Today marked the start of the fourth quarter! 🏫
We are officially in the home stretch of the 2024-2025 school year, and every school day counts! Being present, both physically and mentally, sets students up for success now and in the future.
Consistent attendance equals better learning, stronger habits, and more opportunities. Missing just a few days can add up and make it harder to stay on track. Let’s finish strong by showing up, staying engaged, and making these last months count!
See you in school! | #AttendanceMatters
Last week, we introduced you to Penelope, and now it’s time to meet her babies!
She welcomed 9 healthy piglets into the world on Friday, 5 girls and 4 boys, and they are already thriving under her care.
Our CTE Academy students are getting hands-on experience in animal science as they help care for these little ones. Stay tuned for more updates as they grow!
Reminder that daylight saving happened this weekend! We sprung forward this time, so be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour to keep everyone on time for school on Monday! ⏰
For the past four years, Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) has been offered to high school students in the Sioux Falls School District, making a meaningful impact on their lives. Through JAG, students are exposed to career paths they may have never considered. They connect with business leaders, politicians, and industry experts who provide valuable insights into future opportunities and the steps needed to achieve their goals.
In this episode of Spotlight, hear from Roosevelt High School senior, Brody Stenger, Jefferson High School student, Tay Johnson, and JAG Specialist, Nicole Fette as they share how JAG empowers students to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
Listen here! ---> https://youtu.be/_dTXaIGMz8g
Welcome to the CTE Academy, Penelope Porker! 🐷
Penelope the pig made her grand entrance yesterday and is settling into her home in the Animal Science classroom. She's expected to farrow (have piglets) this week, giving students a hands-on learning experience in animal care and agriculture.
CTE students have been busy preparing for her arrival — and with the possibility of up to 14 piglets on the way, there's a lot of excitement in the air!
Stay tuned for updates on Penelope and her piglets as they make their debut in the coming days!
Happy Social Worker Week!
In the Sioux Falls School District, every student's journey is unique. For many of the kids we serve, our school social workers are there every step of the way! Whether offering a listening ear, connecting families to resources, or advocating for students' well-being, their dedication ignites hope and creates lasting impact in our schools.
This year's theme, Unite to Ignite: Celebrating Our Impact, is a perfect reflection of how our social workers bring people together to create brighter futures for students.
THANK YOU to our incredible school social workers for your compassion and care!
We are still celebrating last night's wonderful Teacher of the Year event! So many amazing educators to celebrate! Congratulations again to 2025 Teacher of the Year, Bruce Rekstad, who left with a $4,000 check, courtesy of our friends at Vern Eide. Also, a huge congratulations to the other four finalists, Jennifer Aerts, Bryan Aukerman, Scott Amundson, and Jessica Foley. New this year, thanks to the generosity of the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation, these four finalists walked away with $1,000 each. So many wonderful memories were shared last night! We are so grateful to everyone who attended, from nominees and their friends and families to past ToY winners, past educators, school board members, SDEA friends, and SFSD administrators, it truly was an unforgettable night! Were you at the event? Feel free to get your photos here! https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC3KKk You can watch the full video of the event here! https://youtu.be/D-60TEv2ijA
Tonight is the night! The 2025 Teacher of the Year will be announced at an event starting at 7:00 PM. Watch live with us here! ---> https://youtube.com/live/MnFs9wL28Oo?feature=share
It’s National FFA Week! 🐓🐥🐐🐰
This special week is all about celebrating agricultural education, and what better way to do that than with hands-on experiences?! On Thursday, our CTE Academy Ag program brought their barnyard (and beyond!) to the hallways, giving fellow CTE students a chance to interact with some of the school’s resident animals.
Experiences like these showcase the importance of agricultural education and the impact FFA has on preparing students for careers in animal science, farming, and beyond!
A recent Facebook post regarding Washington High School falsely claimed a routine request for a birth certificate was related to immigration status.
State Law (SDCL 13-27-3.1-3.3) requires all public school students to have a birth certificate on file within 30 days of enrollment. When required records are missing from student files, school staff regularly attempt to contact families before sending the required information to the State’s Attorney.
These requests are made solely to ensure compliance with State Law and to maintain complete student records. They are in no way related to immigration enforcement. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our students and their families.
Please reach out to your child’s school or the district office with any questions rather than relying on social media for accurate information. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping student records up to date.
Do you or someone you know have a child who will be 5-years-old on or before September 1st? If so, Online Registration for the 25-26 school year is now open on the Sioux Falls School District website or through the Parent Portal. Start your child off on the right foot this upcoming school year and get them registered now! https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/school-registration
Happy New Year from everybody at SFSD! Here's to another year of opportunities and possibilities. We are excited to welcome back students and staff TOMORROW, January 2nd, 2025! We can’t wait to see everyone!
A huge THANK YOU to our friends at Architecture Incorporated for their generous donation of 25 fleece blankets to Project Warm-Up! Your generosity helps bring warmth and comfort to those in need and we are so grateful for your continued support!
TOMORROW (December 14th) is our 19th Annual Blanket-Making Event at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary, and we’d love for YOU to join us! The event runs from 11 am to 3 pm., and no experience is needed.
PWU is still in need of donations to meet this year’s requests for over 1,600 blankets. If you can help with fleece fabric, completed blankets, or monetary support (Venmo: @gotfleece) any help is appreciated!
Gold Card members got into the holiday spirit earlier today at our annual Gold Card Holiday Luncheon at Roosevelt High School—and what a memorable day it was! 🎄
Attendees listened to amazing performances from the RHS Jazz Bands and Concert Choir, which left many in awe of just how talented our students are.
A unique highlight of the luncheon was creating a collaborative Christmas story using ChatGPT—it quickly became a crowd favorite, sparking plenty of laughter and creativity among the group!
A HUGE thank you to:
✨ The RHS Student Council for their incredible hospitality.
✨ The Community Education team for organizing such a wonderful event.
✨ The talented RHS student performance groups and their directors.
✨ The Child Nutrition team for preparing a delicious meal.
✨ And, of course, to everyone who joined us today and helped make it such a special celebration!
Lincoln High School's Student Council is hosting its first-ever Winter Carnival this Saturday, December 14, from 1-3 PM, and you're invited!
This free event is designed for elementary-aged students to enjoy holiday-themed activities, games, and crafts. Families are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to help spread some Christmas cheer to other students in need.
📍 Lincoln High School
🗓️ Saturday, December 14th | 1–3 PM
We can't wait to see you there! 🎁✨
Collier for three and Evans for PUBLISHED! 🏀🖼️🥳
Please help us give a HUGE congratulations to Harvey Dunn fifth grader, London Evans, who had one of his sports drawings recently published in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated (Kid Edition)! His drawing features WNBA star, Napheesa Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx.
Great job, London!
Calling all Sioux Falls seniors aged 60+! Join us next Tuesday, December 10, at Roosevelt High School for a festive lunch to get you into the holiday spirit!
Enjoy an afternoon of great food and even greater company while listening to musical performances from the RHS Jazz Bands and Concert Choir. Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem will also share updates about the Sioux Falls School District at this special event.
Whether you have friends or family in the RHS student groups, are a retired educator, or just a senior in the community who values public education, we’d love to celebrate the season with you!
Tickets are $10, and include a turkey dinner with all the fixings, dessert, coffee, and unlimited entertainment. Event begins at 11:15 am. RSVP here by Monday (12/9) at noon! But hurry! Spots are limited! RSVP here! https://bit.ly/3D30cuG
Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond to inspire their students? Now is the time to make sure they get the recognition they deserve!
The Sioux Falls School District’s Teacher of the Year program celebrates outstanding educators who make a lasting impact in and out of the classroom. Applications are open through Monday, January 13, at 5 pm, and we want to hear about the amazing teachers who make our schools shine.
Visit: https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/teacher-of-the-year-program to learn more and submit your application!
Help us celebrate the incredible work our educators do to shape the future. Tag a teacher or share this post to spread the word!
Today we are celebrating the amazing staff who make our Special Education program so impactful. In the Sioux Falls School District, we serve 4,154 students ages 3-21, which is an increase of 0.7% since last year. This growth reflects our commitment to providing individualized support and fostering an inclusive learning environment for all.
Thank you to our Special Education team for your dedication to helping every student thrive!
A reminder that the first of three Community Health & Wellness Fairs kicks off TOMORROW, December 3rd, at Garfield Elementary from 4:30-7 pm.
This FREE, family-friendly, come-and-go event is packed with exciting opportunities including,
+ Over 50 vendors providing free community resources
+ Free health screenings
+ Interactive activities for the kids
+ $1,000+ in door prizes announced hourly!
Don’t miss this chance to explore health, wellness, and fun for the whole family! We can’t wait to see you there!
