The Sioux Falls School District Office of Indian Education and the Title VI Parent Committee would like to give a big shout out and thank you to all of the volunteers and sponsors that helped to make the 5th Annual Winter Solstice Dinner a success! This year our sponsorship from the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, the Sioux Valley Optimist Club, Think 3-D, Sweetgrass Soapery, and South Dakota Urban Indian Health helped us to spread the holiday cheer. With their generous donations and the donations of local community members we were able to offer 500 hot meals, 400 treat bags for young students, and 300 hygiene kits for our teens and tweens! Wopila for your ongoing support and dedication to our Native American students and families!

With this unpredictable week of weather ahead, we want you to be informed as to how your working group will respond in the event of a late start or school cancellation.

See below for instructions on what a late start/school cancellation would mean for you.

The Sioux Falls School District's newest high school was tonight's school spotlight! Jefferson High School, now in its second year as a school, has roughly 1,700 students, with 107 classroom teachers, 6 counselors, 1 school nurse, 2 resource officers, 3 assistant principals, a success coordinator, and a social worker.

The mission of JHS is to serve, include, compete, and believe. When you are a Cavalier, you believe All means all, people matter most, and you compete for excellence.

See the Cavs in action here!

The Sioux Falls School District is collaborating with local community non-profits to enhance after-school programming at all levels.

Initial changes will begin at the elementary level after Sioux Falls Thrive assembled an After-School Time Action Team to address student safety during after-school hours. A study conducted by Augustana Research Institute in 2018 estimated 4,800 elementary-aged students within the SFSD spend time unsupervised during after-school and summer hours,

with more than 1,400 of those students spending more than 15 hours a week unsupervised.

Starting in 2023-2024, SFSD elementary schools will transition to the Community Learning Center Model in all buildings to provide safe, structured, high-quality programming that develops students for a successful future. The District’s long running, successful Kids Inc. program will provide the framework for these improvements.

The new after school programming will include mentoring, tutoring, homework help, science and technology programs, art, music, sport, and community service opportunities.

Studies show short-and-long-term positive outcomes for students in high-quality after-school programs. Students part of after-school opportunities show growth in reading, math, homework completion, class participation, and graduation rates, as well as decreased classroom behavior disruptions. Work continues to develop middle and high school options to include such things as workforce development and life skills.

Read the full report by clicking below.

SFSD has scheduled times throughout the year to review it Continue to Learn (C2L) document and update information as needed. Administrators from each C2L Planning Area recently took part in a scheduled review where minimal changes were made.

General changes to the document include:

The review and approval dates were updated to reflect this report

Links were updated throughout the document

• Page 8 – Transportation services cleaning and mask protocols update
• Page 10 – Symptomatic student information update
• Page 14 – Building use minor language clarification and update
• Page 19 – Clarified the end date of Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave
• Page 26-28 – Budget updated to reflect the additional salary expenses and actual expenditures compared to projected where applicable

See all changes in red by clicking below.

Mitakuye Oyasin is the Lincoln High School Indigenous Studies student newsletter. Check out the October-November edition, where you will become educated on the Oceti Sakowin Kinship System, learn a few words from the Lakota Language, meet LHS Senior Miles Brokenleg, who identifies with the Rosebud Reservation, Sicangu Oyate, and much more!

Check it out by clicking the link below.

With it being the last home game before Christmas, the Stampede is hosting Ugly Christmas Sweater Night this Saturday, December 17th. Through this exclusive special, tickets are only $21 for gold-level seats (rows 2-6), $16 for blue-level seats (rows 7-14), and $13 for gray-level seats (rows 15-21). Upgrades to the Club seating level is available. Pods are also available in our Exclusive Sections, 4 tickets for $100.

Purchase your discounted tickets here: https://fevo.me/dec17dto

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, December 13th – 4:10 – 5:00pm

Tuesday, January 10th – 4:10 – 5:00pm

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

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

If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, Digital Learn has the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed.

Visit www.digitallearn.org to explore the free courses!

With the recent snowfall and current wintry conditions, the Human Resources department and RAS Companies would like to remind you to be alert - accidents hurt!

10 Quick Tips to Keep You on Your Feet:

• Wear shoes with good tread.
• Soft rubber soles.
• Deep treads or channels.
• Avoid smooth bottom shoes.
• Wear snow boots to and from the car in the winter.
• In winter, sprinkle sand/salt near your car before stepping in or out; sprinkle it on your path when walking to and from your car.
• Wipe your feet well when coming inside; don’t bring the wet conditions into the building with you.
• Slow down and take wide steps across slippery or wet surfaces.
• Use handrails on stairs and ramps.
• Avoid carrying items out in front of you; don’t block your view of the path.
• Watch for trip hazards; don’t step over items, walk around them or pick them up.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Pay attention to wet floor and caution signs.
• Never stand on rolling stools or chairs.

RAS has created a winter slip/fall prevention video. It touches on several winter walking tips including exiting/entering a vehicle safely, walking like a penguin, wearing snow boots/footwear with good tread, walking on designated paths/areas only, and carrying needed items in a bag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ilQEFHSSY8

‘Tis the season of holiday cooking and baking! Share your favorite recipe(s) with us to have them featured in our District community cookbook. Recipe submissions will be accepted until Tuesday December 20th. To submit, fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/J4ByLmxsPDw6oSgW6.

Questions or troubles submitting the Google form? Contact Kate DiPasquale at kate.dipasquale@k12.sd.us.