
Rosa Parks Elementary
May 2025
After you read this, if have questions, please reach out.
Kiersta Machacek, Principal, kiersta.machacek@k12.sd.us
Mandi Sonnenfeld, Admin Intern, mandi.sonnenfeld@k12.sd.us
Rosa Parks ph#: 605-371-4170
SCHOOL HOURS: 7:45a - 2:30p
Office Hours: 7:15a - 3:45p
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Important Dates to Remember
May 2025:
Tuesday 5/6/25: Middle School Counselors visit 5th grade, 1:30p - 2:15p
Friday 5/9/25: Kindergarten Zoo Field Trip, 8:15a - 11:30a
Tuesday 5/13/25: Fun Run (PTO), 8a - 2p (Schedule TBD)
Tuesday 5/13/25: 5th Grade Middle School Visits, 9:30a - 10:30a
Tuesday 5/13/25: PTO Meeting, 6p - 7p
Thursday 5/15/25: Field Day (all grade levels), 7:30a - 2p
Friday 5/16/25: 5th Grade Day, State Theater from 8:45a - 12p & Food Trucks from 12p - 130p
Friday 5/16/25: Ben Reifel MS Carnival (grades K - 2), 9:30a - 11a
Tuesday 5/20/25: 2nd Annual Cultural Day, 8a - 1p
Tuesday 5/20/25: TWI 5th Grade Celebration, 5:30p - 7:30p
Wednesday 5/21/25: Last Day of School - Students
Thursday 5/22/25: Last Day of School - Teachers
ABC Countdown
Join us as we count down the FINAL 26 days of school with the all the fun happening each day!
April 14 - May 21
Hello Rosa Parks Families!
We made it to May! The end of the 2024-25 school year is in sight! We are so proud of each and every one of your students. Please continue to encourage them to push through and so their very best this last month of school. As you can see, there are a LOT of fun things planned in the days ahead. We know the nice weather with the end drawing near can make it hard but we know YOU CAN DO IT!
Parents, we need your help to remind your student(s) they should be dressing each day for "typical" South Dakota spring weather. What your student wears to school is what they should be wearing outdoors for recess. We do not have enough extra clothing options in the office, jackets included, to be giving students items if they need to change or have forgotten something.
Annual Updates are now open! This needs to be completed for ALL CURRENT students enrolled in the Sioux Falls School District. You will need to log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete this. Above you will find a button that will take you directly to the Parent Portal login page where you will access the annual update, along with report cards, attendnace information, etc. Annual Updates must be completed every year for each student in the district. If you need your username or password, you can request it on the login page or you can reach out to the school office between 8:30am - 1:30pm for assistance.
We will continue to work hard to get all things ready for our NEW friends, the Class of 2038, who will be joining us this Fall for Kindergarten! If you are still needing to provide a Birth Certificate (we cannot take a copy, we need to see the original to make a copy from that), Immunization Records, Address Verification (examples would be a mortgage or lease agreement or current utility bill showing your name and current address), or any other documents for your NEW student(s) who will be in Kindergarten starting in August. We are in the office Monday - Friday from 7:30a - 3:45p when school is in session.
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1st that we are not aware of? If so, please reach out to let us know as soon as possibl so we can get them added to our list and be sure we get you all necessary information as well.
If you have not completed the Online Registration for your NEW Kindergarten student, please be sure to do that as well. You can CLICK HERE to complete the Online Registration - be sure you select the 2025-26 school year.
Continued Reminders:
Please be sure to get copies of updated immunizations when your child get them. We work hard to keep things updated for enrolled students. If you have received a notice regarding immunizations, please be mindful of dates on your non-compliant notice. It's often easier to contact your providers office to schedule a nurse visit if you are only needing to be seen for immunizations. Once updated, please provide a copy to the school office so we can be sure to update things on our end as well. We don't want to exclude anyone for non-compliant immunizations!
Again, Children who don't meet the cutoff of turning 5 years old prior to September 1st to start Kindergarten (required by the Sioux Falls School District) you may consider preschool options such as Learning Adventures Preschool through Sioux Falls School District. More information can be found in the SFSD Website under the Students & Families section then clicking on School Registration.
Our "Wildcat Weekly Newsletter" continues to be updated frequently with things happening here at Rosa Parks each week. If you are new here, the Wildcat Weekly gives you a quick update of specific things happening at Rosa Parks in the weeks ahead - this is designed to help you in planning ahead, especially over the weekends. Below is a button you can click on to easily access this.
School Time Reminders:
- Students can arrive as early as 7:15a to eat breakfast, if needed.
- Supervision on the playground begins at 7:25a.
- First Bell rings at 7:40a. Students will line up with their class and come inside with their teachers.
- Our school day starts at 7:45a each morning - a second bell will ring at this time.
- All doors will lock and any student arriving Tardy, after 7:45a will need to enter through the office.
- Our school day ends at 2:30p each afternoon.
- Supervision after school is available till 2:45p - all students need to be picked up by this time.
Please do your best to plan ahead with any construction and/or weather to ensure your student is getting to school and picked up from school on time each day.
Wildcat Weekly Newsletter
Office Tips
Office Hours, 7:15a - 3:45p
School starts at 7:45a.
Lunch count will be recorded promptly at 8:15a.
If you are coming late and need a hot lunch ordered, please let us know PRIOR to 8:15 - we do not order extras if we don't know your student will be coming. If you do not let us know, your student will need to have a cold lunch from home that day.
Please do your best to ensure your student is ON TIME everyday. We understand mornings can be crazy but if your student is going to be late, PLEASE let us know. We are required to account for every student, every day.
Home Sick?.. Coming Late?.. Picking up Early?.. PLEASE! Let us know!
If your student will be out for a full day, please utilize the Absence Request Processing tool on your Parent Portal. Remember, this is for FULL DAY absences only. Any partial day requests need to be call into the school office. If you are calling outside regular office hours or we miss your call, please utilize the Rosa Parks voicemail box that will pick up. Please leave a detailed message and a callback phone number if a return call is needed.
If your student(s) needs to miss school for a medical appointment or is out sick, please be sure you are getting a doctor/medical note as this is our only way to excuse the time missed from school.
Medical notes can be brought in to the front office or they can be faxed to us at 605-371-4174.
Parking Lot Reminders
Thank you for reviewing and keeping students safe!
- If you are walking your child to the building before school or meeting them after school, please be sure you are parking in a parking space, in the parking lot (not parking illegally) and use the monitored crosswalks.
- Only vehicles with handicap parking permits can park in the assigned handicap spaces.
- When using Circle Drive, please DO NOT leave your vehicle unattended. You must stay in your vehicle, pull all the way forward to let students in/out and continue to move forward as the line moves. This helps keep traffic moving.
- Students should exit your vehicle on the passenger (sidewalk side) so they are exiting safely and not getting in/out of your vehicle in traffic. This will help other vehicles move more efficiently.
- The south lot is for School Bus and Daycare ONLY. This is not a parent pickup zone.
Superintendent's Column
Parent Portal App Information/Instructions
Absence Request Processor
Reminder that you will be able to request Full Day Absences ONLY using the Absence Leave Processor on Infinite Campus. It is not an option to use this tool for students who will be arriving late or leaving early. If your student will be arriving late or needs to leave early for an appointment or any other reason, please call the school office to let us know at 605-371-4170.
School Visitor & Safety Info
School Visitors
Visitors are welcomed into the SFSD buildings. With this, we will follow District Visitor Policy - there are NO exceptions.
The Sioux Falls School District is using a NEW visitor management system that requires all visitors to produce a government issued ID prior to entry during school hours the first time you are checking in. After that, the check-in process is much quicker and your ID will not be needed each time. A sticker ID badge will continue to be generated which MUST be worn in a visible location while you are in the building. All parents and visitors will need to check in at the front office if coming to school during the student day. The student day is defined as 7:15am to 3:00pm at Rosa Parks Elementary.
Nurse Notes
If your child currently has daily medication at school you can begin to pickup any excess starting Monday, May 19th. Any as-needed medications, should remain at school through the end of the day on Wednesday May 21st then get picked up.
ALL medication remaining at school must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than Thursday May 22nd at 4pm or it will be destroyed.
In order to have everything in place for the beginning of the year next year, we will send you the "Medication Administration Form" that needs to be filled out and signed by both physician and parent/guardian. A new form must be completed each school year. Please provide each medication your child is to take in a pharmacy labeled container with your child's name, name of medication, dosage, and time to be given at school. The label directions on the container, and the doctor's directions on the form must be the same or the school will not be able to dispense the medication. This applies to daily medications as well as medications given on an as needed basis.
A parent or guardian must bring the medication to the school office so that it can be recorded, counted, and locked in a secure location.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND MEDICATION TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD.
If there are any changes in your child's medication or other health concerns, please call me at 605-371-4170.
Thank you and HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!! 🌞
- Nurse Angie Doohen
Music, Orchestra, Band News
Music News - May 2025
Thank you Wildcats for a wonderful year in Music - Have a great summer!
The 4th graders in Spanish Immersion from Rosa Parks are invited to sing at the annual Sioux Falls Cinco de Mayo Festival on Saturday, May 10th at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. The students will be singing Paz Y Libertad, a song that we have been working on in class. Singing at the event is not required, but it is an excellent performing opportunity for our students.
- Students should wear any Wildcats/Rosa Parks t-shirt or Spiritwear along with plain blue/black jeans or leggings for the performance.
- Students should arrive by 11:10 am and meet near the stage which will located at the NW side of Falls Park.
- Students will sing at 11:30 am on the stage.
- The schedule for the festival is in the following link; there are many fun events happening at Cinco de Mayo including piñatas, bouncies, food trucks, Hispanic music and more!
- https://www.presentationsisters.org/ministries/2025-cinco-de-mayo-celebration/
- Please respond yes or no by Friday, April 25th.
- The event is very busy--keep in mind that it may take quite a while to find a parking space and it is a long distance from parking to where the stage is located. Plan accordingly!
Please be sure to complete the Google Form no later than May 2nd!
Event Website: https://www.presentationsisters.org/ministries/2025-cinco-de-mayo-celebration/
As always, if you have questions, please reach out!
Ms. Tvedt, Music - kasidy.tvedt@k12.sd.us
Mr. Ferri, Music - mark.ferri@k12.sd.us
Orchestra News - May 2025
Thank you for a fantastic year in orchestra! We can feel proud of everything the students accomplished this year! Learning a new instrument and new music skills, performing at concerts and a contest, and making music with friends. All valuable in building character and lifelong skills of self discipline, responsibility, and musicianship. I look forward to seeing the students continue next year and beyond!
On May 7, the orchestra lessons will be done for the school year. At this time all school instruments need to stay at school and all personal instruments may be taken home.
If your child would like to continue playing over the summer, here is the LINK to the Summer Orchestra Camp, June 3 - July 10, 11:00 am - Noon, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Edison Middle School. Cost of the camp is $85. Payment assistance is available - please call (605) 367-4384
We’ve enjoyed making music with your students this year!
Mrs. Bogue, Orchestra - leah.wright-bouge@k12.sd.us
Mr. Travers, Orchestra - andrew.travers@k12.sd.us
Ms. Alpers, Orchestra - denise.anderson-alpers@k12.sd.us
Bloomin' BUCKS for Rosa Parks
Raise Money with BLOOMIN' BUCKS
HOW BLOOMIN’ BUCKS WORKS:
It’s so easy... Just go online to www.bloominbucks.com for your color landscaping needs! All you need to do is choose to support our organization, Rosa Parks Elementary School, then you will be taken to the Brent and Becky's website where you can select from their huge selection of bulbs, plants, perennials, supplements, books, tools, home accessories, and more! Practically anything you will want or need! In any quantity you need! In any color you want! They will take your order and ship directly to your front door! And, 25% of your product total comes back to us! There really isn’t an easier way to help support us than to simply beautify your landscape!
Your Support is a Beautiful thing - BLOOMIN’ BUCKS MAKES IT THAT WAY!
No matter the economy, people are always caring for their home and family. But they are also being asked for their support more often than ever! With Bloomin’ Bucks, we‘re not asking for your money! We’re just asking people to do what they would normally do... beautify their home's landscape! Gardening is STILL one of the most cost effective ways to improve the value of a home! For generations, the bulbs from Brent and Becky's have been of the highest quality and have been adding color to landscapes all over the country. Asking you to beautify your home landscape through Bloomin’ Bucks helps us to raise much needed funds!