Tuesday, January 16th 2024-Orange Day

Needing prayer warriors! For those that have not heard Gary Goudy suffered a heart attack on Friday, January 12th. He was transported to the Sioux Falls Heart Hospital where he received medical treatment to lead him down the road to recovery. He will need additional surgeries to repair the left side of his heart in the near future. Gary has followed our school through the many transitions we have encountered, and his longevity and dedicating to our school is one of a kind! 
Thank You parents for your flexibility as we navigate Gary's bus route with many staff coming forward to lend a helping hand.
If you would like to send Gary a greeting - choose Avera Heart Hospital, room 217, Gary Goudy.
https://www.avera.org/patients-visitors/greetings/
We are blessed with the best-Blackhawk Pride!

Both the boys and girls basketball teams are on a roll with the 281 Tournament and are in the semifinals! They will play this evening in Wolsey with the girls talking on #3 Iroquois/Lake Preston at 5:30 6:30The boys will be in action vs. #2 Wolsey/Wessington at 8PM
The bus is leaving SC at 4PM
Catch the games on the Warbird Liveticket at https://warbirds.liveticket.tv/

281 Girls Basketball Tournament brackets
https://5il.co/2bzm9

281 Boys Basketball Tournament brackets
https://5il.co/2bzm2

The Blood Drive has been rescheduled on Wednesday, January 17th from 9:00-12:00 in the HS Gym. NHS members will be in touch to reschedule appointments. 

Eligibility will not start until Thursday, January 25th.

There will be a Student Council meeting during lunch in Mrs. Wilson’s room on January 18th.

The band students will be coming around with an order form for coffee, popcorn and blended nuts. This fundraiser will run from January 16th-January 31st. Here is the order form to get a jump start on your shopping:) Band Fundraising Form
The fundraiser is going toward new band uniforms/equipment and towards upcoming Band trips!  Please see any 5th-12th grade band student for your coffee needs! 

Lunchroom News: 

Follow this link for more information: https://5il.co/24nft. The Food Service Department is excited to offer My School Menus Mobile App as a valuable nutrition resource. You can access the web version by visiting out website at https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/1329.  

*Items on menu's are still subject to change

Extra Curricular
January 20th at Irene Schedule
9:00 Scotland vs Menno
1030 VH vs FAM
12:00 GV vs Chamberlain 
1:30 AH vs Lakota Tech
3:00 AC/DC vs Dakota Valley
4:30 EPJ vs SC Woonsocket
6:00 Freeman vs White River
7:30 Florence-Henry vs Vermillion
9:00 IW vs Platte-Geddes

Added to the schedule-Jan. 25 at Woonsocket vs W. Springs Girls Only

4PM- Girls JH B

5PM- Girls JH A

6:15- JV Girls
7:30- V Girls

A JH girls tourney has been added to the schedule for January 27th at Corsica. A time and location will be announced at a later date.

WSWWW and Sanborn Central wrestling teams will NOT be attending the tournament in Gettysburg tomorrow.

I think we will be going to Parkston next Saturday.   

The post prom meeting had been rescheduled to January 22nd at 7PM between the boys and girls C games.

Jan. 29 JH games at Sanborn Central vs Ethan updated schedule-

15 minute halves- running clock for the girls

6PM- JH Girls B

6:35PM- JH Girls A

7:20PM- JH Boys regular game

The JH games with KWL will be made up on Thursday, Feb. 1st. The girls will start at 6:00  with 2 games and the boys will follow at 7:15.

FFA

FFA Parents,
Here are the dates that I have for the FFA CDE's this year. I am working on not being gone on the same color days. Remind your students that we will be gone all day and that they need to get their school work from their teachers before the day we will be gone. We will leave school around 8:00am and return by 3:15.
CDE -2024
Friday, March 1st – Redfield
Monday, March 11 – Bridgewater-Emery
Thursday, March 21 – Flandreau
Tuesday, March 26 – Scotland (districts 4) Top 4 teams go to state
FFA State – Brookings April 18-20(Thru-Sat)

MS Updates

Week of January 15th
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade

Notes from Ms. Amundson

8^th Grade Career Fair

On Thursday, January 18^th Ms. Amundson and Mrs. Olson-VanWinkle will be taking the 8^th grade class to the Career Fair in Wagner at the Armory. We will be leaving right away at the beginning of the school day (8:15 AM) and will be back by the end of the school day. We will be eating lunch at Subway in Parkston on our way back home, so please ensure that your child has $15 to cover the cost of their lunch. Each student will be able to pick and choose their own meal that day. Please reach out to Ms. Amundson with any questions or concerns.

FAFSA Night 2024 - Senior Parents & Guardians

FAFSA Night 2024 was a success! Thank you to those of you who joined us in person or via Zoom. If you were unable to attend, you can access the FAFSA Night recording via this link: https://bit.ly/MappingYourFuture2425FAFSA

You can also refer back to this video link if you have any questions while filling out the FAFSA.

If you need additional information, please reach out to Mapping Your Future at (800)374-4072. 

Boys State 2024

Ms. Amundson will be speaking with the juniors about the opportunity to apply for and attend Boys State. Boys State is an opportunity that allows students to understand the American system of government, appreciate the responsibilities of citizenship and learn fundamental principles of leadership. This year, Boys State will take place in Aberdeen, SD at Northern State University from May 27-May 31, 2024. They are now accepting applications through May 1st, 2024. You can apply via this link: https://www.southdakotaboysstate.com/boys-state-application/

Our local Artesian and Letcher American Legion Auxiliary's pick the candidates if there is more that one student who would like to attend.

Community 

Referees Needed!

Please contact Raleigh Larson (605-280-3738) if interested in being a referee.  In the past, students have used this opportunity for their community service/volunteer hours. 

Jan 20^th (Sat) - @ Sanborn

3^rd grade game at 9 am

4^th grade game at 10 am

Third grade boys basketball practice and game schedule. 

Friday, January 12^th @ SC 5-6:30

Monday, January 15^th @ Woonsocket-games 

Saturday, January 20^th @ SC-games

Devoted Students

The next two Devoted Students events are planned for January 22nd and February 26th @ 6:00 p.m.  Any 7th -12th grade students are invited to attend. We will meet in Mrs. Rodriguez’s room with supper and a study provided. Please RSVP by letting either of us know, or by sending us a quick message, so we can plan an appropriate amount of food. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there! 🙂

I have had some community members reach out with interests in donating/providing meals for our gatherings. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Mrs. Rodriguez (605-520-4544) or myself (605-770-4520).

• Mrs. Rodriguez and Mrs. Deinert

February 10th join Artesian Fire Department in hosting a cancer benefit for Brad Zobel. Brad is a firefighter and the department secretary and has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver.
Doors open at 4 with a 5:30 supper and auction. The meal will be a whole hog BBQ and a free will donation for Brad hosted by the Fire Department. A engraved Ruger 10-22 and a Henry .22 Magnum Lever Action will be on the gun raffle.

https://5il.co/29pfb

Sophie Kelly and Letcher Junior Post 93 Legion Auxiliary are collecting gently used shoes for Veterans again this year. A collection box is located outside the office.

Upcoming
Wednesday, January 17th
G B-Ball @ Woony
B B-Ball @ SC

Thursday, January 18th
MS Student Council Meeting
G/B B-Ball 281 Finals-Huron Arena
8th Grade Career Fair-Wagner

Friday, January 19th
G/B B-Ball C games @ WS (G at 6:00 B at 7:00)
Girls practice @ Woony
Boys practice @ SC

Saturday, January 20th
Girls b-ball @ Irene Classic
8th boys @ Wagner Tourney
JH B-Ball Girls Tourney @ Kimball
3/4 b-ball girls and boys games @ SC
Wrestling @ Parkston

Sunday, January 21st 
G b-ball @ Woony 4-5:15

Monday, January 22nd-Orange Day
G/B B-Ball C games vs. Hanson @ SC G @ 6 B @ 7
Girls b-ball @ SC
Boys b-ball @ Woony

Tuesday, January 23rd
G/B B-Ball @ Hanson 

Wednesday, January 24th 
G b-ball @ SC
B b-ball @ Woony
Sonshine Club 
WWTS 3:50-5:30

Thursday, January 25th
Eligibility
B/G B-Ball vs. WS @ Woony 4:00 start
Boys B-Ball @ SC

Friday, January 26th
JH G/B B-Ball @ Hitchcock G @ 6 B @ 7
G B-Ball @ SC
B B-Ball @ Woony

Saturday, January 27th
B-Ball @ Irene Classic
Wrestling in Aberdeen
JH girls tourney
3/4 b-ball Raleigh 9:30-11

Monday, January 29th
JH G/B B-Ball vs. Ethan @ SC
G B-Ball @ Woony
B B-Ball @ SC

Tuesday, January 30th
G/B b-ball @ Ethan G C game in the main gym  Boys C Auxiliary gym G/B JV 5 G V6 B V 7:45

Wednesday, January 31st
G B-Ball @ SC
B B-Ball @ Woon
WWTS 3:50-5:30