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

Happy Holidays from the Sioux Falls School District! Take some time to enjoy this "Ukrainian Bell Carol" performed by the Washington High School Guitar class at the direction of Karla Chiarello. Guitar classes are a relatively new offering from the SFSD Fine Arts Department, and they are made possible by a grant from the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation in partnership with Pepper Entertainment. We hope you can enjoy time with loved ones this holiday season! https://youtu.be/jzFzby3rqTo

Yesterday students at Eugene Field A+ Elementary got to experience a Multiple Intelligences Day based on the theme of "Hobbies". Presenters from the community came in to share their hobbies with the whole school! EFA chose this theme to introduce students to various hobbies that can be done indoors during winter months. Students got lots of ideas for fun new things to try, so we know they won't get bored over winter break!

School is out and winter break has begun! Just a quick reminder that there is NO SCHOOL from Friday, December 22nd, 2023 - Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. Classes resume on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024 as normal. Have a peaceful and relaxing break!

Gold Card members were delighted to participate in our annual holiday luncheon, Tuesday at Lincoln High School. Attendees shared in a holiday meal with entertainment provided by LHS students in orchestra, band, choir, oral interp, and theater. See a recap here! https://youtu.be/miJS8AVh7kk Or check out some photos here! https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB7Cao What is Gold Card? Community Members age 60+ receive discounted access to events and special class offerings. Learn more and register here: Gold Card Membership Gold https://www.smore.com/0tpxj-gold-card-membership?fbclid=IwAR0Wfs7iM6XjbXzjalI6gBIkqQr5TZz6-ZWcd03jP_B695WJeNT1Ejk7Nvk

Our partners at School Bus Inc. "show up" in a lot of ways for SFSD students! This week, they dropped off several bags of games, activities, and toys that will be disseminated to students in the Sioux Falls School District. Keeping young minds engaged in productive activities over the winter break is good for everyone! Thank you SBI!

Let's start the week with a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our newest 💫🤩 SFSD All Star 🤩💫 Reanna Fitzgerald! Becki Stassi works with Reanna and had this to say about her, " Reanna is such a positive person and is so helpful to myself and the other 3 new Special Education Teachers here at Edison. She knows and loves her students! She takes the time to get to know them and know what they like and need. She continues to support students that have moved on to other grades. I often see 7th and 8th graders go out of their way to stop and say hi to Ms. Fitzgerald and get a hug. She is so willing to dive in and help when needed. She is also the lead Special Education Teacher here at Edison which is a job in itself!!! I have absolutely no hesitation to ask Reanna for help or guidance! She is so appreciated! She is bound for amazing things! Cannot wait to see her grow within the Sioux Falls School District!" Thank you, Reanna, for everything you do for your students and the SFSD community everyday!

Its been a busy time of year for SFSD music instructors! Winter concerts have been happening at many schools throughout the District and we need to pause and acknowledge all the hard work and instruction that went into these performances. There's a reason SFSD was named "One of the Best Communities for Music Education" by the NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants); it's the hard work and dedication of instructors, and the passion and excitement of students! Thank you for filling our schools with music!

Today is a beautiful December day, but we know it can't last forever in South Dakota! Make sure you and your student(s) know how to access Canvas for remote learning when weather that keeps kids home can be predicted in advance.

Congratulations to this week's 💫🌟SFSD All Star🌟💫 Devon Purdie! Devon is a behavior facilitator at Oscar Howe Elementary, and her colleague Kelsi Heiberger had this to say, "Devon goes above and beyond in her role on a daily basis. She is the building behavior facilitator but is also ready to step in and help teachers or admin out in any situation that arises. Devon works with some of the toughest kiddos but does it with a smile on her face and works hard to develop relationships with each student. Those relationships she builds are so important to help those students grow emotionally and physically. She is not only a great behavior facilitator but also a fun and caring colleague to have around. I always knew that if I needed a friend to chat with, I could stop in her office. Devon works so hard for all students and staff at Oscar Howe Elementary and that is why I am nominating her!" Thank you, Devon, for your hard work and dedication to students!

There are plenty of things you can do in high school to position yourself for a successful college career BEFORE you ever complete the application or step onto campus. Dakota Dreams has lots of resources to start your path into college, like the Junior's Guide to College Prep. All high school juniors should be receiving this resource in the mail soon, but here's a link to the digital resources, just in case you missed it: https://ourdakotadreams.com/high-school/college-prep-for-high-school/

There is 🚨 ONE WEEK LEFT 🚨for SFSD high school students to get their applications in for the 2nd annual TEDx Youth Sioux Falls event! Last year's event saw 15 amazing students share their stories on that iconic red dot, and we're hoping to match (and exceed!) that energy for 2024. Applications will be accepted until December 15th, 2023. We're looking forward to hearing all of the ✨💡ideas worth sharing! 💡✨ https://youtu.be/NCNyDKm0UvM Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6CE6mTOzKyMF4gIa5IlOvxl83MRaBu5E0mSc7yoa-M8DyPA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1HeZ7NZF5Jx5pnReD3-H3HQ6AirHts64IJD3iI3Cui3cevX09sHMou5KE

This week's SFSD All Star is Lyndi Smith, instructional coach at Robert Frost Elementary! Lyndi plays a huge roll throughout Robert Frost, and her colleague MacKenzie Jensen had this to say about her, "I have known Lyndi Smith for five years now. If it were not for Lyndi, I feel I would not be the teacher I am today and I feel many staff members would say the same. I am nominating Lyndi for the way she engages with students, the way she ignites my excitement to learn and grow as a teacher, and the way she cares about Robert Frost and the Sioux Falls School District. Lyndi prioritizes getting into as many classrooms as she can to engage in student centered coaching cycles(SCCC) to enhance student learning. She has read to my class, engaged in SCCC, engaged in personal conversations with the students, and participated in many lessons. From my experience with her in my classroom, I have seen through observation and data, student growth and an increase in student engagement. For example, this year we are doing a SCCC with independent reading and I have never had so many students look forward to independent reading and who are showing application of the comprehension strategy that was taught. Each year, my students absolutely love having her come into the room. I also look forward to her coming into my room as she teaches me best teaching practices through engaging in different co-teaching strategies. When working with Lyndi in PLCs and planning, I have learned how to stay organized, understand the curriculum in depth, make data-driven decisions, and reflect on what I have learned as a teacher. Every time I leave my time with her, I feel that I have learned something. I get excited when I see how much my students grow through our work and it inspires me to continue learning and growing as a teacher. I have worked alongside Lyndi in many different settings in our school district. I have worked with her one-on-one as a first year teacher, as part of a PLC, through student centered coaching cycles, in the classroom, at district meetings, and at curriculum meetings. As a person, Lyndi is patient, balanced, kind, purposeful, a solution-seeker, reflective and hard-working. She also demonstrates presence by giving her full attention to who or what she is engaging with. All of these qualities are shown in each of the settings I have been in with her. Lyndi is so deserving of this award. She demonstrates all qualities of a Sioux Falls School District All Star. For as long as I have known her she always strives to inspire staff and students and to build a culture of lifelong learners."

Five Sioux Falls School District seniors were recently named QuestBridge Scholars and paired with universities matching their future goals and plans for full, four-year scholarships! Congratulations! Learn more: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/o/sfsd/article/1366780

"The Power of Partnerships" offers a poignant reminder of the incredible things that happen when we work together. From academic support to addressing basic needs, collaboration between SFSD and the Sioux Empire United Way has ripple effects throughout the community. On this episode of our podcast we discuss a shared vision, a collective effort, and a commitment to community. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or right here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YD5CRs8ug-w

Project Warm Up 2023 was a huge success! Now in its 18th year, nearly 38,000 blankets have been made & distributed to families in need for holidays, after tragedies & as gifts of warmth. More photos from Saturday's fun event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5DRr

Attention 8th and 9th grade students! There is ONE WEEK left to get your applications in for the Jefferson HS Project Based Learning (PBL) Academy! Find more information at the QR code or here: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/o/jhs/page/project-based-learning

‼️How cool is this‼️ This morning, Mayor Paul TenHaken signed an official proclamation declaring today, Dec 1st, as "Rosa Parks Day". What better place to announce this amazing news than.....at Rosa Parks Elementary! The school has been celebrating their historical namesake all week and today that culminated with an assembly full of poetry, skits, and the Mayor himself with proclamation in hand. December 1st, 1955 was the historic day Rosa Parks chose to take a stand, by staying in her seat. She was special, because she was different, and that is the lesson exemplified by the amazing art project on the Rosa Parks Elementary gym wall. Students each wrote down what differences make them special, and all the puzzle pieces fit together to make something beautiful. "Stand for something, or you will fall for anything." - Rosa Parks

As November comes to a close, we look back on the importance of Native American Heritage Month. It's a time to not only celebrate the contributions of our Native American students and community, but to learn from them as well. Like the 4th and 5th grade classes at Hawthorne Elementary! They just wrapped up an immersive lesson about Iktomi the trickster in Oceti Sakowin culture. Students heard and read stories and then created their own representations of Iktomi in spider form. We continue to celebrate our Native American students and community not just in November, but every month!

From The Little House on the Prairie to The Magic School Bus, fictional teachers have inspired generations of educators. This week the guests and host of SDPB's Teacher Talk have delightful conversation about their favorite fictional teachers. Everybody looks to fiction to find characters to relate to (or commiserate with 😅) and teachers are no different! Listen here! https://bit.ly/47xl9bB Or simply search for "Spotlight: Conversations from the Sioux Falls School District" in Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

🚨‼️Attention high school students‼️🚨Now seeking "ideas worth spreading!"🗣️Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2024 TEDx Youth Sioux Falls event! This event is open to any and all high school students who have a story or a passion to share. Last year's event was 💫REMARKABLE💫, and this year we hope to build on that momentum. Take some time over the holiday break to fill out an application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6CE6mTOzKyMF4gIa5IlOvxl83MRaBu5E0mSc7yoa-M8DyPA/viewform Or scan the QR code. Applications will be accepted until December 15th, 2023. We look forward to hearing all about your amazing ideas!