District Dialogue

We are once again approaching the flu season. Getting a flu shot protects you and your loved ones from getting and spreading the influenza virus. Please see the following web link to learn more about influenza and the flu vaccine https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm. In an effort to keep staff and students healthy throughout the flu season, the Sioux Falls School District will offer flu shots to employees and their spouses.

The next flu shot clinic for school district employees and spouses will be:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – IPC in Board Rooms from NOON – 6:00 PM

District employees and spouses NOT on Sioux Falls School District Insurance- cost is $20.

District employees and spouses on Sioux Falls School District Insurance- cost is FREE. (Must bring a copy of your district health insurance card).

Please call Health Services with any questions 367-7926.

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is currently accepting Public School Proud Grant proposals. Applications are due Monday, December 2nd at 12 p.m. Any teacher in the Sioux Falls School District can apply for up to $10,000 to purchase materials that will give students hands-on, immersive opportunities. We awarded $120,000 in funding in 2024, and we expect to award a record number of grants in 2025. In the past, the Education Foundation has funded grants for 3D printers, programmable robots, art supplies, social emotional learning materials, aero gardens, specialized PE and music materials for students with limited mobility, task boxes, musical instruments, STEM kits, podcasting equipment, math manipulatives, cybersecurity software, automotive technology tools, flight simulators, cardio drumming equipment, job skills training materials, literacy kits, health science simulation mannequins, and more.

To submit your application, please download the attachment below and complete. Send the completed form as a Word document to Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us

Laura Brennan is an ambassador for the Sioux Falls School District with newcomers to the US and our state. She is often the first contact families have with our school system, and one of the longest-trusted people they know they can return to. Whether she's helping families in the Community Engagement Center, teaching classes at LSS, placing students in appropriate learning settings, or monitoring their progress, she does it with a compassion and perspective uniquely suited to the needs of children and parents alike. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your passion with families and students across SFSD!

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. Recognize a coworker for their amazing dedication to the work of SFSD.

October marks the celebration of Physical Therapy Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the valuable role physical therapy plays in improving lives. This month provides the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work that PTs and PTAs do every day, helping students overcome challenges and enhance their quality of life. We honor their dedication and commitment to supporting students and individuals in reaching their full potential. Thank you for your unwavering efforts!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a critical time to raise awareness about the impact of bullying and reinforce our commitment to creating a safe, supportive environment for all students. As educators and staff, we play a key role in preventing bullying by promoting kindness, inclusion, and respect within our schools. Let's continue to stay vigilant, foster positive relationships, and ensure that every student feels valued and safe. Thank you for your dedication to making our schools bully-free zones!

October is National Principal’s Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and leadership of our school principals. They play a vital role in shaping the success of our schools and supporting both students and staff. Let’s take a moment this month to show our appreciation for their tireless efforts in creating positive and thriving learning environments. Thank you to all our principals for everything you do!

October 16th is National Boss’s Day, a special opportunity to recognize the leadership, guidance, and support our supervisors and administrators provide throughout the year. Their dedication to fostering a positive and productive work environment is essential to the success of our schools and staff. Let’s take a moment to show our appreciation for their hard work and commitment. Happy National Boss’s Day to all the amazing leaders who help make our workplace stronger every day!

Need to get Halloween-ready? We've got you covered with scary good prices on all your spooky essentials. And with the holidays approaching fast, why not start planning now? Whether it's a dream vacation or the perfect gifts for loved ones, we offer unbeatable savings to make this holiday season the best one yet.

Enrolling is quick, easy and free! Just visit https://sf.savings.workingadvantage.com to start saving today!

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?

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.

SDRS members are often contacted by outside groups wanting to advise them on their retirement accounts, even their SDRS benefits. While many professionals provide legitimate and valuable financial advisory services, members should know that SDRS is the most reliable source for accurate and timely information about your SDRS benefits. As such, the SDRS office should be your first point of contact with questions about your SDRS benefits. SDRS has knowledgeable staff who are fully trained on the laws and rules governing SDRS to better serve you in your retirement planning. Members may contact the SDRS office directly by calling 605-773-3731 or emailing SDRSweblink@state.sd.us.

Reminders

• Generally, SDRS will never call or email to request confidential or personal information unless you have recently contacted our office or initiated a process or change. In such cases as these, SDRS may respond as necessary. Emails from SDRS staff will always have @state.sd.us in the email address. Many SDRS communications, such as newsletters and event notifications, will come from sdrs.communications@state.sd.us.
• SDRS materials will have the SDRS logo, list our website (www.sd.gov/sdrs), or include our phone number (605-773-3731). If you are unsure if an email or other communication is from SDRS, please call the SDRS office.
• SDRS will never charge a fee to speak with one of our representatives or to attend an SDRS event, such as individual retirement consultations, group workshop forums, or employer training sessions.
• Other than Nationwide Retirement Solutions (NRS), which administers the SDRS Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP), SDRS does not work with or endorse any external businesses for financial planning services.

For more information, visit the SDRS website (https://www.sd.gov/sdrs).

Click HERE to view the notice.

*This notice applies to you or your covered family members who are or become eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage. If this notice does not apply to you, you can disregard it.

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Sioux Falls School District and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.

Questions? Email benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

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.

SDRS Financial Literacy | October 16th, 2024 from 10:00am to 11:00am

Build on your budgeting and savings skills and increase your awareness of the many challenges we encounter during our careers and into retirement. Be empowered to take charge of your finances and be more prepared for retirement.

Click HERE to register!

SDRS & SDRS-SRP Q & A | October 23rd, 2024 from 10:00am to 11:00am

Don’t take your co-worker’s word or office water cooler talk as truth. This Q&A session is a fantastic opportunity to ask your questions and get answers directly from SDRS staff who know the system and its benefits inside and out! Every session will have unique questions from our members.

Click HERE to register!

SandCreek, our Employee Assistance Program, is free, confidential, and available to ALL Sioux Falls School District employees and their family members. As a part of their extensive list of offerings, SandCreek offers FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of topics. VBelow are a couple upcoming ones!

To register for a SandCreek account, visit www.SandCreekEAP.com and click the “Sign Up” link just below the Log In button. Enter siouxfalls as your company code and complete the signup process! A confirmation email will be sent to complete the registration.

Holiday Survival Guide

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

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.

Register Online!

We've all been there—tossing, turning, and fruitlessly attempting to catch some shut-eye. It’s time to break free from restless nights with this four-week challenge. Join us and discover simple, sustainable strategies for achieving your best rest. Those who complete the challenge will earn 20 points towards their 60 point program goal!

• Registration Closes OCTOBER 21ST
• Challenge Dates: October 14th to November 10th (The last day to record is November 17th.)
• Requirements to Complete: Track your daily hours of sleep (at least 1 hour per day) for at least 20 of 28 days.

Visit www.sfsdwellness.com to learn more and register for Your Best Rest!

This challenge is part of the SFSD Wellness Program and is available to all SFSD staff and spouses covered on the district’s medical plan.

Questions on the wellness program? Contact our Benefits Specialist at (605) 367-7661 or at benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us.

Treat smarts

• All treats and no tricks makes Halloween enjoyable for everyone.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out.
• Carrying a glow stick is one way to see and be seen as night wears on, but did you know that the luminescent liquid inside a glow stick is minimally toxic in small amounts? Do not allow children to chew on glow sticks. Symptoms of ingestion can include mouth or throat irritation and vomiting. Better yet take a flashlight.
• Children are curious and put all sorts of things in their mouths. Confusing medicine with candies can make Halloween go from spooky to scary. Practice safe medication storage. Keep all medications and vitamins, including your emergency supply, up and away and out of reach and sight of children to avoid confusion with Halloween treats.
• Halloween can be tricky for children with food allergies. Parents: always read labels (avoid treats without labels), carry an epinephrine auto-injector (if prescribed), and learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project®, an initiative started by Food Allergy Research and Education to provide non-food treats, such as stickers, school supplies, and small toys, to kids with allergies.

Street smarts

• The frightening fact is that, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. As a parent or caregiver, here are a few important rules of the road to share with your costumed pedestrians before stepping out.
• Prepare your trick or treater with trick or treat safety items: a flashlight, reflective tape or strips applied to costumes and candy bags, and an emergency contact information card in case they get lost or separated from the group.
• Trick or treat as part of a large group with a responsible adult.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Look both ways before crossing the street at a crosswalk or intersection. Walk, don’t run between houses to avoid trips and falls.

Caution with costumes

Your little princess or goblin is itching to hit the trick-or-treat trail, but is their costume safe?

• Do NOT wear decorative contact lenses without a prescription. Decorative lenses purchased without a prescription may not fit properly, leaving the eye more susceptible to scratches on the outer layer of the eye, or getting an ulcer (an open sore) on the cornea—the clear covering over the front of the eye.
• Painting your face can be fun alternative to wearing a mask. Test novelty makeups in small area on the arm to test for an allergic reaction before applying it to your face. Remove all makeup according to the manufacturers’ instructions before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Make sure costumes fit well to avoid blocked vision and help prevent trips and falls.
• Choose costume accessories that are short, soft (i.e., made of plastic or foam) and flexible.

Adapted from the CDC - Center for Disease Control