Junior Kindergarten is new to Cleveland this year! With a mix of academics and play based enrichment activities, students are gaining independence and skills that will better prepare them for Kindergarten!
REMINDER: Picture Retakes are on Wednesday, October 22nd.
This morning, Cleveland and Horace Mann teachers gathered for Professional Learning.
From Jon Gordon's book, The 7 Great Commitments of a Great Team, we focused on Commitment 4: Commit to Getting Better.
We used the PLC+ experiences we've had with Questions 1, 2 and 3 and spent our time on Question 4: What did we learn today?
We closed out our morning with a circle identifying what we learned and how it will impact change.
Congratulations to our Monthly Class Attendance Winners in September!
Mrs. Whealy's class (201) was here 96.62% of the month.
Mrs. Marnach's class (402) was here 96.68% of the month.
Each class celebrated by receiving the Traveling Attendance Trophy filled with a treat!
WAY TO GO CUBS!!
#attendancematters
The Community Learning Center (CLC) program launched in the 2023–24 school year and offers:
📍 After School Care - 🕕 Runs from school dismissal until 6:00 PM
Offered at all elementary schools except Horace Mann, and now at 3 middle schools:
Ben Reifel
Whittier
George McGovern
📍 Summer Programming
Also available for families needing care over summer break!
💰 There is a cost, but scholarships are available.
We also accept Child Care Assistance through the State of South Dakota.
💡 Why Does CLC Matter?
Out-of-school time programs make a real impact on students and families.
✅ For Families:
Supports working parents with reliable before/after care
Helps families balance work, life, and school schedules
✅ For Students:
Builds strong relationships with staff and peers
Provides homework help and enrichment activities
Encourages skill development in a safe, structured space
📊 What the Data Says
Students who participate in quality out-of-school programs show improved attendance, academic performance, and social-emotional development
The positive impact is especially strong for students from low- to moderately low-income households
CLC supports key SFSD goals:
✔️ Positive academic outcomes
✔️ Increased school attendance
✔️ Higher graduation rates
✔️ College & career readiness
✔️ Adult achievement
🔍 Preliminary data shows the following for CLC-enrolled students:
✔️ Increased school day attendance
✔️ Improved academic scores
🙌 How You Can Help
We’re doing everything we can to reach families — including outreach via Thrillshare, and hosting CLC tables at school events (like conferences, movie nights, Bingo nights, etc.). You may hear from CLC staff requesting permission to participate—thank you for supporting these efforts!
Our Connections Coordinators are also connecting with students during the school day to spread awareness.
But we know some families may still miss the opportunity without your help.
👀 Do You Know a Student Who Could Benefit?
Think of a student who might benefit from…
Better attendance?
Extra academic support?
Positive peer and adult relationships?
A safe, fun, and enriching space after school?
📧 Email us their name(s):
communitylearningcenter.sfsd@k12.sd.us
Our Enrollment Team will take it from there! If we have room in the program at your school, we will offer an enrollment spot and guide the family through the enrollment process. If we do not, we will offer a waitlisted spot and will reach out to families when a spot becomes available.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Your role is crucial in helping us connect students to meaningful opportunities that support their growth, success, and well-being.
Congratulations to our first Cubs Count Winners. These students were at school every day and on time last week. #attendancematters
This morning, Cleveland Elementary hosted a special event—a press conference that will be featured on local news stations this evening and aired on KLRN in the near future. The purpose of the event was to announce that Cleveland is one of three elementary schools in Sioux Falls selected to receive a dedicated mentoring recruiter, with the goal of increasing the number of mentors available to support our students.
This initiative originated when community partners approached the Sioux Falls School District with a proposal to enhance school-based mentoring through targeted recruitment efforts. With generous support from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation and other local donors, the program will be implemented over the next two years.
We are honored to have been chosen as one of the participating schools and are excited about the opportunities this initiative will bring to our students and community.
We are excited to support The Barrel House's all-day Hungry Hearts Fundraiser benefiting the Angel Fund, which helps ensure every student in the Sioux Falls School District has access to a meal. Come out and enjoy some great food, fun activities (dunk tanks, bouncy house, axe throwing, and more!), and make a difference for our students! Hope to see you there!
📍The Barrel House 4701 E. 54th Street | 12-10 pm
Find more details and the full schedule of activities here! ---> https://www.facebook.com/share/175iWYEjfD/
Join us this Saturday at the Barrel House for a Hungry Hearts fundraiser!
📅 Saturday, August 23rd
📍 The Barrel House – 4701 E 54th St, Sioux Falls, SD
🕛 12 PM – 10 PM
Let’s come together for a day of community, fun, food, and fundraising in support of Hungry Hearts! ❤️
Activities throughout the day include:
🪓 Axe Throwing (12–3 PM)
🎯 Dunk Tank, Bouncy House, Face Painting, Kid’s Games (12–7 PM)
🎨 People's Choice Rib Contest (Starts at 12 PM – coins available for $20)
🛍 Silent Auction (Closes at 7 PM)
🦙 Zoo Mobile with live animals (1–3 PM)
🔥 Live Auction Closes (6:30 PM)
💍 Dream Wedding Winner Announced (7 PM)
Food (Starting at 12 PM):
🍔 Burgers, Brats & Sides (Free Will Donation – matched up to $20,000!)
🍧 Snow Cones & Cotton Candy (12–5 PM)
Live Music Lineup:
🎧 12–2 PM: DJ Dontai
🎸 2–4 PM: Simply Travis & Dan
🎤 4–6 PM: Connie McColl
🥁 7–10 PM: Funk Fuh Fried
❤️ 100% of the proceeds go to support local families in need through Hungry Hearts.
Bring your friends, your appetite, and your giving heart. Let’s make a difference together!
Teachers spent time planning for math by using the Instructional Framework and the South Dakota Standards to guide their work. Each team worked on their Collective Commitments as a grade level which will be revisited weekly at Collaboration throughout the school year.
School themed mocktails were served and the day ended with a 'Live Auction' in the Cleveland Gym. Jaci Peska, principal at Horace Mann graced us with her auctioneering skills (she crushed it) and teachers bid on gift baskets, with ROAR and SOAR slips they earned during their planning time.
Again, thank you to Hillcrest, Linwood and an All-Star district employee for donating amazing baskets for this event.
Teachers have been back on contract since last Thursday. What have they been up to?
On Thursday, all staff were invited to a 'Golden Globe Gala' organized by Cleveland administration along with church partners, Brian Stroh from Hillcrest and Marc Sundstrom from Linwood.
Our theme this year is, "Together, We Leave It Better!"
This event definitely showcased this theme. We could not have made it what we envisioned without teaming together. The time began with a 'Social 1/2 hour' where staff enjoyed a Charcuterie Board and Punch. Lunch was catered in from Honeybaked Ham Company with chips and mini desserts. The remainder of the time was spent sharing the vision and expectations for working together to make Cleveland the best place for our students to learn and grow.
We ended our time together viewing a slide show of summer pictures sent in from staff, sharing how they spent their time with family and friends. This is a tradition that everyone looks forward to.
