District Dialogue

This week, we are celebrating all the incredible people who make our schools special places for students to learn and grow!

From teachers and counselors to nurses, nutrition pros, education assistants, administrative staff, custodians, substitutes, and so many others, you all are the heart of what makes our schools thrive.

Thank you for everything you do to make a difference in the lives of our students. Let's celebrate YOU this week and the amazing future we are building together!

Education Support Professionals (ESPs) are the incredible people behind the scenes who keep our schools running smoothly. From clerical and custodial staff to child nutrition, health, and security teams—they do it all!

Since 1987, the Wednesday of American Education Week has been set aside to recognize their amazing work. A huge THANK YOU to all SFSD ESPs for keeping our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn. You are essential to our success!

Substitute teachers are the educational bridges that keep learning going strong when regular teachers are away. We’re giving a big shoutout to all the amazing substitute teachers who step in and keep things running smoothly in our classrooms. You help our students keep learning and growing, and we’re so grateful for everything you do!

Thank you for being such an important part of our schools!

The Sioux Falls School District is proud to partner with Vern Eide Motorcars to present this prestigious annual award. Thanks to Vern Eide's generous support, the Teacher of the Year will receive a $4,000 prize!

Please help us recognize and honor the tremendous contributions of outstanding classroom teachers* by submitting a nomination!

Criteria for Selection include:

• Differentiates instruction based on meeting students needs

• Designs engaging lessons to improve classroom and/or school culture

• Inspires students to recognize their potential impact & role in the larger community

In addition, at least one of the topics must be chosen to explain how this nominee excels in that area(s):

• Desire for professional growth

• Community involvement

• Dedication to the teaching profession

• Rapport with students, parents, and staff

*A classroom teacher is a person who has a class of their own & spends at least three or more hours per day, five days a week, for six or more calendar months during a school year in a classroom teaching students. School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are NOT eligible.

The South Dakota State Library, a division of the SD Department of Education, has recognized five SFSD schools with the "21st Century School Library Award". Recipients this year were Lincoln, Washington, and Roosevelt high schools, and Terry Redlin and Laura Wilder Elementary. They join the ranks of many SFSD schools in this recognition, and the award will last for the next three years. SFSD libraries are amazing spaces of learning and exploration, where librarians inspire students to fall in love with reading and creativity!

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?

We are excited to introduce you to our next Staff Star, Robert Johnson! Johnson is the morning custodian at Eugene Field Elementary. He was nominated for this award by his colleague Blair Brunstaing, who shared amazing things about Robert's consistent dedication and positive attitude!

Blair describes how Robert goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and cleanliness of EF's school grounds each day. From clearing sidewalks and the playground in winter to checking the integrity of the fencing and playground equipment, he’s always looking out for the well-being of Eugene Field students. He can often be seen picking up trash while walking the grounds, a true testament to his care for our environment!

Beyond his hard work, Robert is known for his warm interactions with students. He makes it a point to learn their names, shares moments of encouragement, and uses teachable moments when guiding them. Whether it’s a friendly side hug or a gentle correction, students and staff alike appreciate his kindness and commitment.

Thank you, Robert, for everything you do!

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.

Last year, Sarah Henrichs, Kelsey Burns, and Erin McFarland from McGovern Middle School received a $2,315 Public School Proud Grant to purchase adaptive PE equipment. Here they are taking a spin on their specialized trikes!

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. The Education Foundation awarded $120,000 in funding in 2024, and expect to award a record number of grants in 2025.

Applications are due Monday, December 2nd at 12 pm! ⏰

Apply by downloading the application below (it's only three questions!) and send the completed form as a Word document to Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us 👇👇👇

Join us for this classic tale filled with holiday nostalgia, laughter, and iconic moments. Will Ralphie get his Red Ryder BB gun? Only one way to find out! We “triple dog dare you” to be there!

Showtimes:

📌 Thursday, November 21st, at 7 PM

📌 Friday, November 22nd, at 7 pm

📌 Saturday, November 23rd, at 2 PM

Come support our talented student performers and get into the holiday spirit!

(Scan the QR code on the poster to purchase tickets or buy at the door!)

Their first of three events will be held at Garfield Elementary on Tuesday, December 3rd, from 4:30-7 pm. These family-friendly events are a collaborative effort between the Sioux Falls School District and Community Learning Centers, local healthcare providers, and health and wellness professionals across the community.

Here's what you can look forward to at this FREE come-and-go event!

• Over 50 vendors providing free community resources
• Free health screenings
• Interactive activities for kids
• $1,000+ in door prizes at each event.

Door prizes will be announced every hour. Bring the whole family to explore health and wellness in our community! We hope to see you there!

Please consider signing up to volunteer or donating to our hygiene kit fund for students this holiday season!

Monetary donations can be sent to the SFSD Office of Indian Education

201 E. 38th Street. Sioux Falls, SD 57105. Memo line: Winter Solstice

Sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below!

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 | November 20th, 2024 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm

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!

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. Below are a couple upcoming ones!

Unable to attend the webinar live? SandCreek has recorded versions of all past webinars available in their Webinar Library. Visithttps://allonehealth.com/webinars/ to view the library!

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.

The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

As of January 2025, SandCreek will be using the WebEx Platform for their webinars. Multi Language closed captioning will be available at that time!

Taking Control of Your Finances

Wednesday, January 8th, 2025 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Register Online!

Your mental health and well-being matter to us, and we are proud to offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides mental health counseling and a range of whole health support services for you and your family.

Our EAP partner, SandCreek, recently announced that effective January 1, 2025 will be changing its name to AllOne Health. While the name is changing, you can rest assured that your access to all the benefits will continue seamlessly through the transition.

Curious about what’s included in your EAP? Click HERE to check out their flier and explore the resources available to you.

‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and food—lots of food. Temptations are everywhere, and parties and travel disrupt daily routines. What’s more, it all goes on for weeks. Here are 5 tips that can help:

1. Holiday-Proof Your Plan

You may not be able to control what food you’re served, and you’re going to see other people eating tempting treats. Meet the challenges armed with a plan:

• Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served.
• Invited to a party? Offer to bring a healthy dish along.
• If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs (like potatoes and bread) during the meal.
• Don’t skip meals to save up for a feast. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.
• If you slip up, get right back to healthy eating with your next meal.
  
  

2. Outsmart the Buffet

When you face a spread of delicious holiday food, make healthy choices easier:

• Have a small plate of the foods you like best and then move away from the buffet table.
• Start with vegetables to take the edge off your appetite.
• Eat slowly. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to realize you’re full.
• Avoid or limit alcohol. If you do have an alcoholic drink, have it with food. Alcohol can lower blood sugar and interact with diabetes medicines.

3. Fit in Favorites

No food is on the naughty list. Choose the dishes you really love and can’t get any other time of year, like Aunt Edna’s pumpkin pie. Slow down and savor a small serving, and make sure to count it in your meal plan.

4. Keep Moving

You’ve got a lot on your plate this time of year, and physical activity can get crowded out. But being active is your secret holiday weapon; it can help make up for eating more than usual and reduce stress during this most stressful time of year. Get moving with friends and family, such as taking a walk after a holiday meal.

5. Get Your Zzz’s

Going out more and staying out later often means cutting back on sleep. Sleep loss can make it harder to manage your blood sugar, and when you’re sleep deprived you’ll tend to eat more and prefer high-fat, high-sugar food. Aim for 7 to 8 hours per night to guard against mindless eating.

Most of all, remember what the season is about—celebrating and connecting with the people you care about. When you focus more on the fun, it’s easier to focus less on the food.

Adapted from CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention