IMPORTANT CHANGE - NO SCHOOL today, Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Many side streets and sidewalks have not yet been cleared.making travel in neighborhoods and near schools unsafe. Please alert friends and family of this change from last night's communication. Stay safe!
School will start two hours late tomorrow - Tuesday, January 9, 2024 to give street crews and our custodial team a little extra time to get things opened up. We will NOT count tardies in the morning for those who arrive within a reasonable amount of time.
Sioux Falls Public Schools are closed Monday, January 8, 2024 due to weather.
There will be No School tomorrow - Monday, January 8, 2024 due to the forecasted snow and Winter Storm Warning. Please stay safe!
There will be No School tomorrow - Monday, January 8, 2024 due to the forecasted snow and Winter Storm Warning. Please stay safe!
In case you missed it - Our December 2023 Avera Family Forum Series dealt with planning for your student's future. Whether it's a 5th grader heading into middle school, an 8th grader heading into high school, or planning for future career possibilities, this video has plenty of helpful information to make these transitions as smooth as possible.
https://youtu.be/drKtKL9hvu4
There's still time to get your nominations in for the 2024 Teacher of the Year! Teachers across SFSD spend every day showing students that they care, let's show the teachers that we, as a community, care about them! https://www.sf.k12.sd.us/page/teacher-of-the-year-program
🥳 Happy New Year from everybody at SFSD! 🎉 Here's to a year full of opportunity and possibility for all our students and staff! 🎊 A reminder that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow (1-2-24), and we'll see students back in class this Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024.
Last week the local non-profit Chariots For Children delivered bikes (and smiles 😃) to eight SFSD schools to use as incentives for students. 64 bikes total were delivered to the following schools: Hayward, Garfield, Axtell Park, Hawthorne, Lowell, Whittier, Laura B Anderson, and the CLC After-School Program. Thank you for your generosity CFC! You've made a meaningful and joyous impact in the holidays of many SFSD students!
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 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
