Eugene Field A+ Elementary School

To many, the thought of starting a new career later in life isn’t ideal. When you’ve lived as many lives as Allison Mickelson, however, you view it as an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

➡️ Read the full profile on the Eugene Field A+ Elementary School arts teacher at https://siouxfallsstage.org/blog/june-2026/theatre/finding-yourself-off-the-map

Our staff spent the past two days diving deep at our A+ Retreat, exploring the A+ Essentials alongside four incredible A+ Fellows who guided our work and pushed our thinking. We’re energized and ready to put it all into action in the 2026–27 school year!

Wishing all of our students, families, and staff a happy, safe, and relaxing summer break! ☀️ We are so grateful for another amazing year at EFA+ and can’t wait to welcome our students back in August for more learning, growth, and fun.

— The EFA+ Staff 💙

We had a wonderful last day of school at EFA+!

Our 5th graders kicked off the morning celebrating at Union Social, and later we honored both our graduating seniors — representing high schools all across Sioux Falls and Tea — and our graduating 5th graders during our annual Grad Walk. Our returning Eagles also got a sneak peek at next year during SOAR Up as they met their new teachers!

Some of the most heartwarming moments came when former Eagles, now graduating seniors, revisited some of their favorite spots in the building one last time — drawing in the art room and playing four square on the playground, just like old times.

It was a beautiful ending to an amazing school year. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making this year so special. Happy summer, Eagles! 🦅☀️

Today we celebrated Multiple Intelligences Day at EFA+! As part of the 25th anniversary of our A+ School, this year’s theme was “25 Acts of Kindness.”

Students participated in meaningful, hands-on projects designed to give back to our community, with the support and guidance of many incredible local organizations. From start to finish, the day was filled with creativity, collaboration, compassion, and service.

It was truly a fulfilling experience for everyone involved, and we are so grateful to our community partners for helping make this special day possible!

All 5th graders collaborated on a vibrant mural inspired by the artwork of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Students also created their own Basquiat inspired pieces using a variety of mediums, bold graffiti-style elements, and his iconic crown symbol, representing respect, success, and power.

The creativity didn’t stop with the students! Even our ESP, Mr. Joe, was inspired to create his own artwork and generously gifted a piece to each 5th grader.

Today our students participated in the EFA+ Arts Quest! Students rotated through a variety of activities inspired by the Multiple Intelligences, exploring creativity, movement, teamwork, problem-solving, and more.

While many of our original rotations were planned for a beautiful sunny day outdoors, our “Plan B” activities turned out to be just as engaging and fun!

Our 4th graders wrapped up the school year in social studies by diving into the War of 1812! 🇺🇸

Students explored major military events, discussed important historical figures, and examined how the war impacted the young United States. To showcase their learning, they stepped into the role of historians and journalists by creating their own newscasts or newspapers. 📰🎥

From breaking news reports to creative headlines, students shared their projects with classmates while bringing history to life through creativity, collaboration, and communication!