We’re starting out strong! Garfield families really stepped up for the start of school. We exceeded our all-school goal of 90% attendance by reaching 92%. Second grade was our strongest attenders by reaching 95%. Way to go second graders!
Fifth grade is our last chance to influence and teach our students. Our fifth grade teachers work hard on preparing our students for middle school. This means providing skills such as time management and accountability for their work as well as their actions. Most of all they work to ensure our students have the academics they need to succeed. Please join us in thanking Ms. Faris, Mrs. Lindeman, Ms. Anderson, and Mrs. Gohman for their excellence in preparing our students for this next monumental step.
Fourth grade can be instrumental in our students’ lives. They are stepping up into leadership positions around the school; they are now considered to be some of the “big kids.” at Garfield. Academically they are now expected to show more responsibility and initiative. Those are big deals and our fourth grade teachers are fantastic at supporting that growth. Join us in thanking Mrs. Jibben, Ms, Raabe, and Mrs. Lamoreux for all they do for our students at this crucial time.
Hello! We are the family engagement team at Garfield and we want to know more about what YOU want as the families we serve. Your ideas are very important. Please go to this link https://forms.gle/BR2TsmiT2xpi8av76 to fill out a very short survey. Please take some time to fill out this survey. Your feedback will help us be better at our work and your input and ideas will let us know how we can better serve you with the events and activities we plan for our families and community.
Today marks the second full week of school! We’d like to thank and acknowledge all our families who are getting their kids to school! We’ve had a 92.6% attendance through those 2 weeks, even though many of our families are returning from vacations. Fantastic work Garfield families! THANK YOU!
We’d like to recognize our kindergarten teachers and their excellence! Mrs. Weigand, Mrs. Eilertson, Ms. Holz, and Mrs. Anderson are going to be so instrumental in your children’s lives and their school future. We’d like to thank them for their care, compassion, and dedication to your children!
Thank you to our Specials teachers! We all want our students to be healthy, excellent readers, and expressive and joyous individuals. These teachers come to school every day with those goals in mind. Mr. Kirsch teaches Physical Education, Ms. Christopherson teaches Library, Ms. Erickson teaches Art, and Mr. Knedler teaches Music. Join us in thanking them for all they do!
School has started! We are so excited to have your kids here and ready to learn. School attendance counts! Having your children here on time, ready to learn, is the best way to set your child on the road to being a successful student. Studies have consistently shown students with good attendance, starting in kindergarten, have the best reading and math skills as they progress in school. Plus they have a great time being with all their friends at Garfield!
Jill Beck is a new friend at Garfield! This is what she has to say about being at Garfield: “I am excited to be at Garfield for the first time this year! I have taught in various elementary schools in Sioux Falls my entire teaching career. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone here! I will teach SIPPS to some first graders in small groups. They will learn foundational reading skills such as sounds, blending sounds into words, sight words, writing decodable words, and of course reading fun stories! Children of ALL ages can become even better readers when they read regularly at home or have someone read to them! I grew up on a farm where my parents lived for 53 years! Since going to college at Augustana, I have lived in Sioux Falls my entire adult life with my husband and 2 cats. I really enjoy spending time with friends and my family (we have 2 sons who are both married), camping, bike riding, reading, and going to concerts, musicals, games and movies.”
Mrs. Schildhauer has been a friend at Garfield for a while; she is now in a new role. Here’s what she has to say about herself and her new role: “I am teaching 2nd grade this year. This is my 12th year of teaching. I've spent the last nine years as an EL teacher here at Garfield and I've also taught first and second grade in Sioux Falls. I'm originally from Minnesota and came here to go to Augustana. I am passionate about our diverse culture here at Garfield and promote a world wide understanding of all students! My one word for this year is GROWTH, both from myself and my students!”
Trisha Frerichs is a new friend at Garfield! She will be teaching 3rd grade. Trisha says this about who she is and what she believes about education: “I am going into my 5th year of teaching! I have my master’s degree in education. I believe we are all life-long learners, and I aim to instill a love for learning in my students. It is so rewarding watching my students learn and grow. I use growth mindset alongside the habits of a healthy kid to guide my students to success. At Garfield it is my goal to create solid relationships with my students and their families to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.”
Madison Pauli is a new friend at Garfield! This is what she has to say about coming to Garfield: “Hi! I grew up in Madison, South Dakota. I went to college at Augustana University and just graduated this spring with my degree in Elementary Education. I am so lucky to start my teaching career here at Garfield in 1st Grade. One of my main goals for this school year is to build a strong classroom family with my students and to support them while they achieve their wildest dreams. I'm so excited to join the Garfield family and can't wait to start learning!”
Payton Anderson is a new friend at Garfield! This what she has to say about coming to Garfield: “I am excited to be teaching 5th grade at Garfield Elementary. I am originally from Brookings, SD, and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Recently, I moved from Houston, TX, to be closer to my family. As an educator, my goal is to establish meaningful relationships and create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued and inspired to explore their potential. I am thrilled to be a part of this school community and eager to support students' growth and learning!”
The 2024-25 school year begins. We are so excited to have all our friends here! We are set and ready to GO!
GO!
We had a particularly joyful celebration at our meeting Wednesday morning! We were able to celebrate the 40th year our friend Jane Eilertson has graced us as a teacher at Garfield, the longest time of any teacher in the Sioux Falls School District. Thank you Jane for your excellence, your kindness, your hard work, and mostly, thank you for being a great friend!
Full stomachs make for better learners!
Garfield is partnering in the BackPack Program with Feeding South Dakota. Children up to 18 years of age may receive a bag of nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods during weekends and holidays when school is not in session. If you would like your child to receive a weekly BackPack bag, please let us know and we will get you the needed, simple form.
Feeding South Dakota also offers mobile food distributions across Sioux Falls. If your family, or someone you know, needs food assistance you are welcome to visit any one of these sites once every 30 days to receive a variety of fresh and frozen produce, dairy, meat, bread, and other non-perishable food items. The most accessible site for our Garfield families is The Point is to Serve at 506 N Kiwanis Ave at 2:30-3:30pm on the 2nd Saturday of each month. You can find other sites at www.feedingsouthdakota.org/mobile .
The Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market is at the corner of 15th and Garfield every Thursday from 1 to 6 pm. You can learn more or see additional stops at siouxfallsthrive.org/eatwell/ .
Your friends at Garfield want everyone to have access to the nourishment they need!
The first day of school is just over a month away! More info on open houses to come soon, but for now, please save these dates! If you haven't yet completed the Annual Student Information Update, please do so here. https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/school-registration
See you soon!
LAST CALL for Camp Invention! Secure your child's spot TODAY!
Thursday May 23rd is the last day of the 2023-24 school year. We will miss you all and we will be counting off the days until we see you again!
