Platte-Geddes School District

🐾 Celebrating This Week’s Prowl Award Recipients! 🐾 One of the best parts of our schools is seeing the many ways people make Platte-Geddes a better place. This week, we’re recognizing six members of our Panther community who did just that! Pride of the Prowl – Angeles Salas & Edith Romero Blanco Angeles and Edith noticed a student who was alone at recess and invited them to play. It was a simple act of kindness, but one that made sure another student knew they belonged and had a friend. Thank you, Angeles and Edith, for noticing someone who needed you and choosing to include them! Pride of the Prowl – Ario Garmino Ario saw an opportunity to help and stepped up without being asked. That kind of initiative and willingness to lend a hand is a great example of leadership. Way to go, Ario! Champions of the Prowl – Karen Lang Karen consistently goes above and beyond for Platte-Geddes. Whether she is helping meet a need, sharing her time and talents, or even helping write grants, Karen is always willing to step in and help make good things happen for our students and schools. We are grateful for all the ways she supports our Panther community! Champions of the Prowl – Brooke Meyerink When a few students needed a little extra help getting to school on time, Brooke stepped in without hesitation and made sure they got where they needed to be. Thank you, Brooke, for seeing a need and being willing to help! Heart of the Prowl – Christi Kuiper Christi has stepped into her new role in our high school library and is already making a difference. She connects with students while holding them accountable and maintaining high expectations. She has embraced the role, built relationships, and created a welcoming place for our students. Heart of the Prowl – Phyllis Daum Some people simply make a school better by being part of it, and Phyllis is one of those people. She brings tremendous care, consistency, energy, and dedication to her third-grade classroom. She sets high expectations, cares deeply about her students, supports those around her, and can always be counted on to step up and get things done. Quite simply, Phyllis rocks at what she does! Congratulations to all of this week’s recipients, and thank you for showing us what Panther Pride looks like! 🐾❤️

The Platte-Geddes Board of Education will meet tonight at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. Those wishing to attend virtually may join via Zoom: Zoom Meeting: https://sdk12.zoom.us/j/91263587655 The meeting agenda is available on the district website. Thanks!

📣 Elementary Families — PGES Monthly Newsletter is Here! 🍎

Stay in the know about what’s happening at our elementary school! 🏫✨

📰 Click the link below to read our latest Elementary Newsletter for important updates, upcoming events, reminders, and more!

👇 Read it here!
https://app.smore.com/n/fpnx1

❤️ WEAR RED FOR ED! ❤️

This Wednesday, September 16, help us celebrate Attendance Awareness Month by wearing RED! 🔴

Every day at school is an opportunity to learn, grow, connect, and succeed! 📚✨

Let’s fill Platte-Geddes Elementary with RED and show that EVERY SCHOOL DAY MATTERS! ❤️

#AttendanceAwarenessMonth #EveryDayMatters #WearRed #PlatteGeddesElementary

Reminder:
Isabelle Suits' Senior Project
@ the Elementary Gym 6:30 PM
Sunday 9/13
Mental health Speech, cookies & questions.

Attention, volleyball fans! ACDC will be serving walking tacos at Monday’s volleyball game. See flyer for details!

🇺🇸 Patriot’s Day Program – You’re Invited! 🇺🇸

Platte-Geddes Elementary invites families and community members to join us for our Annual Patriot’s Day Program on Friday, September 11th at 8:05 AM at the Memorial Flags.

Together, we will honor and remember those whose lives were impacted by the events of September 11, 2001, and recognize the courage, service, and sacrifice shown on that day and in the years since.

❤️🤍💙 Students, staff, families, and guests are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue in honor of Patriot Day.

We hope you can join us for this special time of remembrance. 🇺🇸

🏃‍♀️🏃 FCA Running Club is Back! 🏃🏃‍♂️

Platte-Geddes students are invited to participate in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Running Club!

📅 Dates: September 11 – October 24
⏰ Time: 3:45–4:45 PM after school
🏁 Final Race: October 24
📍 Running will take place outdoors at Platte-Geddes School under the supervision of volunteer coaches.

Each Running Club session will include:
🍎 Snack time
🙏 Devotion
⭐ Motivation & inspiration
👟 Exercise and running

Parent/guardian consent is required for students to participate. Please complete the registration and consent form below:

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvFkKDC0I96j9G9BCtBgo6W1Mbmpn6z19rj9hgngeOz36ZGA/viewform

Questions? Please contact Regan Holleman at (605) 680-2741.

We’re looking forward to a great season of running, encouragement, and fellowship! 🏃‍♀️💪

Go Vote for our very own Britton Nachtigal, who has submitted her audition to sing the National Anthem at the NFR! Online Voting begins September 7th and runs through September 24th on the website

https://www.nfrexperience.com/nfr-national-anthem-2026

Good luck Britton! We are rooting for you!

PICTURE RETAKES: Retakes will be Thursday, September 17th @ 8:00 am on the stage in the High School gym.

🐾 Celebrating the People Who Make Platte-Geddes Special 🐾

At Platte-Geddes, we know that a great school district is built by great people. Our students, staff, parents, and community members each play an important role in making our schools a place we can all be proud of.

This year, we are excited to recognize individuals through our Prowl Awards—a way to celebrate those who demonstrate the character, commitment, leadership, and Panther Pride that make a difference throughout our district.

🎓 Pride of the Prowl – Student Recognition
Congratulations to Asher Kott and Maddux Van Zee! This award recognizes students who demonstrate achievement, respect, integrity, and leadership while helping make Platte-Geddes a better place each day.

❤️ Heart of the Prowl – Staff Recognition
Congratulations to Andy Van Essen, Allison DeHaan, and Kelly Melvin! The Heart of the Prowl recognizes staff members whose dedication, compassion, positive attitude, and impact go beyond their daily responsibilities. Each of these individuals plays an important role in supporting our students and schools.

🤝 Parents of the Prowl – Parent Recognition
Congratulations to Lorra Norden! This award recognizes parents who consistently support our students and schools through their involvement, encouragement, and partnership.

🏆 Champions of the Prowl – Community Recognition
Congratulations to Clayton Hoffman and Dawn Konstanz! Our Champions of the Prowl award celebrates community members who go above and beyond to support Platte-Geddes and help create opportunities for our students.

These awards represent something we believe strongly at Platte-Geddes: it takes all of us. Students, staff, families, and community members working together are what make our district special.

Congratulations to all of our recipients, and thank you for the difference you make for Platte-Geddes!

We are proud of you. We appreciate you. And we are proud to have you as part of the Prowl! 🐾

#PantherPride #PlatteGeddes #ProwlAwards

🏈 TONIGHT’S FOOTBALL GAME

Tonight’s game is a regular-season home football game. It is no different from any other regular-season home game in terms of admission.

✅ Activity passes WILL be honored
✅ All normal home-game admission policies apply
✅ Regular admission procedures will be in place

📍 Platte
⏰ 7:00 PM

See you tonight! 🖤🏈

9-11th Grade Parents,
This week the 9-11th grade students brought home information about our upcoming Washington, D.C. trip at Platte-Geddes HS—an incredible opportunity for you and your student!
We’ll be hosting a Parent Meeting to walk through trip details, pricing, and how to reserve your student’s spot.

Parent Meeting: Tuesday, September 15th | 6:00–6:30 PM in the Platte-Geddes HS Gym
RSVP here: https://rsvp.worldclassrooms.com/inperson/59503663229?rsvp_id=59503663229

Families who attend will receive $500 off each traveler, and spots are secured at this meeting.
We hope to see you there!
Mr. Van Essen

ATTENTION FOOTBALL FANS: With the location change of the football game scheduled for Friday 9/4 to a HOME game we will be collecting bids for the sports tower!

Please turn in your bids for one of the Athletic Booster Sports Tower booths to Dakota Food & Fuel by NOON Friday September 4th for our home game against SF Lutheran. Thank you for your continued support for our athletes! And good luck to our football players & coaches!

🚨 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE UPDATE 🚨

Tomorrow’s football game against Sioux Falls Lutheran has been moved to Platte.

Sioux Falls Lutheran does not have lights at their football stadium, so the game was originally scheduled for 4:30 PM. However, due to the forecasted heat and concerns for the safety of our athletes, playing at that time is not safe.

The game will now be played at 7:00 PM in Platte.

📍 Platte
⏰ 7:00 PM

We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and understanding as we make this change with the safety of our athletes as the top priority.

Attention Junior High & JV Football Fans!

Due to injuries and low numbers, the JV football game against Gregory-Colome scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 has been cancelled.

The Junior High football game against Gregory-Colome is still on and has been moved to Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 4:00 PM in Gregory.

This week's Heart of the Prowl goes to Christina Kenyon, our k-2 teacher at Cedar Grove Colony School. During the recent Hutterian Safety & Farm Education Day, I had the opportunity to spend the day with Christina and see her with our students outside the regular classroom setting. It was a full day with many sessions & transitions. Christina's patient, steady, & caring presence helped her students participate, learn, & feel comfortable throughout the experience. The strong relationships Christina has built with her students were evident all day. Thank you, Christina for your dedication, compassion, & the meaningful difference you make for our students every day. You truly are part of the Heart of Prowl!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QmUzx43H5uU&pp=uAQw&ra=m Black Panther Nation: if you are trying to watch the the livestream, here is the new link. Thank you, and go Black Panthers