The Explorer

Happy new year, and welcome back! We hope you had time to relax and rest up. Discovery is ready to make 2025 a year filled with success through hard work and dedication by providing students with daily opportunities to grow. The hard work is the responsibility of all of us: administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, and other school staff.

Parent Teacher Conferences are next month on February 3 and February 6. Your child's teacher will send out a link on January 9, 2025, for you to sign-up for a day and time. Conferences are a great opportunity for parents/guardians and teachers to discuss student progress, growth, and concerns. When parents/guardians and teachers work together, children do better in school and at home. Research shows that when a partnership approach between parents/guardians and teachers is evident, children's work habits, attitudes about school, and grades improve.

A few winter reminders:

• Students will have inside recess when the temperature is 0° or below with wind chill.
• Please dress your child appropriately for the weather (hat, gloves, winter coat, snow pants, and winter boots).
• When we do get snow, students without snow pants will not be allowed to play in the snow or on snow piles.

Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and for supporting Discovery Elementary!

Mr. Dan Fischer, Principal

Events can also be found on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064085161299.

• Jan.10: No school for teacher workday.
• Jan.14: PTO Meeting at 6:00 pm in the Discovery library.
• Jan.20: No school in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• Feb.3: No school for teacher inservice.
• Feb.3: Parent Teacher Conferences from 12:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
• Feb.6: Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
• Feb.14: Valentine's Day Classroom Parties at 2:00 pm.
• Feb.17: No school for Presidents' Day Break.
• Feb.18: No school for Presidents' Day Break.

The 2024-25 SFSD Parent Calendar is also attached below.

In the morning, dropping off in the front circle drive should be a quick process. Your student should be ready to exit the vehicle properly dressed and with his/her belongings. Waiting for your student to get ready and gather his/her things holds up the flow of traffic. Parents should remain in their vehicle. If your child is not ready to exit the vehicle and needs your assistance, please park in the parking lot - do not park in the front circle drive.

Students should exit the vehicle so they are stepping onto the sidewalk – not into the flow of traffic. This is a huge safety concern especially if the parking lot is slippery.

Please do not wait to drop your student(s) off directly in front of the main door. We encourage you to have your student(s) exit the vehicle once you are in the circle drive. Waiting to pull up directly in front of the main door slows the flow of traffic.

Please make sure you share this information with anyone who is responsible for dropping off your student(s) in the morning.

• If your child is going to be late, please remember that we order hot lunches by 8:30 am. If we do not hear from you, you will need to bring a cold lunch for your child.

• If your child will not be in school or will be leaving early for an appointment, please notify the office.

• After dismissal, all students must be picked up by 3:00 pm.

Please do not have flowers, balloons, and/or other gifts delivered to the school for students. These items will stay in the office to be picked up at dismissal. Please share this message with family and friends. We appreciate your understanding.

This is a reminder that the door to the office is always locked. There is a doorbell to the right of the office door that has a camera and microphone on it. The doorbell is similar to a home security system (ex. Ring, Blink). Ring the doorbell, stand in front of the camera, and office staff will assist you. Once entering the office, you may or may not have to present a government issued ID, so please bring it with you. Please share this information with anyone who may come to the school on your behalf.

A message from our PTO: Thank you Discovery community for making this year’s Danceathon fundraiser a success. Because of your generous support, over $46,000 was raised for Discovery! From community events, to field trip bussing, to classroom grants supporting curriculum - students’ educational experiences are enhanced by every dollar that is donated. After the Holiday break, we are having popcorn parties for every classroom to celebrate and to thank students.

Need resources and not sure who to call?

Here is the Sioux Falls Mobile Food Distribution schedule.

Email: Daniel.Fischer@k12.sd.us

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Jodi DeHaven

Email: Jodi.DeHaven@k12.sd.us

Location: 1506 South Discovery Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-362-3530 Fax: 605-362-3535