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

The 37th annual Festival of Bands is happening TOMORROW! Saturday, October 5, 2024. The parade starts at 8:30 AM and will start on Madison St. and turn on to Lake Ave. adjacent to Covell Lake and the baseball fields. Field competition starts at 10 AM at Howard Wood Field.

📢 Calling all Sioux Falls business leaders! Our schools need your help to tackle attendance challenges. Partner with us to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn. Interested? Get in touch to make a difference! #ShowUp

Something special is going on at Terry Redlin Elementary this year. The big push to focus on attendance is leading to some creative ideas that are showing results! Have you ever heard of a walking bus? Tune in to this video learn how staff are helping to get kids to school in a fun and creative way. #ShowUpSF https://youtu.be/rz4gYf2ViVs

Here is your weekly District News Minute, brought to you by the media arts students at CTE Academy. Tune in for a quick update on what's going on around SFSD. https://youtu.be/xhAbrgd_LMY

Today is a day to say thank you to the wonderful custodial staff who keep our classrooms, hallways, and facilities are clean and safe. Their dedication goes far beyond just keeping things tidy—they play an essential role in creating a positive learning environment for everyone. If you didn't get a chance to say 'thank you' to a custodian today, do it tomorrow, or the next day, or everyday! Their work ensures a positive environment for every person, every day.

It's a tradition that benefits everyone involved. Members of the 2024 Roosevelt homecoming court visited all the feeder elementary schools to talk to kids about high school, read with them, help with lunch, and much more. The seniors visited Oscar Howe, All City, Garfield, JFK, Laura Wilder, Lowell and Pettigrew throughout the day - making friends and motivating future Riders! https://youtu.be/inStWBwmqKc

Yesterday all students at Terry Redlin Elementary received a new pair of shoes thanks to the Samaritan's Feet program, made possible by Premier Bank. Having a good pair of shoes helps students start the day off on the right foot, and this kind gesture could be the first step a student needs to go the extra mile.

This week's SFSD All-Star is.....Olivia Jacobson at Susan B. Anthony Elementary! The Instructional Coaches at SBA nominated Olivia for her "exceptional handling of a sudden shift in her teaching role, coupled with her resilience and unwavering dedication, makes her an exemplary candidate for this honor. When Olivia faced the unexpected transition to teaching a different grade in a different building, she embraced the challenge with remarkable grace and adaptability. She quickly and thoughtfully revamped her classroom to meet the needs and interests of her new students, creating a welcoming and engaging learning environment. On the first day of her new position, Olivia arrived at the in-service with genuine enthusiasm and an eagerness to connect with her new team. Her approach set a positive tone for collaboration and relationships within her new school community. Olivia’s professionalism and dedication to students are evident in her daily interactions. She consistently shows a deep commitment to student success and well-being. Olivia’s resilience and ability to turn a challenging situation into an opportunity for growth make her an exceptional educator." Congratulations Olivia! You are an All Star!

The Sioux Falls School District seeks to fill our Speech Language Pathologist vacancies with professionals who are dedicated to helping our students interact with the world one word at a time. What Makes You a Good Fit? Master's degree in Communication Disorders required. Clinical Competency Certification preferred (will consider candidates in Clinical Fellowship year). South Dakota licensure and certification required. Successful internship experience desired. Experience at the birth to three level preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Skills in human relations, leadership, and conflict management. Learn more here: https://sf.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=6441

When being pressured to vape, students may hear something like, "Everybody's doing it. NBD." Not only is this not true, a lot of students find it annoying and gross. Students are even taking active roles to make sure others don't start vaping. Roosevelt High School student council is taking action in fighting back against vaping in schools. https://youtu.be/zLpxl-CTbRg

Going to school should be a great experience for these children! Experience the way we should show up for students ✏️ #ShowUpSF

The goalie is an integral part of a soccer team. They do so much more than 'just stand in back by the net'. Nobody knows this better than Jefferson High School team captain and goalie Nora. Sports offer huge benefits to the girls involved, and being part of a team means building strong relationships with friends both on and off the pitch. https://youtu.be/-7ndj8lxNsw

Long-time Coordinator of Physical Education & Athletics Mark Meile joined an elite group of athletes as he was inducted into the South Dakota Athletics Hall of Fame last weekend. Mark retired from the District 3 years ago, but continues to play an active role in high school activities by supporting local and state-wide sporting events. Congratulations Mark!

Yesterday we introduced you to students who were celebrating Peace Week at Robert Frost/Challenge Center. As we mentioned, events culminated with celebrations of peace, including the inflatable fun run! Do you need some inspiration heading in to the weekend? How about some motivation, or just a good chuckle? Then check out just how fun a fun run can really be! https://youtu.be/cIAGNfLouE8

Last week, leading up to the International Day of Peace, Robert Frost/Challenge Center students spent time focusing on peace ☮️ - inner peace, conflict resolution, thoughts and ideas for peace far beyond the walls of their school. Everything culminated on Thursday with an inflatable race and field day in the morning, and the Peace Fest for the community in the evening. Check it out! ✌️ https://youtu.be/IrGrB2_RpRg

Substitute teachers play a vital role in the day-to-day operation of schools across SFSD, showing up when it's most important. Subs offer continued learning to students when their teachers are away, and get to make a difference in the the lives of many students. Are you ready to show up for kids? Consider becoming a substitute teacher today! Find out more here: https://sf.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx?jcat=substitutes

SFSD wishes to recognize and thank Board Member Dawn Marie Johnson, who completed a 437 mile trek across South Dakota along with 11 other runners to bring awareness to the importance of mental health. The 437 Project highlights suicide prevention, and takes place during September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month. The run raised more than $300,000 for suicide prevention programs through South Dakota’s 211 HelpLine Center and we’re grateful to Dawn Marie for bringing her voice to the importance of mental health.

Showing up to school means teamwork, self-regulation, and building vital relationship skills for their future. Showupsf.com

This week's ⭐️🤩 SFSD All-Star✨💫 is Abby Wheeler at Central Services! Abby was nominated by her colleague Robin, who had this to say, "I really, really, really feel that Abby should be named an All Star! Customer service is a strong point with Abby. She has the patience of a saint with those she talks to on the phone as well as those who visit the department for information and help. She has a quick sense of humor and is so friendly to all she engages with. She is very knowledgeable and has a desire to learn new things and how to work things better. She has a charitable heart and looks for ways to make life better for those around her. She is calm, cool and collected when speaking to those who who might not be so friendly and she is very understanding and reaches out to help in any way she can. She is organized and artistic. She is a joy to work with personally and I'm glad I can call her a coworker as well as a friend. The effort she puts out on problem solving and collaborating with others is tremendous. We should all have an Abby in our department! I'm glad she's in ours!" Thank you, Abby, for being an embodiment of the SFSD Experience!

The SFSD District News Minute is back! Media arts students at the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy bring you the latest news and information about your public schools! Tune in today! https://youtu.be/YhEg6OkH6fg