Supe's On

As your time at Brandon Valley High School ends and you celebrate your graduation on Sunday, May 14, I would like to congratulate you on this outstanding accomplishment. The commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition that provides an opportunity to reflect upon your educational experience. In addition to reflection, this culminating event provides an excellent opportunity to thank your family and all the individuals that supported you while in school.

Certainly, you have faced some ups and downs through the years. Your ability to maintain a growth mindset and work through challenges will serve you well as you venture on life’s journey. Remember, once a Lynx – always a Lynx!

While you turn to the next chapter and take with you all the knowledge, skills, and lessons learned, it is important to remember that two simple things most often play a large part in an individual’s success – Attitude & Effort. You and only you control these two things.

Undoubtedly, you will face hurdles and stumble along the way, but resilience and grit can propel you to your dreams. Remember that success is not only measured by degrees and job titles, but also by the positive impact you make on the world around you.

Meeting the foundational needs of our children is critical to student learning and development. In each of our buildings, the Brandon Valley School District operates a school kitchen offering breakfast and lunch. The eight kitchens prepare and serve over 4,000 nutritious meals per day to our students. BV is proud to celebrate our tremendous staff of School Lunch Professionals during School Lunch Hero Week.

It takes everyone within our organization to promote student learning. Child Nutrition Services Staff play a vital role in student success. Research demonstrates that school nutrition programs positively affect student learning, benefit student health through improved dietary intake, and reduce food insecurity for children receiving free meals. Further, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs clearly demonstrates that the physiological need of food is critical to mental development, learning, and self-actualization. Simply put, hungry kids cannot learn.

A special thank you to Director Kruse and our Child Nutrition Staff for their work and commitment to excellence in food service. Our Brandon Valley Child Nutrition Staff’s daily efforts fuel classroom success.

Speaking of success, a GIANT SHOUT-OUT to the cast, crew, and directors of the Spring Musical Beauty and the Beast. What an incredibly captivating show. From dynamic sets to skillful acting, our Lynx brought the fairy tale to life. Bravo!

There are a wide variety of clubs, organizations, and non-school-sanctioned activities available to students within our schools. From STEM Club, Cinema Club, Bowling, to Indoor Percussion and many others, these activities provide kids an opportunity to be involved with peers on a topic they enjoy, all while developing life skills. Student clubs offer kids the opportunity to explore interests and hobbies, develop skills, build social connections, and gain leadership experience. Regardless of interest, there’s an opportunity for students to be involved.

Last weekend, Brandon Valley Indoor (Indoor Percussion Club) went to Dayton, Ohio for WGI World Championships. When BVi began they participated in “A class”. Last year they were promoted to “Open class”, and this year the group was promoted to the highest classification of “World class” advancing all the way to the Semi-Finals. Congratulations to Director Melillo and Brandon Valley Indoor on a tremendous season.

Overall, student clubs and non-school-sanctioned activities are a valuable component of the school experience. A special thank you to all our Club Advisors for making these opportunities possible for our students, all while promoting “The Lynx Way” and instilling positive character traits within our students.

The 2023 Brandon Valley Staff Recognition Banquet is set to be held on Tuesday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the Brandon Valley High School Commons. Within the Recognition Banquet, we honor our retiring staff, highlight those staff with extended years of service, celebrate the incredible quality of our educators, and honor those former staff members whom we have lost in the past year.

Many years ago, the Brandon Valley Teacher of the Year program was established in a joint effort between the Brandon Valley School District and First National Bank to recognize the superior ability of educators to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. The purpose of the program is to recognize the outstanding contributions of teachers and their vital role in the educational process. The Brandon Valley School District Teacher of the Year is nominated by a student or family and selected by a committee. Our district’s Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Brandon Valley Staff Recognition Banquet.

While celebrating individual success is important, the collective commitment and dedication of our staff to student learning has made the 2022-23 school year a success. The process of educating our youth takes many individuals, serving in a wide variety of roles. Every day within our schools, staff work to promote positive learning experiences and create learning environments that result in success.

The week of April 3^rd marks the Week of Work in South Dakota. Governor Noem’s initiative is intended to introduce students to career opportunities within our communities. The project’s focus is on career exploration, with an emphasis on connecting businesses and employers to future employees. This week, and many other times throughout the school year, our Brandon Valley students engage in career exploration activities.

A few examples of career exploration activities Brandon Valley students participate in include SD Mylife career exploration and academic planning, the BVHS Post-secondary Career Fair, industry and business tours within our community, and internships – both paid and unpaid.

In collaboration with the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, the Brandon Valley School District is deeply invested in the growth of our paid internship program for students at BVHS. Last week, area businesses participated in a special luncheon at BVHS, “Feeding the Future” to promote paid internships and highlight a few of our recent successes within the program. Paid internships can serve as valuable work-based learning experience for students. Career exploration and work-based learning experiences are valuable long-term investments for our students and the state of South Dakota.

As April is upon us, the testing season will soon be underway. We greatly appreciate our parents and guardians support as our children complete the South Dakota state assessment. To ensure your child can perform at an optimal level, a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast is critical to their success.

Although a snapshot, the state assessment provides valuable academic data. We utilize the data to provide our students with the instruction, curriculum, and interventions necessary for their individual success. The focus on continual academic student growth drives our ability to build upon our strong academic tradition.

Our strong school tradition and academic culture play an intricate role in the continued success of our students. Strong school culture is built and maintained through the celebration of past successes, embracing current school events, and maintaining a continual growth mindset as we build for the future. The Brandon Valley School District is extremely fortunate to have a strong academic and extracurricular tradition, which plays an enormous role in the on-going success of our schools.

Recently, we celebrated past athletic accomplishments with the Brandon Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet. Celebrating the past successes of the inductees and honoring them for their contributions to our tradition was an incredible experience. Congratulations to all the BV Athletic Hall of Fame inductees!

As Spring is upon us and the fourth and final quarter of the 2022-2023 school term is set to begin next week, I would encourage all our students to finish strong and push themselves academically through the end of the school year. Make school attendance and academic effort your priority for the remainder of the school term. Continuing to bring an outstanding effort and a positive attitude will drive your academic success – Let’s finish The Lynx Way!

Along with Spring and (hopefully) with the improving weather, more students will be walking and riding their bicycles to school. With the additional pedestrian and bicycle traffic in and around our communities, it is critical that traffic and school zone safety is our top priority. Please slow-down, stay alert, and be aware of your surroundings. In addition, distracted driving continues to be a growing societal concern, and we must reinforce the importance of not texting and driving to our young drivers.

We want to extend a GIANT thank all our parents and guardians for attending Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences!

Overall, we had an outstanding turnout. This is great news because kids need an adult that values their education. Research demonstrates an engaged adult is important for a student’s success. Engaging in a child’s education and encouraging the importance of learning is powerful. The active participation of an adult in a child's education leads to improved academic outcomes, improved school behavior, and reduced absenteeism.

Attending and participating in parent-teacher conferences is one way to demonstrate the importance of education to a child. Communication with your child’s teachers is not and should not be limited to conferences. In the event you have questions during the remainder of the school year, please, contact your child’s teacher(s).

Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences provide families the opportunity to engage with their child’s teachers. Further, Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences often take on unique approaches and incorporate different strategies or formats. Whether it is the inclusion of a Career Fair at BVHS where families can learn about jobs and colleges, Student-led Conferences at BVMS, or the Student Showcase at BVIS, Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences are a valuable opportunity for families to connect with school staff and reinforce the importance of education to their child.

Another significant event within the Brandon Valley School District is the Valley Springs School centennial celebration. To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the school building at Valley Springs, there will be a 100-year celebration on Friday, March 24, 2023, in the Valley Springs Elementary School gymnasium. The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. Coffee and cookies will be provided following the program. Come join us as we celebrate the rich history and tradition of the Valley Springs School building.

Read Across America Day is an annual event that takes place on March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. It is a day to celebrate reading and literacy, with a special focus on promoting literacy among our young children. Our schools engage in a variety of events and special activities designed to promote a love of reading during Read Across America Day. Families can help support our children’s love of reading by modeling reading in the home, asking about what their child is reading, or reading together. Together, we can promote a love of reading in our children.

As of Tuesday, February 28, the Brandon Valley School District has had six weather related closures and seven late starts during the 2022-23 school year. The 2022-23 Academic Calendar has been modified to include five additional school days for students. The last days of school for our students will be on June 1. In addition to the five student contact days that will be made-up, we have added a Flexible Curriculum Development Planning Day for certified staff. We will make every effort to not extend the student calendar beyond Thursday, June 1, 2023. It is also relevant to note that there will be no change to the Commencement Ceremony Date or our Seniors’ schedule. The updated 2022-23 Academic Calendar is available on the district’s calendar website. We do appreciate everyone’s understanding as we navigate the winter season.

Parental engagement and involvement in a child’s education is critical for their academic success. Research demonstrates that students with an engaged adult in their education have much higher graduation rates, academically perform better, and have fewer behavioral issues at school. The Brandon Valley School District will be hosting Parent-teacher Conferences on the following dates:

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend conferences and be actively engaged in your child’s education. I would like to challenge you to: Attend - Engage - Discuss. Attend conferences. Engage with your child’s teacher(s). Discuss what was shared at conferences with your child. Meaningful engagement and follow-up has the power to propel a child to new levels of academic success.

Additional active participation strategies parents and guardians can utilize to create a home environment that encourages learning may include:

No matter the strategies utilized, communicating the importance of an education to our children is essential. Together, we promote an outstanding educational experience for our children.

Music and the Fine Arts are an important aspect of K-12 education. Whether vocal, instrumental, or visual, Fine Arts have a profound impact on students and their educational experiences. Recently, several of our music groups had the distinct privilege and honor to perform at the 2023 In-service Music Conference on the South Dakota State University Campus at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.

The Brandon Valley High School Concert Choir performed on Thursday, February 9 and provided an opportunity to highlight Terry Gullickson’s thirty-eight year career in vocal music education. The Brandon Valley High School Wind Ensemble performed on Friday, February 10 and left all those in attendance in amazement as the complexity of the pieces performed were done so with incredible creativity. On Saturday, February 11, the Brandon Valley Intermediate School Band took to the biggest of stages and showcased their incredible talent. The strong foundational work done within our Brandon Valley Band program was on full display.

Fine Art opportunities are essential for providing students with a well-rounded educational experience, which supports the foundation for future successes. Further, Music and Fine Arts help to foster student creativity and collaboration, all while exploring cultural traditions and values. A special “congratulations” and “great job” to all our Lynx that were highlighted at South Dakota’s premier K-12 Music professional development opportunity.

February 6-10 serves as 2023 National School Counseling week and provides an opportunity to focus attention on the unique contributions of school counselors within our educational system. Our school counselors have a tremendous impact on students in a multitude of ways. School counselors support students in areas, including but not limited to, academic advising and social and emotional support. Our schools’ ability to provide a safe and supportive environment for students is grounded in the work of school counselors, as they support the learning process and overall development of students.

National School Counseling Week is celebrated every year to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions of school counselors. Whether helping students achieve academic success, plan for a career, or work through a difficult social or emotional situation, school counselors are critical for student success. School counselors provide critical supports for our systems development of a safe and supportive school climate.

We would like to extend a special THANK YOU to all our Brandon Valley School Counselors, as well as school counselors across our great country, during 2023 National School Counseling Week!

The 2023 South Dakota Legislative Session is underway. The Brandon Valley School District appreciates the various opportunities available to engage with our District Legislators to promote and discuss various legislative topics regarding public education.

In addition to on-going communications throughout the session, the Brandon Valley School District has utilized several key engagement strategies available to our district. Following multiple postponements, we were finally able to host the 2023 BVSD Legislative Breakfast on Friday, January 27. The event provided the Brandon Valley School Board, Administration, and Brandon Valley Education Association an opportunity to share district happenings, provide input on key legislative issues, and hear from our Legislators regarding their priorities for the session. All of our District 2 Legislators were in attendance. We greatly appreciate their time during this very busy legislative season. In addition to hosting the district’s Legislative Breakfast, the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coffee provided another valuable opportunity to hear from and engage with our District 2 Legislators. We would like to the Chamber of Commerce for their hosting of the Legislative Coffee.

While we may not agree on all education issues, I greatly appreciate each of our Legislators’ civic service. Their commitment and service to the people play a significant role within South Dakota governance.

From the elementary level where Student Council representatives may support and guide a new student throughout their day, to Brandon Valley High School’s newly adopted “Hope Squad” peer support program, peer mentoring allows students to establish meaningful relationships with peers who can relate to their experiences, offering a sense of community and support. This can be particularly beneficial for students who may be facing personal or academic difficulties and need extra help.

In addition, peer mentoring can help students develop life skills such as communication, problem-solving, empathy, and critical thinking. As peer mentors are similar in age, they can better explain concepts and difficulties in a way that resonates more with the mentee. This can help foster a greater understanding of a situation, while also providing a level of comfort, trust, and openness not achievable through traditional adult-student relationships.

Finally, peer mentoring can improve student motivation and engagement in learning activities. Knowing there is someone else who understands their situation and is willing to take the time to help can give students the confidence and courage to tackle challenging tasks, allowing them to set higher expectations for their achievements.

A special thank you to all our Lynx that support fellow students as a peer mentor.

As of Tuesday, January 17, the Brandon Valley School District has had four weather related closures during the 2022-23 school year and our 2022-23 Academic Calendar has been modified to include two additional school days for students. School will be in session for students on March 16 (Snow Day) and May 26.

IF we do not have another snow day, THEN the current updated calendar will be utilized and the additional two teacher contract days will made-up via professional development / flexible curriculum development planning, BUT in the event of an additional snow day occurring the calendar will be updated to include student contact days during the week of May 30.

We will make every effort to not extend the student calendar beyond Thursday, June 1, 2023. It is also relevant to note that there will be no change to the Commencement Ceremony Date or our Seniors’ schedule. We do appreciate everyone’s understanding as we navigate the winter season.

The elementary schools of the Brandon Valley School District are accepting registrations for Kindergarten Screening starting on January 4. A child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2023, to be eligible to start Kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year. Please, contact your respective elementary attendance center for more information and to register for Kindergarten Screening.

Learning in our schools does not stop when the academic school day is finished. Winter activities are in full swing and offer our patrons a tremendous number of opportunities to support our students, all while enjoying the entertainment activities provide.

Extracurricular activities are an important aspect of our work to provide a well-rounded education. Fine Arts, athletics, and student clubs provide impactful learning opportunities for students. Participating in an extracurricular activity has tremendous benefits. Several research studies have demonstrated that students involved in extracurricular activities have higher rates of academic achievement, higher rates of school attendance, and are more likely to graduate from high school. In addition to the academic benefits, extracurricular activities teach valuable life lessons such as commitment, teamwork, leadership, the acceptance of a role and perseverance during adversity.

I would encourage all patrons to attend student activities and support our children. While in attendance, it is imperative that spectators act appropriately. If attending a Fine Art production, arrive on time, silence cell phones, and remain seated during the entire performance. If attending an athletic event, remain seated while the contest is in progress and cheer in a positive and sportsmanlike manner. The modeling of positive and appropriate behavior by adults while attending activities is important for our students’ development.

Regardless of your child’s interest, there is an activity for them. Encourage them to get involved. Activities are a critical component of providing a well-rounded education and teach valuable life lessons.

Regarding next school year, the draft 2023-2024 Academic Calendar is moving through the adoption process and closely corresponds to our current Academic Calendar. Within next year’s proposed Academic Calendar, I would highlight multiple items of interest.

A presentation providing a detailed overview of the proposed 2023-2024 Academic Calendar will be available within the January 9 Brandon Valley Board of Education Meeting. The proposed calendar is scheduled for adoption in late January. When the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar has been formally adopted, we will communicate the final calendar to families through a variety of platforms, including email, websites, and school building communications. We appreciate all of the individuals and committees that have collaborated and assisted in the development of our calendar.

I hope your 2022 was filled with happiness, fulfillment, and success. The holiday season and New Year marks an opportunity for renewed focus and energy. Regardless of what aspirations you may have, I would strongly encourage that you post it where you can see it daily. A consistent visual reminder of a goal helps maintain focus. Success is a direct result of an individual’s ability to Get Committed, Be Disciplined, and Stay Focused. So, whatever you aspire to be – Post it where you can see it every day and make 2023 all that you want it to be.

January is forecasted to be a cold month. It is extremely important that students dress appropriately for the cold weather. Hats, coats, and gloves are essential for a student’s safety. Whether riding the bus, driving, or walking to school, dressing for the cold weather is critical. Please, reinforce the importance of appropriate winter dress with your child. In the unlikely event school is in session and your child is unable to attend due to travel issues, contact your respective school, and the absence will be excused.

Brandon Valley resumes school from Winter Break on Tuesday, January 3. Semester 1 ends on January 13. There is no school in the Brandon Valley School District on Monday, January 16 for staff in-service.

As outlined in the Brandon Valley School District Strategic Plan, we utilize 5-year planning documents to adequately prepare short and mid-range plans. Our 5-year plans are prepared and submitted by our building and department level administrators, to plan for and accommodate our future needs and growth. The school district’s 5-year plan outlines financial projections, as well as our future staffing, programming, and facility needs.

Undoubtedly, there are more needs than resources, but this planning process is a critical strategy to support our proactive approach to the management of our available resources. Previous planning documents are available at the Administration Center and the new 5-year plan will be presented in the coming months.

Winter Break begins on December 21 with a Two-Hour Early Dismissal and there is no school from December 22 – January 2. We hope all our students, staff, and families have a safe and enjoyable Winter Break. School will resume on January 3, 2023!

As the holiday season and new year approaches, we can reflect on the challenges and opportunities 2022 presented us within the Brandon Valley School District. There is much to be proud of as we reflect on this past year, but there is always work to be done as we continually strive for growth and improvement within our schools. The Winter Break begins with a two-hour early dismissal on Wednesday, December 21 and classes resume on Tuesday, January 3.

With 2023 on the horizon, for some families it is time to start thinking about sending a child to Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. Our elementary school buildings will host Kindergarten Screening in the coming months for the next school year. If you have a child that will be age eligible and entering Kindergarten next year, we strongly encourage your participation in Kindergarten Screening. If you have questions on Kindergarten Screening, feel free to reach out to any of our elementary buildings.

The draft 2023-2024 BVSD Academic Calendar is moving through the adoption process and closely corresponds to our current Academic Calendar. Within next year’s proposed Academic Calendar, I would highlight multiple items of interest.

A presentation providing a detailed overview of the proposed 2023-2024 Academic Calendar will be available within the January 9 Brandon Valley Board of Education Meeting. The proposed calendar is scheduled for adoption in late January. When the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar has been formally adopted, we will communicate the final calendar to families through a variety of platforms, including email, websites, and school building communications. We appreciate all the individuals and committees that have collaborated and assisted in the development of our calendar.

Lastly, a quick reminder that Wednesday, December 21 is a Two Hour Early Dismissal and there is no school for Winter Break from December 22 – January 2 in the Brandon Valley School District.

We encourage all patrons to attend student activities and support our children. While in attendance, it is imperative that spectators act appropriately. If attending a Fine Art production, arrive on time, silence cell phones, and remain seated during the entire performance. If attending an athletic event, remain seated while the contest is in progress and cheer in a positive and sportsmanlike manner. The modeling of positive and appropriate behavior by adults while attending activities is important for our students’ development.

It is always a great time for reflection, but November and Thanksgiving serve as an ideal opportunity to express appreciation for those having a positive influence. I am extremely thankful for the strong public education system we have for our children in the Brandon Valley School District. I greatly appreciate our school district community. Reflecting upon our organizational success, the realization regarding the importance of the school – community relationship is only further enhanced. Schools thrive when the community thrives and vice versa.

I am thankful for a community that has high expectations of its public schools, values the importance of education, and supports growth and the importance of proactive planning throughout our school district. Drawing further upon the Thanksgiving theme, I would express my sincere thanks to our administrative team, school staff, students, and families. In addition, I would like to thank my family, especially my wife, for all the support, understanding, and encouragement.

Undoubtedly, as a growing school district, we have challenges and obstacles to work through and overcome. But together, we can continue to build upon our foundation of excellence and move forward as a school district and community.

I hope you have an excellent Thanksgiving holiday and from our family to yours – Happy Thanksgiving!

The 2023 South Dakota Legislative Session is right around the corner opening on January 10 with the State of the State Address. The Brandon Valley School District works to actively engage with our District Legislators to promote public education.

Drawing upon the legislative positions of the Large School Group, Associated School Boards of South Dakota, and the School Administrators of South Dakota, we work to advance public education in our district and across South Dakota. In addition to ongoing communications throughout the session, a few key engagement strategies our district utilizes is a Legislative Breakfast. Our 2023 Legislative Breakfast is tentatively scheduled for mid-December. The event provides the Brandon Valley School Board, Administration, and Brandon Valley Education Association an opportunity to share district happenings, provide input on key upcoming legislative issues, and hear from our Legislators on their focus for the upcoming session.

While we may not agree on all education issues, I greatly appreciate each of our Legislators civic service. Their commitment and dedicated service play a critical role within South Dakota governance.

In observance of Veterans Day, there will be no school on Friday, November 11. Veterans Day serves as an opportunity to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve and sacrifice for our country. On behalf of the Brandon Valley School District, we would like to thank all those who have sacrificed, served, and are serving in our nation’s military.

Next week, is American Education Week on November 14-18. Across our great country, communities celebrate America’s public education system during American Education Week. The process of educating our youth takes many individuals, serving in a wide variety of roles. Each of those roles play a critical part in our ability to educate our children. Every day within our schools, staff work with students to promote positive learning experiences and create learning environments that result in success. Everyone within our school system plays a critical part in our ability to educate our 5,014 students.

To all the individuals working within the Brandon Valley School District and all the other schools across the country – Thank You! Your work makes educating our children possible.

There will be no school in the Brandon Valley School District for Thanksgiving Break November 23-25.

Weather we like it or not, it is on the way. As we all know, winter in South Dakota means cold, snow, and ice. Please take the time to make certain your contact information in Skyward is updated to ensure you receive weather related announcements by completing the Skyward Family Access Update. In addition to updating your contact information, it is also important to review the following winter weather safety guidelines with your child. Whether riding the bus, driving, or walking to school, dressing appropriately is extremely important for all students during the upcoming winter season.

In addition to discussing winter driving with our teens, all vehicles in South Dakota should contain a winter survival kit. As outlined on their website, the National Weather Service advises a winter weather safety readiness kit be placed in your vehicle to prepare for the winter season.

Talking with your child about weather safety will help with their winter weather preparedness. In the unlikely event school is in session and your child is unable to attend due to travel issues, contact your respective school, and the absence will be excused.

Overall, the Brandon Valley School District’s accountability report card demonstrates the tremendous work being done by students and staff on a daily basis. The three main areas I would like to highlight are district-level data in English Language Arts (ELA) Proficiency, Math Proficiency, and High School Completion Rate. In addition to our district data, included within the chart is state level data in those three respective areas.

	ELA Proficiency %	Math Proficiency %	High School Completion %
BVSD	73	64	97
South Dakota	51	43	90

For more information and to review all publicly reported school and district level data, visit the South Dakota Department of Education webpage.

We should be very proud of our children and staff for the student outcomes being produced by our education system. In addition to our schools, supportive communities and actively engaged families play a pivotal role in student achievement. It takes everyone, at every level to promote student success. As there is always room for growth and improvement, we should be very proud, not satisfied.

Lastly, a quick reminder there will be no school on Friday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

National School Bus Safety Week is October 17 – October 21. Within the Brandon Valley School District, student safety is our #1 priority.

Working to ensure student safety is everyone’s responsibility. A component of “The Lynx Way” is “We Are: Safe.” Whether the conversation surrounds distracted driving, pedestrian or bike safety, appropriate bus behavior, school zone laws, or stranger danger – it is critical that we engage our students in these discussions at school and at home. Engaging our children in the conversation about commuting to and from school safely is an essential step in the promotion of student safety.

As we strive to instill “The Lynx Way” in our students and promote safe choices, I strongly encourage all our families to discuss these school bus safety tips with their children. Reviewing these critical safety guidelines with all our students, whether a bus rider, pedestrian, or driver is extremely important.

We want to thank all our parents and guardians for attending Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences!

Overall, we had an excellent turnout. This is great news because kids need an adult that values their education. Research demonstrates an engaged adult is important for a student’s success. Engaging in a child’s education and encouraging the importance of learning is powerful. The active participation of an adult in a child's education leads to improved academic outcomes, improved school behavior, and reduced absenteeism. Communication with your child’s teachers is not and should not be limited to conferences. In the event you have questions, please, contact your child’s teacher(s). Together, we promote student success.

The South Dakota Department of Education will publicly release school report cards on October 13. In November an overview of the Brandon Valley School District’s student achievement data will be provided at a Board of Education Meeting. Report card information can be found at the South Dakota Department of Education website.

In the end, the absolute most critical factor as an educational system is that we utilize the information and data available to best meet the needs of our students in the areas of curriculum and instruction. We should be very proud of our students and staff for their levels of achievement, but continually strive for improvement and excellence in education.

Meeting the foundational needs of our children is critical to student learning and development. The Brandon Valley School District operates a school kitchen, offering breakfast and lunch, in each of our school buildings. The eight kitchens serve over 4,000 meals per day to our students.

Research demonstrates that school nutrition programs positively affect student learning, benefit student health through improved dietary intake, and reduce food insecurity for children receiving free or reduced priced meals. Further, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs clearly demonstrates that the physiological need of food is critical to mental development, learning, and self-actualization. Simply put, hungry kids cannot learn.

It takes everyone within our organization to promote student learning and our Child Nutrition Services Staff play a vital role in student success. They are a group to be proud of! A special thank you to Director Kruse and our Child Nutrition Staff for their work and commitment to excellence in the area of food service. Their daily efforts fuel classroom success.

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend conferences and be actively engaged in your child’s education. Additional participation strategies parents and guardians can utilize to create a home environment that encourages learning may include:

No matter the strategies utilized, communicating the importance education to our children is essential. Together, we promote an outstanding educational experience for our children.

Digital Citizenship is an extremely important topic as technology and social media have become mainstays within our society. Over the last decade, we have seen the explosion of technology use. Things have changed and continually change in our digital world. The evolving social media applications create an environment where it is critical for our children to have an adult continually engaged in conversation about the importance of digital citizenship.

As online dangers to kids continually change, it is near impossible to develop specific safety messages for all the inappropriate apps and games our children may be exposed to. However, parents and guardians can support digital citizenship and on-line safety to keep their children safe. As a school district, we utilize a wide variety of approaches to teach our students about appropriate technology usage and digital citizenship. Together, we can promote student safety, quality digital citizenship and appropriate technology use.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences offer parents and guardians an opportunity to engage in critical conversation with teachers about their child’s educational programming. A child with an engaged adult in their academics is more likely to read at grade level, have appropriate school behavior, and graduate from high school. Your active participation in your child’s education is a key to their success.

The Brandon Valley School District will be hosting Parent-Teacher Conferences from 3:30-9:30 p.m. on the following dates:

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend conferences and be actively engaged in your child’s education. Attend – Engage – Discuss. Attend conferences. Engage with your child’s teacher(s). Discuss what was shared at conferences with your child. Meaningful engagement and follow-up has the power to propel a child to new levels of academic success.

Communicating and reinforcing the importance of an education to our children is essential. Together, we promote an outstanding educational experience for our children.

In a child’s academic life – Every School Day Counts. September is Attendance Awareness Month and to be an “Active Learner” students must have consistent and regular attendance. The benefits of great attendance extend far past a child’s current year of schooling.

Research studies demonstrate the strong relationship between student attendance and student achievement. Chronic absenteeism, defined as 2 school days per month or 18 days for the year, has been directly correlated to deficiency in student reading. Specifically, Kindergarten and 1^st grade students who are chronically absent are much less likely to read proficiently by the end of 3^rd grade. This finding holds significant value because 3^rd grade reading proficiency is a strong indicator of a student being a grade-level reader throughout their entire academic career.

Additional research findings demonstrate a non-proficient 3^rd grade reader is four times more likely to drop out of high school. While further examining the importance of attendance, a recent study found that 9^th grade attendance was significantly correlated to high school graduation.

To make it as simple as possible, school attendance at every age matters. Every school day counts. Making school attendance a priority today will positively impact your child tomorrow. Thank you for making school attendance a priority!

We are off and running. Overall, we have had a smooth start to the school year and our students and staff are settling into daily school routines. Student enrollment continues to grow in Brandon Valley and emphasizes our need to maintain a proactive approach to managing student growth. The long-range vision of our school district is outlined in BV VISION 2040. It outlines how Brandon Valley will manage student growth for the next twenty years.

Our most recent Facility Review Committee Report and BV VISION 2040 are available on our district website and provide a wealth of information on short and long-range facility plans within the Brandon Valley School District. Currently, a major facility project at Brandon Valley High School is underway. Priorities within the project include:

Working to maximize land usage, upgrade the east facility face, and minimize the impact to parking space, the BVHS Addition is being located on the east side of the existing building. Construction will occur during the 2022-2023 school year. The building addition will be available next school year for occupancy in the Fall of 2023. We continually work to manage our financial resources effectively and efficiently, so it is important to note that cash from Capital Outlay reserves is being utilized to fund the construction of the BVHS Addition project. An informational website outlining the project and operational impacts to the current school year is available on on-line.

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! Excitement is in the air, and we are thrilled to have our Lynx back learning in our classrooms! For the most up to date information for school news and activities, patrons should monitor our school websites.

Effective communications with the parents and guardians of the Brandon Valley School District requires that we maintain accurate and up-to-date household contact information. In addition to contact information, the Skyward Family Access Update also includes the various parent permissions that are required annually. We are asking all parents and guardians to complete the Skyward Family Access Update prior to Friday, September 9. We appreciate your timely cooperation and completion of this important task.

We greatly appreciate our parents and guardians understanding and patience as we navigate the road construction season and start of school. School zones are high traffic areas, especially during the a.m. drop-off and p.m. pick-up. If traveling to BVHS, please review the BVHS Traffic Flow, Parking, and Bus Loop informational video located on the BVHS Classroom Addition website.

For our children’s safety, please slow-down, take your time, and observe all traffic laws and signage. It is critical that motorists are attentive and exercise extreme caution when in school zones. In addition, a special thank you to the Brandon Police Department for their strong presence and patrol of our school zones during a.m. drop-off and p.m. pick-up. Our law enforcement’s presence and assistance in our efforts to keep students safe is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping keep our kids safe. Together, we promote student safety.

The first day of school for children in the Brandon Valley School District is August 24. As the start of school is upon us, excitement is in the air, and we are thrilled to have our Lynx back in the classroom! For the most up to date information for school news and activities, patrons should monitor our district’s website.

The Brandon Valley School District continues to utilize our district-wide character program “The Lynx Way” to promote positive student behaviors and instill the fundamental traits we want in all students. Creating consistency and common language throughout our schools supports positive behavior intervention systems and promotes easier transitions between school buildings. We encourage all parents, guardians, and patrons to utilize the common language and engage with our kids on the importance of being respectful, responsible, safe, kind, and active learners.

If your child is riding the school bus, please talk with them about bus riding etiquette and appropriate behavior. When the bus approaches the bus stop, stay back, and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop. Once onboard, students are to remain seated at all times and conduct themselves in an orderly fashion. Appropriate behavior on the bus is critical to student safety.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping keep our kids safe. Together, we promote student safety.

Effective communications with families of the Brandon Valley School District requires that we maintain accurate and up-to-date household contact information. In addition to contact information, the Skyward Family Access Update also includes the various parent permissions that are required annually. We are asking all parents and guardians to complete the Skyward Family Access Update as soon as possible. We appreciate your timely cooperation and completion of this important task.

There is a tremendous amount of infrastructure construction currently in progress within the Brandon Valley School District. While these types of improvement projects are positive and signs of growth and improvement, they can cause travel delays and traffic congestion during morning and evening commutes. Further, road construction projects and closures are continually changing and may have an impact school bus timing. We greatly appreciate our parents and guardians understanding and patience as we navigate the road construction season and start of the 2022 school year.

Compounding the challenges associated with road construction, school zones in general are high traffic areas, especially during the a.m. drop-off and p.m. pick-up. For our children’s safety, please slow-down, take your time, and observe all traffic laws and signage.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping keep our kids safe. Together, we promote student safety.

As summer break is winding down, I cannot help but be impressed at the quantity and quality of work done by our Custodial, Building & Grounds, and Maintenance Staff. In preparation for the coming school year, these valued individuals have maintained, prepped, and cleaned the over one million square feet of school buildings and grounds within the Brandon Valley School District. Their critical role makes providing a great education possible. Great work and thank you to all our Custodial, Building & Grounds, and Maintenance Staff!

The bus pass purchase and ridership notification deadline has come and gone. I want to extend a GIANT THANK YOU to all the families that met the cutoff date. Your timely cooperation was critically important to our planning and preparation for the upcoming school year. With bus passes purchased, the start of school is right around the corner, and it is important to engage our kids in conversations about traveling safely to school.

As families begin to prepare for the coming school year, it is important to engage our kids in the stranger-danger conversation. Engaging our children on the topic is a proactive measure and supports your child’s safe commute to and from school. Kids need to be aware and prepared for their school commute. Together, we promote student safety.

With the school year approaching, a wide variety of fall extracurricular activities are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. I would strongly encourage all students to get involved in an activity. Participating in an extracurricular activity has tremendous benefits. Research studies have demonstrated that students involved in extracurricular activities have higher rates of academic achievement and are more likely to graduate from high school. In addition to the academic benefits, extracurricular activities teach valuable life lessons such as commitment, teamwork, leadership, and the acceptance of a role. Encourage a child to participate in an extracurricular activity. Activities are a critical component of providing a well-rounded education.

Last call for bus pass purchases and ridership notification! The deadline for purchasing a bus pass or notifying the Transportation Department of ridership is Friday, July 29. Students whose passes are purchased, or ridership confirmed after the deadline will be eligible for transportation no earlier than Monday, October 3.

Safely, efficiently, and effectively transporting nearly 2,000 students requires substantial planning. We greatly appreciate our families’ timely cooperation with the purchase of bus passes and ridership notification.

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications for the 2022-23 school year are open and available for submission. If a family believes they meet the income eligibility criteria to qualify for this benefit, they must complete the application online. Applications are available through Family Access on Skyward. Please note, Free and Reduced Applications for school meals are based on income eligibility. The Free and Reduced Application must be completed to determine eligibility for free school meals.

In addition to the Free and Reduced Application, the bus pass purchase and ridership notification is another critical process for families to complete in a timely manner. All individuals that use school transportation in the Fall must contact the Transportation Department to be placed on the ridership roster. This includes families that are not required to purchase bus passes.

There will be Open House events at the Transportation Department from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 and Friday, July 29.

The deadline for purchasing a bus pass or notifying the Transportation Department of ridership is Friday, July 29. Students whose passes are purchased, or ridership confirmed after the deadline will be eligible for transportation no earlier than Monday, October 3.

We greatly appreciate our families’ timely cooperation with the completion of the Free and Reduced Lunch Applications and the purchase of bus passes and ridership notification.

With the 4^th of July gone, the start of another school year is quickly approaching. However, it is not too late for students to meet our summer reading goal. Like all goals - If you put it off until tomorrow, it will never come.

The Brandon Valley School District has partnered with Siouxland Library and Pizza Ranch of Brandon to make our Lynx Summer Reading Program possible. Students that meet their goal are eligible for various prizes, including a free kids Pizza Ranch buffet or small pizza. I want to send a giant shout-out to all our Lynx that have already met their summer reading goal. Great job – Keep reading the rest of the summer!

With the start of the school year on the horizon it is critical that all individuals that use school transportation in the Fall contact the Transportation Department to be placed on the ridership roster. There will be Transportation Open Houses held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on July 11, July 21, and July 29.

The deadline for purchasing a bus pass or notifying the Transportation Department of ridership is Friday, July 29. Students whose passes are purchased, or ridership confirmed after the deadline will be eligible for transportation no earlier than Monday, October 3, 2022.

ALL individuals that use school transportation in the Fall must contact the Transportation Department to be placed on the ridership roster. This includes families that are not required to purchase bus passes. Bus Pass purchase information will be made available July 5. Bus passes will be available for purchase from July 5-29. Bus passes will no longer be available by the Semester. Bus passes will be sold on an annual or “yearly” basis.

A one-time annual fee $150 per student, per year, with a family maximum of $350 per year.

A one-time annual fee of $300 per student, per year. There is no family maximum applicable to the out-of-district open enrolled transportation fee.

Brandon Valley Transportation Department
812 E. Redwood BLVD
Brandon, SD 57005
605-582-3514

We greatly appreciate the timely cooperation from our families regarding the purchase of bus passes and ridership notification.

As hard as it is to believe, a month of Summer Break has flown by in the blink of an eye. Make leisure reading a component of your child’s summer routine to help ensure they do not incur summer learning loss and catch a ride down the “summer slide”!

Summer reading matters and a few key tips for successful summer reading include:

I want to extend a special thank you to Brandon Valley Board of Education member Dr. Gregg Talcott for his service over the last three years. Dr. Talcott has played a valuable role at the board and committee level within the Brandon Valley School District. The children of our school district have benefitted from his work, especially in the areas of student safety, buildings and grounds, and student activities. Thank you, Gregg, for all that you have done.

On a special note, 2022-23 Bus Pass Sales will begin after the 4^th of July holiday. In addition, our FY23 Budget Hearing and Annual Organizational Meeting will be held on Monday, July 18, 2022. The budget hearing will be held at 6:00 p.m. with the board of education meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m.

Construction on the BVHS Classroom Addition Project is off and running. The construction project will continue through the 2022-23 school year with an opening date scheduled for the Fall of 2023. A BVHS Addition Classroom Project informational website is available on the High School webpage and provides relevant information about the project, timeline, and summer facility access. Along with the substantial construction project underway at the high school, we have many smaller building maintenance projects taking place this summer.

Please, stay out of construction areas and obey all safety signage. We appreciate your attention to these safety precautions.

In addition to our immediate facility improvements, the long-range vision of our school district facilities is outlined in BV VISION 2040. It defines how Brandon Valley will manage student growth for the next two decades. The Facility Review Committee Report and BV VISION 2040 are available on our district website and provide a wealth of information on short and long-range facility plans within the Brandon Valley School District.

With our growth and the continuation of strong academics – Our Future Is Bright!

As a school district, we utilize summer to deep-clean facilities, perform building maintenance, conduct upgrades, and continue working through construction projects. I would like to thank our Custodial, Grounds and Maintenance Staff for their valuable work during the summer break. They perform the necessary summer work that prepares facilities for the up-coming school year and provides our students with quality learning environments that result in success.

We have a few substantial projects scheduled for the coming months. Construction on the BVHS Addition project is beginning and will continue through the 2022-23 school year with an opening date scheduled for the Fall of 2023. A BVHS Addition Project informational website is available on the High School webpage and provides relevant information about the project, timeline, and summer facility access. In addition, Fred Assam Elementary carpet will be replaced, and other buildings will receive various upgrades. Along with those major projects, we will have many smaller building maintenance projects taking place this summer. Please, stay out of construction areas and obey all safety signage. We appreciate your attention to these safety precautions.

As summer break gets underway, do not forget to head to the library and find a great book! The “summer slide” for students can be avoided through leisure reading. The Kids and Family Reading Report found that 92% of kids say they are more likely to finish a book they pick out themselves. Brandon Valley students reaching their summer reading goal are eligible for a Brandon Pizza Ranch gift card, in addition to the Siouxland Library Summer Reading Program prizes.