This uplifting story out of Joe Foss will surely warm your heart and get you thinking of something other than snow for a minute!
If you spent any time in the downtown/Falls Park area within the last month, you know what a beautiful winter wonderland it gets turned into every holiday season. Have you ever paused to think about the people behind the scenes of this tradition? One Joe Foss student did – and she wanted to find a special way to say thank you to this team of hardworking professionals. Thanks to the help of Joe Foss Counselor Janell Mills, Parks and Rec Director Don Kearney, and the generosity of Falls Overlook Café, Quashanti Luby Roy’s dream became reality.
Quashanti and fellow Joe Foss students met with the Parks and Rec team on the afternoon of December 21st at the Falls Overlook Café, where they were able to say thank you in person over hot chocolate and other donated holiday treats. All the students attending and representing Joe Foss and Axtell Park are students who demonstrated good work ethic, conduct, and attendance. It was a fantastic opportunity for our Sioux Falls School District students to do something positive for their community. And as an added “cherry on top,” the Sioux Falls Challenge Coin was presented to Quashanti and Counselor Mills by the Parks and Rec admin team.
Great job to Quashanti and all the Axtell and Joe Foss students involved in this kind gesture!
DEADLINE APPROACHING! Less than two weeks remain to get in Teacher of the Year nominations!
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 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
HR Radar: SFEA District Retirement Incentive Zoom Meeting
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.
HR Radar: Important Deadline for Teachers
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
Shortage areas include the following Teachers: PreK-12 Special Education, Spanish Immersion, World Language, Speech Language Pathologists, Vocal Music, Orchestra, Band, Art, Theater, CTE Instructors, HS & MS Math, HS & MS Science.
HR Radar: Sand Creek Upcoming Webinars
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.
