• Elementary Principal~ Dan Dalchow
• Each year brings new challenges and the school takes on a different dynamic as its students mature,  move on, and new students enter.  The school year, now in full swing, is moving right along and going very well.  Walk into any classroom and you will see actively engaged students.  Watch students coming to school and you will see happy, smiling faces that enjoy being here.  Students know their routines, they are learning, and they are reading, (even the kindergarteners)
• Conferences are coming up on November 14^th.   I encourage you to attend your child's conference if at all possible.  If you cannot, please make arrangements to meet with your child's teacher at some alternative time.  Studies have shown that students are much more successful when their parents take an active part in their educational process.  Knowing how your child is performing, knowing what you can expect them to be bringing home, and knowing what is going on in the classroom provides you with a wealth of information that you can use to help your child do their very best at school.
• As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me during school hours.
• Sincerely,
• Mr. Dan Dalchow ~ Principal
• Groton Area Elementary School
• Elementary Phone # 397-2317
• E-mail:  dan.dalchow@k12.sd.us

• Junior Kindergarten - Julie Milbrandt
• "Junior Kindergarten - what's that?" Is a question I've been asked quite a few times since accepting this position.  I'd like to share my response with you.  We are lucky that Groton is one of a few schools to offer this experience for our children.  JK is geared for 5 year olds that just weren't quite ready for Kindergarten.  Maybe they had a late summer birthday, or maybe after undergoing Kindergarten screening in the spring, the recommendation was made that they attend our JK program.  JK gives them the opportunity to work on skills that they need to be ready for Kindergarten.  This year we have 13 students in Junior Kindergarten. 
• Wow!  Junior Kindergarten has been galloping through the alphabet.   We spent the first couple of weeks getting to learn what "school" was all about.  We made new friends and learned the rules.  Since then, we have been busy learning our letters and sounds, we started at the beginning of the alphabet and are all the way up to G. 

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