District Dialogue

The Education Foundation will be hosting a fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday, November 19th from 3-9 p.m. If you mention the Education Foundation at the register, they will donate 20 percent to our organization. In addition, if staff members show their school ID badge, they will receive an individual, one-topping pizza or an all-you-can-eat salad bar and soft drink.

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is currently accepting Public School Proud Grant proposals. 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.

Public School Proud Grant applications are due Monday, December 4th at 12 p.m. (noon).

Download the application below!

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 and the attached vaccine information statement 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.

Flu shot clinics for school district employees and spouses will be:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 – IPC in Board Rooms from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday, October 26, 2023 – 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.

Happy National Boss's Day to the incredible leaders of the Sioux Falls School District! The dedication of our leaders to education, passion for students, and tireless efforts make our district shine bright. Thank you for leading with heart and inspiring us all to reach new heights!

School buses are the safest way for children to get to school. Their design is meant to be safer than any passenger vehicle in avoiding crashes and preventing injuries. Teaching children to follow safety rules on the bus is just as important as informing drivers about the laws regarding school buses.

Find useful information on school bus safety in the video below! Find versions for elementary and high schools on the SFSD Youtube page as well.

Every October we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness with consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy. It's also a great opportunity to appreciate what PTs and PTAs do to transform student's lives. Schools across the Sioux Falls School District utilize the talents of PTs to ensure that each student is able to live their best lives. Thank you for all that you do!

The Washington Pavilion is offering discounted ticket prices to the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour show happening on October 22nd. Just use the code: TEACHERS to receive $5.00 off!

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. Follow the above info (or click the link below) to nominate a coworker to be recognized for their amazing dedication to the work of SFSD.

The Promising Futures Fund presents a collaborative concert event featuring the Augustana University Choirs and the Choirs of George McGovern, Whittier and Ben Reifel Middle Schools.

Learn about the Middle School Honors program at Patrick Henry Middle School from teachers and parents of students in the program. This revolutionary program for gifted learners not only sets students up to complete a myriad of college-level courses in high school, it introduces them to like-minded peers and creates a community of hard-working, collaborative, and curious life-long learners.

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!

One day we set records for high temperatures. Five days later we experienced frost. Shorts, t-shirts and sandals vs. long pants, sweaters and socks.

Life is like that. Sudden change shakes us, surprises us, makes our heads turn as we openly wonder and worry, “What’s next?” What’s next is more change for our journey.

Most of us resist change, unless we benefit from it. We take a path of resistance until we wear out, until the day we give up and allow the change. Fall teaches us we have no control over change—and we’d be wiser to be curious and find her benefits right away.

Without a doubt, change is constant in the Sioux Falls School District. But the stress it creates can be managed with self-care that builds resilience and helps you sustain the good work you do.

First, take a moment and press the pause button. Look at fall colors and soak up the positive energy of the reds, pinks and yellows.

Take a walk, even a short one, to enjoy the beauty of fall.

Second, take some deep breaths in the moment of stress to release the tightness you feel. Keeping it locked up inside of us isn’t good. Release it with breath, stretching, walking.

Third, remember the power of joy and laughter. Joy and laughter are essential for building our resilience. Find the moments of joy—the smile, the gratitude, knowing you made a difference—with adults and with students. Find humor, share it, and laugh together. It’s great for your health, both physically and mentally. (See the posting below.)

Fall invites us to remember her annual lesson on life—that change, albeit inevitable, has a beauty that waits to be seen and offers a respite from stress to all who enjoy its beauty.

Slow down long enough to pick up at least one leaf, look at it, and consider change as a natural part of life. Release the stress change brings. Remember, humor helps!

To enjoy more about fall's power to help us deal with change, click here for Dee Dee’s essay, Leaves of Change.

Despite the new appearance, it will still be your hub for:

• Payroll Information (including paystubs)
• Demographic Changes
• W2 and Tax Witholdings
• Update Direct Deposit Information
• “What If” Calculator

Be sure to bookmark the NEW web address when it is available!

Questions? Call Human Resources at (605) 367-7661.

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

SDRS: Early & Mid-Career Workshop

This workshop targets those members in the early and middle stages of their careers and offers a wide-ranging spectrum of money-related topics to promote personal financial awareness and increase retirement preparedness through budgeting and financial planning exercises.

What people are saying about this workshop:

• This was incredibly helpful. I wish it were required of all employees. I'm very glad I came.
• I wasn't sure what to expect...it was very informal, educational, and even kind of fun.
• Surprisingly interesting and thought-provoking.
• I really need to go to another one of these because I didn't know how much I was missing!

Date: October 30, 2023

Location: Holiday Inn City Centre

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm with check-in beginning at 5:30pm

Registration Deadline: October 30, 2023

Register Now!

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!

Through our Sand Creek EAP, you can get connected with a qualified attorney for a FREE 30-minute consultation. See the graphic below to learn more about what Sand Creek EAP has to offer!

Access Sand Creek EAP via phone at 1-888-243-5744 and online at myassistanceprogram.com/sandcreek – Company Code: siouxfalls

Stress is a national epidemic and as the summer fades, and another school year begins, stress tends to peek. Stress management and resilience building are particularly important to your overall health. Here are several tips to help:

1. Recognize and counter signs of stress: Your body sends signals that it’s stressed, including difficulty concentrating, headaches, cold hands, tight muscles, a nervous stomach, clenched teeth, feeling on edge, fidgety, irritable or withdrawn. Knowing how your body communicates can help you deal with stressful moments. Learn to not only recognize but also to name these feelings, either to oneself or to a friend. Then, take action to counter their effects. For example, deep breathing, stretching, going for a walk, writing down your thoughts and taking quiet time to focus can help induce relaxation and reduce tension
2. Take time for yourself: Make taking care of yourself a daily routine. It’s not selfish or self-indulgent — and it might require saying “no” to requests or prioritizing yourself along with your responsibilities. Start with small changes in your routine to help build resilience to stressful circumstances. Work in time to exercise, eat healthy foods, participate in relaxing activities and sleep. In fact, including a regimen of exercise, which for some may include yoga or meditation, can be very important when feeling stressed. Also, take time to notice the “good minutes” in each day or to do something that you enjoy, such as reading a book or listening to music, which can be a way to shift your attention and focus on the positive rather than the negative.
3. Try new routines: From scheduling baths and bedtimes to blocking off time to plan and prioritize tasks, additional structure can provide a daily framework that allows you to attune to your body’s signals. Then, you can take steps to potentially manage stress earlier than you once did.
4. Stay connected and make new friends: Stay in touch with family, friends and groups in your life — technology makes this easier than ever. Having or being a person to talk with can be reassuring and calming. Using video features can enhance the connection in telecommunication or online communications for some people.

Recognizing individual signals of a body’s stress responses and learning to respond to those signals in new ways can help build the emotional, intellectual and physical strength that comprise resilience, which can help you tackle future stressors.

Adapted from Sand Creek

Join Sam’s Club today & save! All District staff members are eligible for an exclusive offer for discounted membership rates.

Click HERE to learn more!