A Note from the Superintendent
Mr. Kelly Koppinger
September 2024
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year. We are officially underway and the air was filled with excitement as the start of school began on Thursday, August 15th.
By now you have received the most important word about how this school year has begun, the casual details given to you by your student at the supper table or in the car on the way home from school. The faculty, staff and administration at South Heart Public School hope these reports have been positive and informative. We hope you feel, as well, that the school year has begun well for your child.
It seems that classes have begun smoothly and that the first couple of days have begun a fine beginning of what should be a very productive school year. The faculty, staff, administration and community have been most cooperative. From the moment I came to South Heart, I believed that the real strength of our system was its faculty, staff and community. That belief is now a conviction.
I am excited about the start of a new school year and I ask that everyone rally behind the South Heart “Eagles” as the new school year begins. We have high expectations for all students. Why? Because we know students will rise to meet our expectations! Students, I encourage you to do your very best at whatever you’re doing, whether it be on the athletic field, court, math class, English class, drama, or just hanging out with your friends. Always strive to be the best person you can be! We are going to be the school all other schools strive to be. This is something we have to earn; but more importantly, it is a choice we have to make. The choice is yours!
Enrollment
For years, school districts in western North Dakota were challenged with declining school enrollments. However, all that changed when the oil boom hit western North Dakota. In some districts, rapid increases in enrollment have strained physical capacity and resources beyond their capacities. Understanding how the numbers of students will change in western North Dakota due to oil and gas activity is extremely important to our school district. In order for us to properly prepare for the future, we must understand what the oil impact will have on our community as well.
Our fall enrollment numbers have increased from 390 students last year to 423 students at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. This is an increase of 33 students or about 8.5%. Ten years ago, our enrollment was 275. This is a 54% increase over the past ten years.
Both our high school and elementary school numbers are up, but our really strong numbers are in our lower elementary. Planning is going to be very appropriate because students are coming and they continue to come despite the recent downturn in the oil industry. This is just more strong evidence of the growth that we experiencing is going to be here long-term.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for September 26th and October 3rd starting at 3:45 P.M. Research has shown that children do better in school when parents talk often with teachers and become involved in the school. There are a number of ways that parents and teachers can communicate with each other, rather than relying on the scheduled parent-teacher conferences. Close communications between parents and teachers can help the student.
Parents who participate in school activities and events will have added opportunities to communicate with teachers during the course of the school year. Becoming involved with school activities gives the teacher and parent the possibility to interact outside the classroom. In addition, the parent also will have input into decisions that may affect their child's education.
Teachers welcome meeting their students' parents. Making an effort to do this will help the teacher better understand you, your child, and how you will support the education of your child in our system. Teachers appreciate knowing that parents are concerned and interested in their child's progress. And, this helps open the lines of communication between student, parents, and the school.
Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to establish better communication between parents and teachers. Since children are different at home and in school, both the parent and the teacher gain in understanding more about the child, therefore, we can be more effective in helping him or her.
Preparing for the conference can make the experience more rewarding. Ask your child if he/she has concerns or anything that he/she would like you to communicate to the teacher, or, better yet ask them to attend the conference with you. After the conference, discuss the conference with your child. Discuss the positive information first. Be specific about the areas where your child is doing well. If there is a problem, put it in the context of all the positive aspects of your child's functioning in school. Tell the child that you and the teacher have worked out a plan to help them improve. Also, seek your child's input.
After you, the teacher and your child have devised a plan, it is important for the student, parent and teacher to confer again after a reasonable amount of time to measure progress. Parents must keep in mind that changes do not occur overnight. Parents should make it clear to the child that doing well in school is a family value and that the teacher and parents are working together to help the child succeed in school.
Your partnership is vital in your child’s success. We look forward to seeing all of you at Parent-Teacher conferences on September 26th or October 3rd.
Volunteers
Another good investment in your child's education is to volunteer. Depending upon a parent's availability, interests, and the needs of the school, the opportunities are endless. Some suggestions include: lunchroom monitor, tutoring, library aid, classroom speaker on a specific topic of interest, playground supervisor, chaperones, and concession worker at school events. Parents should take stock of their skills and interests to volunteer. School personnel may not know what parents want to do as a volunteer or what their skill sets may be, however we would appreciate any help you can offer as a volunteer.
The newly formed South Heart Booster Club is looking for volunteers to help out this upcoming school year. If you are interested in volunteering and helping the Booster Club out, please contact Michelle Wolfe at michellekaewolfe@gmail.com.
Notice Of Policy On Opting Out Of Assessments
School Board Policy GCE and GCE-E
The South Heart School Board has adopted the above-named policies on opting out of state and federal assessments, which is based on requirements in law. The necessary form that must be completed to opt out of state and federal assessments can be found on our school website at this link: Opt-Out Form
Note: If you choose to opt out of state and federal assessments, this form must be completed every year.
Directory Information
School Board Policy FGA
Per this policy, the District may disclose directory information without parental/eligible student consent if the District has given parents/eligible students a reasonable amount of time to opt-out of directory information release.
The Board approves release of directory information as follows:
a. Publication on the district’s website
b. To board-approved vendors for purposes of sale of school-related items such as, but not limited to, yearbooks, school pictures, graduation items, district apparel, and book orders
c. To military and college recruiters in accordance with applicable laws (NDCC 15.1-07-25.1 and 20 U.S.C. 7908)
d. To official district newspaper for purposes of recognizing student accomplishments and coverage of extracurricular events
e. To school-affiliated groups for purposes of communicating and fundraising
f. To school-sponsored student publications including, but not limited to, newspapers and yearbooks
g. When the Board receives and approves a directory information release request; directory information shall only be released and used for purposes specified in the release request and the Superintendent shall add approved requestors to the district’s master list of individuals and entities having access to student information. The Board shall develop criteria in regulations for approving and denying these requests.
If you do NOT want directory information released to outside agencies for the school year, please complete and return School Board Policy FGA-E and return to the school office asap.
Parent Pick-Off & Drop Off Location:
1. EAST SIDE OF SCHOOL: Student drop off – pick up for parents that transport students to and from school each day is located in the parking lot on the east side of the school. Please progress through the parking lot in a counterclockwise position when dropping off or picking up students.
2. WEST SIDE OF SCHOOL: The west side of the school is reserved for route buses only and staff parking. The west side of the school on 4th Street West is reserved for bus parking only from 7:45- 8:30 am and 2:45 – 3:30 pm. Parents: Please do not park in this area during these times.
Thank You
At this time, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome I have received since joining the South Heart Public School system. Your kindness and support have made my transition incredibly smooth, and I truly appreciate everyone who has made this happen.
I look forward to getting to know all of you better and contributing to our collective success. Thank you once again for making me feel at home!