Meadowbrook Cools Down on A3
Reporter The
What’s Up for September? Take a Look Inside...
A2:
Horace Mann PBIS Success
C-SPAN Bus at CHS
A3:
Meadowbrook ALS School Supply Drive
A4:
RCPSF Wins Bush Grant
Promethean Boards
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Middle School Sports Family Access App
A6 & 7:
Feature Photo Pages
A8:
FERPA Notice RCAS Ready for Heat
A9:
DOE Proposed K-12 Standard Changes
September 2014
Black Hawk Elementary Gets Some Love with Room Redesigns Hannah Baker Information Services Officer When a classroom is housed in an annex, teachers might feel a little disconnected from their schools – quite literally. To help make the Black Hawk Elementary annexes feel a little more like a home, Love Rapid City, shared the love by redesigning the rooms. Love Rapid City, a local group out of Fountain Springs Church, travels across the community providing service to people and projects. Every so often, the group contacts principals with one simple question, “How can we help?” After a brainstorming session, Black Hawk had the perfect opportunity for them. The student population at Black Hawk has continued to grow and because of that, three annexes now house fifth grade classrooms. It was decided these annexes were a great place to add a little color and life. “When people think about annexes, they often think of them as dark places,” Principal Holly Yamada said. “We wanted to change that and make them feel more homey.” With guidance from fifth grade teachers, the group came in during the month of June ready to work. New paint colors were chosen for the walls, curtains were hung, and old lockers were taken out and re-
placed with functional storage. Wooden cupboard doors were also replaced with whiteboards to make them serve a double purpose of storage and writing space. Each room now also features a “reading corner” with bag chairs and bookcases filled with books and supplies. All materials were donated by Love Rapid City. “Love Rapid City really just wanted to come in for the sake of doing something nice to make our teachers feel appreciated,” said Yamada. This is not the first time Love Rapid City has helped give Black Hawk Elementary a bit of a face lift. The group previously donated supplies and time to re-paint Black Hawk classrooms and also donated a family-style dining table and seating for teachers to take a deep breath during the busy day. “It’s definitely been a morale booster,” said Yamada. “You can’t imagine what a fresh coat of paint can do for a room to make them cheerier and better suited for learning.” Katy Kinnan of Love Rapid City said helping the school is truly a win-win situation for Black Hawk and Love Rapid City alike. “We just wanted to be a tiny part of the great things that happen at Black Hawk every day,” said Kinnan. “We have seen how passionate those teachers are and we enjoy doing anything we can do to lighten the load.” When students were asked how they felt about their new classrooms, cheers and one word followed: “Awesome!”
September 2014
www.rcas.org
All Aboard the C-SPAN Bus C-SPAN Press Release
Central High School students stepped aboard the technology-packed C-SPAN Bus on Aug. 29 to get excited about politics and government. While on board the bus, students learned about C-SPAN’s programming and resources through interactive technology, including in-depth public affairs coverage, touch-screen quizzes about C-SPAN and the three branches of government, HD camera demos showing how C-SPAN is produced, and more. Students also learned more information about its student documentary contest, StudentCam. StudentCam is C-SPAN’s annual national video doc-
umentary competition that encourages students in grades 6-12 to think critically about issues that affect their communities and nation. This year’s theme is: “The Three Branches and You: Tell a story that demonstrates how a policy, law, or action by either the executive, legislative, or judicial branch has affected you or your community.” 150 student prizes are awarded, totaling $100,000 in prize money. Visit www. studentcam.org for more information. The Bus, now in its 21st year on the road, visits cities, schools, and universities across the country promoting C-SPAN’s educational and political resources. Cities included on this tour are: Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City and Aberdeen.
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Photos above by: Tyler Seales, CHS student
Horace Mann Sees Success with PBIS Hannah Baker Information Services Officer
In an effort to shift from a reactive to proactive model when it comes to student behavior, RCAS has begun to implement the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) network across the district. To put it simply, it’s a program to help curb negative behavior before it happens. PBIS defines what sort of behaviors
should happen depending on where a student is in the building. It addresses the entire school, the classroom, and areas outside the classroom, such as hallways, restrooms, cafeteria, and the playground. After students learn appropriate behavior for school areas, if caught demonstrating correct behavior, they are rewarded at random and recognized in front of their peers. “When students come to school they learn reading, math, and all their subjects consistently, but before there was no consistency in behavior learning,” said Troy Volesky, coordinator for Special Services. “PBIS helps us be consistent so students learn behavior expectations just like they learn their subjects.” One of the pilot schools to implement PBIS was Horace Mann Elementary. Scott Phares said he is very pleased with staff and student response to the new system. Two years ago, Horace Mann had 494 major office referrals, which included students sent to the office for things such disrespectful behavior and insubordination. Last year, Phares said he saw that number decrease by half. “It creates a feeling of family and belonging because students are all held accountable for the same things and positive reinforcement is given,” said Phares.
Some of this positive reinforcement at Horace Mann includes receiving a Hornet Prize Ticket when they are caught demonstrating a positive behavior. If a student receives a Hornet Prize Ticket, their name then goes into a drawing. Names are drawn every Friday afternoon and winners receive a prize and get to have their picture taken with Buzz, the school’s mascot. Winning names are read aloud to the entire school over the intercom system. “When names are read over the intercom, you can hear the cheers from other classrooms until cheering fills the entire building,” said Tara King, second grade teacher at Horace Mann. “It’s really a great thing to see and experience.” Cyndi Lundgren, a fourth grade teacher at Horace Mann, said an important part of PBIS is students are not rewarded every time they do something correct. Each week, Horace Mann chooses a specific behavior to watch for. If a student is seen doing that positive behavior, recognition and a Hornet Prize Tickets may be given out. “We want to build a community where students are recognized for their good work, but we do not recognize them every single time because we want good behavior to be a habit and not something they do just because they want something,” said Lundgren. “We’ve seen great change since we started PBIS. It’s working.”
September 2014
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www.rcas.org
Meadowbrook Does Ice Bucket Challenge Supply Drive for Former RCAS Employee, Friend Big Success
for RCAS
Meadowbrook Elementary staff took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in honor of a former Meadowbrook employee who was diagnosed with ALS over a year ago.
Hannah Baker Information Services Officer
selor Dana Livermont, who organized the event. To make sure students understood When you ask Luise Haegele to de- the reason behind the fun of pouring scribe what the ALS Ice Bucket Chal- a bucket of water on someone’s head, lenge means to her, the answer is pretty teachers discussed the disease in their simple: Hope. classrooms. Haegele, a former lunchroom, play- “We didn’t want our students to think ground, and crossing-guard employee we’re merely dumping water on our at Meadowbrook Eleheads to be funny; mentary was diagnosed there is a reason bewith ALS over a year hind it,” said Liver... it gives me ago. Amyotrophic latmont. “ALS is deveral sclerosis (ALS), of- hope that a miracle astating, and there is ten referred to as “Lou no cure. That is really isn’t too far away.” scary, and when you Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurode- -Luise Haegele, ALS patient can put a face with generative disease that the disease, it’s even affects nerve cells in scarier.” the brain and the spinal cord. The dis- So, staff members lined up on the eastease often disallows patients from using side of the playground to one-by-one their limbs. In Haegele’s case, she can no pour ice water on the person next to longer lift her arms by herself. However, them until approximately 20 staff memher spirit was definitely lifted on Aug. bers were dripping wet. 29, when Meadowbrook staff decided to “It means the world to me that they take the Ice Bucket Challenge in Hon- decided to do this,” said Haegele. “Beor of Haegele after being nominated by fore the Ice Bucket Challenge, no one Canyon Lake Elementary. really knew what ALS was. Now, it “Luise has been a huge part of the lives gives me hope that a miracle isn’t too of many of our staff members and we far away. I am very grateful.” wanted to do something in honor of For more information about ALS, or her,” said Meadowbrook School Coun- to donate, go to www.alsa.org.
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The Black Hills Federal Credit Union hosted its 18th Annual School Supply Drive! Due to the generous donations from the community, all of our schools were able to take supplies back to their classrooms to help students whose families are unable to purchase all the school supplies they need to start school. “It feels great to be able to be able to help some of our families by providing their children with school supplies,” said South Canyon Elementary Principal Brad Jungwirth (pictured above). “We know sometimes money is tight so being able to help is a blessing.” Other RCAS principals were also there to load their vehicles with boxes, including Valley View Principal Wayne Rosby. “We have families who cannot afford supplies for all their children and when we tell them we are able to help, you see a huge relief on their faces.”
September 2014
www.rcas.org
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Promethean Boards Bring RCAS Classrooms to Life Hannah Baker Information Services Officer Rapid City Area Schools: It’s no question that the district is filled with smart teachers and students. But, it’s also filled with something else that’s smart: Promethean Interactive Whiteboards. Research has repeatedly demonstrated students learn better when they are fully engaged and that hands-on learning is the best way to engage them. Interactive whiteboards facilitate multi-sensory learning whether it is a collaboration exercise for math problem solving or a Google Earth tour of the Amazon Rainforest. RCAS began introducing the boards into the district during 2005 as part of a 21st Century Classroom initiative. After adding another 80 boards to classrooms this summer, close to 800 Promethean boards have been installed across the district. By
South Park Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Kelsy Wilson (left), gives students an interactive lesson using her classroom Promethean board.
Fall 2015, every classroom will have this engaged learning environment. The Promethean boards allow teachers to make lessons interactive to better gain and hold the attention of students. They also allow teachers to share material from one class to another, among other things.
Midwest Marketing recently created a PSA about one teacher’s experience using the smart board technology. Check it out by going to www.rcas.org -> News -> PSA Video Archive -> Technology in the Classroom PSA or by going to our Vimeo page: www.vimeo.com/rapidcityschools.
er community, improving relationships among Native and non-Native neighbors. “We are excited the Bush Foundation is investing in Rapid City to respond to the need and desire to work toward a culture of respect and understanding,” said Karen Mortimer, Project Director and President of the RCPSF Board of Directors. Established in 2013, the Community Innovation Grant program is designed to inspire and support communities to use problem-solving processes leading to more effective, equitable, and sustainable solutions. Projects receiving Community Innovation Grants can be at any stage in the problem-solving process, which includes: identifying the need, increasing collective understanding of the issue,
generating ideas, and testing and implementing solutions. “Community Innovation Grant recipients are tackling community problems in a way most likely to result in real breakthrough solutions. They are engaging the community, collaborating with other organizations, and making the most of existing assets; in short, all of the things it takes to create a true community innovation,” said Elli Haerter, Bush Foundation North Dakota & South Dakota activities manager. The Bush Foundation will award nearly $5 million to 34 organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations sharing the same geography, through its Community Innovation Grant program.
Rapid City Public School Foundation Receives Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant RCPSF Submitted Story
The Rapid City Public School Foundation (RCPSF) has been awarded a $178,000 Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant for the development of a Public Learning Community- Learning and Sharing Cultural Understanding with the Community. Partnering with the Rapid City Area Schools, the Foundation is promoting cross-cultural awareness and appreciation through professional development learning groups and community dialogue aimed at teachers and the community. Participants, known as “Oceti Sakowin Cultural Ambassadors” will then share their insights with their students and the broad-
Get online with us at all of our web and social media sites! Watch for school postings on Facebook, Twitter & Nixle; browse photos on Instagram; watch quick videos on Vine and longer videos on Vimeo!
September 2014
www.rcas.org
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Family Access Middle School Sports Now Fits in See Changes for 2014-15 Your Pocket Hannah Baker Information Services Officer When it comes to managing your child’s schedule, lunch account, grades, and more, Family Access is a great tool. However, it never fails that when you need certain information, a computer is never in sight. Well, not anymore. Family Access can now be available whenever and wherever you are with the Skyward® Mobile Access app for Android and iOS smartphones. Within the app parents can see their child’s activities, attendance, discipline records, report cards, lunch account balance, and much more. The best part: it’s free. “Parents are always on-the-go so having Family Access inside the Skyward® app right there in your pocket is a great benefit for them,” said Nancy Williams, RCAS business analyst. The app is not only just for parents. Students can also log into the app and keep track of their assignments, grades, and everything else that parents can see. RCAS Staff can also use the app for things like checking their time sheets, W2 information, and more. However, the app only allows for a “view only” view of Family Access and no action can be taken within the app. The app helps for information needed at a glance. Action has to be done from a computer. For help getting started, go to www. rcas.org -> Parents & Students tab -> Family Student Access -> Skyward Mobile Access link for a step-by-step Family Access Mobile App tutorial.
It was a night of volleyball across the district on Sept. 16. Pictured are the West Wolves and the South Rebels showing some good sportsmanship before their match.
Hannah Baker Information Services Officer In an effort to better prepare RCAS middle school athletes to play at the next level, middle School sports are about to see some changes during the 2014-15 school year. Focusing on volleyball and girls’ and boys’ basketball, a School Activities Task Force of 22 members met during the 2013-14 school year to look at where the middle school sports program could improve. The committee included every middle school principal and building activities coordinators, several coaches, two school board members, the superintendent, assistant superintendent and Middle School Activities Director Brian Moser. “Just like all areas of education we continue to try to improve what we are doing to ensure our programs are the best they can be while maintaining high participation in every activity,” said Moser. Now, for example, middle school athletes from South Middle School won’t just play North, East, West and Southwest middle school teams. Instead, the schedule will include the opportunity to travel and play other region teams, which may include: Sturgis, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, St. Thomas More, Hill City, Douglas, and Pierre. “We wanted to make sure we are doing everything we can at the middle school level to ensure that from sixth to eighth grade our athletes are prepared to move onto the
next level,” said Moser. Another change is coaches will now have more flexibility to move athletes around to different levels throughout the season. Meaning, if an athlete was placed on the B team and begins to progress during the season, the coach could move that athlete up to the A team. This will allow for more playing time and experience playing at different levels. Moser said middle school football coaches have always done well in the past, but to help these coaches even more, all coaches will take a concussion course to recognize concussions on the field and better react to injuries if they happen. “Our coaches have been doing an excellent job in the past, we just wanted to take a look at things that we can improve upon,” said Moser. Jim Hansen, Board of Education president, was a part of the committee and has been an avid supporter of gearing up district athletics to make RCAS more competitive with other South Dakota schools. “Our Fine Arts programs have always been outstanding and we believe that is because it has a supportive background from elementary all the way through high school to help those students be successful. These changes to middle school sports are a step in that direction and it’s our hope that our athletes will be as successful as our Fine Arts students and have a better chance at scholarships later on,” said Hansen.
September 2014
www.rcas.org
Welcome Back Addresses
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Our high schools were buzzing Aug. 20 as teachers & other staff returned to hear the Welcome Back Address from the Superintendent! We have great plans & hopes for the 2014-15 school year & we couldn’t do any of it without our awesome staff!
Stevens
Central
Superintendent, Tim Mitchell
Rapid City HS
September 2014
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www.rcas.org
Check out the great things our staff & students are doing!
Canyon Lake Elementary participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Principal David Swank said it was something fun the staff could do together while also raising awareness for a worthy cause.
The Central High School Drum line and Performing Arts students showed up at Chili’s on Aug. 27 to try to help raise funds for the 2014 Rushmore Bowl.
Superintendent, Dr. Tim Mitchell sat down to have lunch with Kindergarteners during his South Park Elementary visit. They all agreed on one thing: the corn dogs were delicious!
RCAS had 15 students participate in the 41st Annual South Dakota Senior Honor Choir at Augustana College July 25-Aug. 1. Members were selected through a live audition process that included a solo, a patriotic selection, sight singing, tonal memory & written test.
RCAS celebrated the newly resurfaced Sioux Park Track and Field with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Sept. 9 before the Cobbler and Raider varsity soccer games. We are very excited to have a great field for our student athletes to enjoy!
Valley View Elementary students & teachers have chosen four 5th grade students (pictured L-R Carlie Sauder, Kylie Durward, Owen Youngs and Autumn Anderson) to represent Valley View for demonstrating the Six Pillars of Character Counts! These students have been excellent role models for their peers.
September 2014 Notification of Rights Under FERPA for Elementary & Secondary Institutions
The Rapid City Area Schools has an obligation to annually notify parents of students currently in attendance of their rights under IDEA, ARSD and FERPA guidelines. The parent or eligible student has a right to 1) inspect and review the student’s education records, 2) request the amendment of student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the students privacy or other rights, 3) consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the Act and ARSD regulations authorize disclosure without consent, 4) file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint and 5) obtain a copy of the District policy. The public may inspect documents relating to policy, funding application, the comprehensive plan, evaluations or reports derived under funds acquired from IDEA, Part B. These documents are available at the City/School Administration Center, 300 6th Street, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. during any legal school day.
Teachers: Have a student who wrote something awesome, took a great photo, or made an amazing art project? Share it with the rest of us by emailing it to RapidCityDistrictCommunications@ k12.sd.us
and it could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Reporter!
www.rcas.org
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RCAS Ready to Take the Heat
The units provide air conditioning during warm months and heat during colder months.
Hannah Baker Information Services Officer Last year, the district faced high temperatures in school buildings the first week of school that caused the district to have several early dismissal days. The district is hoping history does not repeat; however, in the event it does, the district is ready. Over the summer months, RCAS had several projects take place to help curb warm temperatures for staff and students, while also creating a Weather Communication document for parents to reference. A total of 54 portable air/heat units were received and have either been or are scheduled to be installed in school annexes, third floor classrooms at Wilson Elementary and second floor West Middle School in the north wing. The rest of the units will be dispersed throughout the district in student contact areas, starting with K-5 classrooms and then grades 6-8. Superintendent Dr. Tim Mitchell said most of the RCAS school buildings were designed in the 1970s or earlier and none of the designs included air conditioning. The long-term goal is to meet the now current need for air conditioning.
The warm temperatures are probably behind us for the most part. However, in the event of an early dismissal, the district has outlined how and when it communicates with parents and staff. In the event of an early dismissal due to heat, if it was not already decided the day before, administrators would meet between 10-11 a.m. to determine if an early dismissal is necessary. If it is, the district would dismiss school at 1 p.m. and would communicate to parents with a fast-dialer phone call and text message, a posting on the district website, Facebook and Twitter, and also an alert sent to local news and Nixle. To view the complete Weather Communication plan, go to www.rcas.org -> News -> Weather Communication. “The safety of our staff and students is number one,” said Mitchell. “If temperatures become too high, we don’t want to put anyone at risk and will dismiss school according to our Weather Communication plan.” At 1 p.m., students would be able to leave on their own or with a parent, or ride the bus. Buses would run a schedule similar to Early Release Wednesdays. RCAS advises parents talk to their children ahead of time and map out a plan about how they will handle possible early dismissals.
September 2014
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www.rcas.org
K-12 Standard Proposed K-12 Science Standards: Changes Explained Preparing students for success in science A message from the South Dakota Department of Education
With the new school year underway, we are excited about the opportunity to facilitate your child’s learning. As educators, our ultimate goal is to prepare all students – from our youngest kindergarteners to our graduating seniors – for success in further education, careers and life. Three things are critical in helping us reach that goal: high quality standards, instruction and assessment. In South Dakota, new English language arts and math standards are giving teachers the time to go much further indepth with their instruction in these areas, challenging students to think deeply, applying knowledge to real-world situations, and building progression of skill. For some, assessment has become a political-charged word, but it needs not be. Assessment is a vital component of education and helps us know if students are on track and making progress. Assessment takes a variety of forms. It can be as simple as a teacher asking students to summarize what they learned on a notecard, or as formal as the annual state assessment. In spring 2015, South Dakota will begin using a new state assessment caked Smarter Balanced that is based on new standards in English language arts and math. This test will replace the Dakota STEP test in English and math. There will be a period of adjustment as students become familiar with the new standards and it is very important that no comparisons are made between student performance on the Smarter Balanced and Dakota STEP tests. If comparisons are made, expect to see a drop in the number of students scoring at the proficient level. This should not be cause for alarm, and it doesn’t mean students are performing poorly. It means we are challenging students and preparing them for the rigors of postsecondary education and careers in today’s world. We will be sharing more information on these topics throughout the school year. If you have questions or concern, please contact your school principal, your child’s teacher or the Office of the Superintendent.
A message from the South Dakota Department of Education
ing. Senate Bill 64, which was passed by the 2014 Legislature, prohibits the adoption of any standards drafted by a An important process begins this multi-state consortium prior to July 1, month. On Sept. 15, in Rapid City, 2016. These proposed science standards the South Dakota Board of Education will hold the first of four public hear- were drafted by a group of South Dakoing about proposed science standards. ta K-12 educators, postsecondary repThe remaining three hearings will take resentatives, and members of the busiplace at future board meetings across ness community. This group evaluated South Dakota’s the state. Figure 1 existing science This is an exciting standards and time to be adopting made changes new science stanto reflect the dards in our state. most current In recent years, research in the there has been 1. Core ideas in the physical field. During much research on science, life science, and earth the review prothe subject of stuand space sciences cess, the group dent learning in looked at sciscience. This reence standards search tells us that 2. Science and engineering developed by even pre-school practices a multi-state aged children have consortium, surprisingly so3. Crosscutting concepts but they also phisticated ideas common to both science and looked at othabout how things engineering er states’ stanwork, simply from dards, and a interacting with and observing the world around them. national framework. They used that Children are born investigators, asking analysis to draft standards that meet questions almost from the moment they the needs of South Dakota students. We would encourage you to read the can talk. Of course, “Why?” is always one draft standards on the Department of of their favorites. A high-quality science education en- Education’s website at doe.sd.gov. Have more questions? Contact Title courages this instinctive curiosity by beginning in kindergarten and build- Programs and Grants coordinator Lisa ing from there. The proposed science Plumb at 394-6892. standards balance knowledge and practices, meaning that students at all grade levels will both learn about core ideas and actually “do science” by asking questions, developing and using models, and planning and carrying out investigations. The draft standards are three-dimensional, emphasizing the following equally (see Figure 1). State content standards are reviewed and revised on a regular schedule. You RapidCityDistrictCommunications@ might have heard that South Dakota is adopting science standards that were k12.sd.us developed by a multi-state consortium (group). This is not what is happen-
What are these changes all about??
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