Nov 2010-Jan 2011 Aug-Oct 2010 - Meade School District...Meade School District 46-1 1230 Douglas Street Sturgis, S.D. 57785 Phone: 605.347.2523 Toll-free: 1.877.522.6251 For additional

In TouchA quarterly publication of Meade School District

November-December 2010November-December 2010January 2011January 2011

Volume 7, Number 2Volume 7, Number 2www.meade.k12.sd.uswww.meade.k12.sd.us

Bad weather protocols Bad weather protocols ...Page 2...Page 2

Geometry-in-construction Geometry-in-construction ...Page 3...Page 3

Superintendent to retireSuperintendent to retire...Page 5...Page 5

Winter music programsWinter music programs...Page 6...Page 6

This Old School HouseThis Old School House...Page 7...Page 7

Dakota STEP resultsDakota STEP results...Pages 8-9...Pages 8-9

Peer Helper Program Peer Helper Program ...Page 14...Page 14

School calendar School calendar ...Page 15...Page 15

“To Build Knowledge and Skills for Success Today and Tomorrow”

Woodle FieldWoodle Field

Set, GoSet, Goforfor

TrackTrack

Ready,Ready,

(See page 4)

22 In Touch November-December 2010, January 2011November-December 2010, January 2011

School closings and inclement weatherAny closure of district

schools, altering of bus routes orearly dismissals due to hazardousweather or other emergencies thatthreaten the health or safety ofstudents and district staff will bedecided by Meade SuperintendentJames Heinert.

Notification of this action willbe submitted to radio stationsKBHB (810 AM), KOTA (1380AM), KAT (98.7 FM),FOX (100.3FM), KIMM (1150 AM), KKMK(93.9 FM), KKLS (920 AM),KRCS (93.1 FM), KSQY (95.1FM), KIQK (104.1 FM) KTOQ(1340 AM), KDDX (101.1 FM),KZZI (95.9 FM), KDSJ (980 AM);and television stations KOTA,KEVN, KNBN and KELO.

This information will be postedon the Meade District website:www.meade.k12.sd.us/parent/

cancellations.htm

This information will also bedisseminated to parents throughthe parent notification phoneservice SchoolReach. This serv-ice will simultaneously call all thephone numbers in the district’scontact list, delivering a shortrecorded message from theSuperintendent.

If school isclosed during theday and busescan’t run, parentsare responsible forarranging to gettheir children home. MeadeDistrict officials suggest parentsmake prior arrangements for badweather days, which includesdiscussing the arrangement inadvance with their children andthe school.

Parents and patrons arereminded that because theschool district encompassesmore than 3,100 square miles,weather conditions may vary fromschool to school. When weatherconditions are threatening or mar-

ginal, the superintendent and buscontractor are in constant commu-nication.

Because of the interconnectednature of the Meade District busroutes, it is impossible to cancelor dismiss classes on a school-by-school basis; rather, this must

be done on a dis-trict basis.

Technologyallows the moni-toring of weatherconditions andthe gathering of

current data regarding forecasts.But no amount of technology orweather condition analysisapplied to the district at largecan take the place of parentswho wish to exercise their ownjudgment at these times.

Superintendent Heinert hassaid that if parents wish to keepa child home or to have a childdismissed early, it is within theirright to do so. Under such cir-cumstances, the child’s absencewould be excused.

The fourth issue of the MeadeSchool District Annual Report isnow available. This report to thepublic is a compilation of informa-tion from the 2009-2010 schoolyear, and represents a compre-hensive look at the district fromthe many perspectives that repre-sent the educational process inthe Meade School District.

Contents range from activi-ties, achievement and attendance

information to finances, facilitiesand food service facts.

The annual report is availableat libraries in Sturgis, Whitewoodand Piedmont, the Meade CountyCourthouse, all district schoolsand area real estate offices, to listjust a few locations.

It is also available on the district website:

www.meade.k12.sd.us/offices/communications.htm

Annual report is now available

In TouchKristine Hubbard, editorMeade School District 46-11230 Douglas StreetSturgis, S.D. 57785

Phone: 605.347.2523Toll-free: 1.877.522.6251

For additional copies of In Touchcall the phone number above.Comments or questions regardingthe contents may also be directedto the editor. The publication canalso be found on the school districtwebsite:

www.meade.k12.sd.us/parent/intouch.htm

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS:Contact your child’s schoolto make sure your contact

information including phonenumber and email are

up-to-date.

November-December 2010, January 2011 November-December 2010, January 2011 In Touch 33

After spending the first month of school in theclassroom, making balsa wood houses and estab-lishing protocols and standards for safety, studentsenrolled in the geometry-in-construction class atSturgis Brown High School are now working out-side, building a house for Habitat for Humanity.

The class, which is the first of its kind in thestate, integrates the two disciplines of geometry andindustrial arts. The junior and senior students are

gaining deep knowledge of geometry concepts byimmediately applying these concepts in a real-worldapplication.

The 1,152-square foot, four-bedroom home willeventually go to a local family meeting income andother guidelines required by Black Hills Area Habitatfor Humanity, who is providing the constructionmaterials. Habitat for Humanity has thus far beenunable to find a family for the house. They also have

been unsuccessful in finding a lot for thehouse. Anyone who might have a lot or whobelieves they meet the income guidelines forthe house should call the Habitat office at 348-9196 or construction-in-geometry teachersSteve Lensegrav or Chad Hedderman at thehigh school at 347-2686.

In the meantime, the SBHS students con-tinue to apply what they are learning in theclassroom to the construction field, workingmost afternoons on the project located northof the high school, between the business andag buildings.

Students begin constructing house for Black Hills Habitat for Humanity

Geometry-in-construction teacher Chad Hedderman, far right, explains to the students the importance of makingsure the house is perfectly square before they begin gluing and screwing down the floor. He also reminded thestudents to utilize their knowledge of geometry in making sure each corner is square.

In the photo atthe left, SBHSgeometry-in-constructionteacher SteveLensegravhelps seniorTodd Michaelsmeasure thefloor of thehouse currentlybeing built atthe high school.


Judges needed for senior presentations

Substitute teacher training to be held Jan. 7

Woodle Field track resurfacing completed

The senior English teachersat Sturgis Brown High School arein need of people willing to judgestudents’ oral presentations fortheir senior cumulative projects.

The presentations will takeplace Tuesday, Wednesday andThursday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at thehigh school.

All senior English studentsmust complete a cumulative proj-ect, the purpose of which is todemonstrate their knowledge andmaturity gained during the courseof their education. The project is afour-part process, the last step of

which is the oral presentation.The other steps include an anno-tated bibliography, a researchpaper, and project or product thatis an extension of the research.

Each student will speak aboutthe research paper, productapplication, lessons learned, andany challenges encounteredwhile doing the project. Uponcompletion of the 8-10 minutespeech, the judges will ask ques-tions about the different phasesof the project.

To serve as a judge, call anyof the following senior Englishteachers: Myrna Hill, MeganJones, or Barb Mundt at the highschool at 347-2686, or TeresaBartlett at the Academy at 347-9349.

A training for persons wish-ing to serve as substituteteachers in Meade SchoolDistrict will be held at 9 a.m.Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, in theschool board/staff meetingroom of the north building ofSturgis Williams Middle School.

The purpose of the trainingis to review the district’s substi-

tute teacher handbook and toanswer questions about localprocedures and policies.

Tips for a successful class-room experience will also begiven.

Persons holding a highschool diploma, GED, collegedegree or teacher’s certificateare eligible to substitute. A

background fingerprint checkwill be required.

Substitutes are needed inSturgis, Stagebarn, Whitewoodand the rural areas of Atall, ElmSprings, Enning, Hereford,Opal and Union Center.

For further information ordirections to the meeting location,call the district office at 347-2523.

The new Mondo surface hasbeen laid, drainage systeminstalled, fence replaced andlandscape work completed,bringing to an end the $1.07million capital project.

Work on replacing the dete-riorating 26-year-old track atWoodle Field began shortlyafter school dismissed last Mayand concluded shortly after

school began this fall, makingan already spectacular locationnow one of the top running sur-faces in the state.

The Meade School Boardhad discussed the need for anew surface for years, but itwasn’t until they were informedthe condition of the track couldprevent the school from hostingthe state track meet that they

decided the project couldn’t beput on hold any longer.

According to Buildings andGrounds Supervisor JamesHarris, the crew installing theprefabricated synthetic rubberMondo surface said Woodletrack was one of the best pre-pared surfaces they’ve everworked on. Good job HillsMaterials!

Public viewing of the SBHS senior experienceprojects will be held from

5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22,

in the lobby of the west gymat the high school.

Senior experience fair


Meade School District Superintendent JamesHeinert has announced his retirement, effective theend of this school year.

Heinert, who has been in education since 1971,the last 10 with Meade School District, said he hasbeen thinking about retiring for some time. “I wascommitted to finding a good time tomake the exit,” he said. “I wanted tomake sure the time was right for boththe district and me. I believe now isthe time a change in leadership couldbe accomplished without it being adisruption to the district’s commit-ment to continuing improvement.”

When Heinert steps down thisJune, he will leave a district that hastransformed in many ways under hiswatch.

School board president WandaBlair, who came on the board the sameyear Heinert was hired, said the super-intendent has overseen two majorbuilding projects, three renovation proj-ects and a track replacement at WoodleField. Under his tenure, a Stagebarn middle schoolfeasibility study was completed, strategic long-termpriorities established and districtwide NCA accreditation,the first in the state, achieved.

Blair said Heinert will be missed. “He has done agreat job for us and has been a leader who we, as aboard, will be very challenged to replace.”

Heinert, 60, is a native of Todd County. His careerstarted as a classroom teacher at the school fromwhich he graduated. He then served as a junior highschool principal, high school principal and director ofsecondary education, all at Todd County, before hegot his first job as a superintendent at WessingtonSprings. He later served as superintendent atMilbank School District.

Of his career in education, Heinert says he hasthoroughly enjoyed it. But that doesn’t mean there

haven’t been challenges. “Every day in this businessis a challenge,” he said. “But challenges representthe lifeblood of progress. If you are not challenged,you don’t progress. I have tried to take each chal-lenge and turn it into an opportunity.”

Heinert said he is very proud to have been associ-ated with Meade School District. “Mytime here has been a pleasant, richand rewarding experience. I have beenvery fortunate to live and work in acommunity that places a high priorityon the education of its youth and isactively supportive of its school district.”

He said it has also been his goodfortune to have a school board that isvisionary and supportive of theefforts that have been made toimprove the district and achieve itsmission. “I have also been very fortu-nate,” he added, “to have a highlydedicated, competent and profes-sional team of teachers, support staffand administrators.”

Heinert was selected the SouthDakota Outstanding School Superintendent for 2006by the South Dakota School SuperintendentsAssociation. He has served as president of both theSchool Administrators of South Dakota and theSouth Dakota School Superintendents Association(SDSSA) and is a past chairman of the legislativecommittee for SASD.

Heinert is also a former member of the executiveboards of both those professional organizations andof the South Dakota Association of SecondarySchool Principals. He currently serves as the SDSSAfederal relations coordinator to the AmericanAssociation of School Administrators.

“I have been blessed with a very supportive wifeand family over the years,” said Heinert, “and this hascontributed immeasurably to any success that I mayhave experienced throughout my career.”

Superintendent Heinert to retireat the end of this school year

James HeinertJames Heinert

6 6 In Touch November-December 2010, January 2011November-December 2010, January 2011

The public is invited to thewinter music programs to beheld this fall and winter through-out Meade School District.There is no admission charge.

Novemberfest featuringSturgis Brown High School jazzbands and the German band,will be held from 7-9 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 18, at the SturgisCity Auditorium. The band’s win-ter concert will be 7:30 p.m.Monday, Dec. 6 at the SturgisCommunity Center Theatre.

Sturgis Elementary first and

second grade Christmasprogram, titled “A Place in theChristmas Choir,” will be heldThursday, Dec. 2, at the SturgisCommunity Center Theatre. Thefirst grade performance is 6 p.m.while the second-graders willtake the stage at 7:30 p.m.

The Sturgis Williams MiddleSchool winter choir concert willbe held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec.13, at the Sturgis CommunityCenter Theatre.

There will be two perform-ances of the music program at

Piedmont Stagebarn School.The program, which featuresstudents in grades 2-6, will beheld at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.Friday, Dec. 17, at theStagebarn School gym.

Whitewood Elementary’sprogram and Christmas musicalwill be held at 7 p.m. Friday,Dec. 17. Location is theWhitewood School gym.

Sturgis Brown High Schoolchoir concert is set for 7 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the SturgisCommunity Center Theatre.

The programs for the sixrural schools are as follows:

·Hereford: 6:30 p.m. Friday,Dec. 10, Hereford Hall

·Opal: 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec.16, Opal Hall

·Atall: 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17,Atall School

·Enning: 6:30 p.m. Friday,Dec. 17, Central Meade CountyCommunity Center, UnionCenter

·Elm Springs: 6 p.m. Monday,Dec. 20, Elm Springs Hall

·Union Center: 7 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 21, Union CenterSchool basement

The Sturgis Williams MiddleSchool band concert is 7 p.m.Monday, Jan,. 24, at GrunwaldAuditorium.

The 18th annual Music Booster Club-sponsoredHoliday Soup Dinner will be held from 4-7 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 12, at Grunwald Auditorium in Sturgis.

Tickets cost $6 and may be purchased at thedoor, from any middle or high school music student,or by calling Sturgis Brown High School at 347-2686or Sturgis Williams Middle School at 347-5232.

Menu items include soup, salad, roll, dessertand beverages.

Musical entertainment will be provided by themembers of the choirs and bands at the highschool and middle school.

Proceeds will benefit activities of the musicdepartment.

Annual Holiday Soup Dinner set for Dec. 12


Oct. 28, 1942,meeting of theIndependentSchool Districtof Sturgis:

“Due to the emergency exist-ing in regard to the farm labor sit-uation, and the demands madefor the early release of farm boysto work on the farms, beginningNov. 1, one extra class be heldeach school day, in the HighSchool, for the balance of theschool term, so as to acceleratethe closing of the school term asearly as possible. Motion carried.

March 10, 1954, meeting: “It was moved and carried that

E.E. Grunwald, Superintendent, betendered a contract for next year atan annual salary of $6,200, andWilliam J. Brown, Principal of theHigh School, a salary of $5,000,and R.B. Williams, Grade SchoolsPrincipal, the salary of $5,000.

April 14, 1954, meeting:“It was moved by [Henry]

Cooper and seconded that theSchool District shall assume andpay one-half of the cost of GroupHospital Insurance for teachersand custodians and other con-tracted employees, beginning atthe date of the commencement ofthe term of their new contract. Itwas also moved that teacherswho were not given benefits of thehospital insurance plan last yearshall be given such benefit for theremainder of the term beginningas of May 1, at the contribution of$1.67 per month to be paid by theDistrict. The motion carried.

April 13, 1976, meeting of MeadeIndependent School District 101:

“A letter from Dr. Tom Tullyexpressing dissatisfaction withsoft drinks and candy dispensedthrough the vending machines atBrown High School was brought to

the attention of the school board.Principals were instructed torequest the vending company toalso provide diet soft drinks and anexpansion of snack type food.

Sept. 15, 1992, meeting of MeadeSchool District 46-1:

“The proposed rental agree-ment with the Sturgis CommunityCenter was discussed. The ratefor the gym is $3,500 which wouldgive the school full use of the gymfacility. If the full gym floor is notneeded on certain nights, theschool would allow the generalpublic the use of same. The gymwill be used for seventh andeighth grade intramural volleyballand basketball.

Theater use time will be $50per performance and no chargefor rehearsal time. The theater willbe used for plays and concerts.The rental agreement wasapproved.”

This Old School House

Meade School Board’s goal of converting thefirst floor of the north building of Sturgis WilliamsMiddle School into an administrative services centeris inching toward fruition.

Action taken by the school board during its reg-ular September meeting will result in further renova-tions to the north building.

That action included the approval of the termsand conditions of the sale of $600,000 in QualifiedZone Academy Bonds, which will be used to financePhase III of the north building conversion, and itsacceptance of a proposal from TSP to design thecomponents of Phase III. Qualified Zone AcademyBonds are 0-percent interest bonds with a 15-year

payback period. They can only be used for renova-tion projects and not new construction.

Phase III includes renovating the main entranceand lobby, first floor public restrooms, and theoffices of superintendent and business manager.The southeast classroom will also be remodeled toaccommodate a conference room.

Phase II, which was completed in May 2010,consisted of remodeling two classrooms and anadjoining corridor into a board meeting room/stafftraining room and a storage and audio visual room.Phase I, completed in December 2008, consisted ofremodeling two classrooms to accommodate thedistrict Special Services Department.

Administrative services center becoming a reality


Dakota STEP scores continue to riseThe recently released report card for the Meade

School District shows that students tested last springcontinue to improve in both reading and math.

The report card, from the South Dakota Departmentof Education, is a compilation of the results of the DakotaState Test of Educational Progress (STEP), the state'sassessment tool that measures progress in reading andmath of students in grades three through eight and gradeeleven as required by the federal No Child Left Behind(NCLB) Act.

According to the report card, 82 percent of MeadeDistrict students in third through fifth grades testedadvanced or proficient in reading while 79 percent ofsixth- through eighth-graders were advanced or profi-cient. The NCLB goal or Annual Measurable Objective inreading for those grade levels is 69 percent. Statewide,78 percent of thirdthrough fifth-graders and 75 percentof sixth through eighth grade students were advanced orproficient in reading.

The NCLB goal in reading for high school students is62 percent. At Sturgis Brown High School, 58 percentachieved at the advanced or proficient levels.

The STEP results in math show that most MeadeDistrict students are exceeding expectations in that sub-ject. The goal for math is set at 72 percent for studentsthrough eighth grade. In the Meade District, 85 percent of

third through fifth grade students and 77 percent of sixththrough eighth grade students tested advanced or profi-cient. Statewide, the figures are 78 percent for thirdthrough fifth grade and 79 percent for sixth througheighth.

On the high school level, 57 percent are advanced orproficient in math. The NCLB goal for high school stu-dents is 63 percent. Statewide, 69 percent of high schoolstudents achieved at those levels.

Not only does NCLB require all schools to meet theannual standards for their total student population, eachsubgroup of students must also meet the standards.Subgroups, which could contain as few as 10 students,include those who have disabilities, limited English skills,are from low-income families, transients or minorities.

Two Meade School District schools, Sturgis WilliamsMiddle School and Sturgis Brown High School, are iden-tified for improvement because not all subgroups of stu-dents in those two schools met the yearly standards.

In the case of the middle school, the designation wasgiven because the subgroup of students with disabilitiesdid not meet either the reading or math requirements. AtSBHS, the subgroup of economically disadvantaged didnot meet the math standard.

The two schools join 89 other South Dakota schoolsidentified for improvement.

Meade School District Math Results


Piedmont Stagebarn Elementary School hasbeen named a 2010 Distinguished School for SouthDakota according to the No Child Left BehindReport Card.

To be named a distinguished school, the schoolhad to meet adequate yearly progress for two con-secutive years in both reading and math and the

percentage of students in the ‘all student’ group whomet the state’s proficient and advanced levels ofperformance in both reading and math is 10 per-centage points higher than the current year’s annu-al measurable objective for each subject.

Of the 696 public schools in South Dakota, only151 were named Distinguished Schools.

School was also recognized in 2007

Piedmont Stagebarn named Distinguished School

Meade School District Reading Results

Meade School District Science Results

The following subgroupsdid not meet the min‐Nof 10 for reportingpurposes: Black orAfrican American,Asian/Pacific Islander,Hispanic, MigrantStudents, Limited EnglishProficiency, and Studentswith Disabilities.


High school Student Services Officehelps students reach their full potential

Whether it is fostering personal and social growth,assisting in educational and career planning or pro-moting healthy decision making, the Sturgis BrownHigh School Student Services Office does it all.

The name change a few years ago fromCounseling Office to Student Services Office was agood move, according to both staff and students. “Thatname didn’t properly reflect what we do,” said DadraAvery, one of two counselors at the school, “becausewe do so much more than provide counseling.”

“Being sent to the counselors’ office has a neg-ative connotation anyway,” she added, “so thechange is good.” It is also something the studentshave suggested over the years when they fill out theschool’s senior exit survey.

The following services are available through theStudent Services Office. Parents who have ques-tions about the services offered are encouraged tocall the office at 347-2686.

Individual counseling...for education guidance,career choices, occupational opportunities, curricu-lum planning and personal and social development.

Group conferences...concerning course offer-ings, applying to post high school training institu-tions, job opportunities, testing programs, financialaid and scholarship programs.

Information...about careers and higher educa-tion. Representatives from all military services,vocational schools and colleges and universitiesregularly visit the school.

Testing...is conducted throughout the schoolyear and includes achievement, ability and aptitude.

Referrals...are made based on student requestsfor additional resources which can include assis-tance for learning disabilities to assistance fromDepartment of Social Services personnel or theschool nurses’ office.

Educational program selection...for each stu-dent. Assistance and guidance is offered so thecourse program best fits the student’s individualeducational needs.

One of the new services offered this year is aninformation night for juniors and their parents.Topics to be covered at this Feb. 17 meeting includecollege and vocational school costs, admission poli-cies and deadlines, scholarships and eligibility.

Sturgis Brown High School counselor Dadra Averyhelps senior Dustin Wisecarver fill out a form.

Coming Events

Nov. 3, 2010: ASVAB TestJan. 10, 2011: Senior Financial Aid Night,

6:30 p.m., lecture hall, SBHSFeb. 17, 2011: Junior Information Night,

6:30 p.m., lecture hall, SBHSApril 5-6, 2011: Dakota STEPAP Tests:

Chemistry: May 2, 2011Calculus: May 4, 2011Literature: May 5, 2011Language Arts: May 11, 2011


Sturgis Brown High School’sfall musical “Back To The 80s”will be performed at 7 p.m.Thursday, Friday and Saturday,Nov. 11-13, at the SturgisCommunity Center Theatre.

Set in the United States, themusical tells the story of the

senior class of William OceanHigh School which graduated inthe 1980s, as remembered andseen through the eyes of one ofthe graduates.

The musical is in the style ofmovies such as “Back To TheFuture,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day

Off,” “The Karate Kid” and “TheWedding Singer.”

Directors are June Dill, GaryNelson and Bart Torbert.

Admission is $5 for adultsand $3 for K-12 students.Meade School District activitytickets will be honored.

Free and reduced-pricebreakfast and lunch are availablein the Meade School District tostudents from families whosehousehold income falls within eli-gibility guidelines.

The reduced-price for break-fast is 30 cents while the cost fora reduced lunch is 40 cents. Thefull price for those meals are$1.30 for breakfast and $2.45 forlunch.

For those who have applied

and or are thinking about apply-ing for free or reduced-pricemeals, the application is good foronly one year.

If you applied and wereapproved last year, you need toreapply this year. If you appliedthis year and were denied, youcan reapply if your situation haschanged or if you are now receiv-ing combat pay. If a spouse isdeployed to a combat zone, thatcombat pay is not counted as

income for the purposes of thisprogram.

In certain cases, foster chil-dren are eligible for free orreduced-price meals regardlessof the income of the household inwhich they reside.

To get a copy of the eligibilityguidelines, for help in completingthe application or for informationabout other assistance programs,call Meade School District FoodService Office at 347-3601.

SBHS musical ‘Back To The 80s’ is Nov. 11-13

Applying for free and reduced-price meals

Help is just a phone call away

Meade School District has instituted a help desk this year for staff who have

questions about technology. Sturgis Williams Middle School computer teacher and part-time

computer specialist Linda Hampton, right, runs the help desk from her

classroom. Hours of operation are 1:15-3:15 p.m. daily.

The Piedmont construction project continuesmoving ahead at a fast pace with doors set toopen on the 77,041-square foot school in theFall of 2011.

The classrooms on the west end of the firstfloor are all framed with rough-in work underway.Main duct ventilation is installed in the west cor-ridor and classrooms, and part of the secondlevel concrete floor is in place.

Installation of the roof is under way over thefirst floor areas above the multipurpose roomkitchen, media center, garage and west class-room section.

Additional photos of the project can be seen at: www.meade.k12.sd.us/communications.htm

Piedmont School on schedule


Aerial view ofPiedmont construction

-October 2010

Ground level view ofPiedmont construction

-October 2010


Students in Sturgis andWhitewood are invited to auditionfor the Sturgis Area Arts Council-sponsored musical “On the Roadto Bremen Town.”

Auditions are 3:30 p.m.Monday, Jan. 3, at the Sturgis

Elementary gym. Rehearsals willbe held every day that week.

Up to 50 children will be castwith suitable parts for every age,skill and experience level. Olderstudents will serve as assistantdirectors in addition to filling the

more challenging roles.Performances will be 7 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7-8, atthe Sturgis Community CenterTheatre.

Admission is $6 for adults, $3for students

Board’s newest member, Curt Johnson,has 13 years school board experience

Auditions are Jan. 3 for children’s theatre production of “On the Road to Bremen Town”

His mother was a teacherand administrator for 42 years,so no one should be surprisedby Curt Johnson’s involvement ineducation.

Prior to assuming his seat onthe Meade School Board in Julyof this year, he had alreadyacquired 13 years of experienceas a member of the Hill CitySchool Board from 1979-1992.During that tenure he served asboard president for six years andas a member of the Board ofDirectors of the AssociatedSchool Boards of South Dakotafrom 1981-1992.

“If you really want to knowwhat is going on you have to getinvolved,” he said. “So when mychildren were in school I took anactive interest in education.” Henow has grandchildren attendingPiedmont Stagebarn School, sohe once again wants to be moreinvolved.

He admits there are somehuge changes since he lastserved on a school board, par-

ticularly in the area of technology,but what hasn’t changed, hesaid, is the importance of a pos-itive school and communityrelationship where the parentsand the public have a spirit ofpartnership and ownership, asense of community pride andparticipation, and a sense ofinvolvement.

“My greatest concern locallywould be balancing what we canafford with what we know are thereal needs,” he said. “Funding isalways an issue, but growth andcosts are real issues also.

“Mandates without fundingand special interest groups needto be a concern of any schoolboard member,” he added.

He would like to see theboard continue to work on theestablishment of a middle schoolin the Piedmont Stagebarn area.

“We also need to study thegrowth demographics to deter-mine if or when a high schoolmay be needed in this area andstart planning for that need. Also

important is meeting the educa-tional needs of rural students inthe outlying areas of this largedistrict.”

Curt is a professional land-scape contractor, specializing inresidential and commercial irri-gation. He currently works forSprinkler Service Company ofRapid City.

He and his wife of 42 years,Pamela, have three grown chil-dren.

Curt JohnsonCurt Johnson


The enthusiasm for and success of the PeerHelper Program at Sturgis Brown High School has notdiminished in the four years since its inception. Kidshelping kids problem solve is still the mantra.

Students who are juniors can volunteer for theprogram or can be nominated by staff members. “Wewant the students to be representative of the socialcomposition of the school,” said Dadra Avery, coun-selor and program adviser. According to Avery, thegoal is to have students help others of approximatelythe same age who share related values, experiencesand lifestyles.

In today’s society, peer influence may be thestrongest single motivational force in a student’s life.Since students often communicate their problems totheir peers rather than to parents or teachers, this pro-gram trains students to recognize positive and strongpersonality traits in order to deal with others in a wayto which they will best respond.

The students undergo two days of training. The

first day they take a survey to determine their person-ality profile based on temperament traits. They arethen divided into groups to work on recognizing traitscommon within themselves and in others as a way ofcreating both a greater self-awareness and a betterunderstanding of how to communicate with others.

The second day includes training in mediation andconflict resolution with senior students who are in theirsecond year of serving as peer helpers.

Guidelines for peer helpers, which include beingresponsible, trustworthy and having a good image,are also reviewed. Training is conducted on an annu-al basis so that the peer helpers are aware of properprotocols.

“The Peer Helper Program touches not only the30 students directly involved in the program, but thestudent body as a whole as well as the community,”said Avery. “The skills learned by these students arelife skills they will carry with them for success well intotheir adult lives.”

During Peer Helper training recently, students participated in a get-to-know-you activity. Pictured in the center is LizPenn. Also pictured are, counter clockwise from the foreground center, Zach Murray, Jarrett Fowler, Andie Shuck,Shannon Kymala, Crystina Payne, Tina Stalder, Franke Gonzales, Zach Bergman, Allison Lorius, Peter Schmit,Morgan Engbrecht, Alex Duprel, Jessica Hoffman, Alexis Weber and Brandy Foust. The students are all juniors.

Peer Helper Program in its fourth year


Inservice Day (no school) Nov. 5

Early Release Day Nov. 24

Thanksgiving (no school) Nov. 25-26

Christmas Vacation (no school) Dec. 23-Jan. 2

Inservice Day (no school) Jan. 14, 2011

Martin Luther King Day (no school) Jan. 17, 2011

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Middle School: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 14, 2011

High School: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 15, 2011

The following is the approved Meade School District calendar for the 2010-2011 school year. There willbe an early release day on Wednesday, Nov. 24, which is the day before Thanksgiving. Any snow days willbe made up by adding additional days at the end of the school calendar. Furthermore, Jan. 17, Feb. 21,March 17, and April 25 will be used as make-up days if more than three snow days have been used prior toJan. 3, Feb. 1, March 1, or April 1, 2011.

School calendar for 2010-2011

Parent-Teacher Conferences: (continued)

Elementary Schools: 5-8 p.m. Feb. 15, 2011

All Schools: 4-7 p.m. Feb. 17, 2011

Presidents’ Day (no school) Feb. 21, 2011

Inservice Day (no school) Mar. 17, 2011

Spring Break (no school) Mar. 18, 2011

Good Friday/Easter (no school) April 22-25, 2011

Last Day of School May 20, 2011

Graduation May 22, 2011

1. Read with your children at least once every day2. Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them tothe library regularly, and keep books and otherreading materials in their reach.3. Notice what interests your child, then help findbooks about those things.4. Respect your child’s choices. There is nothingwrong with series fiction if that’s what keeps a youngreader turning the pages.5. Praise your children’s efforts and newly acquiredskills.6. Help your child build a personal library. Children’sbooks, new or used, make great gifts and appropri-ate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase,shelf or box where your children can keep theirbooks. 7. Check up on your children’s progress. Listen tothem read aloud, read what they write and askteachers how they’re doing in school.

8. Tell stories. It’s a fun way to teach values, passon family history and build your children’s listeningand thinking skills.9. Go places and do things with your children tobuild their background knowledge and vocabulary,and to give them a basis for understanding whatthey read.10. Be a reading role model. Let your children seeyou read, and share some interesting things withthem that you have read about in books, newspa-pers or magazines.11. Continue reading aloud to older children evenafter they have learned to read by themselves.12. Encourage writing along with reading. Ask chil-dren to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list,take messages and make their own books andcards as gifts.

How to nurture a growing reader

SchoolsRural SchoolsBev Rosenboom, principal............................269-2264

Atall....................................................985-591616375 Atall Road, Union Center, S.D. 57787Elm Springs.......................................798-249221309 Elm Springs Road, Wasta, S.D. 57791Enning................................................985-5364Highway 34 Box 22, Enning, S.D. 57737Hereford.............................................985-538015998 Cross S Road, Hereford, S.D. 57785Opal....................................................748-242618010 Opal Road, Opal, S.D. 57765Union Center.....................................985-53671700 Highway 34, Union Center, S.D. 57787Office..................................................985-5532

Piedmont Stagebarn Elementary12380 Sturgis Road, Piedmont, S.D. 57769Ethan Dschaak, principal..............................787-5295

Sturgis Brown High School12930 E. Highway 34, Sturgis, S.D. 57785

Toll-free 1-888-568-3514Jeff Simmons, principal.................................347-2686Don Lyon, assistant principal........................347-2686Mike Paris, activities director.........................347-4487

Academy............................................347-93491807 Williams Street, Sturgis**

Sturgis Elementary1121 Ball Park Road, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Norm Graham, principal................................347-2386Ann Nonnast, assistant principal...................347-2386

Sturgis Williams Middle School1425 Cedar Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785

Toll-free 1-888-567-8274Lon Harter, principal......................................347-5232Ann Nonnast, assistant principal...................347-5232

Whitewood Elementary603 Garfield, Whitewood, S.D. 57793Bev Rosenboom, principal............................269-2264

Superintendent1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785James Heinert...............................................347-2523

Toll-free 1-877-522-6251Business Manager

1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Brett Burditt...................................................347-2523

. Toll-free 1-877-522-6251

Buildings and Grounds12940 E. Highway 34, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Jim Harris, supervisor...................................347-2649

Communications Office1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Kristine Hubbard...........................................347-2523

Curriculum and Technology1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Jeff Ward, director.........................................347-4454

Food Service1121 Ball Park Road, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Joe Schaffer, director....................................347-3601

Nurses’ Office1121 Ball Park Road, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Randi Oviatt..................................................347-2610

School Social Worker1121 Ball Park Road, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Ginger Johnson............................................347-2386

Special Services1230 Douglas Street, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Chrissy Peterson, director.............................347-4770Chantal Ligtenberg, asst. to the director........347-4770

Sturgis Bus Company2237 West Sherman, Sturgis, S.D. 57785Einar Mortenson, owner................................347-5066

Woodle Field600 Woodland Dr., Sturgis, S.D. 57785**......347-2003

Directory for Meade School District

**Not a mailing address

In TouchMeade School District 46-11230 Douglas StreetSturgis, South Dakota 57785

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidWestern Mailers

Documents

Nov 2010-Jan 2011 Aug-Oct 2010 - Meade School District...Meade School District 46-1 1230 Douglas Street Sturgis, S.D. 57785 Phone: 605.347.2523 Toll-free: 1.877.522.6251 For additional