for sale in the PHMS Office.

Please email patrickhenrypantherspto@gmail.com with any questions.

A special thank you to our calendar Sponsors: Baker Audiology, Brady Martz, Britza Performing Arts Studio, Central Bank, North Central Heart, Valvoline Instant Oil Change

A new school year provides a good opportunity to revisit our goals and expectations as a school community. At Patrick Henry, we are committed to holding high expectations for our students in order to maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Over the last year we have begun the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Throughout the 22-23 school year we began to involve all stakeholders (staff, students, and parents) in helping us develop and define our school-wide values. You will now see the following values posted throughout our school and often referred to by both students and staff:

Panther Pride:

• Respectful
• Responsible
• Safe

Over the last week each classroom teacher has been working with their students to develop their own classroom norms and expectations for what it means to be respectful, responsible, and safe. All students have been presented with and practiced what it looks like to be respectful, responsible, and safe in our common areas such as the hallways, the restrooms, the cafeteria, the bus, at school events, etc.

It has been a fantastic start to the school year as we have all observed our students demonstrating their Panther Pride in accordance with our school-wide values! Throughout the school year you may hear your student talk about receiving a Panther Pride card. This should be celebrated! Any time our staff observe a student demonstrating our values of being respectful, responsible, or safe, they may recognize these positive behaviors by giving the student a golden Panther Pride card. Students are then encouraged to bring their ticket to the main office and drop it in our Panther Pride box in the office. Each Friday, our office staff will draw out three tickets. The winners of those tickets will be announced over the intercom and receive a gift card to Juice Stop. Student names not drawn will have their ticket returned to them to bring home to share with you! Each week new winners will be drawn and recognized.

Our goal is to recognize students who regularly demonstrate good character, hard work, and overall contribute to the positive school environment at Patrick Henry. The Panther Pride box in the office is already overflowing with cards from the first week!

We are off to a great start,

Mrs. Sharping

If your student did not get a school picture taken during open house on August 21st, there will be a make-up Picture Day on 9/8/2023. Order online through link or check the pdf below for QR code.

Anyone wanting to re-take their photo, will have an opportunity to do so in October. Watch for further information regarding picture re-take day.

Fall Sports:

Girls Volleyball

Coed Football

Coed Performance Dance

Boys and Girls Cross Country

Forms Needed to Participate in Athletics

Complete the Activity Participation Packet. This needs to be completed prior to each school year.

Please login to your Parent Infinite Campus account and complete the “Annual Student Information Update.” After signing into Infinite Campus, click on “More” in the left hand margin to get to the Annual Student Information Update.

• When completing the Annual Information Update, you must complete ALL children linked to your Parent ID.

• Be aware that a green check mark by your student’s name does NOT mean that the information has been submitted. You must click “Save and Continue” all the way to the end of the program and then click “Submit”.

Complete the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form.

• Your student will need a Preparticipation Physical Evaluation dated after April 1st of Students 5th Grade year and prior to participation.

• This paper copy needs to be turned into the school office and it is valid through the end of students 8th grade school year.

Note: Your student will not be able to practice without these two required forms being completed

If you have any type of barrier or cannot afford a student physical, see me tonight.

Athletes must have insurance to participate.

For further information such as practice schedules, game schedules, sign ups, as well as what sports are offered at Patrick Henry, please go the athletics website by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please email me at Jameson.Clarke@k12.sd.us

Now you can complete your Back to School List in one place, before you arrive at Panther Preview!

Visit https://phmspanthers.ptboard.com/

PTBoard - Patrick Henry Middle School PTO

• Order Spirit Wear
• Order a Yearbook
• Order Chromebook Insurance
• Order School Pictures
• Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch
• Add Money to Lunch Accounts
• Review Bus Boundaries
• Read the PHMS Newsletter

PTO is currently seeking leadership for

Fundraising/Calendar Chair

Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs

8th Grade Party

Please let us know if you would like to get involved! Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 20th from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at PHMS. All are invited!

Tracy Weiss and Amber Edelen, Co-Presidents

patrickhenrypantherspto@gmail.com

We have three fantastic school counselors at Patrick Henry! Please click on the "Counselor Corner" button below to view the counselor's newsletter for this month that houses many helpful resources, social, emotional learning information and much more. This information is provided to help both students and parents navigate the middle school years!

Mrs. Briana Nelsen - 6th Grade

Mrs. Chelsea Timm - 7th Grade

Ms. Hannah Serck - 8th Grade

You can also access the counseling website by clicking the link right next to our counseling phone number!

Website: https://sites.google.com/k12.sd.us/phms-counseling/home
Phone: (605) 367-8443

All PHMS Students will receive a device and a charger that will be transported to and from school each day. We strongly recommend families take advantage of the SFSD's Chromebook Insurance plan to cover the costs of potential damages and repairs. Click on the link below for more information and to access the insurance form.

https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/student-technology-initiative

All incoming 6th grade students, and any student enrolling in SFSD for the first time, must be up to date on vaccinations before the first day of school. Please see the attached document for the required vaccines.

Lunch and breakfast are available each day at school. If you believe your family may qualify for free or reduced lunch/breakfast, please click on the link below or scan the QR code to fill out the application. https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

If your child is going to be absent, please call the school (367-7639) prior to 8:40am. An absence must be reported either by note or phone in the day of the absence, or before if you know ahead of time. Absences can also be reported via voicemail outside of regular office hours. Students leaving during the day need to pick up a pass in the office by 9:00am and also check out with a parent/guardian at the office when leaving. If they come back during the school day, a pass from the front office needs to be issued in order for them to get back into the classroom.

After attendance is taken each morning, an automated call will go out to any family who has not notified the school regarding a student’s absence. Student safety is the main concern and this procedure provides another check on a student’s absence.

As autumn paints South Dakota with stunning hues of gold, green, and red, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new school year—a season of growth and learning. Just as farmers nurture their crops to reap a bountiful harvest, we, too, are focusing on the essential elements that cultivate success for your child.

This school year, our schools are focusing on the little things that matter when planting, cultivating, and harvesting. Our “yield” depends on it. One of the most critical factors in a student’s academic success is daily attendance, which is something all stakeholders in the Sioux Falls School District must agree to work on together this year.

We understand the importance of attendance and the impact it has on your child's academic journey. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing two or more school days in a month or 18 days in a year, can hinder your child's progress. It's disheartening to see even a handful of students missing more than half of the school year, which amounts to approximately 100 out of the 179 required school days in Sioux Falls.

Attendance is so concerning that recently, we secured a substantial $1.5 Million grant to tackle chronic absenteeism over the next three years. To support our students, we are implementing intensive interventions in four elementary schools and two middle schools.

The bulk of this grant will enable us to employ six dedicated Attendance Liaisons. These professionals will go the extra mile—making phone calls, knocking on doors, offering rides, and eliminating any barriers that may hinder a student's ability to attend school. In just their first month, these liaisons have already made numerous meaningful connections and found solutions to assist students and their families.

In education, we are reminded to “Remember our why.” Our “why” is your child’s future. Your student deserves every opportunity to be successful, and lost learning time significantly increases the risk of students dropping out. And, like you, we do not want any child to consider that as an option.

Establishing solid and trusting relationships takes time so students feel like they belong in school. We are committed to taking the time to get to know your child and their needs. Instruction, assignments, and experiments must be engaging, interesting, and relevant to the real world. Every day is a new opportunity to show up and grow their knowledge.

Together as a community, we must make daily school attendance a non-negotiable priority. We invite parents, staff, civic and elected leaders, and business owners to collectively embrace the responsibility of ensuring consistent attendance. The education of our future workforce depends on it, and together, we will reap a bountiful harvest of knowledge and a high yield of success.

Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/patrick-henry/students-parents
Location: 2200 South 5th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-367-7639
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanthersSF
Twitter: @PanthersSF