The Explorer

It’s already February, and hopefully spring is not too far off! A couple of things that come to mind are Black History month: African American art, museums, and history; and Valentine's Day: hearts, chocolates, and flowers.

Several of our classrooms will recognize and discuss Black History month, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With Valentine's day coming up - along with classroom parties - a couple reminders:

• Please do not send balloons, flowers, and other delivery items for students at school. These items are not allowed in the classroom and will stay in the office to be picked up at dismissal.
• All snacks or treats sent to school must be store bought. Home-baked goods are not permitted.

Parent teacher conferences are next week. You should have received an email from your child's teacher to sign-up for a date and time. Conferences play an important role in a student’s development and academic success. When parents take advantage of parent-teacher conferences and other opportunities to speak with teachers, it allows parents to learn of any challenges - academic or otherwise - their child might be having. By the same token, parents can let the teacher know of any special circumstances at home that might have some bearing on the student’s performance or behavior.

We are nearly halfway through the school year with the 100th day of school on February 8. Let's make the second half of the school year as great as the first!

Mr. Dan Fischer, Principal

• Feb.5: No school: In-service.
• Feb.5: Parent Teacher Conferences and Book Fair from 12:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
  
• Feb.8: Parent Teacher Conferences and Book Fair from 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
• Feb.8: 100th day of school.
• Feb.14: Valentine's Day classroom parties.
• Feb.19: No school: Presidents' Day Break.
• Feb.20: No school: Presidents' Day Break.

A new visitor check-in system has been implemented. You will check yourself in on an iPad using the new platform.

The first time checking in, the platform will prompt you to take a photo of the front of your ID and then it will prompt you to scan the back of your ID. The next time you check-in, you will not have to present your ID - that is a one-time step. We will no longer keep your ID. Feel free to stop at any time and complete the ID step. This will save you time when checking in - especially if you are volunteering on a classroom party day.

Every time you check-in and check-out, your photo will be taken. The platform utilizes facial recognition software. We have instructions posted; however, clerical will be available to assist.

Valentine's Day classroom celebrations are on Wednesday, February 14, at 2:00 pm. Please check with your child's teacher for additional information. All snacks/treats must be store bought - no home-baked goods. You can also consider non-food items: glow sticks, chap stick, pencils/erasers, stickers, pencils/smencils, bracelets, or crazy straws.

Children who are five years old on or before September 1, 2024, can register for kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year. Below is step-by-step on how to register!

STEP 1: Please go to https://www.cognitoforms.com/discoveryelementary/_202425kindergarteninputform and enter your child’s information. This puts your child on our list of incoming kindergartners and gives you an opportunity to tell us about your child. You can also upload required documents at this time.

STEP 2: Below are the required documents that we must have before your child can start school. You can email the documents to DiscoveryRegistration.Sfsd@k12.sd.us or fax them to 605-362-3535.

• Address Verification: The SFSD requires verification of your address. The address verification must be in your (parent/guardian) name, and it must be current. Acceptable documents are: utility bill; rental property lease/contract or payment receipts; property tax payment or receipts; state/Government agency mail; mortgage document; or homeowner’s insurance policy

• Birth Certificate - We have to see the original and then we will make a copy of it.
• Immunizations

STEP 3: Complete the SFSD's official online registration at https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/school-registration. There are two options when registering your child. The first option is for new families that do not have any children in the SFSD. The second option is for current families that already have a child in school. Please make sure you use the correct registration option.

STEP 4: Save the date! Please plan on bringing your incoming kindergartner to Kindergarten Open House on Thursday, March 7. More details to come!

The PTO needs volunteers for the Spring Book Fair, which is during parent teacher conferences next week. If they do not get enough volunteers, the book fair will be cancelled. Please consider signing up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ADAD2CA3FF2-47326985-spring?useFullSite=true#/.

Black History Month honors the contributions of many African American to United States history, such as George Washington Carver and Rosa Parks. The month of February was intentionally chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Did you know?

• Sprinkler summer fun! The next time you’re running through the sprinkler, remember that it was invented by Elijah McCoy.
• Love peanut butter? Peanut butter was invented by George Washington Carver who discovered 400 uses for peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and pecans.
• Red light, green light, go! The traffic light was invented by Garrett Morgan. Besides "Stop" and "Go", the system also stopped traffic in all directions to give drivers time to stop or get through the intersection.
• Super soaker! Sure, he’s an aerospace engineer, but Lonnie G. Johnson is best known for creating the world-famous Super Soaker water gun.

A great way to help your growing reader learn more about African American history is through books. Below are several good children's books! By exposing your child to a variety of diverse and inclusive books, both fiction and nonfiction, you'll help widen your child's perspective.

It's our annual Souperbowl Food Drive! From January 29 through February 9, we are collecting non-perishable food items for Feeding South Dakota. The grade that brings in the most donations will get to choose between a movie party or a Cloud 9 party. Let's go, Discovery!

Help your child regulate! One of the main focuses of the Discovery counseling program is regulation. We promote regulation by teaching brain science, Zones of Regulation, and calm down skills. Check out this video by the Child Mind Institute to help with your child's regulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtPS421MCg&t=192s

Here is the schedule for Feeding South Dakota's mobile food distribution.

Principal: Mr. Dan Fischer

Email: Daniel.Fischer@k12.sd.us

Dean of Students: Mrs. Kristina Becker

Email: Kristina.Becker@k12.sd.us

Location: 1506 South Discovery Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-362-3530 Fax: 605-362-3535