As grades are being entered and we wrap up our first quarter, we can't help but reflect on what a GREAT start to the school year it has been! We've had a quarter full of academic growth, learning, laughter, and so many fun memories with our students and staff.
Stay tuned as we share some of our favorite First Quarter Highlights from around Garfield! And what better way to kick things off than with a little fun at our principal's expense?! 😉
We celebrated a special Mrs. Skogstad Day, where staff surprised our principal by showing up in wigs, sporting USD and SDSU gear and Minnesota Vikings clothing, and spreading the message that Mrs. Skogstad loves her students NO MATTER WHAT! 😂💙
We love a school community that knows how to work hard, have fun, and make memories along the way!
Here's to a great first quarter and even more adventures ahead! 🦅💙🤍
Join us Thursday, November 5th, for an evening of BINGO, Prizes, Pizza, and fun with family and friends! 🍕🎲
📅 Thursday, November 5th
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
🍕 4:30 PM: Pizza will be served in the Multipurpose Room (Cafeteria).
🎱 5:00 PM: BINGO begins in the gym!
🍬 Don't forget to bring quarters and dollar bills! Students will have the opportunity to purchase candy throughout the evening.
We hope to see lots of our Eagle families there for a fun night together! 🦅❤️
💙 Today was a special day at Garfield as we celebrated our very own Mrs. Eilertson! 🦅
As she enters her final year of teaching, we had a wonderful surprise presentation recognizing her incredible 44 years in education, including 43 years at Garfield!
The surprise was made even more special by visits from the Sioux Falls Education Foundation, Superintendent Dr. Nold, and some of her biggest supporters—her husband, son, and grandson, who all came to celebrate this exciting milestone with her!
Mrs. Eilertson has made an incredible impact on generations of students, families, and staff at Garfield. We are so grateful for her dedication, passion, and the many years she has given to our school community.
Help us celebrate Mrs. Eilertson and this amazing milestone! Once an Eagle, always an Eagle! 💙🤍🦅
By Morgan Matzen | Sioux Falls Argus Leader
October 21, 2026, 8:14 a.m. CT
In Edwin Galindo’s orchestra classes at Garfield Elementary School, Mr. Galindo calls students “my friends;” patiently tunes violins, violas and cellos; rosins bows and walks students through the basics of music.
He helps the students warm up; teaches them about different notes and rests; explains the difference between piano, mezzopiano, mezzoforte and forte, which tell musicians how soft or loud to play; counts measures with them; and conducts their practice of “Jingle Bells,” Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and then “Kids” by MGMT, which they’re particularly excited to play.
It’s this patience, passion and dedication to music education that made Galindo a “Pass on the Music” honoree sponsored by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in partnership with the Argus Leader. The program honors individuals who make a lasting impact through performance, mentorship, education, volunteer service, or by encouraging others to pursue their passion for music and the arts.
As part of the honor, Galindo and his wife, Liliana Moreno, won two tickets to the Ravishing Rhapsodies show at the Symphony on Oct. 3.
Garfield Elementary School Principal Kristin Skogstad nominated Galindo for the honor. She said he’s helped the orchestra program grow, inspired more students to discover the joy of making music, and served as a positive role model for many.
“He is amazing,” Skogstad said.
Orchestra ‘most powerful instrument we have to express music’
It’s Galindo’s fifth year at Garfield. He came to Garfield from his home in Colombia, as he always wanted to work abroad and had heard good things about Sioux Falls from friends. He said he’s grateful Principal Skogstad gave him a chance, and he also loves that there’s a mix of cultures at Garfield and in the district.
“I feel very fortunate to be part of the Garfield community and to have the opportunity to share music with our students,” Galindo said. “I sincerely appreciate the support and trust I have received from the school throughout these years.”
Guess who stopped by Garfield to get everyone excited for tonight’s Glow Party?! 🍍💛 That’s right… SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS! 🧽💙 He came to spread the excitement and remind everyone to join us for a night of skating and fun!
📅 TONIGHT — Wednesday, October 28
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Skate City in Sioux Falls
🎟️ $5 admission
🛼 FREE skate rental
🍕 $5 meal deals available
🦅 Remember, if we reach 200 skaters, Garfield could earn back $1,000+ directly for our school! Bring your family, invite your friends, and help us fill the rink!
Let’s GLOW, skate, and show our Garfield Eagle spirit! 💚💖 We hope to see you there! 🛼✨
#GarfieldEagles #GarfieldGlowParty #SpongeBobSaysLetsGlow
Today, we’re excited to introduce Mr. Chris, Garfield’s Behavior Facilitator! 🦅 He has been part of the Garfield family for 4 years, helping our students succeed and thrive in the classroom. 💙
Originally from Sioux Falls, Mr. Chris attended the University of South Dakota and is currently working toward his master’s degree. 📚🎓
When he’s not at Garfield, Mr. Chris enjoys spending time with friends and his boy. He loves bowling, playing and coaching soccer, and spending time outdoors! ⚽🎳🌳
His reminder for all of us is a great one: “You only live once, so make the most of it!” 🙌
We’re thankful for the positive impact Mr. Chris makes at Garfield every day. Help us show him some Eagle pride! 💙🤍🦅
#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily
Get ready to GLOW, Garfield Eagles! 💚💖 Grab your family and join us for a fun night of skating at Skate City!
📅 Wednesday, October 28th
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Skate City — Sioux Falls
🎟️ $5 admission
🛼 FREE skate rental
🍕 $5 meal deals available
🦅 Let’s help Garfield earn $1,000+! If we reach 200 total skaters, Skate City will give back $1,000+ directly to our school!
We hope to see lots of our Garfield families there for a night of skating, glowing, and school spirit! 💙🤍✨
#GarfieldEagles #GarfieldGlowParty
Just like Spookley, we learned that we are ALL unique, and our differences make our classroom wonderful! 🌈💕 We talked about celebrating what makes us special, including everyone, and showing kindness and respect. In KO3, we lift each other up and make sure everyone feels loved, valued, and included! ❤️
After the story, we wrote about what makes each of us one of a kind and painted our very own pumpkins! 🎃 Just like us, no two pumpkins turned out exactly alike, and that's what made them BEAUTIFUL! 🧡
We’re excited to introduce Mrs. Becky, our Speech-Language Pathologist and a new member of the Garfield Eagles family! 🦅🗣️
This is Mrs. Becky’s first year at Garfield, and we’re so happy to have her supporting our students as they grow and develop their communication skills. She calls Homer, Nebraska, home and attended the University of South Dakota. ❤️💙
When she’s not at school, Mrs. Becky enjoys spending time with her husband, two kids, English Bulldog, and cat. Her family loves sports, especially football and baseball! They cheer on USD and Augustana, but her personal favorite is THE BILLS! 🏈❤️💙
A message she loves to share with everyone is: “Spread kindness like confetti!” 🎉✨
Help us give Mrs. Becky a warm Garfield welcome! We’re glad she’s part of our team! 💙🤍
#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily
Thanks to your kindness, our students had the opportunity to “shop” for supplies and fill their backpacks with items to help them start the school year prepared for success. Your generosity has made a positive difference for our students, families, and staff, and we are so grateful for your support of our Garfield Eagles!
Thank you, Border States, for helping us make sure our students have the tools they need to learn and grow! 🦅✏️📚
We’re excited to introduce Miss Koehler, one of our new 5th-grade teachers at Garfield Elementary! 🦅📚
Miss K is in her 6th year of teaching and is excited to be joining the Garfield family for her first year! She calls Groton, SD, home and earned her education degree from Northern State University. 💙💛
Outside the classroom, Miss K enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying active, playing sports and cards, and working on projects. She loves coming to school each day and seeing her kiddos! 🥰
A quote she loves sharing with others is: “To the world you may be one person, but to that one person you may be the world.” ❤️
We’re so happy to have Miss K as part of our Garfield Eagles team! Help us give her a warm Garfield welcome! 🦅💙🤍
#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily
Today we’re introducing the person who keeps our Garfield Eagles moving, learning, and building healthy habits—our K–5 Physical Education teacher, Mr. Kirsch! 🦅🏃♂️🏀
Mr. Kirsch has been teaching for an impressive 21 years! 🎉 He is originally from Sioux Falls and attended Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Sioux Falls during his educational journey. 🎓
When Mr. Kirsch isn’t teaching students about physical activity, healthy choices, and the importance of staying active, he keeps plenty busy outside of school, too! He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracy, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Ava, as well as running, exercising, and reading. 🏃♂️📚👨👩👧👧
And if you think his days slow down after the school bell rings, think again! Mr. Kirsch also coaches football and track at Patrick Henry Middle School and officiates middle school and sub-varsity basketball games. 🏈🏃♀️🏀 Talk about staying active!
One important lesson Mr. Kirsch believes in teaching and following is the Golden Rule:
✨ “Treat others how you would like to be treated.” ✨
It’s a simple but powerful reminder that kindness, respect, and treating others fairly are just as important as the lessons we learn in the gym! 💙🤍
🦅 We’re grateful to have Mr. Kirsch helping our Garfield Eagles stay active, make healthy choices, and learn the value of good sportsmanship!
\#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily #PhysicalEducation #PE #GoldenRule #21YearsTeaching
Help us celebrate our amazing September Leaders of the Month at Garfield Elementary! 🎉
These outstanding students were nominated by a staff member and then selected by Mrs. Skogstad for demonstrating exceptional leadership throughout the school. They work hard every day, show kindness to others, and put the 8 Habits into practice in their daily lives. We are so proud of the positive examples they set for their classmates and our entire Garfield community!
👏 Congratulations to our September Leaders of the Month!
⭐ Kindergarten: Kahlia
⭐ 1st Grade: Harley
⭐ 2nd Grade: Haleigh
⭐ 3rd Grade: Somita
⭐ 4th Grade: McKenna
⭐ 5th Grade: Scarleth
Today we’re shining the spotlight on Miss Erika, one of our amazing Educational Support Professionals (ESPs)! 🦅💙
Miss Erika has been part of the Garfield team for 4 years! 🎉 She is originally from Vermillion, South Dakota, and attended the University of South Dakota. And yes, we have another dedicated Yotes fan on our team! ❤️💙🐾
When she’s not helping our Garfield Eagles succeed at school, Miss Erika keeps busy with so many wonderful interests! She enjoys volunteering in the community, attending the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and other live music and theater events in Sioux Falls, singing in the choir at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, and working elections. 🎶🎭 She also loves cooking, gardening, and spending time with her dog, children, and grandchildren. 🌷🍳🐾💙
Miss Erika believes in a simple but powerful message that she shares with both students and adults:
✨ “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ✨
What a wonderful reminder that we can all make a difference right where we are, using the gifts and opportunities we already have! 💙🤍
We’re thankful for the time, care, and dedication Miss Erika brings to Garfield and for all the ways she helps our school community thrive! 🦅
💙🤍 Thank you for being part of what makes Garfield special, Miss Erika! 🤍💙
#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily #EducationalSupportProfessional #GoYotes #GarfieldProud
Just a reminder that we have one more evening of Parent-Teacher Conferences tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, from 3:30–7:00 PM!
📚 Scholastic Book Fair: Stop by the library to shop for some great books!
🍿 Popcorn Sales: Grab a delicious snack in the lobby while you’re here!
We look forward to seeing our Garfield families one more time this week! Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our Garfield family! 💙🤍🦅
Today we’re introducing one of our amazing 4th-grade teachers, Mrs. Jibben! 📚🦅
Mrs. J has been teaching for an incredible 29 years! 🎉 She is originally from Pierre, South Dakota, and earned her undergraduate degree from Mankato State University and her Master of Education from Southwest Minnesota State University. 🎓
When she isn’t helping our Garfield Eagles grow academically, Mrs. J enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and dog, reading, traveling to new places, and visiting family in Florida. ☀️🐾📚✈️ She also loves learning new things, and her latest passion is learning to play the piano! 🎹 How fun!
Mrs. J believes in an important reminder that encourages us to keep growing, even when something feels challenging:
✨ Choose courage over comfort! ✨
Whether she’s learning a new skill herself or encouraging her students to reach their potential, Mrs. J reminds us that growth often begins when we’re willing to step outside our comfort zones. 💙🤍
We’re grateful to have Mrs. J’s experience, curiosity, and dedication helping our 4th graders learn, grow, and discover what they’re capable of! 🦅💙
#GarfieldEagles #MeetOurStaff #GarfieldFamily #4thGrade #29YearsTeaching #CourageOverComfort
Get ready to GLOW, Garfield Eagles! 💚💖 Join us for a private skate party just for our Garfield students, staff, and families!
📅 Wednesday, October 28th
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Skate City in Sioux Falls
🎟️ $5 admission
🛼 FREE skate rental
🍕 $5 meal deals available!
Here’s an extra reason to join the fun! 🎉 If we reach 200 total skaters, Garfield will earn back $1,000+ directly for our school! So grab your family, invite your friends, and come glow with us while supporting Garfield!
Let’s light up the rink and show our Garfield Eagle spirit! 🦅💙🤍✨
#GarfieldEagles #GarfieldGlowParty #SchoolCommunity
We look forward to seeing our Garfield families today for Parent-Teacher Conferences from 12:00–7:00 PM! Be sure to check your student’s backpack for your scheduled conference time.
📖 Scholastic Book Fair: Stop by the library to browse some amazing books and find your next favorite read! You can view our webpage and set up an ewallet by clicking below.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/garfieldelementaryschool27
🍿 Popcorn Sales: Grab a tasty treat at the popcorn sale in the lobby while you’re here!
We can’t wait to see you today! Thanks for being part of our Garfield family! 💙🤍🦅