KINDERGARTEN Graduation
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
10:30 am
Congrats to the Kindergarten Class of 2026::
Kamilah Cruz
Phyllece Eagle
Ma'Leni Fox
Caesten Iron Shield
Layn Iron Shield-Renville
Emmett Ramey
Thaydyn Stands
Waylon Stands
All classes had the opportunity to experience foods from each of the countries featured during our Reading Month Olympics — and what a tasty adventure it was!
🥇 **Gold Medal** – 5th & 6th Grade (1642 Mins)
🥈 **Silver Medal** – 3rd & 4th Grade (1602 Mins)
🥉 **Bronze Medal** – 1st & 2nd Grade (549 Mins)
But truly… everyone was a winner when it came to the food!
Students enjoyed:
Lefsa from Norway
Edamame Beans from China
Panda Cookies from Japan
Empanadas from Brazil
Noodles from the Philippines
Fun was had by all as we celebrated reading, cultures, and a little friendly competition along the way! 📖✨
Great job to all of our students!
Our March Reading Month Minutes are IN!!! 📚✨
5️⃣ / 6️⃣ Grade – **1,642 minutes**
3️⃣ / 4️⃣ Grade – **1,602 minutes**
1️⃣ / 2️⃣ Grade – **549 minutes**
Kinder – **350 minutes**
🔥 **Congratulations to 5th & 6th Grade** for knocking those reading minutes out of the park! You showed what reading stamina looks like! 💪📖
Mr. Sondag will be announcing the official winners to the students later today. 5th & 6th Grade will be celebrating with a 🎬 movie and 🍿 popcorn treat today at 1:00 pm!
Way to go, Selfridge Readers! Keep turning those pages! 📚❤️
## 🎯 For Parents: How to Support Your Child
**1. Keep routines steady**
* Make sure your child gets **consistent sleep** (8–10 hours).
* Keep mornings calm and predictable—avoid rushing.
**2. Prioritize a good breakfast**
* Aim for **protein + whole grains** (eggs, yogurt, toast, oatmeal) (I'll let Lori know, LOL).
* Avoid too much sugar—it can lead to energy crashes during testing.
**3. Encourage a positive mindset**
* Focus on **effort, not perfection**.
* Say things like: *“Just do your best—that’s what matters.”*
**4. Reduce pressure**
* Avoid over-emphasizing scores.
* Remind them the test is just **one way** to show what they know.
**5. Limit screen time at night**
* Help them wind down earlier so they’re well-rested.
**6. Celebrate effort with simple incentives**
* Extra free time
* Small rewards (stickers, notes, or treats)
## 🧠 For Students: Test-Taking Tips & Tricks
**1. Take your time**
* Read each question carefully.
* Don’t rush—there’s NO prize for finishing first.
**2. Try your best on every question**
* If you’re unsure, make your best guess.
* Never leave a question blank.
**3. Use strategies**
* Eliminate answers you know are wrong.
* Reread tricky questions.
* Check your work if you have time.
**4. Stay focused**
* Keep your eyes on your own test.
* Ignore distractions around you.
**5. Stay calm if you feel stuck**
* Take a slow breath.
* Move on and come back later if needed.
## 🌟 During Testing Days
**Students should:**
* Get a good night’s sleep
* Eat breakfast
* Bring a positive attitude
**Parents can:**
* Send encouraging notes
* Offer praise after school (focus on effort!)
* Keep afternoons low-stress if possible
## 🎉 About Incentives
Remind students:
* Rewards will be provided for:
* Staying on task
* Taking your time
* Doing your best
* Being respectful and quiet
Students will be able to earn tickets for the above expectations and be able to trade them in at 3:00 pm each day.
Mr. S.
The eggs didn’t stand a chance!
Our students showed impressive speed, strategy, and maybe just a *little* friendly competition out there today. I’m pretty sure some of them have futures in professional egg hunting. 🎯🏃♂️
We had smiles, laughter, a few dramatic “THAT WAS MY EGG!” moments… and LOTS of candy and tickets. 🍬
Huge thank you to everyone who helped hide eggs, organize the fun, and make it such a great day for our kids. This is what school memories are made of! 💛
Until next year… we’ll start training now. 🐰💪
Mr. S.
The eggs didn’t stand a chance!
Our students showed impressive speed, strategy, and maybe just a *little* friendly competition out there today. I’m pretty sure some of them have futures in professional egg hunting. 🎯🏃♂️
We had smiles, laughter, a few dramatic “THAT WAS MY EGG!” moments… and LOTS of candy and tickets. 🍬
Huge thank you to everyone who helped hide eggs, organize the fun, and make it such a great day for our kids. This is what school memories are made of! 💛
Until next year… we’ll start training now. 🐰💪
Mr. S.
The eggs didn’t stand a chance!
Our students showed impressive speed, strategy, and maybe just a *little* friendly competition out there today. I’m pretty sure some of them have futures in professional egg hunting. 🎯🏃♂️
We had smiles, laughter, a few dramatic “THAT WAS MY EGG!” moments… and LOTS of candy and tickets. 🍬
Huge thank you to everyone who helped hide eggs, organize the fun, and make it such a great day for our kids. This is what school memories are made of! 💛
Until next year… we’ll start training now. 🐰💪
Mr. S.
We are proud to announce our **March Student of the Month** winners!
Winners:
* **K–2:** Caesten Iron Shield
* **3–6:** AirRance McCauley
* **7–9:** Sylvi Red Tomahawk
* **10–12:** Zane Iron Shield
Congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work, positive attitudes, and leadership in our school community!
👏 Congratulations to All Nominees!
**K–2:**
* Olivia Rodland
* Morganna Starr
* Marias Starr
* Jaeden Celestino
* Thaydyn Stands
**3–6:**
* Elysia Gayton
* Kyra Standing Bear
* Desmond Iron Shield
* Braylin Cruz
* Ben Iron Eyes
**7–9:**
* Maurice Standing Bear
* Esther Andojado
* A'Rayena McCauley
* Dakotah Goodhouse-Mauai
**10–12:**
* Cian Lawrence
* Arianna Smith
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Being nominated by a teacher is an honor in itself! Keep up the great work and continue being positive role models at our school. 💙
We WILL have school today, Thursday April 2nd, regular start time.
Reminder that we have no school on Friday and Monday for Easter Break.
School will resume tomorrow, Thursday April 2nd with regular start time as of this notification.
🧪⚗️ SUSPENSION CHEMISTRY: Wizard Level Unlocked! ⚗️🧪
Some of our 4th, and all of the 5th,and 6th grade scientists entered the classroom lab ready to prove they had what it takes to master potion precision! But first… they had to conquer the ultimate wizard challenge — converting liters to milliliters with mathematical accuracy. 📐✨ No correct conversions? No potion power.
Students followed detailed brewing instructions, measured with extreme accuracy, and demonstrated serious focus worthy of the finest wizarding academy. The room was filled with bubbling mixtures, intense concentration, and just a little bit of magical suspense!
🥇 And earning top honors for the **Most Accurate Potion**…
🐍 **AirRance from Slytherin!** 🐍
Flawless measurements. Careful technique. Total potion mastery.
When math + science +reading + imagination collide, incredible learning happens. So proud of ALL our young wizards for bringing their A-game to the lab!
Special Thanks to Mr. Shell Track for providing this great opportunity for our students.
#SuspensionChemistry #FutureScientists #WizardLevelLearning
Girls showed heart, hustle and teamwork.
Great Job Girls.
NDDPI Student Engagement Survey – Over the Years Comparison
I am incredibly proud of our staff and students!
The results from the NDDPI Student Engagement Survey show tremendous growth over last year. Our commitment to creating the best possible learning environment for our students is clearly reflected in these numbers.
Committed Students Growth (Last Year to This Year):
Behavioral: 35.14% → 63.41%
Cognitive: 26.09% → 56.10%
Emotional: 25.00% → 70.73%
At the same time, we have seen encouraging decreases in disengagement:
Disengaged Students Decrease:
Behavioral: 8.11% → 7.32%
Cognitive: 8.70% → 2.44%
Emotional: 10.00% → 7.32%
These gains are not accidental. They are the direct result of intentional instruction, relationship-building, high expectations, and the daily dedication each of you brings to our school.
Thank you for your commitment to our students and to one another. It is truly an honor to serve as your leader and to witness this kind of growth in just one year’s time. Together, we are making Selfridge School the best place it can be for our students.
Keep up the amazing work!
Mr. Sondag
We are excited to announce that **Farm & Ranch Day** will be held at the school on **April 24th**! Students will have the chance to explore a variety of engaging booths and hands-on learning experiences, including:
* Farm Safety
* Agricultural Technology
* **LIVE ANIMALS**
* Gardening
* Livestock Health
* Weather
* Soil Conservation
* Beef Production
* And much more!
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning to real-world agriculture right here in our community.
🌞 **Summer Camp Opportunity!**
Be sure to check out the Summer Camp flyer that was shared. Mary Jean would love to see this camp filled with Selfridge students! If your child is interested, please reach out to her for more information.
A big THANK YOU to Mary Jean for spending time at Family Teacher Conferences yesterday and sharing some incredible opportunities for our Selfridge students!
Thank you to the Sioux County Farmers Union for investing in our students and our school community!
Mr. S.
