District Dialogue

This month's national School Administrator's edition contains an article written by our very own Superintendent Dr. Stavem. The article, titled "When Did We Say It Was OK?" is a commentary on the reality of behaviors that are present in today's classroom, and a call for new structures of support to address those concerns.

The first paragraph reads, "In education, we find ourselves at a crossroads, asking ourselves: 'When did we say it was OK?' 'It' refers to the normalization of extreme student behaviors in our schools, threatening our profession's foundation."

Having an article published in a nationally circulated publication is no small feat, and the issues Dr. Stavem has outlined here are as relevant in SFSD classrooms as they are in the rest of the country. Please take a moment to read the article for some food for thought.

Open the attachment below to read the article in its entirety.

The Sioux Falls Stampede have two games coming up to kick off their November home schedule. The first game is Tuesday, November 12th. Saturday, November 16th is Military Appreciation Night. Stampede players will be wearing special jerseys for Military Appreciation Night which will be available through a raffle through the DASH Auction App.

Through this exclusive special, tickets are only $22 for the gold level (rows 2-6), $17 for blue level seats (rows 7-14) and $14 for gray level seats (rows 15-21). Upgrades to the Black and Club Seating Levels are available.

To reserve your tickets, visit the links below:

Tuesday, November 12th: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Supergroupnov12

Saturday, November 16th: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/supergroupnov16

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

Join the excitement of National STEM Day! On November 8th, we unite to celebrate the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It’s a day to inspire students to get excited about STEM and the many career paths available in these fields. By participating in STEM education programs, you can help drive innovation and progress for years to come.

For a list of resources and ideas of how you can inspire your students to participate in STEM, please follow this link: https://www.dodstem.us/stem-day/

The SFSD Community Learning Centers just wrapped up a week of celebrations in conjunction with Lights On Afterschool, a nation-wide initiative aimed at bringing awareness to the importance of out-of-school-time care for children. Events were happening at every site across the District, bringing in parents to give them a glimpse of the fun and education that happens at CLCs every day. In the latest episode of the SFSD podcast, CLC staff sit down with Dr. Stavem to talk about the events, and give some insight on the CLC program more broadly - where they've been, how things are going, and plans for the future. Tune in to learn more!

Also, view the video below for a fun recap of the events that took place during Lights On Afterschool!

An initiative starting this fall at Terry Redlin will test the idea of bringing tenant and homeowner education into neighborhood schools in an attempt to overcome the accessibility barriers of transportation and childcare. This is a FREE seven-class series that will happen over the following dates:

November 11-14 & 18-20 from 5:00-6:30 PM at Terry Redlin

This event is being hosted by the Community Learning Centers, and the goal is to establish a no-cost or low-cost community-wide system for providing basic tenant education in a neighborhood-based model. This program would support individuals and families in their understanding of their rights, responsibilities, and potential as tenants and possible future homeowners.

Please pass on this information to any families you feel may benefit from the education. Click below for more information.

This STEM opportunity will be taking place on the SDSU campus on November 7 at 5:30 PM. They will be presenting on the expansion and research goals of the underground lab, including information on its growing K-12 education components. A great opportunity for any science teachers or particularly ambitious students!

Congratulations to Angie Carda at Robert Frost on being this week's SFSD All-Star! Angie and her classroom exude warmth and trust, foster a love for learning and exploration, and establish essential expectations for friendship. She brings a smile to her room every day, and creates a space for the younger kiddos that sets them up to succeed in the many years of education that are to come. Thank you, Angie, for sharing your joy with your students, and being at All-Star!

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.

This week's featured deal on the SFSD Saving's Marketplace is an offer from Spot Pet Insurance. They offer extensive coverage so you can worry less about what's around the corner with your pets. This deal offers a 20% discount, so it's easy to get the pet insurance you need. Claim that offer here: https://sf.savings.workingadvantage.com/offers/5T3ZLrsnKqUT5Jes0zNGNM?ebldr_form=2.01&utm_campaign=spot-pet-insurance-hero-cta&utm_content=spot-pet-insurance-hero-cta&utm_medium=November-04-2024-Spot-Pet-Insurance&utm_source=email&conv_source=zeta&utm_term=wag3

Enrolling to the SFSD Marketplace 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.

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 101 | November 6th, 2024 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm

Take a more detailed look at the system and its benefits, including how retirement benefits are calculated, understanding your annual Personal Benefits Statement, availability of survivor and disability benefits, and more.

Click HERE to register!

SDRS - SRP 101 | November 13th, 2024 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm

Retirement is expensive, and additional personal savings will be vital to having a financially successful retirement. You can learn more about how the SDRS-SRP can help you save for retirement to achieve your financial goals. Information will also be presented on the SDRS Special Pay Plan (SPP), an additional personal savings program funded by an employee’s termination pay.

Click HERE to register!

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. 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.

For those unable to attend, recorded versions are made available in the SandCreek Webinar Library. Visit https://allonehealth.com/webinars/ to view the library!

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!

The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health

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

Daily exercise is proven to have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. In this class, participants will learn about the benefits of exercise to our immune system, the ability to reduce our risk for contracting disease, and lowers our stress levels. Explore how to get started on a healthy path towards improved mental health, and how to stay motivated to reach your goals!

Register Online!

It can be nice to stay cozy indoors on cold days, but there are many benefits of going outside year-round. Fresh air, a chance to get vitamin D, and exposure to natural light are all great benefits of spending some time outdoors. Here are some cold weather tips to keep in mind this fall/winter:

1. Layer your clothes. Try to wear light, warm clothing under a wind-resistant jacket to stay comfortable.
2. Drink enough water. In the summer, it’s easy to notice when you are thirsty, but our bodies still need water in the winter. Take note of how much you’re drinking and pack a water bottle for all outdoor activities.
3. Check in on your sleep. Getting enough sleep keeps your immune system strong in the winter months. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, consider sticking to a routine and limiting screen time before bed.
4. Take care of your skin. Your hands may be feeling dry after all of the frequent handwashing! To prevent skin irritation, apply a moisturizing hand lotion after washing your hands or using hand sanitizer.

Adapted from Health Online