District Dialogue

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation has been busy, and will continue to stay busy, as they begin to deliver the good news of Public School Proud Grants to teachers throughout the District! Since 2008, the Education Foundation has been encouraging and funding innovative solutions to enrich education in all SFSD schools. This year they will see their total distribution of funds through Public School Proud Grants surpass the $1,000,000 mark! Congratulations to everybody involved!

We awarded the fourth Public School Proud grant to Kirsten Bielen and Lisa Holtman at Robert Frost Elementary! They received $848.06 for their proposal, “Incorporating Structure Teach and Multisensory into Math Instruction and Independent Work Tasks.” They will purchase math manipulatives like count and link numbers, magnetic puzzles, math cubes, number sequencing games, peg boards for addition and subtraction, brick building STEM kits, and number bonds activity sets. In the application, they wrote, “The tasks will be incorporated into math instruction then moved to independent practice. These activities are hands-on and have a clear beginning and ending. The way the tasks are set up and completed by a student allows the teacher to look at them after they are completed to check for accuracy.” Thank you, School Bus Inc, for generously supporting our mission!

The Education Foundation kicked off Public School Proud Grant season with three awards at Rosa Parks Elementary! Kris Hanson received the first award, and she will use $1,457.02 for her proposal, “I Can Use Letter Sounds to Blend New Words!” Kris will purchase magnetic boards, letters, and trays to help students practice their letter sounds and CVC words. In the application, she wrote, “My students will be assessed on blending sounds in reading and writing every two weeks. By doing this, I will be able to see the progress that they are making. It gives me the freedom to meet students where they are developmentally. If they are on an IEP, I can modify assignments and concepts to meet them at their level. I can also scaffold students that are excelling to higher concepts that I would not normally teach in first grade.”

Angie Erickson received the second Public School Proud Grant. She will use $558.16 for her proposal, “Let’s Get Dicey!” Angie plans to purchase various types of dice for math centers that will be used by all first graders. She wrote, “The dice will allow us to give our students extra practice when learning new math concepts. Students love using various types of dice, and they are engaged and will work hard while having fun!”

The third award went to Sam O’Brien for her grant, “Learning Letters with Our Senses.” Sam received $397.49 to purchase magnetic boards, sandpaper and construction letters, smelly markers, and trays to help K-3 students establish and maintain the letter names, letter sounds, and correct letter formations. In the application, she wrote, “Once students have a strong foundation in their letters and sounds, they gain confidence in their reading skills, and can start manipulating and blending sounds to form words. By incorporating multiple senses, students engage different parts of their brain, allowing the information to be processed in various ways.”

Thank you, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, for generously sponsoring grants like these that support staff and enhance student engagement! #PublicSchoolProud

Happy School Social Work Week! Let's celebrate the amazing work of school social workers in all the many roles that they hold. It's not uncommon to see school social workers acting as fierce advocates for students in one moment, only to see them shift instantly into an emotional support pillar for a student in need. Let's recognize the impact of school social workers and their dedication to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment, not only this week, but all year long! SFSD social workers are: Samantha Bonn, Jen Cornett, Brandi David, Jennifer Eisele, Mary Gustafson, Paige Lange, Keri Meyer, Grace Meyers, Amber Pollmann, Devonne Powell, Allison Reuland, Ashley Ruppert, Hannah Schouten, and Michelle Sharpe. Thank you for all you do!

Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day was actually last week, but it's never to late to say THANK YOU to the people who help keep our schools functioning. Our maintenance workers play a crucial role in keeping our facilities safe, clean, and operational. A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to ensure that our schools are as welcoming as possible to students and staff alike. Thank you for ensuring our buildings are ready to go everyday to foster positive learning environments and growth!

Again, Employee Appreciation Day was last week, but let's be honest, every day should be employee appreciation day! There are over 3,000 people employed with the Sioux Falls School District, and as the third largest employer in the city of Sioux Falls it's not an exaggeration to say that each and every one of you matters. Being the largest school district in the state of South Dakota is no small responsibility, and it takes a lot of people in a lot of departments to make sure everything runs smoothly. We have some of the best people showing up everyday, all with the same overall mission in mind: to provide the best environment possible for that which matters most - the STUDENTS!

Sunday, March 17th the Sioux Falls Stampede will be taking on the Omaha Lancers. It's also Stomp's birthday, so there will be lots of fun events planned for the evening. There is also a post-game skating party with the Stampede players!

Through this exclusive special, tickets are only $21 for the gold level (rows 2-6), $16 for blue level seats (rows 7-14) and $13 for gray level seats (rows 15-21). Upgrades to the Black and Club Seating Levels are available.

To reserve your tickets, visit the link below: https://fevo-enterprise.com/supergroupmar17

The speakers have been selected and the students are currently practicing their talks. Last year's TEDx Sioux Falls Youth event was a monumental start to lift up student voices and spark important conversations in the community, and this year's event hopes to build on that momentum! Get your tickets soon to hear directly from students about what's on their minds, and what they feel are "ideas worth sharing."

The LAST Health & Wellness fair of the year is happening tomorrow (Tuesday, March 5th) from 4:30-7:00 PM. It's open to the public and will feature over 60 vendors, activities for all ages, learning sessions, and over $1,000 in great prizes. Let's make health and wellness fun for everyone!

We are excited to announce that Friday, May 3rd will be the official Sioux Falls Storm game to support Operation Hope and Caring! The Sioux Falls Storm will be taking on the Green Bay Blizzard at 7:05 PM at the Denny Sanford Premiere Center, and a portion of tickets purchased at https://www.levo.org/operation-hope-and-caring will go to help our schools that don't benefit from a PTA/PTO. You can click the link below to purchase tickets directly and make the biggest impact for our students!

For the past several years, Levo and the Sioux Falls STORM have teamed up for Operation Hope & Caring – a fundraiser to level the playing field for all schools and students, especially those without PTAs/PTOs. As a new twist, we are adding a tshirt to the many options staff have to support this important partnership. Please see the link below to purchase your shirt (and more for your friends and family)! Consider how you can support these schools TODAY!

How cool is this!? 100% of the proceeds from LEVO's Perky Coffee will go to Operation Hope and Caring, which has a direct impact on our schools. Click the button below to get your bag today!

The Central Services lobby was looking a little bare after some new construction, so pet lovers around the office collected photos of their furry friends to spruce things up! This coincides with an annual donation drive they do for the Humane Society, so the pet energy at at CS runs strong!

Sometimes all it takes for a student to make the leap into something new is some encouragement from a teacher (or counselor, or adult they look up to). The thawing snow has shown us a glimpse of warmer times to come, and students will soon start to think about what fall sports they want to sign up for. If you know a student who would benefit from all the opportunities provided through the SFSD sports and activities program, please give them that extra little nudge they need to make the leap towards future self improvement!

This week join us in celebrating Rod Burmeister, Lisa Feldkamp, Deb Neumeister, Sheila Orlando, Ronna Pinney, and Donetta (DJ) Warrington! Be sure to take a moment to greet them in their classrooms or send them an email with your best wishes as they reflect on their career journey with the Sioux Falls School District and make their transition to retirement.

Rod, Lisa, Deb, Sheila, Ronna, and Donetta (DJ) – thank you for a lifetime of making a difference, and congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

Join us on Tuesday, April 9th at the 63rd annual recognition banquet as we celebrate our retirees and employees with 25 years of service!

Tickets are on sale NOW! Tickets can be purchased for $25 per ticket online through PayPal (www.bit.ly/ExpeditionExcellence) or with cash or check at the Instructional Planning Center. Please have all checks written out to the Sioux Falls School District. Also, please note, we are unable to provide change so cash payments must be for the exact amount.

Eating Right for Life - March 13, 2024 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

If donuts for breakfast, candy bars for lunch, and constantly making impulse decisions while eating on the run sounds familiar, then this is the class for you! Participants in this seminar will learn the benefits of nutrition, including the importance of making informed food choices to develop and maintain sound eating habits. Expect to leave this interactive session understanding what your body needs for optimal health and the key nutritional guidelines to follow.

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: 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.

• March 6, 2024 - 7:00 PM CT/6:00 PM MT – Register via ZOOM

SDRS-SRP & SPP: Retirement is expensive and additional personal savings will be key to having a financially successful retirement. Learn more about how the SDRS Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and SDRS Special Pay Plan (SPP) can help you save more for your retirement

• March 13, 2024 - 7:00 PM CT/6:00 PM MT – Register via ZOOM

Steps to Financial Success: Build on your budgeting and savings skills and take charge of your finances to be more prepared for retirement

• March 20, 2024 - 7:00 PM CT/6:00 PM MT – Register via ZOOM

Q&A Session: Ask your questions and get answers from SDRS staff. Every session will have unique questions from our members, so feel free to tune in often.

• March 27, 2024 - 7:00 PM CT/6:00 PM MT – Register via ZOOM

SDRS Lunch and Learn

Grab your lunch and join us to learn more about SDRS, your benefits, ask questions, and more! Held on the second Tuesday of each month.

• March 12, 2024 - 12:10 PM CT/11:10 AM MT – Register via ZOOM

If you are a retiring teacher, clerical, or administrator this year and want to cash in any eligible personal leave before retiring, you will want to submit your electronic Personal Leave Cash-In Form on Records by March 15, 2024.

HR Records: https://sf.tedk12.com/Records

District staff have a wonderful opportunity to participate in a Medicare Seminar. Whether you are approaching Medicare eligibility, want to learn more to help your parents, or just want to be more knowledgeable all around, please join us! There will be a guest speaker here from Wellmark to talk about Medicare, all the moving pieces and he will also be available after if you have individual questions. Attached is a nice packet to review, but these will be available in person so no need to print.

WHEN:

Tuesday, March 19th - 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Location: Instructional Planning Center

Please RSVP on the below link:

https://medicareadvantageseminarsfsdc.splashthat.com

Questions? benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

Open Enrollment is coming in early April. Right now is the perfect time to review your benefits and decide if you need to make changes for the new plan year.

Please visit this link to be taken to the Benefit Enrollment page: https://boonchapman.benselect.com/Enroll/Login.aspx?Path=SFSchoolDistrict

• Your username is your employee number.
• Pin: last 4 of your social security number and last two in year you were born

Questions? Email benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us

District Staff participating in the Wellness Program have deadlines fast approaching. In order to earn the Wellness Credit for the 2024-25 school year, all Wellness Program requirements need to be completed by March 15, 2024.

The three requirements for earning the Wellness Credit for 2024-25 are listed below:

1. Complete the Personal Health Assessment in the Uprise Health Wellness Portal
2. Schedule a wellness visit with your doctor and submit a completed Preventative Care Form.
3. Complete ONE Wellness Program Activity:

• Participate in the Wondr Health Program
• Participate in a Fitness Challenge
• Complete 3 Digital Health Workshops
• Complete 3 sessions with a Health Coach

If you have not already scheduled your wellness physical with your doctor, call your doctor’s office now to get scheduled before the March 1st deadline!

Questions? benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us