Is your child getting ready for school, but you're not sure if Kindergarten is the right next step? We are here to help!
All families that live within the Sioux Falls School District boundaries are invited to attend Junior Kindergarten Academy Screen Nights on Thursday, April 9th, 2026, from 4-6 pm at the three JKA elementary sites:
Terry Redlin | 1721 E. Austin Street 57103
JFK | 4101 S. Hollbrook Avenue 57106
Robert Frost | 3101 S. 4th Avenue 57105
These screening nights are a great opportunity to meet staff, learn more about both Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten, and get a better sense of what will best support your student's educational journey!
At Terry Redlin Elementary, families are welcome to stop by anytime between 4 and 6 pm - no sign-up needed.
At Robert Frost and JFK Elementary, families are asked to sign up in advance using the links below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BAFAE2FA0FA7-62224852-robert#/
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EABA82FA5FD0-62194087-junior#/
Junior Kindergarten Academy is a free, full-day program designed to help children build confidence and foundational skills before entering Kindergarten. As with Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026, to be eligible.
Kindergarten registration for Fall 2026 is now open, and staff will be available during the event to help answer questions and guide families through the process.
We hope to see you there!
All families that live within the Sioux Falls School District boundaries are invited to attend Junior Kindergarten Academy Screen Nights on Thursday, April 9th, 2026, from 4-6 pm at the three JKA elementary sites:
Terry Redlin | 1721 E. Austin Street 57103
JFK | 4101 S. Hollbrook Avenue 57106
Robert Frost | 3101 S. 4th Avenue 57105
These screening nights are a great opportunity to meet staff, learn more about both Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten, and get a better sense of what will best support your student's educational journey!
At Terry Redlin Elementary, families are welcome to stop by anytime between 4 and 6 pm - no sign-up needed.
At Robert Frost and JFK Elementary, families are asked to sign up in advance using the links below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BAFAE2FA0FA7-62224852-robert#/
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EABA82FA5FD0-62194087-junior#/
Junior Kindergarten Academy is a free, full-day program designed to help children build confidence and foundational skills before entering Kindergarten. As with Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026, to be eligible.
Kindergarten registration for Fall 2026 is now open, and staff will be available during the event to help answer questions and guide families through the process.
We hope to see you there!
Reminder no school:
1st - 4th grade and Early Childhood students had an exciting visit from Great Plains Zoo ! 🐾
Students learned about animals up close and even had the opportunity to pet a live snake and touch a real bear paw—what an unforgettable experience!
Thank you to the Great Plains Zoo for bringing such a fun and educational experience to our students! 🐻🐍✨
Students learned about animals up close and even had the opportunity to pet a live snake and touch a real bear paw—what an unforgettable experience!
Thank you to the Great Plains Zoo for bringing such a fun and educational experience to our students! 🐻🐍✨
Our 1st grade students had a special opportunity this week to pick out up to FOUR books each in a book fair-style experience—completely funded by generous donors! 📚💙
To make it even more meaningful, these donors joined our classrooms to read aloud to students and share just how important reading is to them. The smiles, excitement, and love of books were everywhere!
We are beyond grateful for our AMAZING donors who made this experience possible. Your kindness is helping build a lifelong love of reading in our students—thank you! ✨
To make it even more meaningful, these donors joined our classrooms to read aloud to students and share just how important reading is to them. The smiles, excitement, and love of books were everywhere!
We are beyond grateful for our AMAZING donors who made this experience possible. Your kindness is helping build a lifelong love of reading in our students—thank you! ✨
Thank you to Falls Community Health Dental for helping our Hawthorne students keep their smiles healthy and bright! 🦷✨ We appreciate your support in teaching the importance of good dental care!
Ready to Start Kindergarten – Summer Program
If you have a child who will be attending Kindergarten in Fall 2026 and has had little to no prior preschool experience, they may be eligible for the Ready to Start Kindergarten summer program.
Special Thank You to Sioux Empire United Way for funding this great program.
📅 June 15 – July 16
🗓 Monday–Thursday
⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Susan B. Anthony Elementary
If you think your child may be eligible, please scan the QR code to sign up.
If you have a child who will be attending Kindergarten in Fall 2026 and has had little to no prior preschool experience, they may be eligible for the Ready to Start Kindergarten summer program.
Special Thank You to Sioux Empire United Way for funding this great program.
📅 June 15 – July 16
🗓 Monday–Thursday
⏰ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Susan B. Anthony Elementary
If you think your child may be eligible, please scan the QR code to sign up.
March is a time to celebrate reading across the Sioux Falls School District!
Schools throughout the district are marking the month with a variety of activities that highlight the joy and importance of literacy. Read Across America Week, held March 2–6, also coincided with the kickoff of the community reading initiative Everybody Reads!. This year’s theme, “Tales on the Trails,” is already making an impact across the community. Libraries throughout Sioux Falls are beginning to fill interactive maps connected to the program, encouraging readers to explore stories while exploring the community.
At the elementary level, one of the most popular ways schools celebrate reading is by inviting guest readers into classrooms and libraries. At Hawthorne Elementary, volunteers from Reach Literacy recently visited students during their library time after the organization connected with school librarian Sarah Becker to arrange the opportunity. Becker said the partnership helps students build meaningful connections with adults while reinforcing the joy of reading. “When students have a caring adult who takes time to read a book with them, it’s a perfect model of how enjoyable reading can be,” Becker said.
Those sentiments are shared by Allan Idjao, senior instructor and community education manager for Reach Literacy. “Our mission is to empower our community to thrive through literacy education, and being in schools is one of the most effective ways we can do that,” Idjao said. “It makes reading fun, social, and valued. Early positive experiences are one of the strongest predictors of lifelong literacy.” Creating fun and engaging reading experiences is a key focus throughout the month of March. During the Hawthorne visit, students eagerly checked out books and spent time reading alongside volunteers.
Molly O’Connor, executive director of Reach Literacy, said opportunities like this align naturally with the organization’s mission. “This partnership fits naturally within Reach’s mission by strengthening literacy at every stage of life,” O’Connor said. “By helping children experience the joy of reading today, we are helping build a more literate and thriving community.” Partnerships like this create benefits for everyone involved. Volunteers build connections with students, and students gain positive experiences that reinforce the excitement and value of reading, helping develop the readers who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
Schools throughout the district are marking the month with a variety of activities that highlight the joy and importance of literacy. Read Across America Week, held March 2–6, also coincided with the kickoff of the community reading initiative Everybody Reads!. This year’s theme, “Tales on the Trails,” is already making an impact across the community. Libraries throughout Sioux Falls are beginning to fill interactive maps connected to the program, encouraging readers to explore stories while exploring the community.
At the elementary level, one of the most popular ways schools celebrate reading is by inviting guest readers into classrooms and libraries. At Hawthorne Elementary, volunteers from Reach Literacy recently visited students during their library time after the organization connected with school librarian Sarah Becker to arrange the opportunity. Becker said the partnership helps students build meaningful connections with adults while reinforcing the joy of reading. “When students have a caring adult who takes time to read a book with them, it’s a perfect model of how enjoyable reading can be,” Becker said.
Those sentiments are shared by Allan Idjao, senior instructor and community education manager for Reach Literacy. “Our mission is to empower our community to thrive through literacy education, and being in schools is one of the most effective ways we can do that,” Idjao said. “It makes reading fun, social, and valued. Early positive experiences are one of the strongest predictors of lifelong literacy.” Creating fun and engaging reading experiences is a key focus throughout the month of March. During the Hawthorne visit, students eagerly checked out books and spent time reading alongside volunteers.
Molly O’Connor, executive director of Reach Literacy, said opportunities like this align naturally with the organization’s mission. “This partnership fits naturally within Reach’s mission by strengthening literacy at every stage of life,” O’Connor said. “By helping children experience the joy of reading today, we are helping build a more literate and thriving community.” Partnerships like this create benefits for everyone involved. Volunteers build connections with students, and students gain positive experiences that reinforce the excitement and value of reading, helping develop the readers who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
🎶 A fun Hawthorne tradition!
Ms. Kellengerger, our Hawthorne Success Coordinator, played the flute in high school. About six years ago she brought her flute to school to play with a student, and it sparked a tradition that’s still going strong!
Each year our 5th grade flute players join Ms. K. during their lunch for a little flute jam session. It’s a fun way to share their musical talents and make lunchtime a little more musical at Hawthorne! 🎵😊
Ms. Kellengerger, our Hawthorne Success Coordinator, played the flute in high school. About six years ago she brought her flute to school to play with a student, and it sparked a tradition that’s still going strong!
Each year our 5th grade flute players join Ms. K. during their lunch for a little flute jam session. It’s a fun way to share their musical talents and make lunchtime a little more musical at Hawthorne! 🎵😊
Reminder
Reminder:
Hello! This week begins the city-wide reading initiative Everybody Reads in Sioux Falls. The goal is to read 500,000 books across the community to support REACH Literacy, which provides important reading resources and classes for people of all ages.
Hawthorne students will track their reading from March 1–31 using their reading trackers. Our school goal this year is 10,000 books! Families are encouraged to read together at home, and adults can track their own reading by visiting Siouxland Libraries.
Learn more:
Siouxland Libraries: https://www.siouxlandlib.org/Home
REACH Literacy: https://www.reachliteracy.org/
¡Hola! Esta semana comienza la iniciativa de lectura en toda la ciudad llamada Everybody Reads en Sioux Falls. El objetivo es leer 500,000 libros en toda la comunidad para apoyar a REACH Literacy, que ofrece recursos y clases de lectura para personas de todas las edades.
Los estudiantes de Hawthorne registrarán su lectura del 1 al 31 de marzo usando sus hojas de seguimiento. ¡La meta de nuestra escuela este año es 10,000 libros! Invitamos a las familias a leer con sus estudiantes en casa. Los adultos también pueden registrar los libros que leen visitando su sucursal local de Siouxland Libraries.
Hawthorne students will track their reading from March 1–31 using their reading trackers. Our school goal this year is 10,000 books! Families are encouraged to read together at home, and adults can track their own reading by visiting Siouxland Libraries.
Learn more:
Siouxland Libraries: https://www.siouxlandlib.org/Home
REACH Literacy: https://www.reachliteracy.org/
¡Hola! Esta semana comienza la iniciativa de lectura en toda la ciudad llamada Everybody Reads en Sioux Falls. El objetivo es leer 500,000 libros en toda la comunidad para apoyar a REACH Literacy, que ofrece recursos y clases de lectura para personas de todas las edades.
Los estudiantes de Hawthorne registrarán su lectura del 1 al 31 de marzo usando sus hojas de seguimiento. ¡La meta de nuestra escuela este año es 10,000 libros! Invitamos a las familias a leer con sus estudiantes en casa. Los adultos también pueden registrar los libros que leen visitando su sucursal local de Siouxland Libraries.
When we’re a little short staffed in the lunchroom, our fearless leader Principal Jones jumps right in and puts on the lunch server hat!
Our students loved seeing their principal helping serve lunch and making sure everyone was taken care of. That’s the kind of teamwork that makes Hawthorne such a great place to learn and grow! 💙
Our students loved seeing their principal helping serve lunch and making sure everyone was taken care of. That’s the kind of teamwork that makes Hawthorne such a great place to learn and grow! 💙
Little glimpses of the future! 👀 A few early childhood students were very curious about what’s happening in the K–5 lunchroom.. We love seeing their smiles and big dreams as they look ahead to becoming kindergarteners! 🍎📚
Skate night
Kindergarten Open House
Don't forget about your students conferences..
Get ready for a night of discovery! 🧪🚀
Competition sign up extended thru March 5th
Join us Thursday, March 12th for Hawthorne’s Science Olympiad Fun Night. Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization that hosts team-based STEM competitions for students in grades K–12. With 23 exciting events—from biology and chemistry to engineering and physics—there’s something for every young scientist.
It’s going to be a fun evening of learning, exploring, and celebrating science together!
Competition sign up extended thru March 5th
Join us Thursday, March 12th for Hawthorne’s Science Olympiad Fun Night. Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization that hosts team-based STEM competitions for students in grades K–12. With 23 exciting events—from biology and chemistry to engineering and physics—there’s something for every young scientist.
It’s going to be a fun evening of learning, exploring, and celebrating science together!
Reminder there will be no school Monday. March 2, 2026
This form will be available starting MONDAY, February 23rd.
2026 Summer and/or 2026/27 School Year Enrollment Application for Elementary Students
communitylearningcenter.sfsd@k12.sd.us
Moments like these help grow lifelong readers. Students had the chance to enjoy some extra reading time with our librarian and explore new stories and adventures.
