Newell School District

Congratulations to the Newell Girls Basketball team for receiving the South Dakota Academic Achievement Award. To receive this award the team must have a 3.0 grade point average or high Well done girls

The classwork that students are doing during these buildings-closed days will count toward credit for those courses. The State of SD is allowing schools to present material online, as a way to not have to repeat the semester. The work is required to receive a grade and credit.

Newell School District thanks these groups and I would like to ask people to make sure to give thanks to these organizations: *A huge "Thank You" to @WRCTC . They have provided Internet access to our students who have told us they needed access during our school closure. *Also, a huge "Thank You" @Coxfarmstand in Vale for providing lettuce for our meals. *A third huge "Thank You" to @RealtorsForKids in Spearfish for providing bags of snacks. *And a huge "Thank You" to @FeedingSD for continually providing foods through our BackPack Program and our local Newell Food Pantry. We are blessed to have community partners like them.

Per Governor Noem’s recommendation, Newell School will remain closed until May 3. This closure includes all activities and all buildings, unless authorized by the superintendent. All teachers, grades Pre-K through 12 will continue to host classes online or through paperwork. The homework drop-off/pick-up day will be Monday March 30th from 1-6 p.m. Library books may be returned at this same time. To reduce congestion, we are asking families to follow an alphabetical schedule. Families with last names A-E 1-2 p.m.; F-J 2-3 p.m.; K-M 3-4 p.m.; N-S 4-5 p.m.; T-Z 5-6 p.m. We will have the point of drop-off/pick-up on the south end of Campus (4th street) for everyone to be able to drive up. Staff will be at the site to take the work you are turning in and hand you new homework packets. Parents of high school students, please understand students must complete work assigned during this time to receive credit for their courses.

Per Governor Noem's recommendation, Newell School will remain closed through May 3. We will send a mass phone call out tomorrow (Wednesday) night with details for paperwork dropoff/pickup. That event will be held on the 30th.

Free Meals for Kids: https://5il.co/e4nt

Newell School Board Agenda: https://5il.co/dz13 If you wish to attend, call the school so we can make plans for public.

March 23- March 26 The school offices will be staffed each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for phone calls. The buildings will not be open to the public.

*Newell school buildings will be open Thursday, March 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for students to pick up books, computers, and any personal items they left at school. Also, at that time we are offering to provide laptops for home use to any Newell student. Packets of schoolwork for students without internet access will be available for pick-up. We plan to be available the following Thursday, March 26 for students to bring in completed work, and if necessary, pick up work for the following week. Students with Internet access will be receiving emails from their teachers. Most importantly, High school students need to complete work to receive graduation credit. Also, on Thursday, bags of donated groceries will be available for pick-up for any family who needs supplies while quantity lasts. *Starting next week, March 23rd, breakfast and lunches will be provided to children ages 0-18 years old. If you would like to be on the list to receive meals, please call 456-2393 X1 and leave a short message that includes your child’s name and a phone number you can be reached. We have set distribution points at the Community Center parking lot in Vale from 11:30- 12 (noon), Post office in Nisland from 12:30-1:00 p.m. and on the South side of Newell School (4th St) from 11:45-12:30. • Newell District ACT test is postponed to April 7 • Prom is postponed/no date set • Mother’s Tea is cancelled • Spelling Bee is cancelled

*Per Governor Noem’s recommendation there will be no school through March 29. There will be no access to Newell School District buildings by unauthorized persons. *Newell school buildings will be open Thursday, March 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for students to pick up books, computers, and any personal items they left at school. *Starting next week, March 23rd, breakfast and lunches will be provided to children ages 0-18 years old. If you would like to be on the list to receive meals, please call 456-2393 X1 and leave a short message that includes your child’s name and a phone number you can be reached. We need this information by 9 a.m. March 18. A future message will be sent to let you know where these meals can be picked up. Children must be present at the pick-up point. *In an effort to provide education to our students during this extended closure, we need to know which families have internet access to receive class material. If you do not have internet access, please call 456-2393 x1 and leave a message with your child’s name so we can provide alternate course work. *Students with internet access should start checking their school email for assignments from their teacher.

*Thank you for being understanding during this confusing time. Now, more than ever, we need to be selfless and work together as a whole school community. *After Friday’s sudden announcement about the closing of schools from March 16-20 I am sure many of you have a lot of questions. And so do I! It takes time to weed through the facts and fiction to make the best decisions possible during this constantly changing situation. *Staff are coming in this week. They are helping to clean the entire campus and the buses. The next step is to devise a plan to educate kids if this closure is extended. *This is a list of our cancellations to this date: • No School March 16-19, buildings are closed to the public through March 22 except for the school board meeting. • Senior Trip • FFA Senior Trip • Parent/Teacher Conferences (possibly made up later) • Book Fair March 17 and 19 • Newell CDE March 25 • Theater production March 26th • School Carnival March 26th *Further cancellations are likely. They will be announced as the decisions are made. Please keep checking the school website for changes and updates.

Special Board Meeting Agenda: https://5il.co/dqxj We have not changed anything. We clarified a time and place for the COVID-19 conversation. MPR at 7 PM.

Per the governor’s recommendation Newell school will be closed the week of March 16 through March 20. This closure includes this current weekend and the weekend of March 21-22. No one should be in the buildings. There will be no parent teacher conferences on March 17th or 19th. We do have a school board meeting on March 17 when we will decide other details of the closure. Mrs Dutt

Special School Board Meeting agenda: https://5il.co/do49

MESSAGE FROM MRS. DUTT Your child should have brought home an information sheet from the school. If the letter did not get to you, it is available at this website: https://5il.co/dkzx Currently, the custodial staff are keeping surfaces clean. Bus seats will be wiped down after each morning and afternoon route. In the last months, because of the flu season, the Newell School District staff has already been proactively cleaning surfaces. I know that the idea of COVID-19 can cause concern. I want to provide information and resources to best help parents and families address the concerns at home, as well. Below are links to specific CDC articles relating to COVID-19 talking points and preventative measures. Checklist for Teachers, Parents, and Administrators https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/checklist.html Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html When/if there is a confirmed case in our area, I will work closely with the SD Department of Health and SD Department of Education to make decisions. Again, please check the school website frequently for further updates.

MakerSpace Bridge builder winners! Way to go future Engineers. #NewellIrrigators

Newell School Board March Meeting Agenda: https://5il.co/dhip

CALENDAR CHANGE: Group pictures for High School and Middle School Winter Activities will take place on Thursday, March 12th starting at 8 am in Austin Auditorium. Spring individual pictures will take place on Tuesday, March 17 starting at 10 am.

Congratulations Kayden Steele on scoring her 1000pt in the game tonight vs. Faulkton in the SoDak 16.

“Backstage with a Rodeo Clown” came to Newell to entertain the elementary kids. Duane Reichert and his animals were a hit!