District Dialogue

As we make our way into the last week of July, we are officially entering Back To School season! It's hard to believe that summer is on its way out, but we're excited to welcome staff back over the next few weeks! As you begin to prepare for the 2023-24 school year, please take a moment to view the Back To School bulletin for important information and orientation/training schedules. We look forward to seeing you soon!

The 2023 Inspire Education Conference is happening next week, August 2nd-3rd at Jefferson HS! This is your last reminder to sign up!

This conference is open to all SFSD employees free of charge!

Click here to view the full conference schedule and session descriptions.

Click here to view sessions by topic.

Click here to register!

Only able to attend for one day? No problem! One-day registration is allowed.

CECHs or university credit (for an additional cost) will be available for those in attendance for both days. More information will be provided to those who register.

The fine folks at REACH Literacy have extended a wonderful opportunity to acquire some books for your classroom. What a great way to kick off the 2023-23 school year!

REACH Literacy is located at:

2101 W 41st St.

Suite 23

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 in late May of 2023.

This is a small way that we can show our appreciation for all you do for our students.

• All registered teachers will be provided a link to the conference videos from the Sioux Falls School District in late May until October 15.


• 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.

Individual Counseling Sessions

SDRS retirement planners travel the state to meet with members for personal retirement counseling sessions. This month, SDRS will be in Sioux Falls.

July 24th - 2:00pm - 8:00pm at Southeast Tech

July 25th - 7:00am - 7:00pm at Southeast Tech

Call SDRS to schedule an appointment

605-773-3731 (Local/Cell Phone Users)

888-605-SDRS (Long Distance Callers)

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

Wednesday, August 9th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Boosting Your Brain Power

Wednesday, September 13th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Cultural Myths in Media: Fact or Fiction

We are seeking a dedicated professional to fill our Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing position.

As an Itinerant Teacher, you will have the incredible opportunity to provide specialized instruction and support to students across various schools, empowering them to overcome communication barriers and achieve academic success.

In this role, you will provide direct instruction to students and collaborate with educators, parents, and support staff to develop individualized education plans, adapt curriculum materials, and implement innovative teaching strategies tailored to the unique needs of each student.

If you know someone who possess a deep understanding of deaf and hard of hearing culture, and a commitment to inclusive education, invite them to join our team and be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of students!

Apply at: www.bit.ly/SFSD-ItinerantTeacher

Looking to build a supply of extra t-shirts in your classroom to be prepared for painting, spills, or anything else that might happen? The Instructional Planning Center has a large quantity of District adult small t-shirts from previous years that we are looking to clear out!

Interested in picking some up? Stop by IPC during business hours to pick them up, while supplies last. There is no quantity limit!

IPC Business Hours

Week of July 24th – 28th: Monday through Thursday, 7:00am to 5:30pm

Starting July 31st: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Please note, all shirts are adult smalls – no other sizes available.

Summer is the most difficult season to get a good night’s sleep during. Why? Long days, busy social schedules, and hot/humid weather. Short-term insomnia due to environmental causes is fairly common this time of year. You can adjust your environment and behavior to be more sleep-friendly, without having to rely on caffeine or accepting the loss of sleep. Follow these tips to prevent the summer from disrupting your sleep:

1. Take time to relax. Summer can be the busiest season for socializing. Don’t forget to take time to relax and wind down before bedtime to help you fall asleep. Find something good to read, or spend the time doing relaxing activities such as art, craft making, or playing a musical instrument.
2. Make your environment ideal for sleep. A dark, cool, and comfortable bedroom can be the key to getting great sleep, as opposed to a sweltering and bright sleep environment. Start by making your bedroom the right temperature for sleeping comfortably. Setting your air conditioning to 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for sleep, however it may increase your electric bill. Alternatively, you could set your air conditioning to a more reasonable temperature to reduce the humidity, and use fans to get a cool breeze going. Doing so can also help reduce nighttime allergies. Other options for creating a better sleep environment include installing blackout curtains, using lighter, more “breathable” bedding materials and pajamas, and considering running a loud fan or using a sound machine if you live in a noisy environment.
3. Limit your nighttime exposure to sunlight. The extended hours of summer can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the sunlight improves your mood and decreases the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). On the other hand, those same rays of sunshine delay your body’s production of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep. You can “trick” your body into thinking it’s time to sleep by limiting your exposure to sunlight. Draw the shades and keep a regular indoor evening routine beginning two hours before bedtime. If you have to leave your home, wear sunglasses so that you don’t get a boost in alertness from the sunlight.

Adapted from Sleep Education