Platte-Geddes School District

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9-11 attack on America. We honored the memory of the day with a Patriot Day Program at our flag poles. Thank you to our Elementary Student Council Members for leading the program. Thank you to Liv Houdeshell for leading the singing of our National Anthem. Thank you to Mr. Patzlaff for playing TAPS. Thank you to Sydney Neuman and Aspen Strand for playing the drum cadence.

Greetings Students and Parents; On Monday, September 11 we will host a "Patriot Day Program" at the flag poles in front of the elementary school to begin our school day. The program will be entirely student led by our "Elementary Student Council" members. The program will include a drum cadence, singing of the National Anthem led by our Elementary Student Council members, a few readings about September 11, 2001, and a moment of silence. We are asking students and staff members to wear Red, White, and/or Blue for the program. Thank You!

Good news call for Jameson Antonsen! The "Good News Call" on Friday went out to Jameson Antonsen. Jameson was nominated for the "Good News Call" by Mrs. Kristen Konechne. Mrs. Konechne stated, "Jameson has been such a great helper for some students who have been adjusting to the new school year. She has been a great friend by encouraging her friends to play with her and holding their hand when they are unsure about a new situation." We appreciate Jameson's willingness to be a leader in and outside of her classroom . Thank you to Jameson for following the Panther Way expectation of kindness. And, thank you for sharing your caring heart with others! We are proud of you! 🙂 (How sweet is this beautiful little face making her "Good News Call to her Mom, Liz! She was sooo excited!!) Jennifer Knecht Elementary Principal/SPED Director Platte-Geddes School District

The Platte-Geddes Football Parents are hosting a free-will donation Tailgate Party tonight, beginning at 5:30. Proceeds will go towards compensating the volunteer coaches. The menu includes sloppy joes (taverns), macaroni salad, baked beans, and water.

The Platte-Geddes Area Youth Football Teams are hosting Kimball-White Lake today at 4 o'clock at the Athletic Complex. We will livestream the game. However, the camera is automated and goes where the most action is taking place. With games going on at both ends of the field, we cannot promise that the coverage will be great. Here is the link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQOfAWIAB3GS9s5-NxtM_g

Football Camp Skyler Hanten’s Senior Project 3rd-6th grade Details • When: September 23, 2023; 2-4 P.M. • Where: Platte football field • Free • No helmets or pads • Stretching • Drills to teach kids about the basics of football • Game of ultimate football • Treats at the end What to Bring • Tennis shoes/football cleats • Water will be provided, but you can bring your own

The rain is glorious, but makes for a soggy dismissal. We will keep the elementary students who walk home at school a little longer, until things have let up.

Check out these kids! State champions - FFA Farm Safety quiz bowl They beat Wolsey-Wessington in the semi finals, and then Kimball in the final round! Congratulations ladies and gentleman! And congratulations to our entire FFA chapter.

September Greetings ~ September has arrived! We are happy and excited to be back in school for the 2023-2024 school year. We are looking forward to a great year. Thanks for sending us GREAT kiddos to teach and work with every day! Our kids at Platte-Geddes Elementary are simply the BEST! *Our "Shout Out" focus this year is "Seven Mindsets". Our desire is that the Seven Mindsets Program will help kids and (even) adults to live full, happy, and successful lives. Our September "Seven Mindsets" focus is "EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE". We are asking our students to dare to "Dream Big"! When you focus on a goal or try to do something you have never done before, you are dreaming big! Dreaming big means, you try your absolute hardest to reach a goal that you might even think is out of reach. Remember, the bigger your dream, the more you can do! *On September 11 we will have a student led "9-11 or Patriot Day Program" at 8:05 am at the flag poles in front of the elementary school building. We will have a short program honoring the events of September 11, 2001. *On September 12 we will be co-sponsoring the "CORE Birth to age 5 Developmental Screenings" at Trinity Lutheran Church in Platte. Please share the word with families of young children so we are able to screen all children. If a parent would like their child to be screened, please call the school at 605-337-2468 to schedule an appointment. *Parent Advisory Committee ~ I would like to re-start the Parent Advisory Committee. If you are interested in assisting me by being a part of this important committee, please reply to this email or call me at the school at 605-337-2468. We will meet quarterly, or four times this year. We stopped meeting in 2020-2021 due to the Covid Pandemic and have not re-started the committee. I'm excited to have the committee start back up again. *Homecoming has been set for Friday, September 29. All students will walk in the Homecoming Parade @ 10:30 am. Students will be dismissed immediately following the parade that day. Your child's classroom teacher will be providing costume and parade details as the date becomes closer. The theme this year is Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes. Have a wonderful month of September. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns that I can assist you with. Thank you! Jennifer

Our kiddos have been extremely fortunate to have had OUTSTANDING lunches every day this year! They LOVED the French Toast and sausage served yesterday. Everybody loves breakfast for lunch! Today we had a donation of sweet corn given by Vance and Wanda Qualm. Thank you to Vance and Wanda for this gift to our students. Thank you to the 8th graders for helping us shuck the corn, and to the cooks for the preparation. Fresh, home-grown sweet corn; what a treat!

The Good News Call today goes out to Roslyn Konechne, Bianca Nepodal, and Elle Houdeshell. The three girls volunteered to help clean up trash following the varsity FB game on Friday evening. They noticed trash was left everywhere and they helped Mr. Bailey clean up, without being asked or told! Thank you, Bianca, Roslyn, and Elle, for seeing what needed to be done and chipping in to keep our facilities looking great! Thanks for following the Panther Way Expectation of Responsibility!

Developmental Screenings Ages Birth - 5 September 12, 2023 Starting at 8:30 A.M. Trinity Lutheran Church Platte, SD Call (605) 337-2468 (For an appointment)

See flyer for information on an FCA Running Club for students in grades 3, 4, and 5.

See flyer regarding FCA Flag Football for grades 2nd-5th.

PLATTE-GEDDES SCHOOL DISTRICT #11-5 August 28, 2023 Date: Attention Parents/Guardians, Former Students, Eligible (Adult) Students: Special Education records which have been collected by the Platte-Geddes School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of Special Education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for a period of five years after Special Education Services have ended for the student. Special Education services end when the student no longer is eligible for services, graduates, completes his or her educational program on June 30th of the year after he/she turns 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of the Platte-Geddes School District’s intent to destroy the Special Education records of students who ended Special Education Services during the 2017-2018 school year and all years prior to 2018. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state laws unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but they may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for Social Security benefits, rehabilitations services, college entrance, etc. The parent/ guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records in writing or in person at the following address: Platte-Geddes School District; 400 Illinois Avenue; PO Box 140; Platte, SD 57369. Requests for copies must be received by October 2, 2023 . These records will be destroyed after October 6, 2023. In Education, Jennifer Knecht; SPED Director

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