The Sioux Falls School District is excited to partner with Siouxland Libraries again for Everybody Reads! From March 13-31, students, staff, parents, and community members are being encouraged to track how many books they read. The goal is to create a community of readers ages 0 –100! Starting March 13, you will see a rocket, astronaut and a galaxy begin to appear in the library. For the next three weeks, a new star will appear in the galaxy when a book is read. Once your student(s) completes a book, they will receive a star to add to the galaxy. We look forward to a bright galaxy with billions and billions of stars!

Thought-provoking. Inspiring. Ideas worth spreading. Fifteen Sioux Falls School District students will take the stage on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 7pm in the District’s first-ever TEDxYouth@Sioux Falls event. Sioux Falls Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem meets regularly with high school students and recognized the need for the District’s leading young thinkers and doers to have an amplified voice in the community. “I am constantly impressed with the passion, knowledge, and desire for further growth of our students. I have the privilege of hearing their ideas, their concerns, and their solutions to issues they face. The community needs to hear them, too.”

Nearly 1,200 children, ages zero to five, are receiving high-quality integrated learning experiences to build a strong educational foundation thanks to the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) Early Childhood Program. During the 2023-24 school year, early childhood classrooms will be located in eight schools across the city and at the newly renovated Learning Lab, the hub of the District’s early childhood programming.

Click below to view the full report.

Principal Tim Hazlett put Roosevelt High School in the School Spotlight tonight! Highlights include an emphasis on Roosevelt's inclusive community culture and flexible learning plans designed to help all students succeed, as well as their recent distinction as a Special Olympics Banner School with honors from ESPN!

Click below to view the full report.

The SFSD would like to recognize any employee that has achieved an advanced degree or certification during the 2022-2023 school year. Please share your information through this link, as we would like to recognize your accomplishment and commitment to the field of education at an upcoming school board meeting.

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!

This month, Human Resources is celebrating our staff who reach an anniversary milestone in the 2022-23 fiscal year (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023)!

Each week we will feature different milestone years in the District Dialogue. This week, join us in celebrating our staff who have reached 1-year, 5-years, or 10-years of service with SFSD!

Help us celebrate our 2023 Retirees!

This week join us in celebrating Kris Kelley, Lori Larson, Gene Meyer, and Kris Zortman! 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 inspiring career with Sioux Falls School District and make their transition to retirement.

Kris, Lori, Gene, and Kris – thank you for a lifetime of making a difference and congratulations on your upcoming retirement!

Join us on April 18th, 2023 to celebrate our retirees and employees with 25 years of service. Tickets are available for $25 each and can be purchased here: www.bit.ly/SFSDBanquet2023

Questions? Contact Kate DiPasquale at kate.dipasquale@k12.sd.us

South Dakota Retirement is currently aware of some organizations and/or advisors offering financial planning services that seemingly represent themselves as affiliated with SDRS. Other than Nationwide Retirement Solutions (NRS), who administers the SDRS Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP), SDRS does not work with or endorse any external vendors for financial planning services. SDRS should always be the first point of contact with questions about benefits.

SDRS has provided members with more information in the link below.

www.bit.ly/SDRS-Warning

Questions? Please contact South Dakota Retirement Systems at 605-773-3731.

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 and received by March 15, 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

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

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, 2023.

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

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

• Tuesday, March 21st - 11:00am - 11:30am - Boundaries and Blindspots
• Wednesday, April 12th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Parenting Your Teen: Managing Conflict and Problem Solving

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

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

March is National Nutrition Month! Read on for some nutrition Fact or Fiction.

• Only people with medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, need to eat healthfully.

FICTION – A healthy eating style can be beneficial for everyone. Throughout life, proper nutrition is essential for growth and development, as well as managing chronic diseases and reducing risk.

• A vegetarian diet can provide the recommended amount of protein for people of all ages.

FACT – If it is well planned, a vegetarian eating style can meet nutritional needs, including protein.

• Foods that contain carbohydrates should be avoided.

FICTION – Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. In addition to vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, many nutritious foods also are sources of carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Adapted from EatRight