School news you’ll love: Inspirational students, ‘Screen Time Challenge’

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].

Love this story from Fred Assam Elementary. A woman attending a track meet at Howard Wood Field to watch her grandson went to use the restroom, and the lights were out. Claudia, a fourth grader, used her cellphone to help the woman see in the dark. Little did Claudia know the woman was a retired principal who was so impressed she called Fred Assam to make sure the school knew. Go Claudia!

Students at R.F. Pettigrew Elementary collected 331 hygiene kits as a gift to the mobile food pantry. Here’s a great story behind the story: When one student took his own money to a dollar store to buy supplies for the kids, a customer asked what he was doing. When he explained, she gave him $10 to buy more. Love seeing that community-building at work!

Did you know the average teenager spends 44.5 hours per week on his or her cellphone? Washington High School recently launched a unique challenge with a big goal for students and staff to address this in a positive way. The “Screen Time Challenge” set a goal to collectively reduce screen time by 20,000 minutes in one week. Through daily challenges like “Snap Free Monday,” students are encouraged to be active and creative without their phones. The challenge is intended to have students and staff find ways to be active and creative without using their phone. Mayor Paul TenHaken and Scheels will reward the class with the highest percentage of minutes reduced with breakfast pizza. Each grade also will have an individual winner for the student with the highest percentage of minutes reduced.

Congrats to Eugene Field Elementary admin intern Alisha Bell, named the city of Sioux Falls’ latest ‘SiouxperHero’ at a City Council meeting last week. This award is reserved for individuals who go above and beyond for the betterment of the community.  In Bell’s nominating letter, one parent shared that Bell is “every students’ biggest fan,” going on to say: “Alisha inspires her student with a calm and advocating approach to learning by instilling them with the confidence to enjoy learning at their own pace. She’s been known to break down barriers regardless of student background and brings out the student’s very best with a contagious smile.” The parent also shared that Bell has been so inspiring that she decided to go back to school to pursue her dream of teaching.

Behavior facilitators are critical to student success. Get to know Dave Osterquist — a crucial member of the team at George McGovern Middle School.

And finally, Hayward Elementary shows reading is even better when it’s with a fur buddy.