Platte-Geddes School District

The “Good News Call” today, our first one of the school year, is going out to Corbin Bogenhagen. Corbin noticed that one of our young kindergarten students was scared on the first day of school. He walked over to the young child, encouraged him, took his hand and walked with him to his line. It is easy for us to forget how scary it can be to come to school for the first time, to realize how overwhelming it is for a young child with all the kids running to their lines, and to not know what to do on the very first day of school. Corbin recognized this child’s fear, and he was a friendly face that the child knew and recognized. Thank you, Corbin, for helping make someone else’s day great!

Attention Parents: The portal is open and you can now apply money to your student(s) account. 1.You must select the "Food Service" tab 2.Select "Pay" 3. Enter the amount you'd like to apply. 4. Select "Add to Cart". 5. "Check Out" using preferred payment option.

Attention parents: It has been brought to our attention that there is an issue with the online option for depositing money into student lunch accounts. We will work with Infinite Campus to get this figured out and will notify you when the situation has been rectified. No student will be denied breakfast or lunch due to their account balance. We apology for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank You!

Here are a few additional items of information for our First Day of School..... *As a school staff, we ask that parents/guardians refrain from entering the playground on the first day of school. We have teachers, paraprofessionals, Mrs. Konechne, myself, and a student welcoming committee available to assist children who are struggling with fears of leaving their parents and the transition into a new school year. We will help all children find their friends, a familiar face, and their class line. (We host our Open House Event for the purpose of having each child meet their teacher, take first day photos, and to assist with the first day of school jitters. Please call me if you have questions and I will be happy to answer them for you.) *Lunch on Thursday, August 24 is Pizza. Lunch on Friday, August 25 is Macaroni and Cheese. *Our school day runs from 8:05-3:33 on MTWTh and 8:05-2:13 on Friday. We are available to monitor the playground at 7:45 am daily and until 3:45 pm and on Friday 2:20 pm. Please make sure your child is not dropped off prior to these times and is picked up by these times or they will not be monitored. *Our "Panther Way" Behavioral Expectations are in place for the safety of all students. Remind your child that at Platte-Geddes Elementary we expect students to ... Be KIND to others; Be RESPONSIBLE for their actions, words, and items; Be SAFE while in school; and Be RESPECTFUL of school staff and fellow students. I'm excited to begin another school year and look forward to working with all of you as parents. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your child's principal. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns about our school. Jennifer Jennifer Knecht Elementary Principal/SPED Director Platte-Geddes School District

Welcome to the First Day of School for 2023-2024!! We are excited to be back in our building and ready for a year of learning. Our building is up and running and our teachers are prepared for the school year ahead! Thank you for the nearly 100% attendance at our Elementary Open House Event yesterday! It was wonderful to see everyone and to have the kids back in school! The only area not ready is our new secure entrance. The projected completion date is October 30, 2023. In the meantime, we ask that you have patience with us regarding student drop-off and pick-up. Here is our DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PLAN for the first two months of school, while we remain under construction: *Students in grades K-2 may be dropped-off by the small gate to the south of the elementary building. (See photo provided) If possible, then turn west instead of driving in front of the building to avoid traffic near the construction area. (The construction workers have been working near the road.) *Students in grade 3-5 may be dropped off at the northeast/lunchroom doors and then head outside through the multi-purpose gym to the playground. (If you have kids in multiple grades, choose one of the options for drop-off of all children.) Here is our PICK-UP PLAN for the first two months of school: *Students in grades K-2 will exit school out the main west entrance. Parents may pick up their children on the sidewalk directly in front of the elementary building. If you park facing south, please exit your vehicle and walk to the sidewalk to accompany your child back to the vehicle. If you are facing north, your child may easily enter the vehicle. We will have adults at each crosswalk to assist students walking or crossing the street. *Students in grades 3-5 may be picked up on the north side of the school. The parking nearest the building is reserved for parents. (Again, if you have kids in multiple grades, choose one of the options for pick-up of all children.) *If you need to pick up your child early from school, you will need to call the office. We will accompany the child to the main west entrance doors. Our building is locked at all times. To gain access to the building during the school day, you will need to buzz in from the northeast entrance. No one is allowed to prop doors. Students will not be allowed to permit visitor entry into our building. All visitors must buzz in for student safety purposes. We are looking forward to a great school year! Jennifer Jennifer Knecht Elementary Principal/SPED Director Platte-Geddes School District

Introducing a second lunch option for 6th-12th grade students: https://www.platte-geddes.k12.sd.us/article/1213037

Attention 6th-12th grade parents and students: The 6-12 open house at the high school has been canceled. The construction workers nearly have the work completed, but need the remainder of the day and tomorrow morning. The 6th grade orientation will go on as planned for 6pm in the high school library. The freshman/dual credit meeting will also take place at 7pm in the high school library. We asked that you refrain from going beyond the library. We do not want students or parents in the construction areas. Any high school students that need to complete final registration can take care of that tomorrow morning in the high school library. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Greetings Parents, We are ready and excited for our Open House Event this afternoon, Tuesday, August 22 from 3-7 PM. Here are a few details for the event: *The photo forms for your child's school pictures were sent home last week and are posted on our website on the "livefeed". If you need a paper copy, Liz Antonsen will have them available for you. Liz will be set up in the multi-purpose gym and parents are free to take their children for their photo at any time between 3-7. *Please bring in your child's enrollment forms, laptop and computer user agreements, and signature pages for the student handbook to the Open House and give the documents to your child's classroom teacher. If you do not have these documents, they will be available at the school office and the office table. *Please also return the "Free and Reduced Lunch Application" to the office table. At the office table, you will have the opportunity to pay for your child's lunches, pay for activity tickets, and any other student fees. *Your children can bring in their school supplies, backpacks, and any items they wish to leave at school. Due to the construction on the new "secured entrance", we ask that you enter the building through the main west entrance, or either of the two north entrances. We will have all doors open for the event. *We will have the "School Frames" available for students to take "Back to School" photos and photos with their teachers. The frames have the school year "2023-2024" and we have grade level signs for them to hold. We are looking forward to seeing everyone this afternoon! Jennifer

Attention 6th-12th grade parents and students: Due to the ongoing construction in the 6-12 building, we respectfully request that students do not come to the school to pick out their lockers, drop off school supplies, etc. We will hold off these activities until the first day of school (August 24).

Current job openings for the 2023-2024 school year: https://www.platte-geddes.k12.sd.us/page/job-opportunities

Elementary school photos will be taken by Liz Antonsen Photography on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 during our Elementary Open House Event from 3-7 pm.

Teachers and Parents, We had the neatest donation given to us today. The family of Mrs. Leona Bruner donated 26 student backpacks FULL of school supplies in her memory. Mrs. Bruner taught school at the Geddes School for over 40 years. She taught elementary school with most of her years spent teaching second grade. In lieu of flowers at the funeral, the family requested school supply donations. The photo below shows some of the neat school bags full of supplies and even water bottles and lunch boxes given for our students. Thank you to the family of Mrs. Leona Bruner for the neatest gift to children. If your child is in need of school supplies, please contact Mrs. Knecht or Carol Oberbroekling at the elementary school office.

Zoom link to August School Board Meeting: Joel Bailey is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Platte-Geddes School District August Board Meeting Time: Aug 14, 2023 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://sdk12.zoom.us/j/91415842831?pwd=K21Ub0NvczVlcGU0WTZ6SzlDeVptZz09 Meeting ID: 914 1584 2831 Passcode: 392758

If you have an incoming 12th, 11th, or 10th grader who still has their computer, please drop the computer AND charger/chargers in Mr. Bailey's office ASAP so I can get them ready for the next school year. If they want to leave a cell phone number, I can contact them once ready for pickup. Thank You! Mr. Neugebauer

Attention junior high volleyball players and parents: Junior High Volleyball (6th-8th) Parent/Athlete Meeting Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 at 7:30 in the high school gym. Enter thru West door. Athletes that have not done their concussion testing will stay afterwards to complete. If you are not already on the Heja app for updates, please do so using code, DZ-101590.

The 7th - 12th grade Percussion students will be having a drumline practice on Tuesday, August 22nd from 9:00 AM to Noon. We'll select drums and begin working on our marching band piece and drum cadence. See you there - Mrs. DeJager

Attention 6th-8th grade football players and parents: There will be a player/parent meeting at 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 9 in the multipurpose room gym. The student-athletes will complete their Impact testing and get their pads once the meeting is finished.

Attention cross country runners & parents: There will be a short cross country meeting for runners in grades 6-12 and their parents on Wednesday, August 2 at 7pm in the high school library.

Attention high school football players and parents: There will be a short player & parents meeting on Wednesday, August 2 at 7:30 pm in the multipurpose room gym for anyone interested in playing football.

Another Athletic Physical Reminder & Announcement: https://www.platte-geddes.k12.sd.us/article/1186837