District Dialogue

Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! On this special day, we want to say thank you to the Sioux Falls Police Department and all our School Resource Officers who work hard each day to. keep our community and schools safe!

At their bi-annual School Board Retreat earlier today, the Sioux Falls School Board heard plans for new programming for students that will start in the Fall 2023. Those opportunities include the LPN Pathway program for certification in licensed professional nursing, athletic training, and the new Cyber Academy.

We are excited for those opportunities for students ahead! You may also recall that a year ago, we were highly anticipating three new classes and pathways, including guitar class, advanced American Sign Language, and Ag offered for the first time at the CTE Academy. We have been pleased with the student interest in all three programs, especially with our Ag programming and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) component that goes along with it. Current Ag teacher, Andrew Jensen attended tonight’s meeting to explain more about how the class has been going thus far, and even demonstrated how the curriculum is “going to the dogs!”

Watch a replay of the meeting to see more!

The 2023 Legislative Session starts tomorrow, Tuesday, January 10. Throughout the session, Business Manager, Todd Vik, will present an oral report to the School Board to review current legislation affecting SFSD.

Attention Staff!

The Sioux Falls School District’s Community Learning Center’s Afterschool Program (formerly Kids Inc.) will once again be offering EARLY REGISTRATION for next school year for all children of SFSD staff members.

Early registration for the 2023/2024 school year began Wednesday, January 4, and will run through tomorrow Tuesday, January 10, 2023. *Once this registration week passes, SFSD staff members will no longer have priority enrollment and will be re-directed to a lottery for future openings or waitlist placement.

How to enroll: To find out more about the Community Learning Center program, directions on how to enroll, view the new rates, etc., please click here.

Interested in the Summer Enrichment Program? Registration will begin on Monday, February 27, 2023. Click here to read more about the summer program.

Do not miss out on this exclusive opportunity! Please contact Laura Fischer with any questions!

Megan was nominated for this award by McKenzie Erickson who shared how much of a giver she is within the walls of Patrick Henry. McKenzie went on to say, "She gives her time in so many different areas such as Student Council advisee, Sunshine Committee co-leader, PBIS committee member, and scheduling committee member. Through all of these different committees that she is a part of, she continues to show up each and every day for her students with a smile on her face. She is pursuing her degree in Administrative Leadership through Wayne State while balancing everything else thrown her way in the middle school world. Megan has a heart for teaching and does it with so much passion and desire to be and do the best for each and every one of her students."

Congratulations, Megan!

The Sioux Falls School District remains committed to continuously improving, and feedback from you is one of the main ways we can do it.

Thinking about staging for your success in the New Year, we want to know what would have been helpful for you to have had in your role in the last five years? If you are still in your first few years with the District, what would you like to have to help you succeed in these beginning years? Whether it be a set of skills, training opportunities, or resources, we want to hear from you!

The survey will run from December 19th through Friday, January 13th. Please take some time to let your voice be heard!

How to participate:

• Step 1: Click the button below to visit the site.
• Step 2: Login (top right) and then register (bottom) before sharing.
• Step 3: Check your email (check the spam folder) and complete registration.
• Step 4: Participate: share ideas individually, with a group, or anonymously, vote on your favorite comments through the voting system

Nominations for the 35th Annual Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year Award are OPEN!

Outstanding, full-time teachers in ANY accredited Sioux Falls school are eligible for the award and $4,000 in prize money donated by Vern Eide Motorcars!

The nomination submission deadline is Monday, January 16th, 2023, with the ToY celebration to be held on Monday, February 27th, 2023.

To learn more and to nominate that special teacher, visit ---> https://bit.ly/3InLEq1

The Human Resources Department will be offering an informational meeting on the District Retirement Incentive outlined in the SFEA Collective Bargaining Agreement via Zoom. This meeting is for Teachers (SFEA) only. Guests are welcome. For those unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded and sent out via District Dialogue.

Join Zoom Meeting:

Tuesday, January 10th – 4:10 – 5:00pm

https://sdk12.zoom.us/j/2539207779

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

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

Click the links below to register for Sand Creek EAP’s live November webinar.

• Wednesday, January 11th: 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Managing Your Money in Tough Times

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

sandcreekeap.com

Patients who see a primary care doctor regularly stay up-to-date on their preventative care (immunizations, mammograms, colon cancer screenings) and often their chronic conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure) are better managed. Those patients are less likely to be hospitalized or have surgery because, if there’s something wrong, it’s caught earlier - which leads to better health outcomes.

Adapted from Health Partners

Help us congratulate the following student teachers who have chosen to begin their teaching career with SFSD!

Student Teachers, we are beyond excited about your decision to stay! Current Staff, thank you for making their experience a great one!