District Dialogue

For many in the SFSD, Thanksgiving break starts this Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023. During this time, we reflect on how thankful we are for all of you that are part of the Sioux Falls School District. Like a well-coordinated Thanksgiving feast, each member of the SFSD contributes to the overall functioning of our educational community. We're wishing everybody a happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Your work-life balance and general well-being are as important to us as the work you contribute. That's why we’re excited to offer your savings marketplace, your one-stop shop for exclusive and convenient savings on the products, services, and experiences you know and love.

It’s cost-free and easy to enroll. Just visit https://sf.savings.workingadvantage.com and begin saving today on items like:

• Electronics

• Appliances

• Theme Parks

• Hotels, Flights, & Cruises

• Movie Tickets

• Rental Cars

• Gift Cards

• Apparel

• Cars

• Flowers

• Fitness Memberships

• Groceries

• Special Events

• And More!

Public School Proud Grants are due two weeks from today! The deadline to submit a proposal for funding consideration is Monday, December 4th at 12 p.m. noon.

Any educator (except administrators) can apply for up to $10,000 in funding to purchase materials that will give students hands-on, immersive opportunities. The smallest grant last year was $149, and the Education Foundation awarded two grants at the $10,000 level. The average award is typically around $2,500. Educators can submit a proposal for their classroom, their grade level, their building, or district wide. The Education Foundation will surpass $1 million in overall funding for this program during the 2023-2024 school year.

Please email (Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us) or call (605.367.4484) with questions.

Download the application below!

Nominate Your Favorite Teacher to Win $500!

Share the remarkable impact they have had on your life, and your favorite teacher could be awarded $500 to alleviate their out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Simply fill out the form to nominate your favorite teacher.

Nominations must be in by Friday, Dec 29, 2023. Winners will be announced by Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

Congratulations to this week's SFSD All Star....Lindsey Wyatt! Memorial principal Demi Moon had this to say, "Lindsey provides a positive outlook on all things related to the teams she leads. Our Special Education and RISE student count at MMS is large and she advocates for each student in a positive manner. She spent many hours this summer hand-scheduling each student in her care with a schedule that best sets them up for success. She matches personalities of staff with needs of students. She leads a team of staff members that care deeply about their students and they appreciate the leadership she provides and the attention she invests in her job. All-around, Lindsey is a ROCK STAR that keeps our SPED department afloat and we are a better place for students to attend because she is here."

Student Council president. Mayor's Advisory Council member. Debate Captain. Key Oral Interpretation team leader. Best Buddies. Peer Insights. Black Student Union. Women's Empowerment Group founder. Homecoming royalty candidate. She'll have completed 11 AP classes at the end of this year, she was at Brown University over the summer developing a project to help students in need here in Sioux Falls, and she's a Questbridge finalist. The daughter of Sudanese refugees, Jefferson senior Angeth Mayen exemplifies every corner of the JHS compass. Her future is as brilliant as her present is inspiring. Meet her.

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!

The Office of Indian Education is looking for volunteers and donations for the 6th Annual Winter Solstice Gathering taking place on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 5:30-7 pm at Axtell Park School.

If you are interested in donating hygiene items, scan the first QR code on the graphic attached. If you would like to volunteer to help that evening, call 211 or scan the second QR code.

Any help you can provide is appreciated!

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, Biodiversity, Arts, 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 that will be accessible until November 30, 2023.

• All registered teachers will be provided a link to the conference videos from the Sioux Falls School District.

• Each video is approximately 19-25 minutes in length and can be viewed 24/7.

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

When I was 15, my home on the prairie farm was destroyed by fire. We lost everything. That’s how I became grateful for clothes, spoons, and food. I hope you never have to lose everything to realize how much you have. One of the greatest things you have is the people who cared enough to teach you what mattered, to instill a sense of doing your best, forgiving others, being a good team member. Parents. Grandparents. Teachers. Coaches. Aunts and uncles. Bosses. Co-workers. Customers. Clients. Even your dog. Maybe your cat. My greatest teacher was Mom, who told me to "Count my blessings" when I whined about something we couldn't afford. I didn't realize we were poor....I just knew I wanted a pair of white boots like Goldie Hawn wore. That way I could dance like her! Yes. Now you know how my brain works. Scary, right? I have made some progress, mostly because I learned to be grateful for what I do have.

Think about what loved ones said to teach you about gratitude. Think about what they've done for you that demonstrated the difference that we can all make. Then think about traditions--OK, including Thanksgiving dinner and football--that you cherish because they taught you time with people you love really matters.

OK. You've thought. Now, say thanks. Write a note. Send an email. Make the call. Have the cup of coffee. Share lunch. Do something to show your gratitude. It will really make your journey great, and I bet, it will makes theirs great as well.

Are you…new to SDRS? Nearing retirement? Wanting to learn more about SDRS? Grab your lunch and join SDRS for a quick overview of the South Dakota Retirement System.

Date: November 21, 2023

Time: 12:10pm

Location: Virtual Event via Zoom

Register NOW!

Click the link below to register for Sand Creek EAP’s live webinars.

Wednesday, December 13th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Personal Fitness for Life

Wellness Program Guides have been emailed out to all employees who had their insurance start after September 1, 2023.

How Do I Get Started?

1. Go to https://hmchwwellness.com/SFSD
2. Click the “Sign Up” icon
3. The Participant Sign Up window will appear, and you will need to enter:
• Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Last four digits of your SSN

IMPORTANT: Please sign up using your own last name, date of birth, and social security number, even if you are not the primary on the health plan.

2023-2024 Preventative Care Form

Thanksgiving dinner is treasured by many Americans but the meal isn’t typically heart healthy. The holiday staples of mashed potatoes and stuffing, this feast is full of fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

4 tips for a healthier holiday meal:

1. Devote most of your plate to vegetables, such as green beans, carrots and squash.
2. Don't drench everything in gravy. Use as little as you can.
3. Limit turkey skin and dark meat.
4. Have a small slice of pie for dessert. Resist a second helping.

Adapted from Core Health