District Dialogue

School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. They provide direct support and interventions to students with the goal of helping them grow in school, at home, and in life. The school psychologist works closely with families, teachers, and other counseling staff to help students feel valued, so they can grow as individuals and contribute to a positive school community. Thank you, school psychologists, for being a vital part of the SFSD community!

A reminder that it's a short week in the Sioux Falls School District this week…Friday is Veteran's Day and all SFSD schools and offices will be closed in observance of the important day.

Please take time to reflect and thank a special veteran in your life. 🇺🇸

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, scan the second QR code.

Any help you can provide is appreciated!

Congratulations to this week's SFSD All Star Valerie Anderson at John Harris Elementary! Valerie was nominated by Kersten Dobberpuhl, and she had this to say, "Val is an incredible team member. She handles all the nurse calls and visits. She balances student needs/documentation/teacher needs. You will often find Val running the building as she goes room to room to assist students." Thank you, Val, for making John Harris and SFSD a wonderful place to be!

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.

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!

If we're honest, most of us could improve our listening skills. What makes listening hard? Being busy, and I'm pretty sure that describes every day for you. Check out these bad listening habits. Which ones would you like to overcome?

1. Considering the topic/subject uninteresting.

Why? Because you have heard it over and over and over! If you’re bored, they’ll know it. Be curious…it’s a great way to stay energized AND to really zero in on what the customer needs--a sure way to save time.

2. Criticizing the speaker’s style, delivery or mannerisms.

Remember: no judgment!

3. Listening only for facts. Facts matter, so do emotions.

What do you “hear”?

4. Faking attention, focus.

They will know if you’re head is elsewhere, and all that does is make your customer repeat their concerns so you understand, which wastes time (theirs and yours!) and lacks honor.

5. Getting distracted. Same as faking attention. But we usually distract to avoid, so be careful if you’re avoiding someone, they will know. OUCH!

6. Avoiding the tough stuff. No one likes to hear complaints, but hearing them gives you a chance to fix something, which builds good relationships, so be grateful they were honest and shared concerns with you.

7. Getting triggered. Know your trigger words and find ways to soften the impact. Tell yourself, “This is hard, but I can handle it.” Self-compassion releases oxytocin in your brain—helping you to have a better experience and better day! Listening carefully can be challenging for other reasons as well. But the benefits of listening are huge, one of the biggest being the connections you build with customers by listening carefully. Customers who feel "heard" are going to trust you more and stress you less, and that's a pretty worthy goal!

THIS WEEK:

Identify some of the habits that make listening hard work for you.

Be honest—with yourself. This is for you only. Then click here to re-visit the September 25 issue of Service Matters for tips on how to listen more effectively. Thanks for "listening!"

Get help with your student loan debt!

Sioux Falls School District partners with Horace Mann to bring you Student Loan Solutions – a program that can help you:

• Find out if you could save on your monthly student loan payment
• Determine if you may qualify for federal loan forgiveness
• Get access to loan coaches for one-on-one guidance and support

This program is available at no cost to you just for being a Sioux Falls School District employee.

Sign up for your complimentary account by visiting: https://www.horacemann.com/student-loan-debt-help/signup.

Student Loan Solutions loan coaches are available to help you via phone, chat and email. Our local Horace Mann representatives are also here to support you with one-on-one consultations. They can review your unique student loan situation, help find ways to save you money, and direct those savings toward your other life goals so you can get on a path toward a brighter financial future.

Feel free to reach out to them at:

Ryan Hofer

Ryan Hofer Agency

5010E Rosa Parks 201

Sioux Falls, SD 57110

605-339-0662

ryan.hofer@horacemann.com

Woman and Financial Planning Workshop

Statistically speaking, women live longer, are more conservative investors, and are more apt to take time off work to care for children and elders, creating unique challenges when it comes to financial and retirement planning. The Women and Financial Planning workshop focuses on strengthening the overall financial wellness of SDRS's largest membership group.

What people are saying about this workshop:

• The focus on women was refreshing.
• Speakers were engaging and easy to follow. Topics were diverse and covered relevant topics.
• I never knew how important all of this was until this presentation.

Date: November 20, 2023

Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm

Location: Virtual Event (A link to the workshop and presentation materials will be emailed to you prior to the event.)

Registration Deadline: November 20, 2023

Register Now!

SDRS Lunch & Learn

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!

Q & A with South Dakota Retirement System

The South Dakota Retirement System(SDRS) along with the South Dakota Supplemental Retirement Plan(SD-SRP) are hosting a question and answer session about your benefits with Michelle Humann, the Member Services Director.

Date: November 15, 2023

Time: 10:00am or 4:15pm

Location: Virtual Event via Zoom

Register NOW!

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

Wednesday, November 8th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Competent Leadership

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

Daylight Savings Time is here! Moving your clock forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall can throw off your body’s internal clock. The hour of sleep that’s lost or gained can leave you feeling groggy and irritable. Adjusting to the time change is different for everyone. Some adjust quickly and for others it can take some time.

5 tips to help you fall back:

1. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule: Stick to your normal routine and don’t be tempted to stay up late because you have an extra hour in the day. Disruption in sleep can affect our mood, energy levels, concentration, and overall health.
2. Avoid drinking caffeine too close to bedtime: Caffeine stimulates your nervous system and may prevent your body from relaxing naturally at night.
3. Limit your screen time: Phone and computer screens emit high levels of blue light. This can negatively impact our sleep. Blue light affects your circadian rhythm and melatonin hormone levels, tricking your brain into thinking it is still daytime.
4. Take a cat nap: If you are feeling the effects of daylight savings time, it’s okay to take a quick nap during the day. Just make sure it’s only 20-30 minutes. Longer naps can disrupt your sleep patterns and leave you feeling more tired.
5. Create a nighttime routine: Having a routine each night can help signal your brain that it’s time to start winding down for the day. Taking a hot shower, sipping on a cup of sleepy time tea, or reading a book can help your mind and body settle down for a good night’s sleep.

Adapted from Colorado Health