Sioux Falls School District - Educate and prepare each student to succeed in a changing world

It’s Election Day! 🗳️🇺🇸🗳️ Today is especially exciting for many of our high school students, as they cast their ballots for the very first time in a government election! These students have been working hard to prepare, researching national and local candidates as well as amendments and measures, ensuring they’re informed when they step into the voting booth. For several of them, voting feels like a milestone. Washington High School senior Chase Sayabath shared, “Voting really does matter. Voicing your opinion is always important, and pushing for what you believe in is always valid. It’s good to try to make a difference where you can.” Join students like Chase, James, Joe, Teonna, and Emily in doing your part as a U.S. citizen today, VOTE! It's not just for our future but for the future of our students.

Meet our most recent SFSD All Star, Rose Ruffinott! ✨ 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. Please help us congratulate Rose on this well-deserved recognition! Thank you for all you do, Rose!

Discovery Elementary 5th grade student council set out with a BIG goal - to collect 1,000 pairs of new socks to be donated to the Bishop Dudley House. Not only did they meet their goal, they surpassed it! On Friday, the council celebrated as they proudly handed over a whopping 1,081 pairs of socks to help those in need! Did you know, since 2007, the month of November has been recognized as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month? As many as 2.5 million youth experience homelessness per year. Representatives from the Bishop Dudley House were in attendance on Friday to collect the donated socks. Student council members had the opportunity to meet with the representatives to learn more about Bishop Dudley's mission and how their donation will make a difference for the people in our community. They asked thoughtful questions, learned about the impact of their efforts, and even helped load the socks up for delivery! Thank you to these young leaders for showcasing the power of kindness, generosity, and community!

A friendly reminder that daylight saving time ends this weekend! Make sure to set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night to keep everyone on time for school on Monday!

What could a retired Marine and a third-grader possibly have in common? Their shared love for the Sioux Falls School District lunch truck, of course! You might remember these familiar faces from a heartwarming story we shared over the summer. Child Nutrition professional, Lonny Meno made one of his biggest fans’ dreams come true by creating and gifting a custom toy truck modeled after the SFSD lunch delivery truck to Michael, a third-grade student at Rose Parks Elementary. Michael, who has a special passion for vehicles, especially the SFSD lunch truck, was overjoyed when he received the gift! Fast forward to Halloween, and Lonny’s kindness has warmed hearts once again. Yesterday, he wore a custom SFSD lunch delivery truck costume, lighting the lunchroom with hundreds of smiles from students and staff alike! Lonny’s commitment to making students feel seen and valued is just one of the many ways he goes above and beyond for our school district. Thank you, Lonny, for “showing up” in extraordinary ways and making a difference every day. Your compassion and creativity remind us all of the joy that simple acts of kindness can bring! See Lonny & Michael's story here: https://youtu.be/eqVyNZ9rGI4?si=ZrN90j9Jiuk7qnfw

Sioux Falls students are the future of our community. When we show up for kids, we show them their education matters and help them prepare the build a brighter tomorrow for everyone. #ShowUpSF

🌟 Dreaming of making a difference? Start your teaching journey with the Sioux Falls School District! In this video, two of our dedicated teachers share how their experience as student teachers gave them real-world classroom skills and helped them land full-time roles with the District. SFSD offers a supportive community, professional growth, and the chance to shape future generations. Ready to take the first step? Watch their stories and imagine the possibilities. https://youtu.be/F20MHbf8-w0

Lights On Afterschool is a nation-wide initiative that puts a spotlight on the importance of out-of-school-time care. Community Learning Centers celebrated with parties at sites across SFSD, inviting in families to see what goes on after school on a day-to-day basis. In this episode of "Spotlight" we hear from some CLC experts on how they celebrated, the power of partnerships, and their plans for the future. Tune in on YouTube or Spotify! https://youtu.be/yDLPfPgvBiQ

The Sioux Falls School District is looking for RISE Education assistants to show up for kids! In this role, you’ll help implement individualized education plans and create a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Learn more about being a RISE EA here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FP3FkAC0co Ready to join our team? Apply online today!

This week's ⭐️ SFSD All-Star ⭐️ is Amy O'Neil! This Garfield Elementary EA goes above and beyond her assigned tasks to help make a difference in the lives of all the students she encounters daily. From bus duty, to being a personal EA to two students, to classroom assistance, to tying shoes, to teaching and accommodating lessons for students, she is a positive, calming, trustworthy and consistent presence for kids and staff alike. Thank you, Amy, for bringing your All-Star attitude to Garfield everyday! https://youtu.be/dpMansI1bP8

"The SFSD Experience" for staff encompasses five key pillars: -Academic Success (Instructional support and targeted personal development) -Well-Being -Community Engagement -Staff Excellence -Effective Use of Resources These are guiding principles that ALL staff follow, from clerical and custodial to principals and administration. Kevin Moody is a Building Computer Specialist for IPC, Robert Frost/Challenge Center and Susan B. Anthony, and he is the perfect embodiment of what we mean when we say "The SFSD Experience". He is relatively new to the District IT team, and he has already made himself known as a positive presence wherever he goes. Hear what staff have to say about him here: https://youtu.be/YJpuXWgW9X8

Wow! Talk about "Showing Up" for students! Community leaders recently took time out of their busy schedules to meet with Roosevelt and Jefferson JAG students at a Leadership Forum. Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) program is a school-to-career leadership program that provides work-based experiences and connections to support students through their graduation and into adulthood. Many thanks to the leaders who took time to answer questions about their professional paths and to inspire our leaders of tomorrow!

There's no replacement for the special connection that happens inside the classroom between a teacher and their students. When students show up, they're set up for success! #schoolmatters #ShowUpSF

At the Sioux Falls School District, we believe in the power of inclusivity and support. As a Special Education Classroom Teacher, you’ll create engaging, individualized lesson plans that cater to each student’s strengths and challenges. You’ll collaborate with families and fellow educators to provide the resources and encouragement necessary for success. By showing up for kids every day, you’ll help them build confidence and achieve their goals in a nurturing environment. If you’re ready to inspire and empower students on their educational journeys.

This week's 🌟 SFSD All-Star 🌟 is Carly Logan at Ben Reifel Middle School! She is passionate about teaching science, but her dedication to students and her school go far beyond. She helps with clubs and student council, and collaborates with science teachers both at Ben Reifel and throughout the city. She also spearheads community service projects of various sizes year-round. Through everything, she brings joy, fun, and positivity that is contagious. Thank you, Carly, for bringing your A game to BRMS everyday! https://youtu.be/vSeX5miLbLs

Yesterday was a Friday fit for a king at R.F Pettigrew Elementary! Students recently met a goal they set for a Fun Run Fundraiser, and part of the reward for meeting that goal was celebrating with a King and Queen day. When a goal set becomes a goal met, students deserve the royal treatment!

A big thank you is in order for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services! They held a Fall Drive to collect garments for the Community Engagement Center and just dropped them off for families. Thank you for Showing Up for SFSD students and families!

Constant support and mentorship can be highly effective in improving attendance for students. Setting a successful initiative is key for their overall development. Like what's been happening at Laura B. Anderson Elementary lately. For several weeks, students from sports teams at the University of Sioux Falls have been volunteering their time to Show Up For Kids at LBA, often times simply playing at recess, or helping with reading in the classroom. LBA students love to interact with them, and it's a simple act that has a big impact. When we make school a fun place that kids want to go to, attendance happens naturally. #ShowUpSF

This week's 🌟 SFSD All-Star 🌟 is Laura Brennan! Laura is an ambassador for the Sioux Falls School District with newcomers to the US and our state. She is often the first contact families have with our school system, and one of the longest-trusted people they know they can return to. Whether she's helping families in the Community Engagement Center, teaching classes at LSS, placing students in appropriate learning settings, or monitoring their progress, she does it with a compassion and perspective uniquely suited to the needs of children and parents alike. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your passion with families and students across SFSD! https://youtu.be/CJWNxHIKa80

Our Gold Card members were invited to Robert Frost/Challenge Center this week to learn about our Community Learning Centers, or CLCs, and how they are serving kids and the community after school, before school, during school breaks, and during the summer! They also got to try a fun science experiment with the kids! Tune in to the full presentation here: https://youtu.be/1dbJFxMvtRA