District Dialogue

Speech-Language Pathologists do so much for our students to ensure that everybody has a chance to communicate better and interact with the world. SLP day falls in May, which is also Better Hearing and Speech Month, so we'd also like to acknowledge and say thank you to all of our Speech Language Pathology Assistants, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and American Sign Language Interpreters for everything you do for our students!

On this episode of Spotlight, Superintendent Stavem sits down with Michael Grismer, a high school senior from Roosevelt HS and a member of the class of 2023. Michael is an exceptionally bright student with high academic achievements and a passion for learning. This conversation covers a little bit of everything, from Michael's success as a student, to how school districts can cultivate a passion for learning, to the future of AI and it's role in education.

Join Dr. Stavem and Michael in this fascinating conversation that offers up a look at the Sioux Falls School District from the viewpoint of a student. As we close the book on another school year completed, the topics we cover here give us a moment to reflect on the past and look towards the future.

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

Here's what people had to say about last year's conference:

"I thought this conference was great! The inspiration gave me a jumpstart to the year and really got me thinking 'deeper' into what I do in the classroom."

"I was SO impressed with the quality of presenters at the conference and the fact that it was completely free to us as staff is astounding! I wish more of our staff had been able to take advatage of this opportunity!"

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.

The Sioux Falls School District Summer Food Service program will be available during the months of June and July 2023. FREE breakfast and hot lunches will be available for kids ages 0-18. No paperwork necessary.

Please help us get the word out to any families who may be in need!

The Canaries will be hosting a "School's Out" night on Friday, June 2nd geared towards celebrating teachers! General Admission is only $7 and they will have some give-aways to honor teachers. It's the perfect way to round out your year!

Six Public School Proud Grants were given out this past week. Congratulations to all recipients! Thank you for going the extra mile to benefit your students! (Be sure to follow the link below for a full list of recipients!)

Congratulations to this week's SFSD All Star, Cathie Vortherms, 6th Grade Honors Science Teacher at Patrick Henry Middle School! Her collegue Jodi Haugland had this to say about Cathie, "I am nominating Cathie for her outstanding inspiration to others! She is so dedicated to her students, not just in the science content area, but also in molding well-rounded human beings. She goes above and beyond to learn new curriculum and find hands on modules to make learning fun and relevant to the world around us. She is definitely preparing her students for the future workforce and equipping them with many new skills. She also instills life-long behaviors that go beyond the classroom by coordinating service projects, community involvement, and planning small group volunteer activities for that extra opportunity to do good for others. Cathie is definitely an All Star Staff Member to work with!"

Below are the 2023-24 Salary Memos for Teachers and Classified staff.

Teacher Salary Memo

Classified Staff Salary Memo

Teachers and Administrators: Have you checked your SD Educator Certification expiration date? Do it today! https://www.sd.gov/411

After October 1 each year, Teachers and Administrators with expired licenses are charged an additional $100 to renew. Also, the Be proactive and check your certification today! Then, ask your co-workers to check their certification.

If you find you need to renew your license this spring, check out the Renewal Requirements found here: Renewal Requirements

Employee Access Center is your one-stop-shop for easy and immediate access to your information as an employee of the Sioux Falls School District. Through Employee Access Center, you can:

• View your payroll and salary information
• View your leave banks and historical leave information
• View and update your demographic information
• View your detailed check history (beginning with the July 31, 2019 paycheck)
• Print your W2 information
• View and update your federal and state tax withholdings
• View your dedication and benefit information
• View and update your direct deposit information
• Calculate paycheck scenarios using the “What If” Paycheck Calculator

Employee Access Center URL: https://siouxfalls.efp.sourcewelltech.org/employeeaccess

User ID: Employee Number

Password: Last 4 Digits of your Social Security number (it is strongly recommended that you update your password immediately after your first login)

To Change Your Password:

• Hover over your name in the upper right corner and click on Preferences
• Type in your old password and select a new password using the following rules:
• Between 8 and 16 characters
• Contain a lowercase character
• Contain an uppercase character
• Contain a numeric character
• Contain a special character

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

• Wednesday, June 14th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Healthy Living: Navigate Life’s Transitions

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

Open Enrollment is now over, so please log into the Selerix Benefit System and do the following:

• Verify that your benefit elections look as you think they should. (You won’t be able to change anything in Selerix. Questions? Email benefits.sfsd@k12.sd.us)
• 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

We’re here for YOU. The District is pleased to offer the Sand Creek Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help employees and their families find support and the necessary resources when difficult situations arise. Sand Creek helps with everyday life struggles by offering solutions such as mental health counseling, work/life resources, legal/financial resources, medical advocacy, life/wellness coaching, and a personal assistant. Additionally, the EAP is an excellent option for webinars, articles, and other resources to help support our well-being. Our EAP through Sand Creek is free, professional, and confidential.

Learn more about Sand Creek HERE