Chess Day for Reading Month was a great success! ♟️📚 (Part 2)
There were lots of laughs, some impressive moves, and students fully engaged in the game.
Chess fits perfectly with Reading Month because both require focus, patience, and critical thinking. Just like when we read a story and predict what might happen next, chess players must think ahead, analyze situations, and make thoughtful decisions. Reading strengthens the mind, and chess gives students a fun way to practice those same thinking skills in action.
It was wonderful to see students learning, strategizing, and enjoying time together over the chessboard. A great day of reading, thinking, and playing!
There were lots of laughs, some impressive moves, and students fully engaged in the game.
Chess fits perfectly with Reading Month because both require focus, patience, and critical thinking. Just like when we read a story and predict what might happen next, chess players must think ahead, analyze situations, and make thoughtful decisions. Reading strengthens the mind, and chess gives students a fun way to practice those same thinking skills in action.
It was wonderful to see students learning, strategizing, and enjoying time together over the chessboard. A great day of reading, thinking, and playing!
Chess Day for Reading Month was a great success! ♟️📚 (Part 1)
There were lots of laughs, some impressive moves, and students fully engaged in the game.
Chess fits perfectly with Reading Month because both require focus, patience, and critical thinking. Just like when we read a story and predict what might happen next, chess players must think ahead, analyze situations, and make thoughtful decisions. Reading strengthens the mind, and chess gives students a fun way to practice those same thinking skills in action.
It was wonderful to see students learning, strategizing, and enjoying time together over the chessboard. A great day of reading, thinking, and playing!
There were lots of laughs, some impressive moves, and students fully engaged in the game.
Chess fits perfectly with Reading Month because both require focus, patience, and critical thinking. Just like when we read a story and predict what might happen next, chess players must think ahead, analyze situations, and make thoughtful decisions. Reading strengthens the mind, and chess gives students a fun way to practice those same thinking skills in action.
It was wonderful to see students learning, strategizing, and enjoying time together over the chessboard. A great day of reading, thinking, and playing!
Another special thank you to our amazing Teachers and Staff who make up our ELA and Math Sub-committees. These groups have spend endless hours researching and looking at Curriculum for the 2026-2027 School Year. 📚✨
Their creativity, planning, and dedication helps that process more streamlined. I appreciate the extra time, energy, and teamwork it takes to select new ELA and Math Curriculum. Our students—and our school—are better because of the work you do every day.
Thank you for always putting our students first! 📖👏
A special thank you to our amazing Title teachers, Kacey and Tanya, along with our Student Supports Team, for putting together an incredible month of reading activities for our students! 📚✨
Your creativity, planning, and dedication helps make reading fun and exciting throughout the school. From engaging activities to encouraging our students to explore new books, you truly helped create a love of reading in our school community.
We appreciate the extra time, energy, and teamwork it took to make this month a success. Our students—and our school—are better because of the work you do every day.
Thank you for making reading come alive for our students! 📖👏
Mr. S.
Your creativity, planning, and dedication helps make reading fun and exciting throughout the school. From engaging activities to encouraging our students to explore new books, you truly helped create a love of reading in our school community.
We appreciate the extra time, energy, and teamwork it took to make this month a success. Our students—and our school—are better because of the work you do every day.
Thank you for making reading come alive for our students! 📖👏
Mr. S.
Sue does it again! 🐞🦋🐜
If you haven’t stopped by the commons area yet, go check out the new STEM activity she set up! You never know what creative idea Sue will bring next, and this bug and insect exploration set is absolutely AWESOME. The students are already buzzing with curiosity and excitement!
Thank you, Sue, for going above and beyond to make learning hands-on, engaging, and fun. You truly bring learning to life for our students every single day! 🔬🌱✨
If you haven’t stopped by the commons area yet, go check out the new STEM activity she set up! You never know what creative idea Sue will bring next, and this bug and insect exploration set is absolutely AWESOME. The students are already buzzing with curiosity and excitement!
Thank you, Sue, for going above and beyond to make learning hands-on, engaging, and fun. You truly bring learning to life for our students every single day! 🔬🌱✨
## 🌟 February Students of the Month 🌟
We are proud to announce our **February Student of the Month** winners!
Winners:
* **K–2:** Morganna Starr
* **3–6:** Benjamin Iron Eyes
* **7–9:** Dakotah Goodhouse-Mauai
* **10–12:** Innocent Goodhouse-Mauai
Congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work, positive attitudes, and leadership in our school community!
👏 Congratulations to All Nominees!
**K–2:**
* Layn Iron Shield
* Dream Crow Ghost
* Caesten Iron Shield
**3–6:**
* Kyra Standing Bear
* Jake Celestino
* Cecilia White Bull
* Braylin Cruz
* Elysia Gayton
* Desmond Iron Shield
**7–9:**
* Maurice Standing Bear
**10–12:**
* Cian Lawrence
* Arianna Smith
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Being nominated is an honor in itself! Keep up the great work and continue being positive role models at our school. 💙
We are proud to announce our **February Student of the Month** winners!
Winners:
* **K–2:** Morganna Starr
* **3–6:** Benjamin Iron Eyes
* **7–9:** Dakotah Goodhouse-Mauai
* **10–12:** Innocent Goodhouse-Mauai
Congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work, positive attitudes, and leadership in our school community!
👏 Congratulations to All Nominees!
**K–2:**
* Layn Iron Shield
* Dream Crow Ghost
* Caesten Iron Shield
**3–6:**
* Kyra Standing Bear
* Jake Celestino
* Cecilia White Bull
* Braylin Cruz
* Elysia Gayton
* Desmond Iron Shield
**7–9:**
* Maurice Standing Bear
**10–12:**
* Cian Lawrence
* Arianna Smith
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Being nominated is an honor in itself! Keep up the great work and continue being positive role models at our school. 💙
More Pictures from Reading Month "Buddy Read"
Some lessons aren’t found in books—they’re found in the laughter, stories, and moments we share together. Reading Month reminds us that learning is best when it’s shared."*
Some lessons aren’t found in books—they’re found in the laughter, stories, and moments we share together. Reading Month reminds us that learning is best when it’s shared."*
March 206 - Reading Olympics
Reading Month is officially underway at Selfridge School, and we kicked it off in the best way possible — **BUDDY READING!** 📚
If you walked through the halls today, you would have seen big kids and little kids paired up all over the building — books open, smiles wide, and some very serious reading faces in action. Our older students stepped into their leadership roles like pros… helping sound out tricky words, explaining pictures, and occasionally reminding their buddies (and themselves 😉) to stay on the right page.
There is nothing better than seeing a 12th grader reading with expression to a kindergartener who is hanging on every word — or a little one proudly pointing to a word they recognize while their big buddy cheers them on like they just won the Super Bowl.
We also learned a few important things today:
* Older students make excellent reading coaches.
* Younger students ask VERY good questions about every single picture.
* Finding the page after you accidentally skip ahead is a team-building exercise.
Most importantly, we saw confidence growing, friendships forming, and a whole lot of joy around books. That’s what Reading Month is all about.
Huge shoutout to our staff for organizing, and to our students for bringing the energy and enthusiasm. This is going to be a fantastic month of reading at Selfridge School!
Keep turning those pages! 📖✨
If you walked through the halls today, you would have seen big kids and little kids paired up all over the building — books open, smiles wide, and some very serious reading faces in action. Our older students stepped into their leadership roles like pros… helping sound out tricky words, explaining pictures, and occasionally reminding their buddies (and themselves 😉) to stay on the right page.
There is nothing better than seeing a 12th grader reading with expression to a kindergartener who is hanging on every word — or a little one proudly pointing to a word they recognize while their big buddy cheers them on like they just won the Super Bowl.
We also learned a few important things today:
* Older students make excellent reading coaches.
* Younger students ask VERY good questions about every single picture.
* Finding the page after you accidentally skip ahead is a team-building exercise.
Most importantly, we saw confidence growing, friendships forming, and a whole lot of joy around books. That’s what Reading Month is all about.
Huge shoutout to our staff for organizing, and to our students for bringing the energy and enthusiasm. This is going to be a fantastic month of reading at Selfridge School!
Keep turning those pages! 📖✨
March Activities
♟️ **Chess Day – Friday, March 6th** ♟️
We’re excited to host a full day of chess learning and fun for our students — and the community!
**Schedule for the Day:**
🕘 **9:00 – 9:45 AM**
Kindergarten – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 Kindergarten Room
🕙 **10:00 – 11:00 AM**
1st & 2nd Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 1st/2nd Grade Room
🕛 **12:00 – 1:00 PM**
3rd & 4th Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 3rd/4th Grade Room
🕐 **1:15 – 2:15 PM**
5th & 6th Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 5th/6th Grade Room
🕑 **2:15 PM – End of School Day**
JH/HS Chess Time Session
📍 Lunchroom
🕝 **2:30 – 3:30 PM**
Group Chess Time (All Grades Welcome – Teacher Choice)
📍 Lunchroom
🕞 **3:30 – 4:30 PM**
Additional Chess Time – *Night Lights (OPEN CHESS)*
📍 Lunchroom
♟️ **Open to the Community**
♟️ **Parents and Students Welcome**
**Todd Wolf — “The Chess Guy”** is a key figure in the **North Dakota chess scene**, known locally as *the chess guy* for his active role promoting chess in schools and the community. He travels around **North Dakota** to **teach chess in classrooms**, run **after-school clubs**, and host **community chess events and tournaments**.
Come learn, play, and challenge yourself. Whether you’re brand new to chess or a seasoned player, there’s a spot for you at the board!
We’re excited to host a full day of chess learning and fun for our students — and the community!
**Schedule for the Day:**
🕘 **9:00 – 9:45 AM**
Kindergarten – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 Kindergarten Room
🕙 **10:00 – 11:00 AM**
1st & 2nd Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 1st/2nd Grade Room
🕛 **12:00 – 1:00 PM**
3rd & 4th Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 3rd/4th Grade Room
🕐 **1:15 – 2:15 PM**
5th & 6th Grade – Whole Class Chess Instruction
📍 5th/6th Grade Room
🕑 **2:15 PM – End of School Day**
JH/HS Chess Time Session
📍 Lunchroom
🕝 **2:30 – 3:30 PM**
Group Chess Time (All Grades Welcome – Teacher Choice)
📍 Lunchroom
🕞 **3:30 – 4:30 PM**
Additional Chess Time – *Night Lights (OPEN CHESS)*
📍 Lunchroom
♟️ **Open to the Community**
♟️ **Parents and Students Welcome**
**Todd Wolf — “The Chess Guy”** is a key figure in the **North Dakota chess scene**, known locally as *the chess guy* for his active role promoting chess in schools and the community. He travels around **North Dakota** to **teach chess in classrooms**, run **after-school clubs**, and host **community chess events and tournaments**.
Come learn, play, and challenge yourself. Whether you’re brand new to chess or a seasoned player, there’s a spot for you at the board!
More STEM madness happening in our school … and things may have gotten a little *chocolatey* 🍫😆
Sue and Margo from North Dakota State University rolled in with a truckload of Science and Math fun — and our students were ALL IN!
This week's chaos included:
• **Chocolate Bridge Building with a Weight Test** (also known as “Chocolate Welding”) — because nothing says structural engineering like melted chocolate and intense concentration. Some bridges held strong… some became snacks. 😂
• **Robot Coding & Challenges** — students programming robots like future tech geniuses. If your appliances start talking back tonight, we apologize. 🤖
• **Gas Experiments** — let’s just say there were reactions… big reactions… loud reactions… and lots of “WHOA!!!” 🧪
The engagement was 100%, the smiles were huge, and the learning was hands-on and unforgettable.
Huge thanks to Sue, Margo, and Mr. Johnson for bringing the fun (and only minimal chocolate-related construction accidents). STEM days are the best days!
Sue and Margo from North Dakota State University rolled in with a truckload of Science and Math fun — and our students were ALL IN!
This week's chaos included:
• **Chocolate Bridge Building with a Weight Test** (also known as “Chocolate Welding”) — because nothing says structural engineering like melted chocolate and intense concentration. Some bridges held strong… some became snacks. 😂
• **Robot Coding & Challenges** — students programming robots like future tech geniuses. If your appliances start talking back tonight, we apologize. 🤖
• **Gas Experiments** — let’s just say there were reactions… big reactions… loud reactions… and lots of “WHOA!!!” 🧪
The engagement was 100%, the smiles were huge, and the learning was hands-on and unforgettable.
Huge thanks to Sue, Margo, and Mr. Johnson for bringing the fun (and only minimal chocolate-related construction accidents). STEM days are the best days!
Chocolate welding in Science class today… and no, unfortunately the teacher did NOT let us eat the projects afterward. 🍫😂
Students got to experience the science of welding using melted chocolate — which might officially be the most delicious lab we’ve ever had. Precision, patience, and self-control were definitely tested today!
Check out these students hard at work… trying very hard not to snack on their materials. Science has never looked this sweet!
Thanks Sue and Mr. Johnson for this great opportunity.
Students got to experience the science of welding using melted chocolate — which might officially be the most delicious lab we’ve ever had. Precision, patience, and self-control were definitely tested today!
Check out these students hard at work… trying very hard not to snack on their materials. Science has never looked this sweet!
Thanks Sue and Mr. Johnson for this great opportunity.
📣 **Reminder for Families** 📣 NO NIGHT LIGHTS (Wednesday)
There will be an **Early Out this Wednesday** (1:00 pm) to allow time for **Teacher Professional Development**.
This dedicated time helps our staff continue learning, collaborating, and improving instruction to better support all students.
There will be NO NIGHT LIGHTS, so please plan accordingly. Thank you for your continued support of our school and staff!
1st and 2nd Grade Champions from the 2026 Sioux County Spelling Bee.
Great Job Olivia and Dream. (Teacher Airess)
Great Job Olivia and Dream. (Teacher Airess)
More pictures from the 2026 Sioux County Spelling Bee 🐝✨
What a GREAT buzzing time! So proud of all the amazing spellers — lots of smiles, big words, and even bigger cheers! LOL 💛📚
What a GREAT buzzing time! So proud of all the amazing spellers — lots of smiles, big words, and even bigger cheers! LOL 💛📚
Students from Selfridge Public School delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Sioux County Spelling Bee, earning multiple grade-level titles and sweeping the overall honors! Selfridge Students collected 11 out of the 18 trophies. (Check out the Crowd - Awesome)
### 🐝 Grade-Level Champions
* **1st Grade Champion** – Olivia
* **2nd Grade Champion** – Dream
* **4th Grade Champion** – Connor
* **5th Grade Champion** – Cecilia
* **6th Grade Champion** – Ben
6th Grade Runner-Up – Elysia
* **7th Grade Champion** – Maurice
* **8th Grade Champion** – Eli
8th Grade Runner-Up** – Kimmy
### 🏆 Overall Honors
* **Overall Grade Champion** – **Ben (6th Grade)**
* **Overall Runner-Up** – **Eli (8th Grade)**
Ben and Eli will proudly represent Sioux County at the upcoming North Dakota State Spelling Bee, where they’ll compete for a chance to advance even further.
Congratulations to all of the Selfridge students for their hard work, dedication, and impressive spelling skills!
Pictures of the Trophy winners will be posted when I receive them.
**“I am so proud of all the Selfridge Students!” – Mr. S.** 🎉📚
### 🐝 Grade-Level Champions
* **1st Grade Champion** – Olivia
* **2nd Grade Champion** – Dream
* **4th Grade Champion** – Connor
* **5th Grade Champion** – Cecilia
* **6th Grade Champion** – Ben
6th Grade Runner-Up – Elysia
* **7th Grade Champion** – Maurice
* **8th Grade Champion** – Eli
8th Grade Runner-Up** – Kimmy
### 🏆 Overall Honors
* **Overall Grade Champion** – **Ben (6th Grade)**
* **Overall Runner-Up** – **Eli (8th Grade)**
Ben and Eli will proudly represent Sioux County at the upcoming North Dakota State Spelling Bee, where they’ll compete for a chance to advance even further.
Congratulations to all of the Selfridge students for their hard work, dedication, and impressive spelling skills!
Pictures of the Trophy winners will be posted when I receive them.
**“I am so proud of all the Selfridge Students!” – Mr. S.** 🎉📚
📚🐝✨ **Spell-ebration Time!** ✨🐝📚
The **2026 Sioux County Spelling Bee** is **TOMORROW**, and the buzz is REAL!
Join us at **Selfridge Public School** to cheer on our county brave spellers as they tackle words longer than your grocery list and trickier than “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” 😄
🍕 Contestants will enjoy pizza for lunch (generously donated by Standing Rock Propane and made by **White Buffalo**) plus fresh fruit and juice to keep those brains buzzing!
🍿 The Senior Class will be selling concessions to raise money for their class fund — so feel free to send a few extra dollars with your student to support these awesome soon-to-be grads! (Students will be able to purchase concessions after lunch)
Come for the spelling…
Stay for the fun…
Leave knowing you supported some pretty incredible kids. 💛
Bee there or bee square! 🐝
The **2026 Sioux County Spelling Bee** is **TOMORROW**, and the buzz is REAL!
Join us at **Selfridge Public School** to cheer on our county brave spellers as they tackle words longer than your grocery list and trickier than “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” 😄
🍕 Contestants will enjoy pizza for lunch (generously donated by Standing Rock Propane and made by **White Buffalo**) plus fresh fruit and juice to keep those brains buzzing!
🍿 The Senior Class will be selling concessions to raise money for their class fund — so feel free to send a few extra dollars with your student to support these awesome soon-to-be grads! (Students will be able to purchase concessions after lunch)
Come for the spelling…
Stay for the fun…
Leave knowing you supported some pretty incredible kids. 💛
Bee there or bee square! 🐝
2 hour late start for school today due to road and weather conditions. Expect your bus 2 hours late and school to start at 10 AM. Thanks.
No school Monday, February 16, 2026 in observance of President's Day.
