Groton Area School District

It was a great day of creativity at the Eastern Regional Tournament held in Webster on Saturday, March 22! The Early Learning noncompetitive teams presented the solutions to their challenge and received ribbons for their accomplishment. Groton Area has two teams receiving 1st place in their challenge level and will travel to the state tournament to be held in Pierre on Saturday, April 5. Pictured is Early Learning Challenge Team “Go Lightning”- Landon Buntrock, Ivy Cole, Emme Fliehs, Zoey Strom, not pictured Roscoe Rix, Team Manager Becah Fliehs

And just like that, we are on to our Spring Sports! Good Luck to our Track & Field Team as they compete at the NSU Indoor Track Meet today. Field Events begin at 4:00PM and Running Events begin at 5:00PM. Go get 'em, Tigers!! Live Results on Athletic.net: https://live.herostiming.com/meets/42221?_gl=1*1o1smgu*_ga*MTMwNjQzNDQ1NS4xNjYxNTQxMzQ1*_ga_CV6QCFM8SJ*MTc0MjkxODY3Ni4zMy4xLjE3NDI5MTk2MzkuMC4wLjA.

These FACS students shared the children’s books that they each wrote with Mrs. Keith’s preschool class today!

Attention all Middle Schoolers! - Track and Field Practice with Mr. Kurth and Mrs. Torrence will begin next Monday, March 31st, right after school in the Old Gym! - Come prepared with tennis (running) shoes and dress in layers. You never know what this spring weather will bring us! **If you have not participated in a sport this school year, be sure you get your physical form completed prior to the first day of practice. If you have questions on what you need completed this school year, please contact Mrs. Wattier in the office or Ms. Schuring.

Dual Credit Presentation on March 27th at 6:30 pm. Attend to learn all about the Dual Credit program and answer any questions you might have!

Join Us in Growing Fresh Veggies for Groton Area School’s Farm to School Program! Dear Groton Area School District families, We are excited to invite you to be part of an important and fun initiative to support the Groton Area School’s Farm to School Program! This program helps provide our students with fresh, locally grown food, and we need your help to make it a success. How can you help? We’re asking our community to come together to plant a row of vegetables that will be harvested and used in school meals. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a first-time planter, there’s a spot for you! By participating, you’ll help ensure that our students have access to fresh, healthy food while learning about where their food comes from. It’s a great way to build connections within our community and support local agriculture. To sign up or for more information, please contact Brandon (BJ) Clocksene. We can’t wait to work together to make this program a success! Thank you for your support in making Groton Area School’s Farm to School program thrive. Warm regards, Brandon (BJ) Clocksene (605) 397 8381 Brandon.Clocksene@k12.sd.us

GHS Junior, Ryder Johnson, was chosen as a member of the 2025 State A Boys Basketball All-Tournament Team this weekend in Sioux Falls. Congratulations on a great tournament and season, Ryder - Tiger Nation is proud of you!

Your Groton Area Cheerleaders were named BACK-TO-BACK SPIRIT OF SIX Winners at the 2025 State A Boys Basketball Tournament! What an amazing accomplishment for our cheerleaders and community! These girls dedicate a lot of time, energy, and hard work into what they do and cheered their hearts out all year. Thank you for exemplifying sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and good behavior, all while keeping the crowd engaged and cheering the entire game - you are amazing! Congratulations to Coaches: Aubray Miller and Madisen Bjerke, and Cheerleaders: Mya Feser, Addison Hoeft, Breslyn Jeschke, Emily Overacker, Natalia Warrington, Rylie Rose, Paisley Mitchell, and Emma Davies! We are SO very proud of each of you!!

Congratulations to Coach Dolan, Coach Carson, Coach Tracy, and our Groton Area Tigers for earning 7th Place in the 2025 State A Boys Basketball State Tournament this weekend! We are very proud of the heart and determination you have shown this year. There will be a Welcome Home Celebration tomorrow (Sunday) March 23rd at 1:00PM in the Arena. This event is open to the public. Come and hear the coaches and athletes speak on their season! Congratulations, Tigers!!

2025 KG Roundup

Special thank you to Elizabeth Varin-Wipf for ordering pizza from the Jungle to feed the OST kiddos yesterday! The Jungle even included a gluten free snack for the kids that couldn't have pizza, so they still felt included! Thank you Wipf Family and the Jungle!!

Good Luck to our Groton Tigers, as they play for 7th/8th Place today! • #8 Groton Area vs. #6 Clark/Willow Lake • Saturday, March 22nd - 12:00pm • Denny Sanford Premier Center - Sioux Falls, SD o Doors open at 11:00am • Theme – Extreme Black & Gold • Tickets: o Single Session: $10 Students/$15 Adults o Tournament Pass (All 6 Sessions): $30 Students/$50 Adults • Ways to Watch: o TV: SDPB – 1 o SDPB.org: https://www.sdpb.org/hsactivities/sports/basketball/ o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG9hFud489E o James Valley TV: Special Events Ch 152 We are all rooting for you, boys! Play Hard and Have Fun!

It's a GREAT day to be a TIGER! Cheer loud and be proud, Tiger Nation! • #8 Groton Area vs. #4 West Central • Friday, March 21st - 12:00pm • Denny Sanford Premier Center - Sioux Falls, SD o Doors open at 11:00am • Theme – Neon/Construction • Tickets: o Single Session: $10 Students/$15 Adults o Tournament Pass (All 6 Sessions): $30 Students/$50 Adults • Ways to Watch: o TV: SDPB – 1 o SDPB.org: https://www.sdpb.org/hsactivities/sports/basketball/ o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytsk5mVNM_4 o James Valley TV: Special Events Ch 152 Good Luck, Tigers! Play Hard and Have Fun!

It's State Tournament Game Day #1, Tiger Nation! • #8 Groton Area vs. #1 Sioux Falls Christian • Thursday, March 20th - 12:00pm • Denny Sanford Premier Center - Sioux Falls, SD o Doors open at 11:00am • Theme – I Hate Winter/Hawaiian • Tickets: o Single Session: $10 Students/$15 Adults o Tournament Pass (All 6 Sessions): $30 Students/$50 Adults • Ways to Watch: o TV: SDPB – 1 o SDPB.org: https://www.sdpb.org/hsactivities/sports/basketball/ o YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdUfic2fD2w o James Valley TV: Special Events Ch 152 Good Luck, Tigers! Play Hard and Have Fun!

The Four Destination Imagination teams performed for OST today to get a practice with an audience. They will be presenting their solution to their challenge at the Eastern Regional Tournament in Webster on Saturday, March 22nd. Good Luck to all team members!

Mrs. Zoellner's 2nd graders became scientists as they explored two different science labs. Half of the class created mountains using soil and pebbles. They observed how the mountains changed when animals walked on them, wind blew across them, and water flowed down. The young scientists noticed that soil moved more easily than rocks. They also discovered that erosion was reduced when a layer of rocks protected the soil. The other half of the class built a coastal town using soil and pebbles, with sand representing the beach. They constructed a house on the soil and then observed what happened when they created waves using their spoons. The scientists noticed that some of the sand was pulled into the ocean, while some was deposited on land in a process called deposition. They also observed that placing rocks as a barrier between the water and soil helped prevent erosion and kept the house from moving. Very impressive, 2nd Grade Scientists!

State Boys Basketball Events: **Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19th - - The boys will be doing a Walk-Through the Elementary Halls tomorrow morning at 9am to be cheered on by all the Little Tigers looking up to them and admiring to be them one day! - After that, they will load the bus and get a Fire Truck Escort down Main Street around 9:15-9:30am. - If you are around and would like to honk/wave/cheer the Tigers on as they head to STATE, feel free to meet the team on Main Street tomorrow morning around 9:15am! **Sunday, March 23rd - - There will be a Welcome Home Celebration at 1pm in the GHS Arena, this event is open to the public! Here we go, Tigers!!

Congratulations to the following for being selected as Groton Area's MS/HS March Student of the month. Back left: Braydn Wipf ( 9th), Jordan Schwan (8th), Rylee Stoltenburg (6th) Front Left: Brooklyn Hansen (12th), Mia Crank (11th), McKenna Tietz (10th) Not Pictured: Sophia Fliehs (7th)

Congratulations to four Groton Area Athletes on being named to the All-Northeast Conference Basketball Teams! Junior, Ryder Johnson - First Team Junior, Jerica Locke - Second Team Junior, Keegen Tracy - Second Team Senior, Kennedy Hansen - Third Team Congratulations, Tigers!!

State A Basketball Information: GROTON’S FIRST GAME: • Thursday, March 20th at 12:00pm vs. Sioux Falls Christian • Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD THEMES FOR STATE GAMES: • Thursday – I hate Winter/Hawaiian • Friday – Neon/Construction • Saturday – State Shirts/Extreme Black & Gold TICKETS: • Single Session: $10 Students/$15 Adults • Tournament Pass (All 6 Sessions): $30 Students/$50 Adults • Tickets will be sold in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Premier Center • *Additional fees will apply when purchasing online tickets. BAG POLICY: • Denny Sanford PREMIER Center has a clear bag policy in place for all ticketed events to ensure the safety of all patrons and employees. • Opaque bags larger than 4.5” x 6.5” will not be allowed in our venue. • Clutch bags, fanny packs, and over-the-shoulder packs, (4.5” x 6.5” or smaller) that have a single over the shoulder, or cross-body strap that are made of a canvas, nylon, or leather material are permitted. • All bags are subject to search. PAYMENT ACCEPTED: • Concession stands are all cashless to help reduce wait times and get guests back to the action faster. • Will accept all major debit/credit cards as forms of payment. BROADCASTING: • SDPB TV • SDPB.org - https://www.sdpb.org/hsactivities/sports/basketball/ • YouTube – SDPB Livestreams – search 2025 SDHSAA Boys Class A Basketball • James Valley TV - Special Events Ch 152 More information regarding the State A Boys Basketball Tournament can be found at: https://www.sdhsaa.com/activity/boys-basketball-championships/