Selby Area School - Home of the Selby Area Lions & the Herreid/Selby Area Wolverines!

Buckle Up - Phone Down - Why this matters
Two of the biggest safety risks for vehicle occupants are not wearing a seatbelt and driving while distracted by a mobile device.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation reminds us that the “challenge is simple: when you get into any vehicle, buckle up your seatbelt. If you are a driver, put the cell phone down.”

Across states, campaigns like those run by the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are focused on reminding drivers of these two actions: buckle up + phone down.

What the campaign encourages
As a driver: Buckle your seatbelt. Put your phone down (or turn it off) before moving your vehicle.

As a passenger: Encourage the driver to do the same — wear a seatbelt, avoid distractions.

Every trip, every time. Not just on designated “safety weeks”. It’s a habit.

Why it works

Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most effective things a person can do to reduce the risk of death or serious injury if a crash happens. For example, in South Dakota, the state data says front‐seat passengers wearing seatbelts cut their chance of moderate to severe injury by 50% and dying by 45%.

Distracted driving (including using a phone) continues to be a major cause of traffic crashes. For example, in Wisconsin in 2024, there were over 9,000 crashes related to distracted driving, leading to 44 deaths and 3,530 injuries.

Tips for your school community
Encourage students and families to take the “Buckle Up & Phone Down” pledge.

Remind drivers: “If you must use your phone, pull over to a safe location.” Many campaigns emphasize that even hands-free isn’t risk-free.

Use visuals: The campaign often features a “thumb up / thumb down” pose (right thumb up, left thumb down) when taking the pledge for sharing via social media or in school communications.

Make it personal: ask “Why do you take the pledge?” (#WhyIBUPD) so it resonates in your school context.

Why does this fit our community?
At Selby Area School District, we care about safety — for students, families, staff, and the community. Whether someone is driving to school drop‐off, the bus is transporting students, or staff are traveling for events, the message is simple: Buckling up + avoiding phone distractions helps keep everyone safer on the road.

Call to Action
We invite every family, student, staff member, and community partner to join in. Take the pledge today:

🔗 Commit to buckling up every ride.
🔗 Commit to putting the phone down and giving your full attention when driving.

Together, we can shape a culture of safe habits — every trip, every time.

In an effort to begin a community discussion regarding a 4-day school week, the Selby Area School District is asking parents, guardians, and community members to complete this survey. The results will help guide initial conversations about the possibility of moving to a 4-day school week for the 2026–2027 school year.

Our goal is to better understand both potential concerns and potential support for this option. With area districts already operating on a 4-day schedule, we are exploring whether a similar structure may be beneficial for the Selby Area School District.

A community informational meeting will be held on Monday, November 24th, at 7:00 PM in the Selby Area School Gym. We encourage everyone to attend.

Thank you for your input and participation.

Congratulations to Porter Gregg and Jerzie Wudel, our October Students of the Month! They were chosen for their outstanding integrity and the positive example they set each day. Keep up the great work!

Title I Family Literacy Night & Book Fair!

Tuesday, November 18 • 3:300–5:30 PM
Selby Area Elementary School

Everyone is invited to join us as we roll out the red carpet for a night of family fun! Enjoy engaging literacy activities, explore the Book Fair, and share a meal with other families.

Supper will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Good luck to the Wolverine volleyball team as they play the winner of Wakpala and Sunshine Bible Academy in the second round of the region 6B tournament. The game will be in Herreid on Tuesday November 4th at 7:00 pm in Herreid. Activities tickets will not honored at this event since it is a state sanctioned event. Admission for the game will be $5 for students and $7 for adults. Information for region volleyball can be found on the following website-https://gobound.com/sd/sdhsaa/volleyball/2025-26/brackets/h20250617015946387ec5c7fa7a51646.