On Feb. 23-24, 2024, students throughout the region, from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, will gather to participate in the fourth annual SDSU Honor Band Festival. The process in which students are chosen to participate in this festival is quite extensive.  First, each student is nominated by their band director. Then, the student prepares a solo or etude and two scales for a recorded audition, which are then judged by professors or professionals in their instrument.  The directors and students are then notified of their acceptance into one of two ensembles or the alternate list if they make it. 

This year, there was a record-shattering number of auditions that demonstrated exceptionally strong performance ability which made decisions difficult.  Between Sanborn County’s two schools, six students auditioned on flute, clarinet, trumpet, bari sax, and trombone. Temperance Salathe, from Sanborn Central, was selected to the SDSU Festival Band on Bb clarinet, and Camden Rassel, from Woonsocket, was selected as an alternate on trombone for the SDSU Festival Band.  

Some of the highlights of the festival include: 

• The opportunity to rehearse and perform in SDSU’s newly expanded Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center;

• Workshops and masterclasses with the faculty of the School of Performing Arts;

• A side-by-side performance with members of the SDSU Wind Symphony; and

• The chance to make music with the most talented student musicians from a multi-state radius.

“I am very proud of all my students who auditioned for this awesome opportunity.  I am especially excited for Temperance to have this experience,” says Mrs. Karlen.

Temperance says, “I honestly didn’t think I would make it, until  I made it.  I’m thankful for Mrs. Karlen giving me the encouragement to audition.”

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

With only a few days left of the 2023 school year, the third grade class walked into a surprise on Friday morning! After working hard learning so many new things, we celebrated by having a Glow Day Party! Black lights lit up the classroom, streamers and banners hung above, and various games were placed around the room to review some academic concepts. The morning was spent reviewing ELA concepts and the afternoon was filled with math. We reviewed with games such as ring toss, bowling, tic-tac-toe, Jenga, Spoons, and tossing ping pong balls into cups. Each of the games had glow tape or some other method of creating a glow-in-the-dark experience. The students’ method of recording answers was using highlighters, which created a glow on the papers for a little added fun. The room was filled with smiles and laughs, along with some friendly competition as they tried to win these games played with peers. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the many accomplishments of the first half of the year!

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!

In the last full week of school for this semester, the Woonsocket School Administration team conducted a door decorating contest for all the staff at the school. Winners in the elementary were first place – Karen Jackson, three-year-old pre-school; second place – Becky Potrament and staff, elementary SPED; honorable mention – Tesa Jensen, fifth grade; funniest – Jason Bruce, Title; best use of class in theme – Shelley Schlicht, Pre-K.

Winners in the middle area group were first place – Tracey Steele, library; second place – Liz Fisher, guidance counselor; best use of their subject – kitchen staff.

High school winners were first place – Emily Henriksen and Danielle Kohlmeyer, English and social studies rooms; second place – Sarah Swenson and Luci Grassel, front offices; funniest – Rick Olsen, computers; most “outside the box” use of theme – Armando Rodriguez, instruction coach; best use of their subject area – Mitch Korbel and Dayna Rodriguez, science and math classrooms.

…See pictures in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!