S O N I A S O T O M A Y O R

E L E M E N T A R Y

El NOTICIERO J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

January 12

Student Leadership Council

Meeting—7:35am—Library

January 17

Dress Up Day—Wacky

Wednesday

Host Family Info Session—

6:00pm-7:00pm—

Conference Room

January 18

End of 2nd Quarter

January 19

No School

January 23

Host Family Info Session—

6:00pm-7:00pm—

Conference Room

Family Fitness Zumba

Night—6:15pm—Gym

January 26

Student Leadership Council

Meeting—7:35am—Library

February 8

Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences 3:30pm-7:00pm

February 9

100th Day of School!

Teacher of the Year Nomi-

nations Due

February 13

Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences 3:30pm-7:00pm

February 15

Parent/Teacher Confer-

ences 3:30pm-7:00pm

February 16-21

No School

¡Feliz año nuevo!

The 2018 year has started out in a frigid fashion, but things are heating up inside our school! Currently our students, Kindergarten through 5th grade, are completing the mid-year Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). Students in grades 1st-5th also completed the MAP in the Fall and all students will complete the assessment at the end of the school year. Teachers have immediate access to results. They can see specific content and skill level strengths and weaknesses of each student which allows them to better differentiate instruction. Students use the data to set personal goals and can track their results from year to year. As a building, we can review classroom data, grade level data, and building data to determine areas to celebrate and areas that may need profession-al development. As parents, you can review your child’s progress throughout this school year and beyond. Parents can determine in which areas they may need to pro-vide additional support for their child. The information can also provide reassurance to parents that their child is progressing in their English skills. Parents will receive infor-mation on their child’s progress during Parent/Teacher Conferences. Even though the MAP Assessment is conducted in English, it provides all of us with important data that drives our instruction.

I would like to thank all of you who support our Scholastic Book Fairs! On December 18th I was able to visit the Scholastic Book Warehouse Sale in Aurora, Colorado. I brought home over $4700 worth of Spanish books for our classroom libraries! The best part… I only spent $770! I was able to use $3000 of “Scholastic Bucks” that our school earned through parent/student/teacher purchases made at our Scholastic Book Fairs!! Once the Scholastic Bucks were spent, I purchased an additional $850 worth of books at the Buy One/Get One Free sale and utilized some great coupons I found online! The teachers were able to select books to fill the libraries in their classrooms!

Thank you so much for all you do to support our school in so many ways!

Building the Teacher Pipeline

By Dr. Brian Maher, Superintendent

You may recall reading in past columns about the Sioux Falls School District’s focus

on all work relating to the achievement of the goals adopted in the District’s Strategic Plan.

Those goals include increasing student attendance, getting more students to graduate on

time and providing a safe, welcoming environment where students and staff easily

recognize their role in achieving success.

Another such goal is recruiting staff who are more reflective of the increasingly diverse student

population we serve. More than one third of students report being culturally diverse - 36%. However,

just 3% of the teaching staff reports diversity in their cultural makeup. The Teacher Internship Program

started this school year with the goal of recruiting staff for hard to fill academic areas and to recruit a

workforce reflective of our student population.

Six interns from a pool of 30 non-teaching applicants were selected to complete a nine-week

internship. Four were existing employees while two entered the classroom from outside the District.

These interns worked – or are still working - side-by-side with a mentor teacher to complete all

requirements of a teacher, including lesson planning, attending meetings, and providing the daily

guidance necessary to support young learners.

While we will not know for some time whether these internships lead applicants to pursue the

certification required to teach, we remain committed to the slow but steady process to improve our

pipeline of culturally diverse staff. Next fall, high school students who are thinking about pursuing a

career in education will have the opportunity to take courses on a teacher pathway. These courses are

currently in development thanks to a committee of the District’s best and brightest teachers who are

passionate about preserving and enhancing their profession.

Choosing a career in public education is a guaranteed way to make an impact on the future.

While we certainly encourage students to consider education as their chosen profession, the Teacher

Internship Program also offers opportunities to adults who are considering a career change. Are you one

of them?

Did you know that you can donate your Coca-Cola codes to Sonia So-

tomayor Elementary.

It’s fast. It’s easy.

It’s greatly appreciated!

Please click here to visit their website for more information.

Thank you!

Please remember to send your

child with tennis shoes for P.E.

class.

Please check out our NEW web-

site at

www.sotomayor-sfsd.org!

Content includes:

Sonia Sotomayor Calendar

Teacher Websites

Newsletters

Tutor Information

Volunteer Information

Links to school related events, and

more!

Please consider volunteering to help out in our lunchroom! Lunchroom volunteers help direct the children to seats, help with opening milk cartons or lunch items, and may help with wiping tables. It is a great way to meet students and staff at Sonia Sotomayor and help make a busy time easier.

This sign-up is for the second semester and will start on Monday, January 22nd. Shifts are 45 minutes each and you can select which day(s) of the week would work for you. This is a weekly commitment for the entire semes-ter. If you need to be absent on any given day, please let the office know.

The lunch room schedule is as follows:

Kinder 10:50am 5th Grade 11:00am 2nd Grade 11:20am 3rd Grade 11:30am 1st Grade 11:50am 4th Grade 12:00pm

Please click here to sign up. Please contact the office with any questions. Thank you!

Happy New Year!

This month, I want to share some online ebooks and resources that are available to you and your child via the Sotomayor Library Homep-age. We talk about them in Library, but I want you to know they exist as well! I hope you check them out and please let me know if you have questions!

From any search engine, type: Sioux Falls School District Library Por-tal

Click the green folder on the left that says: Find My Library

Choose: Sonia Sotomayor Elementary

There are TONS of resources on this page used for various research, au-dio books, search engines, adult Spanish learners, websites, etc. Check out the eBooks section, there’s a plethora of books available (some read aloud) in both English and Spanish!

I will be presenting this information a bit more in depth and answering questions at the PASI meeting on Monday, February 12th at 7:15pm in the Sotomayor Library. Come join us!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Egstad

Birthday Book Donations

Benton Brost Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcake

Sean Heinssen Creepy Carrots!

Samuel Grauf Sonidos fuertes, sonidos suaves

Monroe Barrera Corduroy

Danica Bukovich Los gatos vs. los perros

Kaden Spaans Santa's Sleigh is on its way to South Dakota

Sebastian Harrison Las aventuras del capitan calzoncillos

Matthew Marlette The BFG (espanol)

Hannah Zwak Lucia the Luchadora

Simeon Seruyange We are in a book!

Emmalyn Sage Peanut Butter & Cupcake!

Lillian Kiesow La leccion de August

Kinder James Reed

1st Grade Violet Hernandez Ruiz

2nd Grade Jake Brown

3rd Grade Juliet Meyers

4th Grade Oliver McMillan

5th Grade Ryder Syverson

401 & 105 had the highest percentages of class attendance!

December Perfect

Attendance

December Perfect Attendance Achievers

Burggraff, Jack

Burggraff, Katy

Burke, Ava

Buttke, Caroline

Cazares, Ellie

Christensen, Josephine

Christensen, Samson

Christiansen, Ella

Cole, Simon

Cook, David

Crawford, Charlotte

Crawford, Hudson

Csobor, Payson

Daly, Samantha

DeGroot, Samuel

DeGroot, Sophie

DeKam, Sienna

Dengler, Colby

Donis, Tristan

Dorman, Avery

Downey, Griffin

Dumdei, Ethan

Dumdei, Zachary

Dyck, Finley

Ehresmann, Marek

Ehresmann, Willa

Eidsvoog, Oliver

Eidsvoog, Oscar

Etrheim, Griffin

Fields, Diamond

Flynn, Mya

Flynn, Traysen

Garcia, Arely

Getahun, Hannah

Gilbertson, Jack

Gillespie, Isabel

Glanville, Jackson

Glanville, McKinley

Goff, Avery

Gonnerman, Livia

Graning, Annika

Groher, Adelia

Groher, Reid

Gustin, Harper

Hahn, Caleb

Hanisch, Jacob

Hanisch, Jaxton

Hansen, Cidney

Hanson, Ethan

Harris, Isaac

Aanenson, Collin

Abild, Evan

Ailts, Maya

Ailts, Zachary

Akkerman, Evelyn

Akossi, Louison

Akossi, Precillia

Akossi, Raelle

Albrecht, Alyse

Aloe, Leticia

Anderson, Diem

Anderson, Isla

Arnott, Joslynn

Arriolacolmenares, Elijah

Atkinson, Eli

Atkinson, Reid

Baker, Caden

Barenklau, Rayann

Baron, Hannah

Barrera, Monroe

Batcheller, Wells

Bausch, Amelia

Bausch, Jakob

Bearden, Ruby

Bender, Lucy

Bengford, Sophia

Benitez Arends,

Bennett, Javi

Bennett, Xuvo

Berg, Jorgen

Berg, Maeley

Blauth, Isaiah

Blauth, Maria

Blom, Taysia

Blom, Tyson

Boer-Breuer, Nieva

Boese, Henry

Bohorquez Renteria,

Bolger, Sullivan

Bosler, Fletcher

Bratkiewicz, Samuel

Brockevelt, Emery

Brooks, Makai

Brooks, Mya

Brost, Benton

Brouwer, Morgan

Broveleit, Meena

Brown, Jake

Buck, Brooks

Burchett, Jacob

Harrison, Sebastian

Hedrick, Elise

Hedrick, Julia

Heidelberger, Kayla

Heinrich, Mikah

Heinssen, Sean

Hendricks Leuning,

Herbst, Alice

Herbst, Nathanial

Hernandez Ruiz,

Herrmann, Brody

Herrmann, Sophie

Hilmoe, Holden

Hilmoe, Loften

Hitchcock, Eden

Hitchcock, Lazarus

Hogue, Jacob

Honkomp, Lucas

Honkomp, Sophia

Hooker, Madison

Hoover, Finley

Hoover, Isaiah

Huber, Caroline

Huber, Lauren

Hurney, Eloise

Husser, Connor

Husser, Jacob

Hutchinson, Evie

Hutchinson, Kalette

Jenkins, Brielle

Jennings, Dylan

Jensen, Camden

Jensen, James

Jepsen, Miya

Johnson, Alexander

Johnson, Harper

Jones, Anthony

Jones, Marshal

Jones, Nala

Jones, Owen

Jorgenson, Jonah

Justice, Luciana

Kiesow Knudsen,

Kiesow, Ivy

Kiesow, Lillian

Kiesow, Otto

Kiesow-Knudsen, Vivian

Kirchner, Taydra

Kirsch, Bergen

Kirschenmann, Cash

Klaahsen, Ava

Klaahsen, Noah

Kleinjan, Evelyn

Kleinschmit, Emmett

Kleinschmit, Wyatt

Klemme, Zoey

Kolbach, Kiana

Kompelien, Quinn

Kompelien, Reese

Konz, Edwin

Konz, Noah

Konz, Oliver

Kool, Jerzi

Kool, Paislee

Krempges, Isaac

Krempges, Sydney

Krenik, Maxwell

Krenik, Samuel

LaBore, Aleigha

Lacher, Autumn

Langdon, Ayva

Langdon, Brianna

Langenfeld, Camila

Larson, Deacon

Larson, Major

Larson, Santee

Leuning, Molly

Linton, Eva

Loween, Ashton

Loween, Austin

Loween, Jacob

Luke, Matthew

Lumley, Anah

Lundberg, Frances

Malchow, Cole

Malchow, Jake

Malchow, Katie

Maldonado, Keniel

Maravel, Evelyn

Marlette, Matthew

Martin, Chase

Martin, Tate

Mathiesen, Aliza

Mathiesen, Chloe

Matute Gonzalez,

McChesney, Julian

McClure, Parker

McMillan, Oliver

Mertes, Elizabeth

Metzger, Hayden

Meyers, Juliet

Miller, Andrew

Moberg Jackson,

Moeding, Madelynn

Nanton, Isaiah

Nanton, Stephen

Neiderhiser, Johanna

Nelson, Kingston

Neuharth, William

Niederauer, Ainsley

Nielsen, Rhys

Norris, Ophelia

Nour, Brody

Olesen, Amelia

Oliver, Griffin

Olson, Macie

Olson, Oliver

Ott, Alexander

Ott, Carolyn

Parker, Robert

Pascoe, Sophia

Pass, Elena

Pederson, Lucy

Perry, Alice

Perry, Liv

Pfeiffer, Kinsley

Plorde, James

Poe, Elise

Powell, Eleanor

Powell, Robert

Preto, Adriana

Quello, John

Rabanales, Tristian

Rabanales, Xander

Raph, Maddox

Raph, Trey

Rasmussen, Henry

Rasmussen, Ivan

Rassier, Cora

Rave, Briar

Rave, Calla

Reed, James

Reiter, Camryn

Remme, Dawson

Ringing Shield,

Rivera Nemmers,

Robbins, Jack

Rood, Amaya

Roti, Lura

Rueckert, Nyla

Schafer, Hazel

Schellpfeffer, Cole

Schellpfeffer, Elena

Schellpfeffer, Myles

Schempp, Jack

Schempp, Jaden

Schmidt, Selah

Scholla, Jordan

Scholla, Tessa

Schramm, Spencer

Schumacher, Hudson

Schumacher, Lincoln

Schwab, Regan

Segura, Kaydin

Sheets, Lily

Sieve, Maci

Sipma, Kaylie

Sipma, Kelsie

Slade, Brielle

Slade, Nolan

Smith, Jovianna

Sorensen, Lillian

Sortino, Christopher

Southwick, Grady

Southwick, Maggie

Spade, Clara

Stahlecker, Raylan

Stamp, Brady

Stamp, Tate

Starks, Everett

Statema, Kenley

Statema, Lauren

Statema, Lily

Sternick, Corbin

Stormo, Brayden

Streufert, Samuel

Stroh, Jackson

Summers, Fletcher

Syverson, Ryder

Termaat, Ella

Termaat, William

Theisen, Landon

Thomas, Elaine

Thompsen, Jade

Thompsen, Thomas

Thompson, Wesley

Thury, Amrit

Timat, Jude

Tollinger, Josie

Tollinger, Paige

Tolly, Colton

Tolly, Isaac

Torok, Klara

Towe, Callie

Turcios, Elijah

Twa, Alexander

Twa, Isaac

Umstead, Carter

Umstead, Cole

Umstead, Tessa

Valdez Valdez,

Valdez, Carlo

VanBeek, Mae

VanBeek, Oliver

VanderFeen, Hannah

VanRoekel, Miles

Veeder, Marley

Vergara, Sofia

Walling, Christian

Warden, Ella

Warden, Lydia

Weber, Grayson

Weber, Hudson

Weber, Kade

Weber, Wilson

Werner, Andrew

White, Ethan

White, Jaxon

White, Kiera

White, Nico

Whiting, Brendan

Whiting, Cade

Wiebe, Ariah

Wiessner, Britta

Wiessner, Grant

Wilds, Alexander

Williams, Lila

Wingert, Tucker

Winrow, Madison

Woitte-Kaup, Landon

Wolbrink, Aliesha

Wolbrink, Jamari

Wrotenbery, Christine

Wynstra, Daniel

Yan, Lily

Zell, Lucinda

Zell, William

Ziebarth, Meta

Zwak, Hannah

Lunchroom news

As we begin 2018 we are sending an update on our lunchroom charging and statement

policies.

Students may charge up to five meals. This does not include a la carte purchases and at

Sonia Sotomayor that is milk. Students must have funds in their accounts to purchase

milk whether it is a 2nd milk or milk with cold lunch. We are unable to charge milk to a

negative balance account. Milk is provided with the hot lunch meal. If a 2nd milk is re-

quested, or milk with sack lunch is needed, cost is .30 cents.

Also, statements have started to be emailed to you in October. You may have received a

low funds letter which is sent on Wednesday of the week to the primary email we have

on file. Please look for these letters as they keep you updated on your student’s ac-

counts. The range of low funds will be .01 to $13.25 which is 5 meals if paid status. The

range is different depending on student status. Charge letters are sent out on Thursdays

of the week to the primary email so again, please be watching for these statements. If a

parent does not have email, we are sending an envelope home with a student in order to

keep parents updated on student accounts. We still can accept cash or checks here at the

school, or electronically on myschoolbucks.com.

We apologize if you receive these emails and your child may not need funds in their ac-

counts. Here is the answer from Child Nutrition- Individuals cannot be removed from

the e-mail list. If they have an e-mail address for any reason in the District, the low

funds letters will go to whomever is the primary person for that account. To be re-

moved from our list would mean they would be removed from all District correspond-

ence. If the letter does not apply to your family, please disregard the email.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me in the Lunchroom if you have any questions or con-cerns at all. Call me at 367-4655 or email at Janine.larson@k12.sd.us. Thank You, your Lunchroom EA.

DONATE Gracias Giving

CONNECT Facebook

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PASI NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2018

PARENT ADVOCATES FOR SPANISH IMMERSION To advocate and support the Spanish Immersion program in the Sioux Falls Public Schools with the primary focus on interns who enhance the language and cultural experience in the classrooms and

community.

ADVOCATE Immersion Research

21EARN SCRIP

4

UPCOMING EVENTS

PASI MEETING

Monday, January 8th 7:15 pm Sotomayor Library -

Middle/High School Families Invited. PASI Serves

K-12 community

Middle School Info Night for 5th

Graders

January 29 6:30pmEdison Middle School

Amazon Smile Email

Intern and Host Family Updates

Happy 2018! We hope you had a restful break and are ready for the second half the the school year! January tends to be the kick off for all thing related to interns and host families. While we still have second semester to complete of the current school year, we are already making plans for the 2018-19 school year as well.

Each year we need families to open their homes and hearts to hosting our interns. This could be for one semester or a full year-depending on the family preference. The requirements of hosting include the following: a private bedroom, a private or shared bathroom, access to food for breakfast and dinner (school lunch is provided each day, but some choose to bring lunch from home), a curiosity to learn about people from other cultures and countries, and strong, open communication.

Interviews for interns can begin as early as the end of January so having host families lined up early helps us to select interns who will match with the families who are hosting (gender, interests, language level, etc). We also need to be confident that we have a home for each intern that we invite.

If you are interested in being a host family for the 2018-19 school year OR just want more information on the experience, please send an email to pasi_sf@hotmail.com and we can get you the information you need.

WANTED: Host Family Coordinator(s) This is a very important role that works very closely with the interns and host families throughout the school year. It starts with interviewing intern candidates as part of a team, collecting and reviewing host family applications, matching interns with families, communicating with families and interns during the summer as travel preparations are being made, helping with orientation/transition when they arrive and offering support throughout their stay. If interested or want more information, please contact the current coordinator Ali Schellpfeffer at ajschell@gmail.com This person works very closely with the intern coordinator. Training and materials are provided regarding role and expectations.

Monday January 15th

7:00-8:00 p.m. Shannon Graber’s House

MS/HS Parent Council

PASI NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2018

Please join us for the January PASI meeting where we will have guest speaker, Dr. Scott Fish, Professor at Augustana University. Dr. Fish's presentation, "Advantages of Continued Language Study for Spanish Immersion Students" will include a presentation, following by time for questions.

Please see Dr. Fish's Bio at http://www.augie.edu/faculty-14

This will be part of the normal monthly PASI meeting. Come learn more about the benefits of immersion education!

Guest Speaker Dr. Scott Fish 1/8/17 at 7:15pm

SCRIPSCRIP offers families a way to earn money to help pay for the Fifth Grade field trip to Concordia Language Villages and future travel as middle and high school

students. Families can begin participating when their student enters Kindergarten.

From March through December 2017 families purchased $185,695 in giftcards and earned a total of $9532.33 in rebates towards student travel!

Using SCRIP can help you stick to a budget. Make a plan and place your order

each week for gas, groceries, gifts and entertainment while you earn for a great cause- your kids!

Are you participating in SCRIP? Signup online to learn more and start earning today! www.shopwithscrip.com

PASI Organization Code: 23534FCB28631

Highest Merchant SalesHyvee $55,300

Walmart/Sam's $26,560Amazon.com $22,540Home Depot $7540

Target $5205Starbucks $4620

Great Gatherings Host Packets were sent home with students before winter break.

HOSTS: Please check backpacks for this information and communicate with your attendees regarding details of your event. Even if your event is later in the spring, a quick reminder to families is much appreciated!

ATTENDEES: Watch your email for additional information and reminders about the events that you have signed up for. Note dates and times on your calendars so that you don't miss the fun events!

A huge "GRACIAS" to all of the hosts for their creative ideas that were offered! We have seen pictures of events that have already occurred and heard about the fun times families have had learning new things and meeting new people! One of the goals was community building so we are excited to see it at work in these wonderful events!