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

September is National Suicide Prevention Month - a time to raise awareness about the critical issue of mental health and suicide prevention. This month is a reminder that we all play a role in creating a culture of compassion, understanding, and openness. By recognizing signs of distress and offering support, we can help make a difference in someone's life. SFSD schools have counselors who are trained to offer support and connect students and families with any resources they may need. Sometimes, just starting a conversation can be the first step toward healing.

Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15 - October 15. This is a time for us to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic communities in Sioux Falls and throughout the United States. It’s also a time for us to embrace and celebrate the cultural richness our Hispanic students and families bring to our schools. For example - students from throughout our schools, including those from our Spanish Immersion programs and other Spanish classes joined in the fun of the 2024 Latino Festival and Parade 2024! Let’s make this a month of learning, celebration, and connection! https://youtu.be/-mM-b9B0GYw

Did you know September is National Attendance Awareness Month? We're working hard to make sure school is a place that students want to be at. If there are barriers to a student who is having trouble getting to school, we have teams of staff who are there to help make sure they show up to succeed. When students show up, the possibilities are limitless. #ShowUpSF

https://youtu.be/-znMTLcsgio "Report, Don't Repost." Parents, students, and the community are asked to take 3 minutes to hear an important message from Superintendent Jane Stavem and Police Chief Jon Thum. School safety is everyone's responsibility!

Congratulations to the 20 SFSD students who were recently announced as National Merit Semifinalists! This prestigious recognition places them among the top academic achievers in the nation, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. Read more here: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/article/1770430

Our Child Nutrition staff play an integral part in serving our mission to continuously improve meals and services to meet nutritional requirements, provide a variety of menu items, and give the healthiest choices with the freshest ingredients available. As a Child Nutrition Truck Driver, you have the opportunity to support this mission through delivering food to our schools, assisting with the set-up of our serving lines, and maintaining a safe and clean truck and workspace. Find more information here! https://sf.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=6724

This week's ⭐️ SFSD All-Star 💫 is Heather Conrad, PE teacher at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary! There are 26 sections of students at Sonia Sotomayor elementary, and each one of them receives Physical Education. But that's not enough for Heather. She takes morning arrival duty, volunteers with lunch duty, teaches playground and recess expectations, fully plans and runs field days, serves on multiple leadership teams, takes on mentors, and otherwise daily builds relationships with students and families through a myriad of other extras. Thank you for going above and beyond for your students and school everyday! https://youtu.be/UvPeMucS484

Did you know that having a consistent morning routine can set the tone for regular school attendance? hashtag#ShowUpSF

The 33rd Annual President's Bowl was another huge success with all SFSD high schools represented. Cheer (and cheer camp participants)!, band, dance, many students helped make the day amazing. Thousands of fans showed up to enjoy the beautiful day and a good time was had by all. Check out more photos here! https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHP8w

This Tuesday we will see the return of the Avera Family Forum Series. Experts from Avera and SFSD host free VIRTUAL forums the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6pm to allow families a safe space to learn about the challenges today's students face. This week we'll hear about tips and tricks for navigating Canvas and Infinite Campus. Keep an eye on your email for a link, or tune into the SFSD Youtube page to watch!

Sports offer huge benefits to the girls involved: Leadership opportunities, scholarship possibilities, and self-development are just a few. But perhaps most important - it's FUN to participate and spend time with friends old and new! https://youtu.be/B5GjpOcCfHs

This year's theme, "I Show Up for Kids" is so popular, even students are participating! Earlier this week, some students on the Jefferson High School and Lincoln High School soccer teams had an idea. They wanted to help their community, so they held a donation drive for the Foster Care Closet and were able to deliver lightly used clothes, hygiene products and other goods to the organization. Both the boys and girls soccer teams at JHS and LHS participated. Thank you all for your commitment to showing up for kids!

Keep an eye on your mailboxes for the annual SFSD Ignite newsletter! This newsletter contains links to important information and exciting news to share for the 2024-25 school year. If a copy doesn't show up at your mailbox, there are copies at all SFSD schools and building as well.

Happy National Arts in Education Week! This is a week to put a focus on the import role the arts has in a well rounded education. From being named a Best Community for Music Education to having award-winning arts educators, SFSD has many robust offerings when it comes to the arts. Encouraging students to explore their creative sides is a crucial part of a complete and balanced education, and nobody can attest to that better than Kathy Dang, SFSD art educator extraordinaire! Tune in to this episode of our podcast to hear her take on the role of the arts in education, and to hear from the Education Foundation about an exciting new donation that will give the arts in SFSD an added boost. https://youtu.be/AzDxRD-tvs0

The SFSD Early Childhood Program is currently taking applications for eligible 4 year olds for preschool! For more information scan the QR, call the number on the flier, or go here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCeqpGT1xt-0NNIoYhq21YrbMPumt-YW6GmL4QTwG_pA0Ruw/viewform

Did you know? The SFSD accepts donations of gently used musical instruments—such as clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, saxes, baritones, and all sizes of violins, violas, and cellos. Instruments can be dropped off at the Instructional Planning Center 8:00AM-5:00PM. Contact the fine arts department at 605-367-7958 with questions.

Education Assistants (EAs) Show Up For Kids everyday. EAs are crucial parts of the educational process. They develop important relationships with students, support teachers, fill all kinds of roles throughout the day, and can leave each afternoon knowing they've made a difference in the lives of kids. If you're ready to start making a difference in the lives of students, apply to be an EA here: https://sf.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx?jcat=Education%20Support%20Professionals Starting at $17.85 per hour. Benefits available for positions of 20 hours or more per week. Work one-on-one or in small group settings with our students. Responsibilities may include: support educational and behavioral goals, maintain student records, monitor students during lunch and playground times, and other duties.

Now that we're in to our first full week of school for the 2024-25 school year, we're reminding drivers to be aware when school busses are on the road. Just remember this simple phrase when you come across a yellow school bus, "When the lights are flashing, no passing!" Not only is it common sense for the safety of students everywhere, it's the law.

Cheer may not be the first thing you think of when you hear "girls sports". But the dedication, passion, and athleticism that these girls posses is second to none! Sports offer huge benefits to the girls involved: Leadership opportunities, scholarship possibilities, and self-development are just a few. But perhaps most important - it's FUN to participate and spend time with friends old and new! https://youtu.be/FqvA-QZicEI

Work is steadily coming along at SFSD's newest upcoming addition, Marcella LeBeau Elementary! In this birds-eye view video you can also see progress being made on the new Boys and Girls Club addition to George McGovern Middle School. Exciting things are on the horizon for the northwest corner of the Sioux Falls School District! https://youtu.be/knjJiSDJ6F4