Ethan School District 17-1

Parents, you may have heard of a new program being offered by the Department of Education. This program will provide free internet service to households in South Dakota that qualify. This program is being offered completely through the state and has nothing to do with the schools themselves. If you would like more information, please visit the following website: https://doe.sd.gov/pressroom/educationonline/2020/10/Page1.html. Thank you, Mr. Hawkins

It's hard to believe that tonight is the finale of our Volleyball regular season schedule. We have been able to mitigate some bumps in the road and our student athletes deserve credit for making choices that have allowed for this season to work as smoothly as it has. With that said, Platte-Geddes requires mask wearing for all spectators in attendance at their athletic events. Please support the girls tonight if you are able and remember to bring your masks, Thank You!

Parents The University of South Dakota’s Department of Dental Hygiene will again be sending their students to our school on Tuesday, November 3rd, and Wednesday, November 4th. Their Preventative Dental Program will provide FREE dental screenings, fluoride varnish treatments, and sealants to children in grades Kindergarten thru 6th grade with their parents’ permission. In addition, they are able to take X-rays for a fee of $27 and clean your child’s teeth for $38. The program is intended to provide care for children who have not seen a dentist in the past 2 years. This visit does not replace your routine visit with a dentist as they will not have a dentist on site. With your permission, your child can be seen during school hours at the school in their portable dental office. Permission slips were sent home last Friday. If you are interested in having your student participate, please fill those permission slips out and send them with your student to school to give to myself or their classroom teacher. If you need another form, please email me and I can get another one sent home. Thank you! Mr. Hawkins

With the changes in food cost we are happy to announce our breakfast numbers have increased!! However, we do ask if your student plans to eat breakfast to have them here in time to eat before the bell rings. Breakfast starts serving when the doors open at 7:45AM. We greatly appreciate it, thanks!

Parents This is a reminder that our Parent-Teacher conferences will be taking place next Tuesday, October 20th from 2:00 – 7:30. We will be dismissing students that day at 1:00. Also, a reminder that our teacher conferences will not be in-person as they will take place using ZOOM this time. We are hoping to get back to face-to-face conferences next spring! When you sign into ZOOM for your conference, please use a recognizable name so our teachers know who they are letting into the meeting. Teachers in grades Pre-K through 4th grade should have already contacted you with your student’s conference times. Teachers in grades 5th through 12th grade will be setting up a schedule of times for their conferences, with each conference lasting 10 minutes. You can find the schedule of times, to reserve your spot, on your student’s google classroom page. Those schedules will also be posted on the school’s webpage. We kindly ask those times be reserved for parents who may have some concerns of their student’s progress in the teacher’s classroom. If you feel comfortable with your student’s progress at this time, we encourage you to send an email to the teacher to find out if they have any concerns on their end. I would also, at this time, like to give a huge “Shout-out” to our Business Manager, Mary Beyer! As she posted earlier today, Ethan was able to provide FREE meals to all of its students for the remainder of the school year. This isn’t something that just happened. Mary put a lot of time and effort into the application process to qualify for this USDA program. Many schools have applied several times for this program, and some of those schools have still not been accepted. Mary was able to put our application together in a short amount of time, and we were accepted immediately! The next time you see Mary, feel free to give her a big “THANK YOU” for all of her efforts for our Ethan students!!!!!! Wishing you good health and reminding you to stay ETHAN STRONG! Mr. Hawkins

Parents and Guardians, Ethan School District’s application for free school breakfast and lunch has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The school district will provide free breakfast and lunch for all students enrolled in the school district. If your student wishes to purchase an extra entrée and/or milk, it will be charged to their account. The program starts NOW and runs until the end of school year or until the federal funding runs out. The school district will credit your child’s account from October 1st to October 14th. The school encourages families to please pay off negative lunch accounts. Virtual and remote learners may sign up to receive meals. We ask parents to please contact Mary Beyer, Business Manager, at 605-227-4211 if you would like to sign up for your virtual or remote learner to receive breakfast and/or lunch. Meals may not be the same entrée as the daily menu. Meals-to-go will be communicated to virtual/remote learners on times available. We will not be serving or offering pickup meals on the days the school is closed. Tim Hawkins Superintendent Ethan School District

Monday breakfast has changed from pancakes to cinnamon rolls.

Thankfully, we were able to reschedule our Madison Volleyball matches to this Saturday. The game has been moved to Madison and the "C" game will begin at 11:00am. There are currently no attendance restrictions for Madison High School home volleyball matches. What that means is that anyone who shows up will be allowed in (with payment.) However, MASKS ARE REQUIRED at all Madison High School indoor events at this time – no one will be able to enter without a mask and must wear the mask for the entirety of the matches. Masks can be purchased for $2 at the door.

Menu for noon meal on Monday, October 12 has been changed to "Cook's Choice."

Just another reminder that Parent-Teacher conferences will not be held this Thursday. Students will be in school all day! Conferences have been moved to Tuesday, October 20th and will not be held in person.

The Ethan FCCLA chapter is selling “DIG PINK” shirts for the volleyball game against Hanson on October 15th. Order Forms are due: October 7th. Please return to Mrs. Hostler

We encourage EVERYONE to fill out the Free & Reduced Application for School Meals! With these hard times this may benefit your family. See news feed for application or e-mail MaryB @ mary.beyer@k12.sd.us for a copy!

You can now view the Daily Bulletin on the Ethan Rustler App!

Check out our Staff Pictures on our website Menu - "Meet the Staff"

All of our Volleyball games this week (B-E, Freeman, and Madison) have been cancelled.

Here are the COVID restrictions for Monday's JV football @Volga No fan/attendance restrictions. Masks are required for everyone. (Fans, parents, coaches, athletes) Athletes do not need to wear them when competing, but are asked wear them when not competing.

In order to attend Friday's football game in Flandreau you have to use a voucher that has been given to our fball players. The voucher must be with you when you pay to get in. Flandreau is limiting attendance at their field.

The Ethan Girls V-Ball team will not be participating in the Pentagon Tourney scheduled for Saturday.

09/22/2020 Dear Parent or Guardian, The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) has informed us this evening that a student in our school has been diagnosed with COVID-19. We are alerting parents to be watchful for children with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 illness during the next 14 days. If your child is identified as being a close contact to the COVID-19 case, the SD-DOH will contact you, as will the school. Symptoms include: • Fever or chills • Headache • Cough • Loss of taste or smell • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Sore throat • Fatigue • Congestion or runny nose • Muscle or body aches • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea The COVID-19 virus is spread from person-to-person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Spread is more likely to occur when people are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes). If your child develops symptoms of any contagious disease, including COVID-19, do not send him/her to school. If a healthcare provider is contacted, follow all directions on care and testing. Precautions to avoid illness: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others • Avoid close contact with people who are sick • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects • Individuals at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, such as older adults or people who have chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease, should take actions to reduce your risk of exposure (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html) For more information on COVID-19, South Dakota’s Information Line can be reach at (800) 997-2880 or visit https://covid.sd.gov/. Sincerely, Mr. Hawkins

NEW and Improved October Menu is available!! Click Dining for daily menu or Click Student Links - Lunch Menu for Full October Menu!