• Elementary Principal~ Dan Dalchow
• We have another round of Dakota Step Testing completed for the year.  This state standardized test carries a lot of weight and our school has typically done very well with this test.  So much so that our school was recognized nationally this past year and was awarded the title of a National Blue Ribbon School.  One of the things that is so special about this award is that you cannot apply for it.  The state education department has to nominate you to the National Blue Ribbon School Committee.  As I said to students before testing, people do look at your test scores because the only way we would have been nominated is by people in Pierre who saw that our test scores have been consistently high over the last several years.  I see no reason why this year will be no different.
• We try to find time where we can have some consistent, regular hours to do our testing.  Mother Nature did not allow this to happen and our 4 day testing window was stretched a bit this year.  Thankfully, the assessment people in Pierre recognized this and extended the testing window so everyone could get their testing completed with time to spare.
• Groton Area Elementary will be having summer school during the month of June this year.  If your child struggles in math or reading we will be sending out invitations to attend our summer school.  We do have a limit as to the number of students that we can efficiently handle and summer school will be an invitation only event, but hopefully we will be able accommodate everyone who wants to come.  Watch for these invitations the first week in May.
• In addition to this, we will again have summer library on Tuesdays and Thursday this summer and our OST program (open from 7 AM to 6 PM) will be having an academic portion to each day.   In OST, students will be involved in some fun reinforce