District Dialogue

The Sioux Falls School District is proud to partner with Vern Eide Motorcars to present this prestigious annual award. Thanks to Vern Eide's generous support, the Teacher of the Year will receive a $4,000 prize!

Please help us recognize and honor the tremendous contributions of outstanding classroom teachers* by submitting a nomination!

Criteria for Selection include:

• Differentiates instruction based on meeting students needs

• Designs engaging lessons to improve classroom and/or school culture

• Inspires students to recognize their potential impact & role in the larger community

In addition, at least one of the topics must be chosen to explain how this nominee excels in that area(s):

• Desire for professional growth

• Community involvement

• Dedication to the teaching profession

• Rapport with students, parents, and staff

*A classroom teacher is a person who has a class of their own & spends at least three or more hours per day, five days a week, for six or more calendar months during a school year in a classroom teaching students. School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are NOT eligible.

This week, the Sioux Falls School District proudly celebrates National School Psychology Week, where we recognize the invaluable contributions of our school psychologists! Our school psychologists help foster positive learning environments and support students' mental health and well-being. Their expertise and compassion help build student resilience, develop healthy coping strategies, and reach their highest potential.

THANK YOU to all our school psychologists for playing a crucial role in our schools. Your talents make a lasting difference in the lives of our students, staff, and families.

Happy National School Psychology Week!

Rose is a superstar first-grade teacher at Lowell Elementary. She was nominated for the award by her colleague, Debra Rodgers, who describes her as “the epitome of a perfect first-grade teacher.” Her kindness, empathy, and dedication to her students are felt every single day.

Whether it’s waiting with a student whose ride is late, or bringing creativity to life by involving her students in decorating the classroom door, Rose always goes the extra mile to make her classroom a welcoming and creative space.

Thank you for all you do, Rose!

Señora Espinosa is an outstanding Educational Assistant at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary!

Known for her warm and adaptable approach, she’s made a huge impact—from stepping in as a long-term sub to training new EAs and leading cultural celebrations. Her positivity and dedication to students and staff shine through every task, whether it's WIN time, playground duty, or the book fair.

Currently pursuing her teaching degree through the SD Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway, Señora Espinosa is on her way to becoming an incredible educator. We are so grateful to have her!

Thank you for all you do, Yaira!

Do you have a coworker or colleague who is constantly going above and beyond? Do you notice when somebody is going out of their way to make a student's day just a little bit brighter? Do you have a staff member who consistently brings their best, day in and day out? We want to hear about it! We know that amazing things happen every day in every building of the Sioux Falls School District, and we need your help to tell those stories. Recognize a coworker for their amazing dedication to the work of SFSD.

The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is currently accepting Public School Proud Grant proposals and the deadline is quickly approaching!

Any teacher in the Sioux Falls School District can apply for up to $10,000 to purchase materials that will give students hands-on, immersive opportunities. The Education Foundation awarded $120,000 in funding in 2024, and expect to award a record number of grants in 2025.

In the past, the Education Foundation has funded grants for 3D printers, programmable robots, art supplies, social emotional learning materials, aero gardens, specialized PE and music materials for students with limited mobility, task boxes, musical instruments, STEM kits, podcasting equipment, math manipulatives, cybersecurity software, automotive technology tools, flight simulators, cardio drumming equipment, job skills training materials, literacy kits, health science simulation mannequins, and more.

Applications are due Monday, December 2nd at 12 pm! ⏰

To submit your application, please download the attachment below and complete.

Send the completed form as a Word document to Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us

This Saturday, November 16th the Sioux Falls Stampede is back at the Premier Center taking on the Omaha Lancers and are hosting their annual Military Appreciation Night.

The first 1,000 fans through the door will receive a camo Stampede hat. The team will also be wearing special military jerseys that will be raffled off during the game. All proceeds will benefit the Veterans Community Project and Warriors Never Give Up.

The game starts at 6:05 pm.

Through this exclusive special, tickets are only $22 for the gold level (rows 2-6), $17 for blue level seats (rows 7-14) and $14 for gray level seats (rows 15-21). Upgrades to the Black and Club Seating Levels are available.

Free tickets for active-duty service members and veterans! (Must show your military ID at the Stampede office located at 1111 N. Lake Ave.)

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, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Arts, Music 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.

During the past 14 years, the Imagine Solutions Conference (ISC) has brought together more than 550 world-class experts to learn, springboard, and leverage their capabilities to effectively address social issues. Their mantra, "a profound respect for learning" mirrors the heart and soul of teachers who "love to learn." The ISC Virtual Learning Program for the Sioux Falls School District was created out of these beliefs, allowing all teachers to participate for free.

All registered teachers qualify for 5 hours of professional development for registering and completing a brief survey after watching all of the videos.

The South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS) has created Retire Ready, a new virtual format for group presentations. The SDRS Retire Ready series will consist of four short presentations, all designed to increase your financial awareness and help you prepare for retirement. All SDRS members, at any stage of their career, will benefit from the information provided. These 45-60 minute presentations are held via ZOOM every Wednesday on a rotating-basis.

SDRS - SRP 101 | November 13th, 2024 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm

Retirement is expensive, and additional personal savings will be vital to having a financially successful retirement. You can learn more about how the SDRS-SRP can help you save for retirement to achieve your financial goals. Information will also be presented on the SDRS Special Pay Plan (SPP), an additional personal savings program funded by an employee’s termination pay.

Click HERE to register!

SDRS Financial Literacy | November 20th, 2024 from 4:15pm to 5:15pm

Build on your budgeting and savings skills and increase your awareness of the many challenges we encounter during our careers and into retirement. Be empowered to take charge of your finances and be more prepared for retirement.

Click HERE to register!

SandCreek, our Employee Assistance Program, is free, confidential, and available to ALL Sioux Falls School District employees and their family members. As a part of their extensive list of offerings, SandCreek offers FREE monthly webinars that cover a variety of topics. Below are a couple upcoming ones!

To register for a SandCreek account, visit www.SandCreekEAP.com and click the “Sign Up” link just below the Log In button. Enter siouxfalls as your company code and complete the signup process! A confirmation email will be sent to complete the registration.

Holiday Survival Guide

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

For many, the holiday season is a wonderful time for celebration, family gatherings and joyful memories. For others, it's a time of sadness and, possibly, a feeling of being overwhelmed. In this seminar, participants examine sources of holiday stress and learn strategies for coping and managing their emotions, time, relationships and finances. Participants will also share ideas for organizing holiday tasks, managing holiday demands, and explore the role of holiday traditions in our lives.

Register Online!

The Connection Between Exercise and Mental Health

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Daily exercise is proven to have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. In this class, participants will learn about the benefits of exercise to our immune system, the ability to reduce our risk for contracting disease, and lowers our stress levels. Explore how to get started on a healthy path towards improved mental health, and how to stay motivated to reach your goals!

Register Online!

November is National Diabetes Month. This is a time when communities across the country bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on managing diabetes. Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. It has also been linked to certain cancers. It affects about 37 million Americans. Knowing your diabetes ABCs will help you manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Diabetes ABCs

A for the A1C test - The A1C test shows your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months. The goal for many is an A1C below 7 percent.

B for Blood Pressure - The blood pressure goal for those with diabetes is 140/90 mm HG.

C for Cholesterol - You have two kinds of cholesterol in your blood: LDL and HDL. LDL or “bad” cholesterol can build up and clog your blood vessels. Too much bad cholesterol can cause a heart attack or stroke. HDL or “good” cholesterol helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from your blood vessels. Ask your health care team what your cholesterol numbers should be.

Choosing fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, chicken, fish, lean meats, and nonfat milk and cheese can help manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Making physical activity part of your daily routine can also help manage your diabetes.

Managing diabetes isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!

Adapted from NIH