Meet 5-12 Band & 6-12 Vocal Director Mrs. Halsey

Greetings! I am excited to start my 6th year in the Wolsey-Wessington School District as the 5-12 Band and 6-12 Choir Director. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know the students, families, and community member during my past five years as a Warbird, and I am looking forward to meeting many more of you in the coming days. Pep Bands and Concerts are some of my favorite events because I get to visit with many of you! If you are at a school event and I haven't met you, please introduce yourself! 

A little about myself. I grew up in Huron and I am a sixth generation resident of Beadle County. After high school I attended the University of Sioux Falls for Instrumental/Vocal Music Education. I student taught at the Huron Middle School with Julie Berger and Larry Petersen and at Buchanan Elementary with Barbara Nicholas. After student teaching, I was hired as a Kindergarten Para at Buchanan School for a semester before I accepted my position with the Wolsey-Wessington School District. 

I have been married to Travis Halsey for six years and I love my summers off to spend time with him and our 2 year old daughter Lydia and little Simeon who will be 1 year old in November. We love our life as parents and enjoy making memories with our children. 

Other things our family enjoys are: visiting our family and friends, playing card games, going for walks, and working in our garden. Much of our time is spent at Living Hope Alliance Church were I lead worship and Travis is the youth director.  In my spare time I love to bake and decorate cakes. I have enjoy culinary for years and cake decorating has been a passion of mine since I was eleven. 

Personal Education Philosophy: 
I believe that every student is unique and has the ability to learn and excel in music if they are given the opportunities needed to develop their skills. I believe that a positive and motivated teacher is vital to encouraging students in their learning. I know each student brings their own learning styles to my classroom and that I must understand how they learn in order to teach effectively. I will motivate students through goal setting, weekly formative assessment, rewards, and positive reinforcement. I vow to daily involve students in the music learning process. My desire is to create well developed musicians that can perform with confidence.

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin
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"If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough." - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf