District Dialogue

Join the Stampede for Wiener Dog Night on February 4th. This year is the 16th Annual Wiener Dog Races and like always there is a ton of fun stuff planned. Be sure to watch our social media pages for all of that info.

Through this exclusive special, tickets are only $21 for gold level seats (rows 2-6), $16 for blue level seats (rows 7-14) and $13 for gray level seats (rows 15-21) using the links below. We also have upper level tickets for just $10 or $5 through the link below. Tickets will be sent to the email you use when you order tickets. If you have any questions feel free to give me a call at 605-275-4625 or send me an email.

Game Date:

Saturday February 4th: https://fevo.me/wdnfeb4dto

Join us on Tuesday, April 18th at the Country Club of Sioux Falls to celebrate our retirees and employees with 25 years of service. More details to come!

Our friends at Levo are offering bags of Perky Coffee for $10/each with 100% of the money going to Operation Hope & Caring, which provides money for SFSD elementary schools without PTAs/PTOs. Mugs are $25 each, again with 100% of proceeds coming right back to our schools! Contact DeeAnn.Konrad@k12.sd.us to order yours today!

Levo, Air Madness, and other partners are teaming up for an exciting event to raise money for Operation Hope and Caring! On Tuesday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy jumping, laser tag and more with 100% of the proceeds going to SFSD schools without PTAs/PTOs!

https://airmadnesspos.com/airmadness/onlinesales/tickets1.php

February 1st (WEDNESDAY) is an IMPORTANT deadline for several Teacher-related “events”.

RETIREMENT NOTIFICATION DEADLINE: Teachers wishing to retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year must submit their letters of retirement by February 1st. The retirement letter (with signature) can be sent as an email attachment to Jessica Engdahl, HR Benefits Specialist, at benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us.

GRADUATE CREDIT/DEGREE ADVANCEMENT INTENT FORMS: Teachers planning to advance to steps requiring the BA+24, Master’s Degree, or Master’s + 24 must submit INTENT FORMS by February 1st. This process is online through HR Records. The INTENT FORM is found in the Available Forms section. Contact Amira Lawrence in Human Resources at 605-367-4692 or amira.lawrence@k12.sd.us with Graduate Credit/Degree Advancement questions.

SHORTAGE AREA - EARLY RESIGNATION STIPENDS $500: The District will provide a $500 bonus to any Teacher from an identified shortage area who is not eligible to receive or has not already received the District Retirement Benefit and/or Health Benefit, if the Teacher submits a resignation to the Human Resources Department by February 1st. Link to Resign: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR0HFhrh4fHYC-S6flJL_lhn8yinerT6irPfSDZPKNU_hYKQ/viewform

Last week, the Human Resources Department offered an informational meeting on the District Retirement Incentive outlined in the SFEA Collective Bargaining Agreement via Zoom. This meeting was recorded for those unable to attend.

SFEA District Retirement Incentive Meeting

Please contact benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us with questions.

District Staff participating in the Wellness Program have deadlines fast approaching. In order to earn the Wellness Credit for the 2023-24 school year, all Wellness Program requirements need to be completed by March 1, 2023.

The three requirements for earning the Wellness Credit for 2023-24 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:
   a. Participate in the Wondr Health Program
   b. Participate in a Fitness Challenge
   c. Complete 3 Digital Health Workshops
   d. 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!

For assistance or questions, please email benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us.

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

• Wednesday, February 8th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Minimizing Worry To Maximize Your Life

Can’t attend a webinar? No problem! Visit https://allonehealth.com/blog/ to view all past webinars.

The way you breathe affects your whole body. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress, because it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. Your brain then sends that message to the rest of your body. Deep breathing helps to decrease your heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure.

Try out the breathing exercise below to relax, reduce tension, and relieve stress. Breathing exercises are easy to learn, you can do them whenever you want, and you don’t need any special equipment!

Belly Breathing

1. Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.
2. Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.
4. Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling or blowing through a straw. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all of the air out.
5. Do this breathing 3 to 10 times. Take your time with each breath.
6. Notice how you feel at the end of the exercise.

Adapted from University of Michigan Health