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ing.
• Our teacher in-service day was full of discussions on a variety of educational initiatives and movements all of which stand to impact public education across the state of South Dakota.  Our teachers spent time studying part of the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (a new model for teacher evaluation), discussing school improvement needs, debating the future direction of our district's technology use, and a teaching tool called the South Dakota Assessment Portal.
• I'm proud also of the students and teachers for their work and preparation for the annual Veterans Day Program which was held on the afternoon of November 12.  The event takes a lot of time and energy on the part of many people, but we recognize the importance of showing our appreciation to our community's veterans.  We are always looking to add more pictures of veterans with local connections to the slide show.  If you know of someone who hasn't been included, please let us know so we can work on giving them the recognition they deserve.
• Our students in grades 6-12 also heard the message of Phil Chalmers who talked very frankly with our students about the dangers of bullying, drinking and driving, drug use, cyber safety, juvenile homicides, and suicides.  We are happy to have heard him present at no cost thanks to the financial support of the Aberdeen Police Department.  Our students are growing up in a rapidly changing and very difficult world and we must recognize the importance of their social and emotional well-

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