Students head to All State Chorus
South Dakota All State Chorus is this Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31 in Rapid City South Dakota. Over 1000 students from across the state will come together to prepare for the All-State Chorus Concert at the Rushmore Civic Center. Dr. Kein Meidl from Appelton, Wisconsin is this year’s guest conductor. The Concert is televised live on South Dakota Public Television at 8:00 Mountain Time October 31. Anyone in the world can watch the concert live on the South Dakota Public Broadcasting website. Representing Elkton/Lake Benton at All-State Chorus this year are soprano-Kayla Tingle, alto-Rachel Krogman, tenor-Patrick Remund and bass-Jared Schindler. —Submitted photo.
Rouge and Nielsen present technology in education to TAU chapter
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Deb rouge and Principal Ryan Nielsen gave a technology presentation to the TAU Chapter. Pictured above, Nielsen talks about Smartboards in the classroom. Below: President Joan Pratt presents Nielsen and Rouge with a check for $50 for classroom materials. -Submitted photos.
by Sara Koch
The TAU Chapter DELTA KAPPA GAMMA learned a little more about new technology in the schools during a presentation on October 13.
The group met at the Lake Benton School to view a presentation on technological advances and the Smartboards in the classroom.
Principal Ryan Nielsen, along with teacher Deb Rouge, demonstrated how the Smartboard can be used to enhance learning in the classroom.
At the end of the presentation, the chapter presented Nielsen and Rouge with a check for $50 to be used toward the purchase of new materials for the classroom.
The TAU Chapter is a retired teacher’s organization that meets to promote the profession and remain informed on current education issues.
“The TAU Chapter DELTA KAPPA GAMMA represents the true meaning of lifelong learning. As retired educators, they continue to learn about innovative teaching strategies and technologies. It is great that we were given the opportunity to demonstrate how technology enhances learning,” said Nielsen.
Coloring Contest winners announced
The Elementary students at the Lake Benton School participated in a coloring contest during the craft show held on October 10. Winners are pictured above. Back row, left to right: Marissa Bressler, Grant DeRuyter, Blaine Hefti, Taryn Krog, Levi Markee. Front row: Aubrey Schindler, Brooklyn Nielsen and Madison Nielsen. —Lake Benton News photo by Sara Koch.
Mendro hits 30 point goal in AR
Autumn Mendro, a third grader at Lake Benton Elementary, reached the 30 point level in the Accelerated Reading program. Teachers go over their progress at the end of each week and the kids are recognized when they reach the 30 and 70 point levels. The AR program lets kids choose books on different difficulty levels and earn points for each one. —Lake Benton News photo by Sara Koch.
Woelber hopes to keep levy down for school
Superintendent's Notes by Loy Woelber
Greetings from the Lake Benton School,
I hope by the time you are reading this the rain has stopped for good. It was a great day to be in Lake Benton last Wednesday and I hope everyone had a great weekend. What a great time of year to be from Minnesota with the success that we have with our teams at all levels! There’s nothing like the Vikings and Twins to bring folks from all across the state together.
I believe one thing that administrators and men may have in common is “not to make promises you can’t keep”. I am always a little leery when I hear of one school saying that they are better than another. There are so many factors to take into account and it’s hard to weed through what if’s and the how comes. But I am so pleased to say that after reviewing the recent test scores that our Lake Benton elementary is doing what it promised..being better than it was..being a step above others. High test scores are wonderful but I love being the mouse (or guy with the curly hair and big belly) in the corner that get’s to see what being better really means. I saw smiling teachers that get along, happy kids that feel part of a family, and a building atmosphere that really is second to none for an elementary setting. Next week I will see every teacher in the building with a new laptop! This will make it a lot easier to bring them up to speed with technology and also give them the opportunity to monkey around with some experiments or gather new information from the comfort of their home. I am hopeful that we get a few more Federal dollars to flow through so we can create a laptop lab that can go anywhere in the building. It’s a good feeling to have this kind of technology at our fingertips in Lake Benton.
I believe a couple weeks ago we had approved a preliminary levy that is much lower than last year. I am not a big fan of these general levies because with the exception of the excess levy referendum the general levy gets most of its money from the local taxpayers. An excess levy referendum that voters approve can get half of what’s asked for from the State. That is why we will, at every opportunity try to reduce the general levy and save a little of the local taxpayer’s money. We should have all the kinks worked out of the building project and have it wrapped up by spring. It has been a long road for many folks and I am grateful for folks like Steve Bennett that really took ownership in the process and the board members who went through some nasty times trying to do what they felt was right. It is all behind us now and Lake Benton will continue to make all of you proud with a great school for elementary kids! Thanks for making me and Principal Ryan welcome in this community!
Loy Woelber, Supt.
Trooper Kathy installs new school patrol members
Above: Approximately 16 new fifth and sixth grade students said the pledge with Trooper Kathy to become new members of school patrol on September 30.
Below: Three students tell about their experience in Legionville. From left to right are Trooper Kathy, Hailey Ulrich, Anna Tiedeman and Morgan Carmody. —Lake Benton News photos by Sara Koch.
by Sara Koch
On September 30, Lake Benton fifth and sixth grade students were installed as new school patrol members.
These students are the ones that help younger classmen safely cross the streets after school at busy intersections among other happenings at the school. Trooper Kathy from the Minnesota State Patrol was there to properly induct the new members.
This summer, four sixth graders attended Legionville, a summer camp near Brainard, Minn., to learn a variety of leadership principals. They were Marissa Bressler, Morgan Carmody, Anna Tiedeman and Hailey Ulrich.
“There were many students from Southwest Minnesota that rode the bus to Legionville and approximately 150 in all,” said Kathy.
Students fill out applications and several scholarships and turn them in to members of the American Legion. The members then choose three or four students to send up to Legionville. Other students may also attend if their parents wish to send them for a cost of approximately $225.
Carmody said the best part about her experience were the different classes they attended and swimming. The students were involved in four classes and there was morning and afternoon swim.
Tiedeman said she enjoyed learning about pedestrian safety and proper procedures, how to hold the flags, among other things.
Canoeing was Ulrich’s favorite part of the camp. For many students, it was their first time canoeing and they were even able to participate in a race at the end of the camp.
There was also a first aid class for the students to learn basic techniques and what to do in emergency situations.
All attendees agreed that the food was excellent and they had a great time.
“It’s a great leadership camp that let’s the students make decisions,” said Kathy.
After the students learned about Legionville, Kathy taught them how to go about proper procedures to follow state law about being a school patrol member.
“I want everyone to go through all the commands and get comfortable with the rules,” said Kathy.
Beginning Monday, some fifth and sixth grade students will learn what it takes to be roving captains and on flag patrol, as well as how to teach younger kids to follow basic safety rules.
The three commands are: Attention, Alert and Flags out. Students on flag patrol yell attention, cross out onto the streets, yell alert and hold their position for four seconds, look left, right and the left again, and allow kids to cross the street. Once all of the kids have crossed safely, they shout flags in and walk back to the sidewalk.
Trooper Kathy then led the students in the pledge, installing them as new school patrol members. There were approximately 16 new fifth and sixth graders.
Preschool Screening scheduled for October 1
The Lake Benton School District will be offering Preschool Screening on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 to those children who have reached the age of 3 years by September 1 of this year. the screening will be held in the Lake Benton School Library.
Screening will involve the following areas: Fine and gross motor skills, language development, concepts, height/weight, vision, hearing, as well as a review of your child’s health history and immunization records.
In the spring of 1991, legislation was passed changing Early Childhood Screening. All children entering kindergarten now must present proof of screening and must also show that immunizations have been completed.
If you have not received an information packet regarding this screening, and your son/daughter has reached the age of 3 by September 1 of this year, or is older but has not participated in a previous screening, you may call Deb Rouge or Patti Peterson at the Lake Benton School to register your child. The school telephone number is 368-4235.
Lake Benton Elementary learns about bus safety
Top photo: Students listen to Principal Ryan Nielsen discuss and demonstrate the dos-and-don’ts about behavior while riding the bus.
Bottom photo: Bus driver Gary Serie, along with some of the sixth grade boys help teach the younger kids how to properly exit the bus in case of an emergency. —Lake Benton News photos by Sara
by Sara Koch
Pre-school through sixth grade students at Lake Benton Elementary lined up outside the school to listen about bus safety on September 30.
Principal Ryan Nielsen, along with bus drivers Gary Rosenboom and Gary Serie, gave pointers on proper bus behavior and safety tips while riding the bus.
They touched on not hanging anything out of the windows, not rushing onto the bus, and always making sure the driver can see you while entering or exiting the bus. Students were taught where to line up for the bus and to never attempt to get an object that may have rolled underneath.
Although many of the students do not ride the bus to and from school, they also participated and were taught the dos-and-don’ts about the vehicle. They understood that they will have to ride for other events in the future.
All students had the opportunity to get on, sit and exit the bus in case of an emergency situation.
Other bus drivers that were unable to attend were Brandee Miller and Joe Sudtelgte.
*For Homecoming pictures and events, check out the Photo Page!
Preschoolers learn all about butterflies
Preschool kids at Lake Benton Elementary have had the chance to learn all about butterflies in the last couple of weeks.
The kids originally found the insects as caterpillars on milk weed plants. They watched them as they turned into chrysalis and then finally into butterflies.
With a little help from their teacher, Amanda Drake, the preschoolers let the butterflies go on Tuesday, September 15.
Pictured above, the kids observe one of the butterflies after they let it go. Above, Liza Marr watches as Blake DeVries holds a butterfly in his hand. —Submitted photos.
Turn OFF the TV, turn ON the family time
During the week of September 20-26, the Elkton FCCLA chapter would like to encourage the community to unplug their TVs for National Turn Off the TV Week. In today’s troubled times, worrying about watching too much TV may seem quite trivial. In actuality, it is a major problem of the average American, especially the American child. By the time the average child finishes elementary school, they have witnessed 8,000 gruesome murders on TV shows. Excessive TV watching has also been proven as a factor of childhood obesity and ADD. It also contributes to poor school performance and childhood aggression.
This increase in aggression is not just in children, either. Adults have been influenced by the violence in popular TV programs as well. A study has proven that in every single country, from the USA to China, crime rates more than double within fifteen years of the introduction of TV. Excessive TV watching is also slowly demolishing family bonds. During dinner, nearly 66 percent of American families watch TV instead of talking. Parents, on average, only spend about 30 minutes in meaningful conversation with their child a week.
To try and strengthen family relationships, Elkton FCCLA would like to challenge the community to turn off their TVs entirely this next week or even for a few days. Some easy and inexpensive alternative entertainment ideas include: baking or cooking, playing board or card games, taking a walk, or visiting a nearby relative. The Elkton FCCLA Chapter would also like to encourage a decrease of TV time even after Turn Off the TV Week has concluded. The quality family time and memories made will more than make up for missing Dancing with the Stars.
Submitted By: Emily Vaske, State FCCLA Family Peer Educator
Farm Safety Week: A reminder for everyone to take precautions on rural roads
A message from the Elkton FFA Chapter
Harvest season is here, and busier rural roads and grim outcomes are likely if precautions are not taken.
Due to concerns about collisions and near collisions between farm equipment and motor vehicles, the 2009 National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 20-26, launches a year-long focus on the theme “Rural Roadway Safety: Alert, Aware and Alive.”
“Harvest is one of the busiest times of year for traffic on rural roads, and consequently we see the number of crashes between motor vehicles and farm equipment peak during this time,” said Murray Madsen, associate director for the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health.
According to the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, based in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, there are on average more than 1,100 crashes between farm equipment and motor vehicles annually in the center’s nine-state region of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
“Rural roadway safety is a concern for farmers and their families and should be a concern for anyone else who could potentially share the road with farm equipment. In fact, motor vehicle operators and passengers are the parties most often injured or killed in these collisions,” said Madsen, who also is the chief trauma investigator for the Iowa Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation project.
Madsen urged “caution, courtesy and patience” from all parties. He stressed that farm equipment should be equipped with all the required and recommended lighting and markings in place and in working order. Road lights should be in use day and night. Additionally, motorists should be alert for farm equipment, he said. Farm equipment often stops and makes wide, unexpected turns and may be traveling at a fraction of the speed of a motor vehicle.
“Farmers and motorists together can contribute to a safer harvest season on the nearly 900,000 miles of rural roads that crisscross our center’s nine-state region,” Madsen said.
This message brought to you by the Elkton FFA Chapter hoping everyone has a safe harvest and encourages safe roadway driving.
STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa College of Public Health Office of Communications and External Relations, 4257 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.
The Principal’s Desk
by Principal Ryan Nielsen
It is hard to believe we are witnessing the changing colors of the fall season this early in September. Most children identify the end of summer by the start of the school year, not by the color of the trees. This year the early seasonal changes remind us all summer has come to an end. As we move toward October there are a few calendar changes and programs parents need to be aware of.
Due to a scheduling conflict the district is changing the scheduled in-service days. The in-service days were scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month, but due to some conflicts the dates have been changed. Our monthly in-service days will now be; October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 4, April 8, and May 6. Dismissal time will remain 12:30 for these early dismissals.
Breakfast is served! Each morning a number of students arrive at school a few minutes early to enjoy a nutritious breakfast. Breakfast is an important meal and helps to improve the academic success of students. Research shows that students who eat breakfast increase their achievement level. The breakfast program begins at 7:40 a.m. each day and is a part of the national school lunch program. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunch may eat breakfast at no charge. Applications for the free and reduced program may be picked up in the office.
Last school year the district implemented an automated phone system to contact parents of any unplanned late starts and closings. This system may also be used to distribute other important information to parents, for example the calendar changes. The district continues to work to improve communication between home and school and this is a great tool that helps us achieve this goal. When receiving a phone call from the system it is important to know there may be a pause when you answer it. Please wait a second or two for the recording to play. If you have changed any phone numbers please inform the school at 507-368-4235.
Each fall we anticipate the arrival of homecoming week. This week the students have been participating in homecoming by dressing up each day. On Thursday, September 24 the Elkton-Lake Benton volleyball team will be competing against Deubrook in the Lake Benton gym at 6:30 p.m. On Friday the Elkton-Lake Benton football team looks to beat Dell Rapids St. Mary’s in Elkton at 7 p.m. Please come out and support the athletes as we celebrate homecoming.
If you have any questions in regards to the calendar changes, breakfast program, or notification system please stop by the office or call the school.
Woelber looks to drop tax levy nearly 20 percent
by Sara Koch
The Lake Benton School Board met on Wednesday, September 16 to discuss their proposed tax levy among other pertinent items.
The levy pertains to the referendum that local residents will have to pay in next years taxes for the 2010-2011 school year. Although it no longer has to be published in the paper, board members had to decide a meeting date to amend and finalize the proposed levy. Copies will still have to be put on the county auditor statements as always.
Superintendent Loy Woelber explained that most schools always levy the max. Lake Benton, however, is now in a unique situation since the construction is finally complete and almost all the bills are taken care of.
“The state will match you up to a point on certain things,” said Woelber. “Since we want to put our best foot forward, we need to look for ways we can pair back. Find the [categories] that are just levy.”
Last year, the school received $845,703.53 from local taxpayers for their levy-the amount they proposed. This year, the proposed levy is $702,540.89.
“Remember this is just the proposed levy. We are shooting for a 17-20 percent decrease in the levy from last year,” said Woelber. “I would like to even get us over 20 percent.”
Board members then agreed that the hearing and budget discussion on the levy will be held Wednesday, December 16 at 7 p.m. in the school.
Also a big part of the agenda, Gabe Pooler from the Elkton School came to discuss computer options with the board members.
As of now, all of the computers have Semantic Antivirus installed as their means of virus protection. Pooler believes that a new product, AVG, will do a better job protecting them and it will cost approximately $1087.50 to install on all 75 computers for two years.
“We don’t want to rearrange too much,” said Pooler. “It’s a really good price and it will take minimal effort to get better security.”
In the last couple of meetings, it was also brought up that all teachers should have Microsoft 07 installed on their computers. Many of the computers are getting old, however, and Principal Ryan Nielsen thought it would be a good idea to look into buying new computers instead of spending money to install the program and having to replace the entire computer within the next couple of years. The new computers would also come with Microsoft 07 already built into them.
“Some of the computers have already crashed and teachers are beginning to have to rob from the computer room to get their stuff done,” said Nielsen. He also added that the teachers need good technology to keep everything running smoothly.
Pooler approached board members with an idea of doing something like the Elkton School and getting the Acer Netbooks for all of the teachers.
“There are lots of good things we can do with these,” said Pooler. “It wouldn’t cost much to go completely wireless and the teachers could take these laptops home with them to grade papers, etc.”
Pooler estimated that for 10 computers for the teachers it would cost approximately $5000 plus $2-$3,000 more for program installation and wireless installation.
After a long discussion, board members agreed that it would be a good idea and approved a motion to go forward with the purchase.
In the future, Pooler would also like to work with Lake Benton to transform the computer lab into complete wireless Acer Netbooks, helping create a more efficient mobile laboratory and to help the students adapt better to the changing technology.
“We really appreciate what you’re doing Gabe,” said Woelber. “It’s really nice to have that relationship with the Elkton School.”
Other board members also commented on the progress Pooler has made with the Elkton School and their technology program and are excited to take advantage of that.
Members approved a motion to use part of the REAP grant to pay for the Netbooks. The school is getting $18,000 back as part of the grant.
During Woelber’s report, he stated that the building is looking very nice and that he greatly appreciates how nice the entire facility looks. Steve Bennett is almost finished with some remodeling in the bus garage as well.
Woelber then brought up the idea of bringing in a display case to hold class pictures into the school. After doing a little searching, he found one that would cost approximately $1200 but would hold 60 years worth of photos. The case would be on display for visitors to scan through whenever they entered the building.
“It’s an investment, but the pictures need to be up,” said Woelber. “It’s a neat thing we need to do for the community.”
He would also like to add a small display case for trophies and place it in the same area of the school.
“It would be kind-of our own little mini-history center,” Woelber added.
Next, during the Principal’s Report, Nielsen explained that the Elkton-Lake Benton volleyball game against Deubrook will be played at the elementary school on September 24. The students have been busy working on signs and posters to help support the team when they come over and make them feel welcome. The Lake Benton EDA and PTA have volunteered to work the concessions and taking money throughout the night.
Elementary students will also be able to participate in the Elkton-Lake Benton homecoming week. They will be able to get involved in each of the “dress-up days” as well as attend the pep rally and parade on Friday afternoon.
“We really want to let the elementary be involved with homecoming as well, it’s fun for them,” said Nielsen.
The next school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 7 p.m.