Elementary School

2025 Westside Parade Information

2025 Westside Spirit Week!

Positive Principal Phone Calls this week to celebrate Tayden Brooks, Toshina Bowker, Zayda Biddell, and Amirah Allery. Fourth graders recognized this week as Well Prepared, Always Safe, Value Respect and Eager to Learn learners at Westside. During their years at Westside they have had good attendance and zero office referrals. We are proud of you and your families for who you are each day! Thank you for shining bright! We look forward to sharing our next positive principal phone call post! Permission granted to post photo.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! The information below is the district's communication app to communicate with your child's teacher. School phone, email and scheduled meetings are also ways to communicate. Thank you in advance for taking the time to set up Apptegy Rooms. The communication between a child's teacher and the parent/guardian establishes a strong foundation early in the school year for all children to be Well Prepared, Always Safe, Value Respect and Eager to Learn! https://www.sisseton.k12.sd.us/o/ssd/page/rooms

End of Day Pick Up Procedure at Westside - Thank you School Resource Office Lindsey Zastoupil for your assistance with the visuals and support during drop off and pick up each day. Slow and Sure to all! Thank you in advance for following the crossing guards and staff during drop off and pick up each day.

Fantastic First Day! Our learners are Well Prepared - Always Safe- Value Respect - Eager to Learn The end of the day is at 3:20pm Students will exit the building approximately 3:25 to vehicles in the front. All vehicles in the pick up lane have first priority for pick up. The crosswalk use and any walk up for pick up will have students called after the vehicles in the pick up lane. Thank you all for choosing to be always safe before, during and after school.

Welcome Back! We look forward to meeting you during openhouse August 18 3-4:30pm. School begins Tuesday, August 19 at 8:20am. On the first day classrooms can be visited at 7:50am with parents/guardians. Preschool and Junior Kindergarten children are welcome and encouraged to walk to their class with parents/guardians at 7:45am as a regular day procedure. We look forward to a year of learning together! Read, Write and Achieve!

Join the Sisseton School District for our Back-to-School Activities happening today!
Community Picnic - August 18, 5-7pm, SHS/SMS Lunchroom. Sign up for door prizes sponsored by community businesses.
Westside Elementary Open House - August 18, 3-4:30 pm
Sisseton Middle School Open House - August 18, 4-6 pm
Sisseton High School Freshman Orientation - August 18, 6 pm, PAC

Parents: You can pay for student meals online through your Campus Parent account. You can access your campus parent account online or through the Campus Parent app. Options for recurring payments are available weekly, semi-monthly (1st & 15th of each month), monthly, or when your student has a low balance. There is a $10 minimum online payment.
If you need assistance accessing your parent portal account, please email sissetoncampus@k12.sd.us
Campus Parent Online: https://sissetonsd.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/sisseton.jsp
Free and reduced meal applications are also found online (https://5il.co/1wojy) or available in any building office. You may drop these off at any of the office locations as well.
Families qualifying for Free/Reduced meals must complete and submit an updated 2025-26 Free and Reduced meal application. If a current, valid application is not on file, families are responsible for meal charges incurred until an application is approved and eligibility qualifications are met.
If you have questions about the free/reduced meal application, please call 605-742-2112.

Join the Sisseton School District for our Back-to-School Activities! Community Picnic - August 18, 5-7pm, SHS/SMS Lunchroom
Sign up for door prizes sponsored by community businesses.
Westside Elementary Open House - August 18, 3-4:30 pm
Sisseton Middle School Open House - August 18, 4-6 pm
Sisseton High School Freshman Orientation - August 18, 6 pm, PAC

The SD Department of Health is hosting a Back to School vaccination clinic at Westside Elementary School on Friday, August 8, for incoming kindergarten students or any students needing to catch up on immunizations. Please call 605-910-5548 with any questions or to schedule your child's appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
More information on South Dakota student immunization requirements: https://doh.sd.gov/topics/immunizations-vaccinations/immunizations-required-for-sd-school-entry/

Registration for 2025-26 Kindergarten continues at Sisseton School District Administration Offfice.
Registration for NEW/TRANSFER Students August 4th-August 8th
Begin at Sisseton School District Administration Office prior to visiting the elementary office.
Westside Office will reopen after summer break August 4th
Questions-Email: sissetonelemoffice@k12.sd.us
Phone: (605) 698-7613 ext. 4102

The Volunteer Community Network (VCN) is holding two webinars on Internet Safety for Parents and Communities. This is presented by SAAG Toby Russell, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and South Dakota ICAC Task Force Commissioner. The presentation will cover various aspects of Internet Safety for parents and community members. The presentation will begin by reviewing the history of the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)Task Force and will review statewide statistics regarding the efforts of the South Dakota ICAC Task Force. Next, the presentation will cover various risks that children face online. The remainder of the presentation will focus on various methods and techniques to connect, learn, and engage with your children regarding Internet Safety. In addition, there will be a discussion on parental monitoring applications and other preventative methods for parents. Two sessions are available: June 10 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) and June 12 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. (Central Time). Please note that times on the attached sheets are listed in Eastern Time. June 10th Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4464886269926778970 June 12th Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/881532795028120670 For further information, please contact tammychase.vtt@gmail.com

Westside educators attended the South Dakota Department of Education Elevate conference June 2,3 in Sioux Falls with over 1,000 educators from across the state to learn together with intention about the Science of Reading as a statewide initiative and focus on literacy instruction. https://www.facebook.com/share/16o2VXAsRn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Congratulations to Joe Just and Michelle Nelson! We all celebrated with you this week as you turned the page to retirement. Thank you for your years of dedication, service for others, and commitment for the children and staff in our community. We are grateful and thankful for you.

Sisseton School District staff celebrated the end of the school year and recognized staff members with 10, 20, and 30 years of service to the district, as well as those retiring from the Sisseton School District. Thank you to all district staff for being a part of the important and worthwhile work of educating students in the Sisseton School District! 2024-25 Years of Service Recipients: Joe Just - 41 years (retiring) Michelle Nelson - 34 years (retiring) Joyce Wood - 8 years (retiring) Roxanne Wright - 5 years (retiring) Holly Medenwald - 30 years Jim Frederick - 20 years David Peterson - 20 years Cindy Ward - 20 years Dani German - 10 years Lori Kuschel - 10 years Janice Neilan - 10 years Jill Schmidt - 10 years Brittney Veflin - 10 years Thank you to all of our staff members for making a positive difference in the lives of our students!

It was a BIG day at Westside today! Mayor Terry Jaspers joined us and read an official proclamation stating May 16 is Joe Just day! We wish all the best to Joe Just as he retires. Celebration for Joe Just May 21 2-4pm at Westside!

3rd and 4th Grade celebration BINGO today with parents/guardians and family members! Mrs. Ziemer is an outstanding Bingo Caller! Thank you ALL for joining us today. We appreciate you!