Foster's Focus

Welcome to the 2012 - 2013 School Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:52:00 +0000

WOW! Summer passed by in a 'blink of an eye'. I enjoyed spending my summer days with my grandson, Boeden - who is now 9 months old! He loves to be outside ~ especially helping water plants.

We have 395 students at Fred Assam Elementary so far. It was exciting to see returning faces as well as many new faces in our school family. I'm looking forward to an awesome year! S

Buddy Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Fred Assam Elementary's "Act of Kindness"
Be sure to join us on Saturday, September 10 at Sertoma Park!
Registration begins at 10:00.
Welcome & thank-yous: 10:45.
The walk begins at 11:30.
Food and entertainment: available 10:00 - 1:00.

Registration forms are available on the Assam Anchor. Simply print and bring to the walk.

*BE A BUDDY at the Buddy Walk!
*FAE students ~ $3.00 with adult.
*Turn in $3.00, any donations, and adult signed waiver form at the registration table.
*Go have fun being a BUDDY!

The Buddy Walk is an annual fundraiser for New Directions Down Syndrome Association in Sioux Falls.

Homecoming Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:05:00 +0000

Dress-up days:

Tuesday ~ jersey or neon day

Wednesday ~ hat day

Thursday ~ color day ~ JK & K - blue; 1st grade - red; 2nd grade - orange; 3rd grade - purple; 4th grade - green; 5th grade - yellow.

Friday ~ SPIRIT day! Red & Black!

Fred Assam Elementary ~ Distinguished School

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:25:00 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for all students, staff, and parents of Fred Assam Elementary School as we have just been named one of South Dakota's Distinguished Schools! The South Dakota Recognition Program honors the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for Distinguished School Awards are strong, well-rounded community schools that offer a quality education for all students. "Kudos" to all six attendance centers in the Brandon Valley School District ~ all are 2011 Distinguished Schools!

Distinguished Schools have met adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two consecutive years in both reading and math and show progress in narrowing the achievement gap. AYP is based on scores from the South Dakota State Test of Educational Progress (Dakota STEP) taken by elementary third, fourth, and fifth grade students, middle school students, and high school juniors. The AYP status is a measure of whether a school is in compliance with the federal government's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Dakota STEP test is based on content standards developed by teachers and administrators to test what students need to know.

WEL "GUM" BACK TO SCHOOL!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:52:00 +0000

It was great to see so many students, moms, and dads at Open House! We are excited and ready for an awesome year! 2011 - 2012!

When we left in May, our enrollment at Fred Assam Elementary was 300. Currently, we have 361 students enrolled at our attendance center. Along with many new students, we also have many new staff!

As we begin the 2011 - 2012 school year together, it is important that we continue to focus our efforts and energies on those things that contribute to the well-being, achievement, and success of our children. Collaboration and communication between parents and school is critical for children to excel. Please know that the staff and I welcome you as a partner in your child's education.

I look forward to working with you and your child(ren) as we work toward one common goal: the creation of learning environments that results in success!

Susan Foster ~ proud principal ~ Fred Assam Elementary School

I Need a Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:11:00 +0000

4th & 5th grade students at Fred Assam Elementary presented the music program "I Need A Vacation". Students sang, danced, talked, acted, and performed a dynamic presentation during the afternoon matinee for students and staff and evening event for parents and grandparents.

It was obvious to the audience that these students thoroughly enjoyed putting on this program. Every boy and girl on stage was smiling and involved in the performance. It's really heart-warming to know that we have so many talented students at Fred Assam Elementary! The middle and high school drama departments should really get excited about their future stars.

Students' hard work really paid off during the performance of "I Need A Vacation". As always, Mrs. Hanson had every student well-versed and ready for performance!

QU Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:59:00 +0000

Kindergarten students celebrated the union of letters Q and U during the recent wedding ceremonies. The weddings were complete with the official ceremony joining Q & U together for life in reading and spelling, delicious cake and juice for the reception, followed by the gift opening where all letters were asked to bring gifts that started with q or u. No wedding would be complete without the wedding dance so students grooved to the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance, and the Bunny Hop!

If the brides & grooms look different in these pictures ~ they are! One happy couple for morning kindergarten class and another happy couple for the afternoon class.

I have pictures of all the wedding guests. If you would like one of your son or daughter ~ just let me know! I would be happy to pass along any pictures of this awesome event.

Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:51:00 +0000

The Carnival was held during the Book Fair to help encourage parents and students to come for the Book Fair. There were numerous games to play - all at no charge - so that students could earn stickers to "cash in" at the Book Fair. Prizes were given for all students completing the games at the Carnival.

It took many parent and student volunteers to work the games. And everything was so organized and ready for fun!

Just one more example of how wonderful it is to have a great PTA at Fred Assam Elementary! On behalf of the students & staff ~ "THANK YOU" for your commitment and support of our school. You help us make learning environments that result in success!

Book Fair BOGO sponsored by PTA

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:41:00 +0000

Clifford the Big Red Dog made an appearance during the recent PTA sponsored Book Fair. Ofcourse, he was a favorite for many children attending the Book Fair event.

Students and parents enjoyed shopping at the spring Book Fair. This event was BOGO ~ buy one, get one free! Other than the room being really warm, the book fair was a wonderful success! "Thanks" to the many parent volunteers who helped set up, work, and tear down the Book Fair. I know that the cases were much lighter after the event was over!

It's always fun for the students to browse the Book Fair and look over what's for sale. Most try very hard to spend every last penny before the event is over!

We appreciate the Fred Assam Elementary PTA for sponsoring this event. It's always fun to have our parents come to school to shop for new books!

Just One More Use for Duct Tape . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:34:00 +0000

We've all heard that duct tape can be used for many things! Pictured is 4th grade student Jacob. He totally "blew out" the toe part of his right shoe. (I think he's a pretty good kickball player and uses that right foot to kick the ball!) Instead of letting the two parts flap and perhaps trip while walking, Jacob came to the office looking for help. Between Debbie, Barb, and me ~ we decided to give the duct tape a try. We layered the tape around and around . . . and it's still holding! Perhaps Jacob will make it to the end of the year with this pair of shoes.

DonorsChoose.org ~ amazing items gifted to FAE!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:23:00 +0000

DonorsChoose.org is a non-profit organization that connects teachers to donors. Teachers request funding for items or projects in their classroom using social media. Every "friend" who makes a donation will see their donation doubled by Horace Mann.

Fred Assam Elementary teachers requesting and receiving support at DonorsChoose.org are: 2nd grade teachers ~ Mrs. Brown & Mrs. Sunne; 3rd grade teacher ~ Mrs. Bisbee; 4th grade teachers ~ Mrs. Reiter & Mrs. Scholten; 5th grade teacher ~ Mr. Peters.

Items received include classroom learning center with 6 position head sets; individual CD players with headphones; bean bag chairs; stability balls to use as chairs in the classroom; and insect kit that includes mealworms, butterfly kit, and ant farm laboritory.

Students have been enjoying these new additions to the classrooms. Thank-you to the donors and Horace Mann Insurance who made this all possible!

orchestra solos

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:17:00 +0000

Orchestra students have worked hard this year. They each prepared and performed solos for their spring contest. Students will end the school year with a group performance of all orchestra students district wide on Friday, May 6. District 5th grade band students will also perform the same evening at the PAC in Brandon.

Cure Kids Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:57:00 +0000

THANK-YOU, Fred Assam Elementary, for your support of the Cure Kids Cancer fund raiser. We raised $340 this year by selling locker/fridge magnets and bookmarkers! Your dollars will help to one day "Cure Kids Cancer".

From two families who have lived through it ~ the Ode and Matthies families say THANK YOU!

Sioux Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Even though the day was brisk, I enjoyed a stroll around the Falls last Saturday. No matter where I stood and viewed the water, a mist from the water coated my face. If you look closely at the one picture, you can see the foam fly into the air as the water rushed over the rocks and hit below. It is quite a sight to see the Falls! I hope to find another opportunity to view the Falls as more water continues to flow down stream in the Sioux River.

What an awesome sight right here in Sioux Falls, SD!

Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Six boys from Fred Assam Elementary ~ 3rd grader Grant; 2nd graders Dominick, Kole, Brady, Crosby, and Ethan participated in the Pinewood Derby hosted by Pack 582 at Brandon Elementary on Saturday, March 12. The top three finishers for each pack qualifies to race their car at Scout-O-Rama at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls on Saturday, April 30th. The top finishers in Pack 212 were Ethan in 1st place, Kole in 2nd place, and Dominick in 3rd place. The boys all had a blast and learned a lot about crafting their cars and teamwork!

Ikidarod

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:39:00 +0000

4th & 5th grade students participated in the Ikidarod. Even though the snow was disappearing and being replaced with mud ~ they had a great time in the race.

Dance competition

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:32:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of attending a dance competion last Saturday. These two Fred Assam Elementary students are dancers from Dynamic. Gracyn and Hailey performed their routines in front of many other dancers and spectators! Not only is the dance routine amazing to watch ~ but the costumes, hair styles, and make-up are beautiful, too! Congratulations on your hard work, girls! You are DYNAMIC DANCERS!

Mystery Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:25:00 +0000

The rewards of reading . . . . Mrs. Scholten's fourth grade class had the highest participation rate for the reading challenge. They had "the honor", "the pleasure", "the task" of duct-taping me to the wall! As other students left the gymnasium, they tried to tickle, poke fun at, and laugh heartly as they saw me taped to the wall.

Minute to Win It . . . students!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Students had fun competing in the games for "A Minute to Win It".

Minute to Win It ~ staff

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:01:00 +0000

Competition was in full swing with staff competing in "A Minute to Win It". Numerous fun activities were held during the Literacy Week at Fred Assam Elementary ~ but none more fun than watching the staff compete! Students cheered on their teachers as they raced to finish before the minute was up! Literacy Week included mystery readers, the 100 minutes of reading challenge, guest readers to the classroom, pajama day, twin day, crazy hat day, guest storyteller, crazy socks & shoes day, and a mystery surprise for the class having the greatest percentage of readers! Stay tuned for the unveiling of the mystery surprise!

And the winning duck is . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Students had great fun choosing a duck keyring as they returned their Time for Kids magazine post cards! The company gave away duck keyrings as an incentive for students to fill out and return the booklets. Each day, a "duck of the day" drawing was held and if you had that particular duck, you could come to the office for additional treats. There were 18 different ducks to choose from ~ scientist, cheerleaders, basketball, volleyball, teacher, etc.

GBB ~ LYNX

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Here they are again . . . Felicity, Courtney, and Arianna with their latest basketball trophies!
Way to go, Lady Lynx!

The Cat in the Hat visits Fred Assam Elementary

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Students at Fred Assam Elementary enjoyed a special visitor during our literacy week. The Cat in the Hat read Dr. Seuss books to every grade level and handed out special pencils in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday celebration.!

PTA Reflections ~ Award of Excellence Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Foster) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:40:00 +0000

There were 7 entries in the Reflections Art Contest this year. Fred Assam Elementary once again has a student whose artwork is receiving the South Dakota Award of Excellence! That student is Jenna S!! Jenna's literature entry will now be forwarded on to the National PTA competition. Jenna will be honored and receive her award during the SD PTA Convention on April 2 ~ at the SD Children's Museum in Brookings.
Jenna's mom reports that she wrote her story while hanging out at Dunn Bros. There were a lot of pictures of nature at the time, and she started out drawing and writing about a Wood Duck that was in a photo there.
Congratulations, Jenna! Fred Assam Elementary students and staff are very proud of you!