District Dialogue

A resolution of appreciation was passed at Monday evening's School Board Meeting recognizing outgoing School Board Member Cynthia Mickelson for her six years of dedicated service on the board. During her tenure, Mrs. Mickelson served as Board Representative to many committees, oversaw many critical transitions for SFSD, and served as Board President during the unprecedented time of the Covid pandemic. Cynthia's commitment to excellence was present throughout her time as a School Board member and the student's of SFSD are better served because of her dedicated leadership. Thank you, Cynthia, for your many years of service!

An update was given to the School Board on the District's English Language Proficiency and programming. In July of 2022, a team was assembled to evaluate the success of the EL K-12 Program according to federal guidelines. The team developed a plan to support EL and mainstream classroom teachers in the co-planning and co-teaching model. This model pilot will be implemented at five schools during the 2023-24 school year.

See the full report below.

Office Depot/Office Max has some exclusive deals for educators this summer!

Registration is open for the 2023 Inspire Education Conference, August 2nd-3rd at Jefferson HS! Register soon as spots are quickly filling up!

This conference is open to all SFSD employees free of charge! Topics include MTSS, PBIS, mental health, restorative practices, PLC+, literacy, strengthening core instruction and many more!

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

Click here to view sessions by topic.

Click here to register!

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.

• Wednesday, July 12th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Identifying and Addressing Employee Turnover
• 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

In Spring Cleaning Fashion, please log into the Selerix Benefit System and do the following:

1. Verify that your benefit elections look as you think they should. (You won’t be able to change anything in Selerix)
2. If you have life insurance, you must add or verify your beneficiary information. (Beneficiary designations are the only modifications allowed in Selerix at this time).

Click HERE to access the Benefit Enrollment Site. Your login is your Employee ID Number. The initial PIN/password for the system is the last four numbers of your social security number plus the last two numbers of your birth year.

Doctors agree, your best defense against dehydration is prevention. Follow these six tips to stay safe and healthy, especially when temperatures – or your activity levels – increase:

1. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already slightly dehydrated. Sip water steadily throughout the day and drink more fluids than usual when the weather is hot, especially if you are active.
2. Flavor your water. If plain water tastes boring to you, you can add flavor with fresh fruits or a splash of fruit juice. You can also consume clear broths, ice pops, or sports drinks (especially if you are doing intense exercise).
3. Eat water-rich fruits and vegetables. Certain fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water in addition to healthful nutrients. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and pineapples are fruits with high-water content. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes.
4. Stay inside when it gets too hot. On very hot days, stay indoors in an air-conditioned environment. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, try a shopping center, movie theater, or public library. Avoid sun exposure, especially between 10:00AM and 2:00PM, when the rays are strongest. Plan outdoor activities in the early morning or evening.
5. Dress for the weather. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing that lets your skin breathe. Dark colors absorb heat, so stick with lighter shades. Wear a wide-brimmed hat in the sun to keep your head cool and use plenty of sunscreen to avoid sunburn, which can increase your skin temperature and make it harder to stay cool.
6. Be aware of the signs of dehydration. If anyone in your family is ill, pay attention to how much they are able to drink – especially young children and the elderly. Anyone with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids. Do not wait for signs of dehydration to appear.

Adapted from Scripps