School news of the week: Storm recovery, heroes in wax, McTeacher of the Month

Amazing things happen in our schools every day — if you know where to look! Do you know some school news others would love? Let us know at [email protected].

The Tri-Valley School District banded together in a big way to clean up after storm damage from the May derecho.

“These pictures don’t show everything we are dealing with at the school caused by the storm, but our custodial staff, architects, engineers and roofing company have been second to none,” Superintendent Mike Lodmel wrote.

Thanks to everyone pitching in, they ended up missing minimal class time.

Congratulations to Micah Siegel at Hayward Elementary. She is the McDonald’s McTeacher of the Month and earns $100 for her classroom plus free coffee for a year.

Kids at St. Lambert Elementary got to work out with Mayor Paul TenHaken last week. The mayor taught grades K-5 simple exercises they can do at home and even participated in some races on the playground. The workout was part of a silent auction fundraiser.

Teacher Amy Staples at Oscar Howe Elementary received a $965 Public School Proud Grant from the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation to purchase putt-putt golf obstacles that can be used by students during gym class. She set up the 13 stations, and these third graders loved it.

Ben Reifel Middle School students put on a carnival for Rosa Parks Elementary students as part of their community outreach.

What a fun Field Day! Terry Redlin Elementary headed to Leif Ericson for a day outdoors.

We bet the kids at Eugene Field Elementary always will remember this Camp MI Day, where they added
sessions on a variety of topics, including planting vegetables, planning picnics, science experiments, nature lessons, a variety of craft projects, zoo animals, Cub Scouts, Lakota history, fitness, summer reading and choreographing professional wrestling matches. We’re told the Flagship Pro Wrestling visitors even body-slammed the principal.

Patrick Henry Middle School students shared their Hero in Science Wax Museum presentations last week. Students researched a hero in science and learned about his or her scientific contributions and accomplishments.

And finally, school is all about growing, and Eugene Field Elementary students are doing just that thanks to an ag-related partnership with nearby urban farm Iron Fox.