Ben Reifel Middle School
https://www.facebook.com/brmsbison/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brmsbisonRelay Services for Hearing Impaired: Dial 711, then the desired number
Email: SFSDBRMSOffice@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/ben-reifel/home
Location: 6700 East 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-371-4155
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
September 7
- MAP Testing
- Bison Community Outreach for Parents - Navigating District Tools
- Picture Makeup Day (Any student who did not have a photo taken on Bison Roundup Day - August 21st) More information below
- Conferences (4:15pm - 8:15pm)
From the Assistant Principal's Desk
Ben Reifel Families,
We have had an amazing start to the 23-24 school year! On August 24th, we welcomed 963 students back to Ben Reifel. Since that first day, students and teachers have settled into their new schedules, made connections, and continued to cultivate relationships. We are super excited to see the growth of our Bison family during the 23-24 school year. Denise Witmer put it best, “A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges. The slate is clean and anything can happen.” We couldn’t agree more!
On Thursday, September 7, during the student’s core classes, students will be taking their MAP test (reading and math). The MAP Growth test scores help teachers and the administration check student performance by measuring achievement and growth.
The teachers and the administration will use the test results/data to inform their instruction and drive their Professional Learning Communities. Students will use their test results/data to develop growth/stretch goals throughout the school year. Parents will know the results of the assessment in October. Please reach out to your student’s PROtime teacher with any questions.
Starting next week, the staff at Ben Reifel will be implementing an online rewards system. This online reward system is called PBIS Rewards. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports. PBIS Rewards created the following information for parents to understand the impact of this online system. PBIS Rewards seeks to reduce or eliminate poor behavior school-wide through the encouragement of positive behaviors. PBIS decreases office discipline referrals, increases instructional time, and improves student achievement. This intentional focus on positive reinforcement is creating and maintaining a positive school climate for the students and teachers.
The staff within the building will be awarding points daily to our students based on our four core values: Excellence, Empath, Integrity, and Unity. The students will be able to view their points daily and will be collecting reward points throughout the year. The reward points can be redeemed by the students through our online school store. We are excited to implement this new system into our school day! Please ask your student about this new system.
Over the last nine months, Artificial Intelligence has taken off leaving educators wondering what that means for teaching and learning. These tools are readily accessible to students and can write essays, articles, create presentations, and e-mails. Realizing the ease of use makes it likely that some students will experiment with these tools. The Sioux Falls School District has determined that the use of AI (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Bard, Quillbot, or translators) when used without the direction of the teacher will be considered academic dishonesty. Each student is expected to complete assignments without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools. Any willful misrepresentation of the work being evaluated, and the student’s actual knowledge is an act of academic dishonesty, and disciplinary actions will follow the steps outlined in the SFSD Policy JKJK.
Sioux Falls School District Policy JKJK-R Academic Dishonesty: Using or submitting work that is not your own, also known as cheating, plagiarism, copying, transferring computer files, etc. Academic Dishonesty included the unapproved use of artificial intelligence for credited work. Students will be expected to follow classroom instructions relating to academic integrity.
Thank you for a great start to the 23-24 school year. We look forward to continuing to cultivate our partnership with each of you.
Take care!
Sincerely,
Mrs. VanDrongelen, Assistant Principal
Office Tips
- Through the Parent Portal (from the menu choose "More" then "Absence Request")
- Email the office at SFSDBRMSOffice@k12.sd.us
- Call the office before 8:45am
The Athletics website has all the information you need including:
- Practice schedules
- Game/meet schedules
- Contact information for coaches
- And much more in the Athletics section below!
School Picture Make-up Day september 15
Access Code: H36AE9
** Any student who did not have a photo taken on Bison Roundup Day (August 21st) will have their photo taken on September 15 during the school day. **
Picture retake day will be October 20th. A new access code will be available in the October newsletter.
Student Council
Greetings from the Ben Reifel student council co-coordinators! Our names are Ilsa Todd and Danyelle Cleveland, and we are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic, and committed middle school students to join the Ben Reifel Student Council. The Student Council will consist of TWO students from EACH team. This is a year-long activity, and if students volunteer, they will be expected to come to all meetings, which are held in the mornings once to twice a month.
If students are interested in being a part of this amazing organization, they must complete and submit an application no later than September 15th by 3:45. Applications can be found on students’ team Canvas course starting the week of September 5th.
Campaigning will take place September 11-22.
Posters are optional. If students choose to display posters, up to 3 can be displayed within a team's house area only. This can be done before or after school.
Students will be responsible for removing all campaign posters by September 22.
All campaigning materials like stickers, buttons, or snacks are not allowed.
The Student Council advisors will create a PowerPoint presentation, which will be used to introduce you to your team one day during PRO-Time. This presentation will share information about candidates provided in the application. Voting will take place after sharing the presentation the week of September 18th. Results will be announced by September 25th. The first meeting of the Student Council will follow soon after.
If students have questions, students can see Mrs. Todd or Mrs. Cleveland in House 900. Good luck!
Welcome to Ben Reifel Choir Department
8th Grade/HS Fall Concert
Eighth grade choir students are invited to perform with the high school choirs so the students can meet the high school directors, sing with high school singers and start to get a "feel" for the outstanding high school choir programs in Sioux Falls. The WHS fall concert is Monday, November 6 at 7:00. Students will rehearse together the evening of the concert prior to the concert and we will work together to learn the music in class. A letter will be distributed in class and via e-mail to parents the week of September 11. Students should wear a Ben Reifel shirt or Ben Reifel school colors and blue jeans, joggers, or khakis. Please return the bottom portion of that letter to Mrs. Spencer or Ms. Green by September 22. This is a terrific opportunity for our 8th graders!
8th grade Promising Futures/Augustana Festival
Promising Futures and Augustana University are hosting a festival for middle school students from Ben Reifel, Whittier, and McGovern Middle Schools. Eighth grade choir students from Ben Reifel have been invited to participate. Together with the 3 middle schools and the Augustana Choir, students will perform 3 selections, including a selection written by Sioux Falls native Kyle Pederson. Mr. Pederson will also be at the festival working with the students.
Additionally, the hope is that each of the middle school choirs will perform a piece as part of the concert performance. This event will be held October 23 at the Washington Pavilion at 7:00 p.m. Additional details about transportation and meals will be sent once the schedule is finalized.
Students will prepare the music in class in preparation for this performance. A festival T-shirt will be provided for students to wear for the concert. Students will wear that shirt and blue jeans, joggers, or khakis for the performance. A letter will be distributed in class and via e-mail to parents the week of September 11. Please return the bottom portion of that letter to Mrs. Spencer or Ms. Green by September 22.
Concert dates for 2023-2024 - all choirs - graded performances
Winter Concert – December 12, 2023; 6th grade – 6:00pm; 7th grade – 6:45pm; 8th grade – 7:30pm
Spring Concert – May 7, 2024 - 7th and 8th grade district festival at Elmen Center at Augustana
Spring Concert - May 14, 2024 - 6th grade at BRMS Auditorium 6:00 p.m.
Concert attendance is mandatory. Absences due to non-school activities of any kind will not be excused. Choir is a graded class, and performances are our main form of assessment. In addition, it is vital to the success of our program that students honor the commitment made to the BRMS choirs.
More specific information about attire and what time to report will be sent as the event date gets closer.
Show Choir
Unity (show choir) auditions will be held before and after school from September 11-15. Unity is an optional ensemble that is open to any choir student by audition. Interested students will sign up for an audition time on the choir room door and will audition for Mrs. Spencer and Ms. Green. The audition music was distributed to students August 28-29 in the choir room and was also sent home via e-mail. Unity will rehearse Tuesday and Thursday mornings each week from 7:30-8:40 a.m., beginning September 19.
Honor Choirs - all grades, optional
South Dakota Jr. High Honor Choir – Grades 7-8
Seventh and eighth grade choir students can audition for the South Dakota Jr. High Honor Choir, which will take place in Sioux Falls, January 19-20, 2024. Music is available in the choir room and can be sent home via e-mail upon request. The audition deadline is October 5. The cost to audition is $15.00. If selected, the cost for participation is $170, which includes the students’ hotel room for Friday evening, T-shirt, and 3 meals. If selected, honor choir members are required to stay in the hotel with the other choir members.
Honor choir is entirely optional and all costs and transportation are the responsibility of the family. Mrs. Spencer and Ms. Green are happy to help prepare the students both for the auditions and for the actual event once singers have been chosen.
Regional Elementary Honor Choir, unchanged voices in grades 4-6
Sixth graders who have unchanged voices are eligible to audition for this honor choir. The Regional ACDA honor choirs will take place in Omaha, NE February 7-10, 2024. The audition fee is $30. The participation fee for students who are selected is $225. This fee covers music, choral practice tracks, T-shirt, video and audio recordings of the performance, and four meals. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for making housing reservations and travel arrangements for their singers in the ACDA designated conference hotel.
Honor choir is entirely optional and all costs and transportation are the responsibility of the family. Mrs. Spencer and Ms. Green are happy to help prepare the students both for the auditions and for the actual event once singers have been chosen.
Regional Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir, SATB voices in grades 6-9
Students in grades 6-9 with changed or changing voices are eligible to audition for this honor choir. The Regional ACDA honor choirs will take place in Omaha, NE February 7-10, 2024. The audition fee is $30. The participation fee for students who are selected is $225. This fee covers music, choral practice tracks, T-shirt, video and audio recordings of the performance, and four meals. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for making housing reservations and travel arrangements for their singers in the ACDA designated conference hotel.
Honor choir is entirely optional and all costs and transportation are the responsibility of the family. Mrs. Spencer and Ms. Green are happy to help prepare the students both for the auditions and for the actual event once singers have been chosen.
Music Department Spirit Wear
The BRMS Music Department is selling music department T-shirts to raise funds for travel and expenses for our department. This is entirely optional and all proceeds from the sales will go directly to the ensemble(s) in which your child participates. The deadline to order is Monday, September 3 at midnight. Please let us know if there are any questions.
https://hauffsports.chipply.com/BENREIFELMUSIC/
If you do not receive any e-mails within the first two weeks of school from Mrs. Spencer, please send an e-mail to Jennifer.Spencer@k12.sd.us so that I have your correct e-mail address.
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Spencer at Jennifer.Spencer@k12.sd.us or Ms. Green at Pamela.Green@k12.sd.us.
Band at BRMS!
Welcome to Band this year at Ben Reifel Middle School! We are excited to get started with marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble and fun 6th-8th grade concert music!
Band Book:
If you have not done so already, we ask that you purchase the book Sound Innovations method book for your child to use at school and for home practice. The cost of the book is $8.99 for all but the Combined Percussion book for percussionists is $12.99, since it has twice the number of pages. You may purchase the book at a local music store or online. They are not for sale through the school.
6th Grade Method Book - Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 1
(This is the same book as was used in 5th Grade in the District)
7th and 8th Grade Method Book - Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 2
Band Ensembles at BRMS!
At BRMS we are planning to have several optional band ensembles in addition to the student's regular band class period. We plan to have a Wind Ensemble (7th & 8th Graders), Jazz Band (7th & 8th Graders), and a Marching Band (6th-8th Graders). These ensembles will meet before school, two days a week.
Use the form Linked Here to register for the 2023 BRMS BISON MARCHING BAND season! Marching Band at BRMS is open to all 6th-8th band students; it is not a required ensemble, but we highly encourage your student to give it a try!
Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:40-8:40am beginning Monday, Aug. 28 with our last rehearsal being Wednesday, Oct. 4. The students will have one performance the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Festival of Bands Parade in the Covell Lake Area of Sioux Falls.
Each student will need to order a marching band long-sleeve shirt for this event. That order form will be sent out in a separate email. We are also asking families to purchase aviator sunglasses for our performance. This "wardrobe" will align with our piece, "Danger Zone!" from the movie, Top Gun. There are several affordable options at Walmart, Target & Amazon. If funds are a concern, please reach out to a band director and we will secure funds so that your child may participate if they choose.
The music will be distributed at the first rehearsal and at Bison Round-Up. Please feel free to email Mrs. Dunbar and Ms. Bigge if you have questions - Ali.Dunbar@k12.sd.us, Brooke.Bigge@k12.sd.us
We look forward to creating our most epic marching band season yet! :)
School Instruments
Students currently using a school instrument will be able to continue using a school instrument at BRMS. These instruments will be distributed during the first week of school. Students will be expected to pay a $70 usage fee unless they qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Linked Here is the Instrument Usage Form that must be filled out for each student who plans to use a school instrument.
Students in all 3 Ensembles (Band/Choir/Orchestra)
Please pick up a class schedule from your band, choir or orchestra teacher at Bison Round-Up or on the first day of school.
Band Apps!
There are many great phone apps available to enhance and promote great practice at home. We encourage you to download some sort of metronome and tuner app as well as the app: “Band Mate”. Please reach out to a band director if you’d like ways to incorporate these apps into practice at home.
Percussion Stick Bags
We would like each percussionist to purchase their own sticks and mallets for the upcoming school year. Linked Here is a letter with the required materials. If funds are a concern, please reach out to a band director.
Ali Dunbar
BRMS Head Band Director
Brooke Bigge
BRMS Assistant Band Director
Ben Reifel Orchestra
Greetings from BRMS Orchestra! We are having a tough start with many of our instruments yet out for repair to area vendors. I am told that they are working as quickly as they can for us! This means that in the short term we will be sharing instruments and keeping school instruments at school. Students can still sign up for school instruments who need them online or by getting an Instrument Check Out Form from the orchestra classroom at BRMS. Personal instruments should always go home with students on off days from orchestra.
I encourage families to consider renting their own instrument throughout middle school. This is where our young students find out that they want to be life-long musicians: as a profession or an avocation. I recommend using local vendors like Popplers, Schmitt, or J. Reick; South Dakota Vendors like Taylor Music; and online shops like Sharmusic, Johnson String Instruments, and Baroque Violin Shop. I recommend renting first because children grow! And change their minds!
*VERY IMPORTANT: Please check with me first before purchasing from any other source or vendor, especially online. Most Instruments sold online are not acceptable and of very poor quality- not even as a toy. Check with me before purchasing!
Lastly, the string instrument family is played in such a way that fingernails of the left hand especially should be trimmed short (the free edge of the nail has no white edge). While it is possible to play the instrument with extended nails, long nails, or otherwise enhanced nails, it is not possible to play with technique that serves the music and is physically healthy for long-term playing on the instrument. Please help your musician have the best chance of playing well on their violin, viola, cello or bass.
Here are some examples of musicians that illustrate excellent playing technique and musicianship:
Violin: Midori, Sarah Chang, Joshua Bell, Itzak Pearlman
Viola: William Primrose, Nobuko Imai, Timothy Ridout, Yuri Bashmet
Cello: Yo-Yo Ma, Sol Gabetta, Sara Sant-Ambrogio, Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Bass: Gary Karr, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Edgar Meyer, Francois Rabbath
Musically,
Andrew Travers
605-299-5223 (text only)
