Thanksgiving break starts for many on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. During this time, we reflect on how thankful we are for all of you that are part of the Sioux Falls School District. SFSD is grateful for the support you provide to our families, the kindness you show toward students, and the dedication you bring each day. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Congratulations to Whittier Principal Erika Paladino-Hazlett, and Assistant Principal Dr. Michael Moore for receiving the South Dakota Music Education Association's Distinguished Administrator Award for 2022!

This distinguished award is reserved for administrators who actively support fine arts programs in their schools. Mrs. Paladino-Hazlett and Dr. Moore were nominated for this award by Whittier Orchestra Teacher Kim Bogart, who says the nomination truly came from the whole Whittier fine arts staff. The administrators were recently recognized during the All State Chorus and Orchestra awards reception. In her award speech, Kim shared,"Both Mike and Erika show active support for our programs in many ways, but really it is just the active support and caring for our students that they exhibit every day that helps our programs thrive. Everything that they do is to break down barriers for our students so that they can have the same opportunities to participate, experience, and grow, and not have any excuses to not do the thing.”

See more about their award and what led to their nomination in the KELOLAND clip below!

Dawn is the Lunchbox Education Assistant at Harvey Dunn Elementary and is known for creating a positive environment in the lunchroom! She was nominated for this All Star award by Harvey Dunn Principal Jennifer Chamberlain, who shared this about her, "Dawn has done an AMAZING job creating a positive, calm, and inviting lunchroom environment. This is true for the students eating as well as the staff working in the lunchroom. While holding students accountable to the school and lunchroom expectations, she maintains a positive attitude. She maintains the dignity of both students and staff when behaviors/work adjustments need to be made. The feedback she gives is specific, and immediate, and coaches for growth. If you observe in the lunchroom, you will see Dawn greeting all with a smile, sharing trivia/jokes with students, and singing/dancing with the kids for an occasional fun time. In addition to creating a positive setting, Dawn is very organized and works to identify the best practices where errors won't occur. She takes special diets/allergies seriously and has systems in place so students receive the appropriate meal. She continues to seek to find ways to make things run efficiently and communicates with all stakeholders in a timely manner. Students and staff in the building enjoy their interactions and time with Miss Dawn!"

Congratulations, Dawn!

In celebration of American Education Week last week, Sanford Health donated their suite to last Saturday's Sioux Falls Skyforce game. Our 2022-2023 All Stars and their family and friends were able to enjoy an evening together filled with great basketball and fun entertainment!

The Office of Indian Education is looking for volunteers and donations for the 5th Annual Winter Solstice Gathering taking place on Friday, December 9, 2022, from 5:30-7 pm at Axtell Park School.

If you are interested in donating hygiene items, scan the first QR code on the graphic attached. If you would like to volunteer to help that evening, call 211 or scan the second QR code.

Any help you can provide is appreciated!

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.

A new year brings new health goals, and we’re making it easier to prioritize your health in the new year. All SFSD employees and their spouses that are on the SFSD medical plan have a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card by participating in our Personal Health Assessment and wellness activities.

Click to expand the graphic on the right to learn more.

Click the links below to register for Sand Creek EAP’s live November webinar.

• Wednesday, December 14th: 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Family Dynamics During the Holidays
• 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.

Thanksgiving dinner is treasured by many Americans, but the meal isn’t typically heart healthy. The holiday food staples tend to be full of fatty, high-cholesterol foods. Here are 4 tips for a healthier holiday meal:

1. Devote most of your plate to vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, and squash.
2. Don't drench everything in gravy. Use as little as you can.
3. Limit turkey skin and dark meat.
4. Have a small slice of pie for dessert. Resist a second helping.

Adapted from Core Health

Each week, we want to introduce you to some pets in our Sioux Falls School District community! Say hello to Bandit, Ace, Anne, Aspen & Ranger, Bert & Ernie, Darth Vader, Felix, Jitterbug, Kona, Kovu, Odin, Ozzie, Rellik Ghost & Bailey, Rickles, and Samson!

We also want to congratulate our first Starbucks gift card winner – Julie F. at Memorial Middle School!

Thank you to everyone that submitted their pets! We are going to continue to showcase those that were submitted but are no longer accepting new submissions. Stay tuned for our next District Dialogue feature!