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Everything Aberdeen public school parents need to know about back to school

Aberdeen American News - 8/12/2019

Aug. 11--The first day of class at Aberdeen public schools will be Aug. 20. It will be a half-day, and breakfast and lunch will not be served.

Here's everything else you need to know about the upcoming school year:

On the first day, students will report to their respective schools as follows:

* Elementary schools: Grades 1-5, 8 to 11:30 a.m.

* Middle schools: Grades 6-8, 8 to 11:45 a.m.

* Central High School: All freshmen students will report at 8 a.m. for orientation by the Link Crew. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for freshmen only. All high school students will attend a shortened schedule of classes from 12:20 to 3:20 p.m. Families with questions can contact the principal's office at 605-725-8100.

Immunization requirements

State law requires that all children entering a South Dakota school for the first time meet certain immunization requirements. They can be waived only if a properly signed medical or religious exemption is filed with the school.

Immunizations are also required for incoming sixth-graders.

Visit doh.sd.gov/family/childhood/immunization/school.aspx for all requirements.

Children not complying immunization requirements will not be admitted to classes.

Bus routes

The Aberdeen School District provides rural bus service for students attending kindergarten through eighth grade who live more than 5 miles from their school. Fee bus service is available for students attending kindergarten through eighth grade who live more than 2 1/2 miles and less than 5 miles from their school and along an existing bus route. Students requesting fee bus service should contact Penny Frost at the District Service Center at 605-725-7132 for information on fees and payment options. Contact Dietrich Busing at 605-226-5968 for any information concerning bus routes.

Registration

First through 12th grade: Students attending the Aberdeen Public Schools for the first time this fall who are not yet registered are asked to contact the principal's office in school area in which they live or the District Service Center, 605-725-7100, 1224 S. Third St., if the school principal cannot be reached. The Central High School office is open all summer.

Kindergarten and first grade: Children may enter kindergarten if they are 5 on or before Sept. 1. Students enrolling in first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1.

Birth certificates are required for first-time enrollees: Parents must provide proof of age for children entering a South Dakota school for the first time by presenting a certified copy of the child's birth certificate at registration.

Proof of residence: Required for kindergarteners through eighth grade.

Preschool screening

The Aberdeen School District has a preschool screening program. The purpose of the screening is to identify children who may be in need of any early childhood special services. Concepts, fine and gross motor development, communication skills, hearing and vision are screened. Screenings are monthly from September to March. Screening begins with 3-year-olds during the month of their birthday and also includes 4- and 5-year-olds. Parents are asked to call the Special Education Office 605-725-7146 to make appointments.

Food service

The first day for school lunch and breakfast at all schools Aug. 21. Freshmen are served lunch on Aug. 20.

Federally-funded school breakfasts and lunches are available for all students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 in the Aberdeen public schools.

Free or reduced-priced meals are available to households directly certified through the state Department of Social Services or households meeting the federal income guidelines. Households receiving free/reduced-price meals during the 2018-19 school year are on a 30-day carryover, and applications are due Oct. 2 to avoid a disruption in benefits.

Packets are available at all of the schools and the District Service Center, applications are required on a yearly basis.

Deposits into Lunchbox, the computerized lunch system, can be made at school buildings or prior to Aug. 17 at the District Service Center. A completed green deposit slip must accompany each deposit.

Deposits can also be made online at mySchoolBucks on the district website, www.aberdeen.k12.sd.us for a $2.49 transaction fee. The service can be used at no charge to monitor account balances and view account purchases. mySchoolBucks will also send reminders of low account balances at no charge. Account balances from the previous school year remain with students.

All account balances of the 2019 graduating seniors were transferred to siblings still in the school district. Requests can be made for closed account balances. For more information, call 605-725-7105.

School hours

Elementary children should not arrive at school more than 15 minutes before school starts unless they are bus students. If circumstances require early arrival, parents should contact the school principal.

After-school care is available through the YMCA's Uproar Program (605-225-7113) and the Boys & Girls Club of Aberdeen Area (605-225-8714).

* Elementary schools: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Middle schools: 8 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

* Central High School: 8:10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

Contact information

* District Service Center: 605-725-7100.

* Superintendent of schools: Becky Guffin, 605-725-7112.

* Assistant superintendent: Camille Kaul, 605-725-7121.

* Director of finance: Tom Janish, 605-725-7103.

* Director of operational services: Bob Pitz, 605-725-7105.

* Director of technology: Joshua Jensen, 605-725-7137.

* Director of food services: Susan Nash, 605-725-7131.

* Health services coordinator: Rebecca Hunter, 605-725-7833.

* Director of special education: Renae Rausch, 605-725-7146.

* Assistant director of finance: Penny Frost, 605-725-7132.

* Human resources: Laura Millett, 605-725-7123.

* Speech and language coordinator: Angie Hanson, 605-725-7265.

* Preschool coordinator: Jackie Pederson, 605-725-7264.

* Elementary special education coordinator: Brandi Hirsch, 605-725-7153.

* Secondary special education coordinator: Mendy Jones, 605-725-8121.

* Deaf education coordinator: Rosanne Malsom, 605-725-7622.

* Title I coordinator: Kim Vogt, 605-725-7721.

* Counseling coordinator: Annie Falk, 605-725-7414.

* Indian education coordinator: Karlie Cooper, 605-725-8116.

* English as a Second Language coordinator: Sheena Buckhouse, 605-725-7400/725-7300.

* Webmaster: Gretchen Sharp, 605-725-7118.

Elementary schools

* C.C. Lee: 605-725-7500; Chris Osborn, principal; Anita Nielsen, counselor.

* Lincoln: 605-725-7200; Lisa McNeely, principal; Jenny Hawk-Heirigs, counselor.

* May Overby: 605-725-7300; Mike Neubert, principal; Dustin Pickrel, counselor.

* Mike Miller: 605-725-7800; Nicole Schutter, principal; Theresa Bowden, counselor.

* O.M. Tiffany: 605-725-7400; Jared Ahlberg, principal; Annie Falk, counselor.

* Simmons Elementary: 605-725-7600; Kim Aman, principal; Stephanie Mach, counselor.

Kindergarten

* Parents are to register kindergarten students prior to the opening of school. Take a copy of the child's birth certificate, immunization records and proof of residence. Children not complying with these requirements will not be admitted to school.

* Back-to-school open house for the 2019-20 school year at the elementary schools is Aug. 19 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The open house is for kindergarten through fifth grade students.

* On Aug. 20, kindergarten parents only are asked to report to the school at 8:15 a.m. This session will last about one hour. General information about the school year will be presented, and assignments will be made for small-group student orientation, which is Aug. 21-23. All kindergarten students will begin full day classes Aug. 26.

Middle schools

* Holgate Middle School: 605-725-7700; Bo Beck, principal; Peggy Cox, assistant principal; Kari Brenner, counselor.

* Simmons Middle School: 605-725-7900; Colleen Murley, principal; Tina Board, assistant principal; Angel Samson, counselor.

* Welcome EveryBody! is for sixth-grade students to help familiarize them with their new middle school. Holgate orientation: Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon; Simmons Middle orientation: Aug. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m.

* Sixth-grade student and parent orientation is at Simmons Middle and Holgate Middle School gymnasiums Aug. 19 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

* Seventh- and eighth-grade students from both Holgate and Simmons Middle can get to school at any time between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.Aug. 19 to get schedules and locker assignments. Students can purchase assignment books and deposit lunch money.

Central High School

* Jason Uttermark, principal; Dawn Seiler, assistant principal; Jacob Phillips, assistant principal, 605-725-8100.

* Counselors' office: Cal Nygaard, Barry Hehn and Shannon Knuppe, 605-725-8117.

* Athletic director, grades 7-12, Gene Brownell, 605-725-8187.

* Scott Pudwill, A-TEC director, 605-725-8281.

Location or assignment changes

* Donnie Bowden, physical education from Mike Miller to Holgate.

* Codi Voegeli, math teacher, from the Alternative Learning Center to Simmons Middle.

* Katie Vogel, fifth-grade teacher, from Lincoln to O.M. Tiffany.

* Mikaela Waiflein, second grade, from Lincoln to O.M.Tiffany.

* Jason Wetzel, fourth-grade teacher, from Simmons Middle math to May Overby.

* Ryan DeFea, science teacher, from the Alternative Learning Center to Holgate.

* Kendall Hollein, fourth-grade teacher, from math teacher at Holgate to O.M. Tiffany.

* Lauretta Villhauer, special education, from O.M. Tiffany to Lincoln.

New certified staff

* Alexandria Lundquist, Lincoln speech language pathologist.

* Tage Hanson, May Overby speech language pathologist.

* Francisco Wendlandt, Central Spanish teacher.

* Jaynie Spier, Central social studies teacher.

* Ashley Dunham, Simmons Elementary art teacher.

* Melissa Bourdon, O.M. Tiffany kindergarten teacher.

* Megan Smidt, May Overby, first grade teacher.

* Maleri McCloud, ATEC ag teacher.

* Patrick Timm, Mike Miller, physical education teacher.

* Emily Gabur, May Overby special education teacher.

* Vickie Anderson, Simmons Middle special education teacher.

* Brett Flemmer, Holgate math teacher.

* Chrisandra Bierne, Lincoln third-grade teacher.

* Hayley Coon, O.M Tiffany fourt-grade teacher.

* Sydney Gelling, Holgate language arts teacher.

* Maggie Hepper, O.M. Tiffany special education teacher.

* Kallyn Jerde, O.M. Tiffany/Holgate special education teacher.

School costs

* School supply lists can be found at Target, Walmart and Office Max and the district website for elementary and middle schools.

* Those taking industrial technology and family and consumer science classes may incur additional fees.

* Physical education uniform: Middle school students are required to wear a physical education uniform, they are available at Shoe Science at Aberdeen Mall.

* Assignment books: They are required to be purchased from the middle schools and are available at orientation meetings and the first week of school.

* Activity passes and fine arts passes: Students are not required to buy an activity or fine arts pass. The passes enable a student to attend all school activities except tournaments, special music events or school dances.

Prices for activity passes

* Adults, $60.

* Students, kindergarten through 12th grade, $25.

* Senior citizens, 55 and older, $15.

Prices for fine arts passes

* Adults, $10.

* Students, kindergarten through 12th grade, $5.

Key dates in August and September

* Today: New teachers report.

* Tuesday : All teachers report.

* Tuesday, Wednesday and Aug. 19 : Staff development.

* Aug. 16: Sixth-grade Welcome EveryBody! orientation: 9 a.m. to noon at Holgate and 1 to 4 p.m. at Simmons.

* Aug. 19: Middle school orientation for sixth-grade parents and students, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Open house at all elementary schools, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

* Aug. 20: School starts: Half-day.

* Aug. 20: Kindergarten orientation, parents only.

* Sept. 2: Labor Day, no school.

* Sept. 19: Central High School evening parent-teacher conferences.

For a complete calendar, visit the district website.

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(c)2019 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)

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