This week we put the spotlight on another teacher that we are very appreciative to have in our district. Mr. Tate DeJong is a positive light in our school and we are very thankful for the influence he has on both staff and students in the building with the multiple roles he serves!
Staff Spotlight - Mr. DeJong - 9-12 English Language Arts Teacher, Student Council Advisor, Yearbook Advisor, Esports Coach, and Golf Coach
About Me -
I grew up on a ranch in the Badlands of Western South Dakota. My four siblings and I graduated from Philip High School where my mother remains the guidance counselor. Like three of my siblings, I attended SDSU, attaining a degree in Communication Studies. After graduation, I worked on campus as an admissions counselor visiting high schools and working with students on the college application process. After a couple of years as an admissions counselor, I did some substitute teaching in the Sioux Falls area while pursuing a graduate degree in Secondary Education through BHSU. This is my fifth year teaching at Centerville and my first as a married man. The attached pictures are of me with my beautiful bride, Marlee, and my immediate family, as well as a picture with all of our nieces and nephews on Marlee's side. Marlee is an SLP with the Harrisburg School District.
Favorites -
My favorite colors are blue and gray. Outside of purple and gold, those seem to be the only colored clothes I have. My favorite animals are cattle; my favorite food is steak. The best drinks are coffee in the morning and chocolate milk all of the time. Hobbies include reading, of course, books/plays with my close friends and wife (yes, my friends and I get together to read Shakespeare plays), squeezing my nieces and nephews, golfing, and watching sports.
Memory -
My favorite memories at CHS that continuously stick with me are seeing the student's faces as they walk into my room each day. It may not always be a face of excitement, but it is a face that is there at the school. The best memories are forged in the mundane and repetitive things in life. Seeing the students show up each day is the type of thing I look back upon when I am nostalgic and reminiscent.
Why Statement - Why did you choose and continue to choose to be in the world of education?
My path to working in education began when I was visiting High Schools as an admissions counselor. Being at the schools made me realize I could have a greater impact on a student's life as a teacher. After beginning to pursue my graduate degree, I was fortunate enough to land a job teaching High School English in Centerville, SD. I was and continue to be grateful to teach in a small town in South Dakota. We are fortunate to have, what I perceive to be, an excellent batch of students. The students are what make this job great. Seeing the students' bright, smiling, and occasionally grumbly faces each day keeps me going! Even if they aren't always excited to be here, I am excited they are here.
12/17 More basketball games at home tonight vs Freeman Academy/Marion. Schedule will be as follows:
4:30 pm JV Girls 2 quarters
5 pm JV Boys
6:15 pm Varsity Girls
Halftime Twisters Perform
7:45 pm Varsity Boys
All Games are in the purple gym. They will be livestreamed on liveticket tv with Joe Van Goor on the call:
https://tornadoes.liveticket.tv/
Save some time this Christmas and let National Honor Society wrap your gifts for you! Details are in the attached flyer.
Our lost and found has grown to big! Please take a look at the pictures to see if any of the items belong to your children. The lost and found will be set up in the commons area at the basketball games today and tomorrow. Please take what is yours! Please contact the school office if you see something that belongs to your child but you are unable to get to the games to claim them. Items left after tomorrow's game will be donated.
12/16: We will have a lot of basketball action tonight at home. All games in the purple gym:
4 pm JHGBB vs Gayville-Volin
5 pm JHBBB vs Gayville-Volin
6 pm JVGBB vs West Sioux
7 pm JV BBB vs West Sioux
All games livestreamed at: https://tornadoes.liveticket.tv/
You will need to switch to a new game every time. There are 4 different streams to watch throughout the night
12/14 Junior High Girls Basketball Great Plains Conference Tournament cancelled due to road conditions.
Dress-Up Days for Happy Holidays Spirit Week!
12/13/24 Basketball action tonight at Canistota. Schedule is;
4 pm C team Boys main gym
5 pm JV Girls main gym Boys Barn
6:15 pm Varsity Girls Main gym
7:30 pm Varsity Boys Main gym
Dakota State University has signed another Tornado to one of their athletic programs. Miles Eide will play wide receiver for the Trojans Football team! Great to see the student athletes continue to excel after high school. Good luck Miles!
This week we put the spotlight on a member of our administration who has not only devoted the majority of his career to serving our school district, but also he and his family have devoted themselves to the entire Centerville Community. We are very grateful for all that Mr. Doug Edberg has done and continues to do for Centerville!
Staff Spotlight - Doug Edberg - 6-12 Principal and Athletic Director
About Me:
I graduated from Centerville High School in May of 1991. September of that year I went to Navy boot camp. After completing my time in the Navy I decided to go to college. I graduated from the University of South Dakota in May of 2000. I began my teaching career with Alcester-Hudson. I moved to the Viborg school district in 2006 to be closer to family. In 2010 I was approached by Mr. Voss about a vacancy in Centerville. I have been at the Centerville School District since. In 2013, I graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. I have been an administrator in the Centerville School District ever since completing my Master's. My family includes my wife, Jamie, who is the school Librarian, our son, Cole, a Freshman at Dakota Wesleyan University our daughters Chloe, who is a freshman and Claire, who is a 7th grader at Centerville. We are also blessed with 2 dogs Belle and Wrigley to round out our family.
Favorites:
Anyone that spends a short amount of time with me knows my favorites are the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cubs, and all-time favorite Centerville Tornadoes. My hobby currently is the Centerville Steakhouse--not much time for anything else. I feel my new hobby, which I will finally be able to start in a few weeks after the sale of the Steakhouse, will be spending much needed time with my family.
Memory:
There have been several great memories in the years at CHS. I think my favorite is being able to watch my children grow up in a wonderful district with an amazing staff and community. Watching our girls win a State Basketball Championship was pretty cool as well.
Why Statement:
One of the biggest reasons I chose education was thanks to a teacher and coach in my life. Dan Evans made a huge impact on me, which I wouldn't realize until I was older as those things aren't as clear to a teenage boy. I followed in his footsteps and became a math teacher and coach. His ability to get to know each student was the role I wanted to base my teaching style on. The reason I wanted to be an athletic administrator was thanks to Jim Dorman. His passion and enthusiasm for activities cannot be matched. There are many other people along the way that made a huge difference in my career I couldn't begin to name them all. I have been given the opportunity to work with amazing staff members in every district I have stepped foot in. In the end, we all know that the students are the reason we get up every morning.
Lost and Found-A key and key fob for a GMC vehicle were found under the bleachers in the Gold Gym after last night's JH BBB games. Please contact the school office to identify and claim.
12/10/24: 3:45 pm 7th followed by 8th JH Boys Basketball vs Viborg-Hurley @ Home. All games will be in the gold gym. No livestream available.
12/10/24 7 pm Girls Varsity only basketball game @ Gayville-Volin. Come out and support the girls as they open up the 24-25 basketball season!
The game will be livestreamed on the Gayville-Volin Youtube channel.
Below are the totals for the various classes. We had 8 boxes of food and 1 of tie blankets (made by NHS members)!
PK - 20
K - 63
1st - 65
2nd - 15
3rd - 105
4th - 65
5th - 31
6-12th - 44
Grand Total: 408 items!!!!
3rd grade won and will receive a prize. Thank you to everyone that brought in items! Thank you also to Anna M who helped organize and run the drive and Anna, Riley, and Wyatt B for helping carry the full boxes!
12/9/24 7 pm tonight 5-12 Winter Concert. If you can't make it we will do the best we can to go Facebook Live.
12/9 Reminder Mini Twisters will have practice after school today in the Commons.
The GBB apparel store is open until tomorrow morning at 11 AM if you are still looking for some Christmas gift ideas or just in need of some new Tornado gear!
https://dadesigns605.com/pages/centerville-girls-basketball
Good luck Oral Interpretation team @ State in Sturgis tomorrow!
A good deed of the day in the elementary was given to 3rd Grade student Leah Morphew by our head of maintenance John Jochims. He said, "As kids were coming in from recess Leah was preventing an argument between two other students and kindly help them diffuse the situation. She showed that she really cared about kids being kind to one another." Thanks for promoting a positive environment in our school Leah!!
Junior National Honor Society member Anna Marohl is organizing the NHS food drive this year. See the attached flyer for more information. Thank you Anna, Miss Davis (NHS advisor), and all NHS students for taking charge and putting this together!
