Week of February3, 2025

We are excited to share some incredible news about our students’ progress in this year’s MAP Growth assessments! At Winyan Wakan Owayawa, we emphasize growth—helping every student move forward from where they started—rather than focusing solely on proficiency, which measures whether students meet a fixed benchmark. This approach aligns with our belief that learning is a journey, and every step forward is a victory.

MAPS Testing Results:

🔬 Science: 60% of our students grades 3rd-8th showed growth | 55% met projected growth

📖 Reading: 65% of our students K-8 showed growth | 56% met projected growth

➕ Math: 72% of our students K-8 showed growth | 61.5% met projected growth

Does this Mean My Child is at Grade Level?

Right now, our focus is on growth—helping each student strengthen their skills and make steady progress from where they started. Think of learning like climbing a mountain: every step forward matters, even if the summit isn’t reached right away.

Grade-level proficiency is an important long-term goal, but it’s not the only measure of success. Research shows that when students experience consistent growth, they gain the confidence and skills they need to eventually reach proficiency. Our students are making meaningful progress, closing learning gaps, and moving forward at a pace that sets them up for future achievement.

Rather than focusing on whether a student has hit a single benchmark, we celebrate their journey—their hard work, their persistence, and their improvement. Growth builds the foundation for success, and that’s what we are prioritizing.

Each week, our upper el students will dedicate at least 30 minutes to independent reading and write a short 2-3 sentence summary of what they’ve read. This practice is designed to strengthen comprehension, build stamina, and develop critical thinking skills—all essential tools for lifelong learning. By reflecting on their reading, students engage more deeply with the text, improving their ability to analyze, summarize, and make connections. Families, we encourage you to support this habit at home by discussing what your child is reading—it’s a great way to foster a love for books and meaningful conversations! 📖✨

We are excited to launch our Build Your Own Library initiative, making books available to students and families to start their own home libraries! Over the years, generous donors have provided a wonderful collection of books, and now we’re sharing them with our community. We’ve put together a list of available titles so students and families can browse and select books to bring home—to keep, read, and enjoy together. Reading at home strengthens literacy skills, builds connections, and nurtures a lifelong love for stories. We invite everyone to take part in this opportunity to grow a personal library and make reading a family tradition! Click on the picture below to access the book inventory!

Nurse Megan is here to help students stay healthy, feel their best, and make smart choices! Over the next three weeks, we’ll focus on preventing headaches, understanding stomachaches, and staying safe online. By taking small steps—like staying hydrated, listening to our bodies, and being mindful of what we share online—we can build a healthier and safer school community together! 💙

Stomachaches can be uncomfortable, but understanding why they happen can help you feel better faster!

Common Causes of Stomachaches:

🍎 Hunger – Your body needs fuel! Try eating a balanced snack.
🚰 Dehydration – Not drinking enough water can cause tummy troubles.
🚽 Bathroom Needs – Sometimes, you just need to go! Listen to your body.
🏃 Too Much Activity – Running around right after eating can upset your stomach.
😟 Worry & Stress – Feeling anxious can affect your stomach too!

What Can You Do?

✅ Check your temperature – If you feel sick, let a teacher or adult know.
✅ Eat a snack – A light, healthy snack can help if you’re hungry.
✅ Drink some water – Staying hydrated can ease discomfort.
✅ Rest & breathe – Take deep breaths or find a quiet space to relax.
✅ Avoid irritating foods – Spicy, greasy, or sugary foods can sometimes make things worse.

💡 Remember: Listening to your body is key! If your stomachache doesn’t go away, talk to a trusted adult. Let’s take small steps to stay healthy together!

We are inviting families from ALL grade levels for our returning Wopila Wednesdays. Based on feedback from families and students, we are opening it up to everyone each week so that parents and families have more opportunities to share in the day with their children. Our first Wopila Wednesday lunch will be on February 5, 2025!

This week, the 8th graders will continue their work with Tunwin Bobbi White. They will spend a half day in retreat building community on Thursday February 6 in Parish Hall.

Mark your calendars! Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on February 13, providing a great opportunity to connect with teachers, discuss your child’s progress, and set goals for the rest of the year. To allow time for teachers to prepare, we will have a 1:00 PM dismissal that day.

During conferences, our Upper Elementary students will be showcasing their Science Fair projects! This is a wonderful chance for families to see the hard work, creativity, and scientific thinking our students have put into their projects. Be sure to stop by and celebrate their efforts!

We encourage all families to attend these important conversations and engage in the learning happening at school. Stay tuned for scheduling details—we look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to begin registration for the 2025-26 school year, and registration packets will be available during Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 13. To maintain our small student-to-teacher ratio and provide the best learning environment, we will have limited enrollment next year. Current students will have first priority. After that, any remaining openings will be offered to new students. We encourage families to pick up their packets during conferences and complete the process early to ensure their child’s enrollment for next year!

Last Friday, our students had an amazing time at the Rapid City Outdoor Learning Campus, exploring the natural world and connecting with the land. They learned about local animal habitats, discovering the unique ecosystems in our area, and even got hands-on experience with casting a fishing line! Some students even had the exciting opportunity to fish for the first time! It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and outdoor fun—building skills and appreciation for the environment in a truly memorable way.

On Thursday, the boys will travel to Pine Ridge to take on the Thorpes. Game starts at 3:30pm!

Click HERE to access the Boys' Basketball Schedule

Reminder about Practice:

• Mondays and Thursdays: 3:30pm - 5:00pm - Players need their own rides!
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 3:30pm - 4:15pm - Players will ride the ASP bus.

Please make sure to get your physcials in to Megan!

If you need to make any changes to your child's transportation, please call the office to inform us. This includes picking up your child instead of having them take the bus. We relay this information to bus drivers to ensure we always know your child's whereabouts. Please make sure to call in any changes by 2:30 p.m., except in cases of extreme emergencies.