Iroquois, SD

    Monday afternoon, the elementary students participated in the Summer Reading and Writing program kick-off. Student and teachers dressed as cowboys and cowgirls to go with the theme of the program. Barb Madison read to the entire group before the children were divided into teams. Each team rotated to five different stations including: singing songs around the campfire, branding and decorating their journal covers, making saddle bags, lassoing, eating s’mores, and running barrel races and playing horse shoes. Each child has a summer reading and writing goal to work toward. Children achieving their goal will earn prizes and the special opportunity to participate in fun activities at the beginning of the next school year. The elementary teachers plan a summer reading and writing program each year to help the children practice these important skills throughout the summer months.

  An elementary spelling bee, for grades 1 through 5, was held in Iroquois on Monday, May 12. Students were given written tests to determine the top three spellers from each grade. The top spellers in the lower grades and upper grades advanced to the oral spelling competition. Students placing in the upper grade competition were Britney Moeller, first place, Allison Bich, second, and Cauy Hofer, third. Placing in the lower elementary were Gracie Fast, first place, Cassie Hofer, second, and Makayla DeDeyne, third.

How can your community sustain the changes it has already made in its leadership? By continuing to encourage active involvement from the whole community. The more people involved the better off our community will be. Those in leadership will hopefully sustain if they know they have the help and support of others. And the community will thrive if we get everyone involved.

What structural changes have been made in how the community does its work / makes decisions? The community has discovered the value of getting everyone involved in the decision making process. When you get more involved in making decisions, it is easier to get those people involved in doing the work. If they have a part in the choices, they want a part in getting a favorable outcome. When you can get an idea that people are excited about, it is easier to get volunteers for the project.

What structural changes have been made so that your community leadership sustains partnerships with others? All the community organizations began meeting jointly to share ideas and resources with each other. Then, each group knows what each other are doing and can help each other out.

Iroquois Elementary fourth grade students recently completed a Kindness Project involving the elementary staff.  Some of the things students did to help other staff included reading a book aloud to students, helping fill Wednesday envelopes, assisting with a kindergarten science experiment, helping students with math questions, and cleaning.  Students are writing a How to be a Kind Person book in writing workshop. This project will be discussed in their books.

I think by merging our community club/Horizons group as one we can have a stronger community leadership system.
we learned a lot from our study circle sessions that we can use in the future.
we also plan to have biannual meetings with every organization in town to update each other on what is happening within their group and how we can help each other.
I really do believe that these have all made us a stronger, closer community.

Upcoming Events

April 9, Wednesday, UMW meets at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m.

April 11, 12, 13, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, area students attend “Acquire the Fire” in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

April 11, Friday, No School            

April 12, Children’s Theater production of “You Look Marvelous” at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday in the south gym.

April 13, Sunday, Pancake Feed at the Legion for the Iroquois Heritage Museum.

April 14, Monday, School Board Meeting in the high school library at 8:00 p.m.

April 16, Wednesday, Sonshine Gang meets after school at the Methodist Church.

Our Iroquois Horizons/Community Club, and Sports Day Committee held a joint planning meeting Monday night. Cheryl Jacobs of the SDSU Cooperative Extension Services was present to discuss the completion of the Horizons Project in the Iroquois Community. Committees reviewed their progress on community goals and objectives in the strategic plan.

Setting up park benches is one project currently underway. Community members may donate money to purchase a park bench in memory of someone. Benches will be placed in Woodall Park, at the school playground, and near the sand volleyball pit and horseshoe pits.

A chain link fence has been donated to the Iroquois Day Care. Volunteers are needed to help move and set up the fence.

A pancake feed is being planned for April 27, at the Legion, as a fundraiser for R.J. Frankfurth, who was recently injured in a car accident.

Sports Day will be held July 11, 12, and 13. Four Wheeler races are being planned for Friday night. Saturday’s events will begin with a “Walk for Life.” A parade will be held later in the morning with the theme “Small Town, Big Dreams.” Bed races will follow the parade on main street. The Iroquois Heritage Museum will be open on Saturday with living history activities for kids of all ages. A town and country show will be held on Saturday, with exhibitors selling their products. Softball, volleyball, and horseshoe events will be held at the park. Saturday evening a kids’ movie will be shown and a street dance will be held. The class of 1988 will hold its 20 year reunion. Sunday morning, a community church service will be held in the park. Mud drag races will be held later in the day. The Sports Day committee will continue to meet monthly to finalize plans.

The next Horizons/Community Club meeting will be held Tuesday, May 6, in the high school library. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend.
Monday, April 7th a meeting was held.

        The Iroquois community held a fundraiser Saturday with co-ed sporting events in the gym.  The money raised will go toward the purchase on an electronic sign that will be placed in town along Highway 14.         

High school students played co-ed volleyball and basketball games.  Cheerleaders in grades 5 through 12 performed between games.  Boys and girls in grades 4 through 6 also played co-ed basketball. 

Concessions were sold.  The IPAT (Iroquois Peer Assistance Team) also sold ice cream sundaes.        

The event raised approximately $1,800. 

An Easter egg hunt was held Saturday, March 22 at the Iroquois School’s gyms.  A total of 35 children and their families attended this fun filled event!  After the eggs were found, the children were given treat bags.  Next they had the opportunity to take part in many fun games.  Drawings were held to give away three large Easter baskets with bunnies.  The winners of the drawings were Emily Hanson, Ashlyn Wipf, and Emily Marshall.  This event was sponsored by the Iroquois Area Community Club and is held annually. 

Goal 1 of Iroquois’ Strategic plan is community enhancement.  Our objectives are to create murals within our community, plant trees and flowers, make park benches, complete the volleyball and horseshoe pits in the park, plan seasonal decorating, complete the electronic sign, and continuous updates of the town’s website.  Committee members planning these projects are: Megan, Marlys, Mary, and Donna.