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New Underwood
School Newsletter
New Underwood School District 51-3
PO Box 128
New Underwood, SD 57761
Published Irregularly
May 2015
Issue No. 9
Upcoming Events
May 6th – Pride Day
May 11th – Elementary Field Day
May 12th – Academic & Athletic Awards Night 6:30pm
May 13th – Kindergarten Celebration at the Community
Center – 6:30PM
May 14th – Seniors last day
May 16th – Graduation – 3PM
May 18th – 8th Grade Recognition – 7PM
The first annual New Underwood School “Pride Day”
will be held on Wednesday, May 6. On this day all
students and staff will come to school dressed and
prepared to help clean up or spruce up our school
facility as well as the field/track. We will be
landscaping, painting, repairing, cleaning, and doing
various other projects to enhance our school. Grades
K-6 will participate for the morning session and grades
7-12 will work all day on this project. We will work to
also assist with various city projects as well as school
facilities. If there are parents or community members
that would like to assist us on this special day please
contact John Pedersen, Superintendent at 754 6485.
The last day of school will be
dismissed at 12PM.
We will not be serving lunch for
7th-12th grade.
We will serve lunch at the
regular time for K-6th grade.
Academic &
Athletic Awards
Night will be
together on May
12 starting at
6:30pm. There
will be no potluck
but Booster Club
will provide
cookies and
refreshments after
the awards
presentation.
Summer office
Hours Are
8:00AM-3:00PM
Monday-Thursday
We are closed on
Fridays.
SENIOR EXPERIENCE
SHOWCASE
The senior class invites
you to come out and view
our public showcase of our
senior projects and research
before the Awards Night on
May 12.
Showcase: 5:00-6:30 pm
Support Our Schools
The New Underwood School would like to thank those that have collected Family
Thrift Center Receipts and Box Tops as part of the Support Our Schools Program.
We are still participating in the programs so please bring your items to the office if
you’d like to help. Box tops need to be turned in by the last day of school.
Thank you for your participation!
This document is available in
alternate formats upon a 5
working day request. Examples
of alternate formats include:
Braille, large print, tape, etc.
Please contact Peggy Petersen at
754-6485 to make a request.
Non-Discrimination
The New Underwood School District 51-3 does not discriminate on the basis of race or color, national origin, gender, disability, age, religion and
creed, or marital status, in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. For inquiries concerning the
district’s compliance with Title VI or Title IX please contact John Pedersen, Superintendent, Box 128, New Underwood, SD, 57761, (605) 7546485. Inquiries concerning Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) acts contact Peggy Petersen, JH/HS Principal, Box 128, New
Underwood, SD, 57761, (605) 754-6485. For further inquiries contact the Regional Director, Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights,
10220 North Executive Hills Boulevard, 8th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri, 64153-1367, telephone (816) 880-4200, TDD (816) 891-0552, or Fax
(816) 891-0644. (Forms are available for submitting grievances.).
Superintendent Note
This may come as no surprise to those who know me but I love to communicate with people of all ages and find out where
they are from. I enjoy learning where their roots lie and where they call home. In my conversations I have noticed two common
themes in many South Dakota conversations with some of the older residents, or should I say some of the more mature people!?
That is the unpredictable SD weather and how quickly time passes. To this older resident, it seems like just yesterday I started as the
New Underwood Superintendent. Students, staff, and school board members are aware that I arrived on the job as a retiree. Yes I
had completed a similar stint in Custer last year but full time work had been a void in my life for several months.
Many friends have asked me why I wanted to return to education at this point in my life. I returned because education and
schools are one of my greatest passions in life. During the 28 years I served as a school superintendent in SD - New Underwood is
the smallest school in student numbers I ever had the opportunity to work in. I am proud however, to claim to have graduated from
a school similar in size to New Underwood. I graduated with 14 classmates from Erwin HS, a small town on the east side of the state
many, MANY years ago! There has been a lot of discussion throughout the state in the past several years regarding small schools.
During my New Underwood experience I have been reminded and experienced the importance of small schools, how they
serve a vital role and do a great job of educating students. I’ve learned much about our school and community since starting January 1
of this year. You have outstanding students, an outstanding staff and a community that supports and believes in education. The New
Underwood School truly makes a difference in the lives of your children and grandchildren. I often judge a school by whether I would
want my family to attend or not. I whole heartedly can say I would be proud to have my grandchildren attend New Underwood!
I’ve learned that seniors have a huge impact on the atmosphere and climate of a school. I can’t say enough positive things
about this year's senior class. I will be cheering for each and every one of you seniors as you graduate and find your way in this world.
Keep me posted in your journey I would love to hear from you and where life takes you. My email is john.pedersen.sd@gmail.com.
Our future is in good hands and I expect great things from the 21 graduates we have graduating on May 16.
I want to thank the school board, students, and staff for allowing me to be a part of your school. I’ve learned much and truly
respect the education you provide. Keep doing what you do so well! - John Pedersen
Dean of Students Notes
The school year is quickly coming to a close. In looking back I wonder just where
the time has gone as it does not seem that long ago that we were just starting but
here we are preparing for graduation ceremonies, awards night, end of the year
picnics, the AP English exams and the region and state track meets. Please check
your calendars for times and dates for the events this month.
Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th at 3:00 PM in the school
gymnasium. I do want to wish the very best to our graduating seniors this year as
they begin a new step in their lives. We will miss you and think of you often.
Please stop in and let us know how you are doing when you come back for a visit
as we look forward to hearing how things are going for you as you go your
separate ways.
Great Expectations
It's time to say good-bye.
Our year has come to an end.
We've made more cherished memories
And many more new friends.
We've watched your children learn and grow
And change from day to day
We hope that all the things we've done
Have helped in some small way.
So it's with happy memories
We send them out the door.
With great hope and expectations.
For what next year holds in store.
Good Luck to the Graduating Class of 2015
Jessy Bale
Shyanna Bintliff
Taylor Brindley
Autumn Cogdill
Olivia Edoff
Jhett Finkbeiner
John Flint
Shawnee Flint
Catherine Heinrich
Kayleigh Hess
Shayna Hess
Riley Jensen
Brandon Koch
Kourtney Kursave
Abbigayle Maciejewski
Ryan Nelson
Walker Phillips
Jeremy Paradis
Jordan Silbernagel
Savanah Trullinger
Erica Venhuizen
We wish you the very best as you pursue your dreams!
Music Notes
Happy Spring!! We have a lot of great
things ‘blooming’ in the music department.
On April 11th, 5th and 6th grade band
students traveled to Hill City for contest.
Each group performed and the 6th grade
students performed solos. They brought
home four blue ribbons! Congratulations to
each student on their hard work.
Thank you to each student, staff member,
and the community for their support on a
Successful Spring Concert on April 23rd!
The Music department would like to,
again, thank the Families of Louise
Simmons and Brady Ness for their
generous memorial gift. Our students will
greatly benefit from the new electric piano.
High School Band and Choir students
attended Contest at Central High School
on April 30th. They worked to present their
best selections to judges from around the
state.
As always if you have any questions or
want to come join the fun in our classroom,
please contact me!
Delayna Jensen