Hello, May!

As we turn the page to May, we find ourselves in the home stretch of the school year—a time to reflect, celebrate, and enjoy the ride! The days are longer, the sun is shining brighter, and there’s a special energy in the air as we head toward summer.

Over the past months, we’ve grown together—through challenges, milestones, and moments of joy. From kindness campaigns to creative projects, each of you has contributed to making our school a place where everyone can thrive.

This month, our theme is "Enjoy the Ride." It's a reminder to be present, take it all in, and appreciate the journey we’ve shared. As we wrap up the year, let’s focus on joy, gratitude, and the memories we’re creating along the way.

Here are a few ways to enjoy the ride as we close the school year:

🌟 Celebrate accomplishments—big or small, every effort counts.
🌟 Stay connected—cherish friendships and continue to lift each other up.
🌟 Reflect with gratitude—look back on how far you’ve come and what you’ve learned.
🌟 Have fun—make time to laugh, play, and soak in these final school days.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Let’s finish strong, with full hearts and a spirit of celebration!

Here’s to a joyful May and a fantastic end to the school year!

Warm regards,
Mrs. Pierson

GBR Families,

Thank you for supporting our GBR Fun Run fundraiser! Because of your support, we earned $8,176 to purchase new outdoor/indoor recess supplies and some new makerspace items for students! This is amazing!

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We’re excited to share that this year, your family and student(s) can choose your own prizes through our online reward store, now officially open!

Here’s how to redeem your prizes:

1. Log in to MyBooster.com and check your family’s total point balance at the top of your dashboard.

2. Click “Visit the Reward Store.”

3. Browse the available prizes and add items to your cart, staying within your point balance.

4. Proceed to checkout.

5. All selected prizes will be grouped and sent home with the oldest sibling.

6. Submit your order—you’ll see a confirmation pop-up and receive a confirmation email.

We’ll be processing orders on May 2nd and May 16th. Families who earned points but do not place an order will receive a complimentary keychain. All prizes will be shipped to and distributed from the school.

Thank you again for your amazing support—and enjoy “shopping” for your prizes!

May 5, 2025: 2nd Grade field trip to DeSmet

May 5, 2025: PTA meeting, 6:15pm @ GBR

May 6, 2025: 5th Grade district band concert, 7:00pm @ PAC

May 9, 2025: 5th Grade field trip to Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

May 12, 2025: 5th Grade to Northridge Park

May 14, 2025: Kindergarten field trip to Sioux Falls Washington Pavillion

May 16, 2025: 1V to Your Shop in the morning

May 16, 2025: 5th Grade tours Mitchell Middle School in the afternoon

May 19, 2025: Begindergarten field trip to Dodd Farm

May 19, 2025: 4th Grade field trip to Sioux Falls Air Madness/Picnic

May 19, 2025: 5th Grade recognition, 6:00pm @ PAC

May 20, 2025: 1st Grade to Northridge Park

May 21, 2025: 5D to Monroe Park

May 21, 2025: 2AB & 2KB to Northridge Park

May 22, 2025: 1st Grade field trip to Brookings Children's Museum

May 23, 2025: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Teacher Appreciation Week is from May 5-9, and we’d love your help in celebrating the incredible educators who make GBR such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

A simple act—a thank-you note, a kind email, or a small token of appreciation—can mean the world to a teacher. Let’s show them how much we value their dedication and care.

Thank you for being part of the GBR community and helping us recognize the heart of our school—our teachers!

Attention parents: it is time to complete the annual update for your student(s). Please click below for further information on how to complete this necessary step in your child(ren)'s education!

The Caring Kernel Award is given monthly to teacher nominated students who have shown to go above and beyond. Students are chosen for showing kindness to other at school or within the community, showing true Kernel spirit, having a positive attitude, demonstrating great sportsmanship at school activities, and overcoming hardships in school or at home.

The April 2025 student recipients are:

• BK: Wade M.
• K: Xander L.
• 1: Aria L.
• 2: Matthew L.
• 3: Freyja B.
• 4: Jaslynn G.
• 5: Ethan P.

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Mitchell for sponsoring this honor!

The Attendance Award is given to the class with the BEST attendance each and every month. The April 2025 recipients are 3U and 3/4 B. They tied!

3U won a PJ Day from Mrs. Kapfer!

3/4 B won a Gum Day from Mrs. Kapfer!

Mrs. Budahl and Mrs. Neugebauer were recognized at the MSD Employee Recognition and Retirement Celebration on Wednesday, April 30. As they begin their well-earned retirement, we will miss them deeply and are incredibly grateful for all they have contributed to Gertie Belle Rogers and our students.

If you have a student who has taken any type of medication during the school day, please remember to come to the GBR school office to pick up the medications after school lets out for the Summer. This includes all prescription medications, inhalers, epi-pens, and over the counter medications.

The last day you are able to pick up these up will be Friday, May 30, 2025.

Any medications that are not picked up may be destroyed.

🌞 Ready to make this summer the best one yet? 📚✨
Reading isn’t just for school—it’s for adventure, imagination, and family fun all summer long! Whether you’re diving into a good book outside, setting up a reading challenge, or visiting the library for fresh stories, there are endless ways to keep the pages turning.

Why Read This Summer?

✅ Prevents the "summer slide" and keeps kids learning.
✅ Builds vocabulary and reading fluency.
✅ Sparks imagination and creativity.
✅ Provides quiet time for relaxation and focus.
✅ Makes reading a habit for lifelong learning!
✅ Offers screen-free moments that let kids unplug and unwind.