The week of April 6-10 marks South Dakota Week of Work 2026!
This week is a time to celebrate something we deeply value in the Sioux Falls School District, which is helping students discover and prepare for their future. It highlights the experiences and partnerships that connect learning to life beyond graduation while showcasing the many ways our students are exploring what comes next. While this week brings that work into focus, it is a commitment that lives in our schools all year long.
Across our high schools, students are exploring their futures through hands-on learning and real-world opportunities. As we write this, Health Careers II students are out in the field completing internships across local health care facilities. These students are building confidence, practicing patient care skills, and working toward earning their Certified Nursing Assistant certification.
Students from Lincoln High School recently joined nearly 200 peers at the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire’s Frame the Future event, where they explored careers in construction through interactive experiences.
At the same time, summer job fairs and internship opportunities across all four high schools are helping students take important first steps into the workforce. College fairs hosted at each high school also give students a chance to connect directly with representatives and explore a wide range of postsecondary options.
Students are also exploring careers in education through Teacher Pathway programs available at each of our high schools, gaining early experience and insight into what it means to lead a classroom. Building on that work, the district recently launched a Para-Apprenticeship program, with more information on the success of this new program coming soon!
Week of Work is also a celebration of the strong foundation we build in middle school. Through programs with Junior Achievement, students are learning how their interests connect to careers and financial literacy. This year, sixth graders at Memorial Middle School piloted Junior Achievement BizTown, an experience that will soon expand to all sixth graders across the District. Seventh and eighth grade students continue that learning through Finance Park and Inspire, in which both programs include experience simulations similar to BizTown.
In addition, eighth-grade students have opportunities to explore college pathways through school-based college fairs and experiences supported by the Promising Futures Fund. Through this partnership, students visit surrounding area college campuses, tour dorms, and attend school events, helping them picture themselves in a future they may not have previously considered.
Students interested in the arts have opportunities to explore their passions at every level. At the elementary level, some schools host guest performers from local organizations like the symphony, giving students a glimpse into professional arts careers. In middle school, students can advance their skills through band, orchestra, choir, or art classes. By high school, students can connect their passions to future opportunities through art electives, musical ensembles, and theater programs, developing the skills and experiences that can lead to a career in the arts.
Events like Pizza, Pop, and Powertools, hosted at the CTE Academy, encourage eighth-grade girls to explore careers in the skilled trades while meeting women leaders in those industries.
The annual Weld Off Competition, hosted in partnership with Marmen Energy and Southeast Technical College, brings students together to showcase their skills and discover the opportunities waiting for them in high-demand fields.
We are proud to say that our youngest learners are part of this celebration too. At Garfield Elementary, students are building confidence through the Leader in Me program, which in the past has given students opportunities like visiting the CTE Academy to create leadership messages using green screen technology and work alongside culinary students to prepare their own meals.
At Harvey Dunn Elementary, student council members stepped into leadership roles of their own, visiting the Instructional Planning Center to meet with District leaders and learn how decisions are made, even taking a seat in the School Board chairs! Experiences such as these help students see themselves as leaders while beginning to connect their learning into future possibilities.
After school, Community Learning Centers continue that exploration through hands-on experiences and strong community partnerships. Students have worked with local playhouses to create performances and have explored forensic science through demonstrations with the Sioux Falls Police Department. Each experience helps students connect their learning to the world around them in unique and important ways.
At the CTE Academy, Week of Work reflects the powerful role career and technical education plays in preparing students for life after high school. Students take part in experiences like the community Mass Casualty Simulation, working alongside first responders to practice real-world emergencies.
Others are building leadership and career skills through organizations like HOSA, DECA, FFA, and SkillsUSA. Looking ahead, the addition of a new agricultural barn will expand opportunities for students interested in agriculture and related careers.
Week of Work is a celebration of our students, our staff, and the incredible community partners who make these experiences possible. It reflects a shared commitment to helping every student explore their interests, discover their strengths, and find a path that is right for them. In the Sioux Falls School District, this work does not begin and end in a single week. It is part of who we are, and it ensures our students are ready to step confidently into whatever comes next!