District Dialogue

SFSD wishes to recognize and thank Board Member Dawn Marie Johnson, who completed a 437 mile trek across South Dakota along with 11 other runners to bring awareness to the importance of mental health. The 437 Project highlights suicide prevention. Each year, 48000 people across the US die from suicide. The run raised more than $300,000 for suicide prevention programs through South Dakota’s 211 HelpLine Center and we’re grateful to Dawn Marie for bring voice to the importance of mental health.

Long-time Coordinator of Physical Education & Athletics Mark Meile joined an elite group of athletes as he was inducted into the South Dakota Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Mark retired from the District 3 years ago, but continues to play an active role in high school activities by supporting local and state-wide sporting events.

School safety for students and staff continues to be an important focus for all of us. Last week, as threats were circulating on social media, we were once again able to reflect on the incredible partnership we have with the Sioux Falls Police Department. Chief Jon Thum reminded us that amidst the investigations into social media threats he, like many of us, was dropping his kids off at our public schools because he believes our schools are safe.

That belief resulted in a collaborative video that has received more than 1000 views in just 4 days on YouTube. The District’s YouTube Channel has 10,500 followers. That, along with other tools like KLRN-TV, our cable access channel, our phone, email, and texting system, and our presence on Facebook with 14,000 followers and Instagram with nearly 3000 followers… allow us to communicate quickly with a large audience of people who indicate their desire to be engaged with the SFSD.

It is not lost on us that social media, when used for good, can be a powerful tool. But, when used by bad actors, it can cause real concerns. With that, we remind you to “Report, Don’t Repost.”

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation plays a vital role in creating innovative educational opportunities and addressing funding gaps that impact students and teachers. In addition to the 74 First Year Teacher Grants awarded, this year also saw the introduction of Replenish the Room Grants, which saw 120 grants awarded. The Foundation has held events in all SFSD buildings over the years, and the positive influence they foster is felt by many staff and students alike. Read more about the program in the board report below.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) predicts that by 2031, 72 percent of all jobs will require workers to have at least some postsecondary credential or training beyond high school. District graduates continue to pursue enrollment in postsecondary institutions over time due to delayed entrance – a 64% overall average at any time during the first two years after high school from 2016 to 2023. The top three schools SFSD graduates have enrolled in from 2015-2022 are:

• University of South Dakota - 1,331 students
• South Dakota State University - 1,142 students
• Southeast Technical College - 612 Students

To learn more about postsecondary enrollment trends for SFSD graduates, please see the full report below.

The Sioux Falls School District has maintained a comprehensive emergency management plan for over 30 years, evolving to meet modern needs. Community partnerships remain vital to maintaining school safety, including the long standing relationship with the Sioux Falls Police Department. SFSD has built a strong and reliable foundation to ensure safe schools. Continuing to fortify that foundation while researching ways to enhance and improve protocols will provide the greatest opportunity for continued success. View the full Safe and Secure Schools school board report below.

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation is requesting proposals for our 2024 Excellence in Education initiative, a program that awards grants to area teachers to help bring innovative classroom projects to life.

Classroom teachers from all grade levels in Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, and Turner counties are eligible to apply. This includes childcare providers from nonprofit centers and teachers at parochial, private, and public schools.

Apply online today! Applications are due by Saturday, Sept. 30, 2024.

This week's SFSD All-Star is Abby Wheeler at Central Services! Abby was nominated by her colleague Robin, who had this to say, "I really, really, really feel that Abby should be named an All Star! Customer service is a strong point with Abby. She has the patience of a saint with those she talks to on the phone as well as those who visit the department for information and help. She has a quick sense of humor and is so friendly to all she engages with. She is very knowledgeable and has a desire to learn new things and how to work things better. She has a charitable heart and looks for ways to make life better for those around her. She is calm, cool and collected when speaking to those who who might not be so friendly and she is very understanding and reaches out to help in any way she can. She is organized and artistic. She is a joy to work with personally and I'm glad I can call her a coworker as well as a friend. The effort she puts out on problem solving and collaborating with others is tremendous. We should all have an Abby in our department! I'm glad she's in ours!"

Thank you, Abby, for being an embodiment of the SFSD Experience!

Do you have a coworker or colleague who is constantly going above and beyond? Do you notice when somebody is going out of their way to make a student's day just a little bit brighter? Do you have a staff member who consistently brings their best, day in and day out? We want to hear about it! We know that amazing things happen every day in every building of the Sioux Falls School District, and we need your help to tell those stories. Follow the above info (or click the link below) to nominate a coworker to be recognized for their amazing dedication to the work of SFSD.

All last week, leading up to the International Day of Peace, Robert Frost/Challenge Center students were learning about, and putting into action, plans for peace: inner peace, conflict resolution among classmates, and thoughts and ideas for peace far beyond the walls of their school. Everything culminated on Thursday with an inflatable race and field day in the morning, and the Peace Fest for the community in the evening. For a truly rewarding experience, make sure to watch the fun run video posted below!

SHINE stands for Scholarship, Honors, Innovation, Networking and Exceptionalism. We’re looking for stories we can tell about high school seniors, any-age students, staff (yes, you can and should absolutely fill out this form for yourself!), projects and programs. Have a new partnership that is benefitting the classroom? Win a grant you think the world should know about? Get nominated for or receive a state-wide, regional or national honor? Know a senior stand-out on a team, in the fine arts arena, or in the classroom? How about younger students who are leading by example, making giving to charity a priority, or are making the most of a bad situation? Should a program or portion of your school be highlighted? What about some current projects: experiments, field trips, new collaborative lessons?

Send your suggestions today, and keep this in mind for the days, weeks and months ahead!

Sports offer huge benefits to the girls involved: Leadership opportunities, scholarship possibilities, and self-development are just a few. But perhaps most important - it's FUN to participate and spend time with friends old and new! Learn about high school sports opportunities for girls in the Sioux Falls School District.

Imagine Solutions Conference is a nationally known thought leader conference that brings world-class visionaries to share ideas on today's most relevant issues. The conference offers an impressive speaker lineup in topics, such as Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Arts, Music and much more. We are excited to provide Sioux Falls School District teachers the opportunity to attend this year's conference virtually. Registered attendees will receive a link to the recorded videos.

During the past 14 years, the Imagine Solutions Conference (ISC) has brought together more than 550 world-class experts to learn, springboard, and leverage their capabilities to effectively address social issues. Their mantra, "a profound respect for learning" mirrors the heart and soul of teachers who "love to learn." The ISC Virtual Learning Program for the Sioux Falls School District was created out of these beliefs, allowing all teachers to participate for free.

All registered teachers qualify for 5 hours of professional development for registering and completing a brief survey after watching all of the videos.

Wondr Health is a free weight loss course available for SFSD employees and spouses on the medical plan. Applications are accepted 09/16/24 - 09/30/2024. And the program will begin 10/07/2024. More information at wondrhealth.com/SFSD and see below:

Wondr Stories Video

Wondr Blog SMART-ER

Wondr Personal Pizza Recipe

The South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS) has created Retire Ready, a new virtual format for group presentations. The SDRS Retire Ready series will consist of four short presentations, all designed to increase your financial awareness and help you prepare for retirement. All SDRS members, at any stage of their career, will benefit from the information provided. These 45-60 minute presentations are held via ZOOM every Wednesday on a rotating-basis.

Q&A Session: Ask your questions and get answers from SDRS staff. Every session will have unique questions from our members, so feel free to tune in often.

September 25, 2024 | 7:00 PM (CT)

Register via Zoom

Political Anxiety

Political divisions and anxiety have recently impacted our world in a way many of us have never before experienced. Regardless of our political affiliation, there are ways to avoid this stress, and not be fearful of family gatherings turning confrontational over politics. This course offers participants the strategies to acknowledge our differences, identify the areas of our lives that we can control, and engage with each other in a respectful way that mitigates political anxiety.

October 9th, 2024 | 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Register Online!

Holiday Survival Guide

For many, the holiday season is a wonderful time for celebration, family gatherings and joyful memories. For others, it's a time of sadness and, possibly, a feeling of being overwhelmed. In this seminar, participants examine sources of holiday stress and learn strategies for coping and managing their emotions, time, relationships and finances. Participants will also share ideas for organizing holiday tasks, managing holiday demands, and explore the role of holiday traditions in our lives.

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

The Sioux Falls School District and Included Health have teamed up to support you and your family’s overall health at no cost to you*. From colds, coughs, prescription refills, and everything in between, Included Health is here to help.

• See a doctor online for urgent and everyday health care.
• Get matched with an in-network doctor near you.
• Get a second opinion from a leading specialist.
• And More!

*Included Health is available to all Sioux Falls School District employees covered by the district’s medical insurance.

Get started today at www.includedhealth.com/sfsd or by calling 1-800-929-0926.

Stress is a national epidemic and as the summer fades, and another school year begins, stress tends to peek. Stress management and resilience building are particularly important to your overall health. Here are several tips to help:

Recognize and counter signs of stress: Your body sends signals that it’s stressed, including difficulty concentrating, headaches, cold hands, tight muscles, a nervous stomach, clenched teeth, feeling on edge, fidgety, irritable or withdrawn. Knowing how your body communicates can help you deal with stressful moments. Learn to not only recognize but also to name these feelings, either to oneself or to a friend. Then, take action to counter their effects. For example, deep breathing, stretching, going for a walk, writing down your thoughts and taking quiet time to focus can help induce relaxation and reduce tension

Take time for yourself: Make taking care of yourself a daily routine. It’s not selfish or self-indulgent — and it might require saying “no” to requests or prioritizing yourself along with your responsibilities. Start with small changes in your routine to help build resilience to stressful circumstances. Work in time to exercise, eat healthy foods, participate in relaxing activities and sleep. In fact, including a regimen of exercise, which for some may include yoga or meditation, can be very important when feeling stressed. Also, take time to notice the “good minutes” in each day or to do something that you enjoy, such as reading a book or listening to music, which can be a way to shift your attention and focus on the positive rather than the negative.

Try new routines: From scheduling baths and bedtimes to blocking off time to plan and prioritize tasks, additional structure can provide a daily framework that allows you to attune to your body’s signals. Then, you can take steps to potentially manage stress earlier than you once did.

Stay connected and make new friends: Stay in touch with family, friends and groups in your life — technology makes this easier than ever. Having or being a person to talk with can be reassuring and calming. Using video features can enhance the connection in telecommunication or online communications for some people.

Recognizing individual signals of a body’s stress responses and learning to respond to those signals in new ways can help build the emotional, intellectual and physical strength that comprise resilience, which can help you tackle future stressors.

Adapted from Sand Creek