Good things happening in school

Flandreau Public Schools’ teachers and students are being recognized for their talents and knowledge district wide. School Board members listened to the numerous accomplishments during the past school board meeting.
Information Technology teacher Scott Headrick has been asked to be a part of the Kindergarten through Eighth grade Computer Science Standards Advisory Committee for the State of South Dakota. Headrick is a 2001 graduate of Flandreau High School and went on to Dakota State University in Madison to receive his undergraduate degree in Business Education and master’s in educational technology. He also processes an Educational Specialist Degree in Administration that he earned at the University of Sioux Falls.
This is the first year Headrick has taught within the Flandreau School District. He teaches 3-6 Computer Science, while also being the assistant Tech Coordinator and handling the district’s website and social media accounts. During the spring he will also be one of the Track and Field coaches.
The last 15 years Headrick has spent teaching in the Dell Rapids School District. During his tenure there Headrick taught middle school computer science, high school business, and held the title of District Technology Intergratest for the past six years.
Headrick, along with the help of Elementary Principal Justin Kelm, resurrected second through fourth grade typing classes. Headrick teaches the 3 & 4 class, while Mr. Kelm teaches second grade.
When asked about why the school district progressing in technology is so important Headrick said “Depending what statistics you are looking at there is half a million to a million computer science jobs. We need to fill these openings and we need to give our students the opportunity to learn about computer science and the different careers related to the field.”
Headrick hopes that by being part of the Advisory Committee he can help to provide a standard for schools. Standards that will better equip students for higher education.
Superintendent Rick Weber notified the board that the High School Band has been selected to play at the upcoming State A Girls Basketball Tournament. The band will play during the final rounds of play on Saturday March 9th in Brookings

This will be Director Patrick Weight’s first time directing the High School band at a state athletic event. Weight has been the director at FPS for the last 18 years. Steve Solem would have been the last Director at FPS to have this honor.
Along with the band, vocalists Clara Kelm, Lyla Thompson, Ben Kulm and Abe Streitz were also selected to sing the National Anthem at the Girls State A Basketball Tournament. The quartet has performed at numerous other local events, captivating the audience with their talents. The last time, if ever, vocalists from FPS performed the national anthem during a state athletic event is unknown.
Girls Basketball player Claire Sheppard reached her 2,000-career point during the Fliers game against Lyman. That game was also part of the DWU Culver Classic and Sheppard received the MVP award for the game.
Karissa Nolan will be representing FHS in entering the state Poetry Out Loud competition. Nolan is a senior. She was also the local district winner during the Voice of Democracy essay competition.
Flandreau Elementary School gathered items last week for the Moody County Bread Basket, 833 items were donated. SOUPer bowl week, as it was called, consisted of each grade collecting specific items. These items included canned soups, vegetables, and fruit, as well as dried soup mixes and box dinners.
Sheriff Resource Deputy Gabe Frias gave the board a review of everything he has been doing within the schools. One special “training” Deputy Frias and Sheriff Troy Wellman held was with the Elementary classes last fall. They taught the students about trick or treating safety, like checking their candy and looking both ways when crossing the street.
Currently Deputy Frias is working with Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Police Chief Brian Arnold, on a Bullying and Safe Relationship Course. The course is being taught to fifth through eighth grade and focuses on anti-bullying and establishing safe relationships with proper boundaries.
Deputy Frias did touch on the issue of Truancy. There have been 15 total truancy tickets issued this school year. That number may seem high, but Deputy Frias says he is seeing an improvement. He credited the improvement to better communication between the school and parents about their child’s attendance issues.
Another major issue within the school that does not seem to be improving, is vaping. More details on and that issue and what Deputy Frias, the Moody County Sheriff’s Department, and Moody County Boys and Girls Club are doing to help combat it elsewhere in this week’s Enterprise.
The board heard from Flandreau Athletic Hall of Fame Committee member Stuart Zephier. Zephier asked for the board to waive the $200 rental fee for the High School Gym for the FAHOF Basketball Classic. The board approved to waive the rental fee.
The Tournament was to be held this past Saturday, February 17. Next years’ tournament, which Zephier said will contain more teams, is tentatively scheduled for January 18. The goal for the Classic is to grow and incorporate teams from Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.
The board approved a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of $5,000 dollars from the Community Rewards funds and not taxpayer dollars. The Boys and Girls Club shared that over the past year 400 kids have used their facility and 23,000 free meals & snacks have been given out. It is the Boys and Girls Club hope to provide a safe and positive space for kids when school is closed.
Vicki Braegelmann, Elementary Para; Autumn McDonnel, HS English; and Chad Bushkofsky, HS golf coach will join the FPS staff. Bushkofsky is filling a position that was not filled during the summer of 2023, while McDonnel will fill one of two HS English positions starting next fall.