
Let's take a moment to say THANK YOU to this week's SFSD All Star: Matt Marsh at Garfield Elementary! He was nominated by his colleagues Emily Knight, Sydney Raabe, and Brooklyn Stekl, and they had this to say, "Matt always goes above and beyond for teachers. He is very dependable. He does more than what he is asked to do. He is always willing to help out any teacher in need with a positive attitude. Matt also goes out of his way to develop positive relationships with students. Strong relationships are proven by research to assist with the development of resilience in children who have experienced adversity. Matt shows that no matter your role in a school, you can make an impact on the student body."
Thank you Matt, for all you do!


Congratulations to the Rosa Parks Elementary Special Education teachers on receiving $750 from Hart2Hart Inc! Thank you for everything you do for students today and everyday! Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond? McDonalds/Hart2Hart Inc. would like to recognize them! You can nominate any teacher for the McTeacher of the Month Award here: https://www.hart2hartinc.com/mcteacher-award?fbclid=IwAR03U-_dxkFsjekn-uNzHpng05orezyA7bKj1mdltnCU_HW3mUMlQ76XC0w
Thank you McDonalds/Hart2Hart Inc. for you commitment to #SupportSDPublicSchools


Concerned that your child is not on track for development? The Sioux Falls School District is here to help! Our team of Birth to 3 staff provides FREE services. Call TODAY for an evaluation.


The Middle School Choral Festival is TONIGHT at the Washington Pavilion! The event combines choirs from Ben Reifel, George McGovern and Whittier middle schools with the Augustana Choir for an unforgettable experience. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and it is free and open to the public.



Need some light listening for the weekend? A new episode of our podcast "Spotlight: Conversations from the Sioux Falls School District" is now available, and it's a special one! Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem sits down with longest serving current SFSD employee Sue Bills to talk about her 44(!) years at Whittier Middle School. As you can imagine, Sue has seen some changes in education, and she has some fascinating stories to share. Tune in here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/rgFSF5XC3Db


Yesterday morning the interviewERS became the interviewEES! KELOLAND stopped by Lincoln HS to speak with student editors for the Statesman about being named "Best Newspaper in the State" at the State High School Press Convention. Congratulations Statesman staff! Watch the story here: https://bit.ly/46BpFoF





She's passionate about her subject, she's compassionate toward students, & she's made an impression on her coworkers. Our newest All Star's default setting is to go above and beyond, which is making a daily difference in the lives around her. https://youtu.be/pwvi4Ngtxnk

It's the classic, comedic whodunit with an unforgettable cast of characters you won't want to miss! Roosevelt Theater presents "Clue" November 2, 3, and 4.


Let's take a moment to recognize the most recent SFSD All Star: Ruth Claussen!
Ruth is the heart and soul of Murphy's - the Lincoln High School Cafeteria. Each day, she serves up hundreds of meals to hungry teenagers with a smile on her face and with a can-do spirit that portrays excellent customer service! Recently, when a police situation in the neighborhood made it necessary to cancel open lunch, she didn't skip a beat and somehow came up with extra pizza to feed the 250 students who were not able to leave that day. Throw in the occasional power outage and a ceiling leak here and there, and Ruth clearly qualifies as an SFSD All Star! Congratulations, Ruth!


Learn about a day in the life of a Project-Based Learning (PBL) student at Jefferson High School! This smaller, unique program combines classes, and students work to solve real-world problems in group settings. Sophomore student Calli explains it all: https://youtu.be/WZDqRPVt3h8

The CTE Fall Career Fair & Open House features onsite reps from universities, tech schools, military, & business/industry pros. CTE staff & students will be available to share program information & showcase hands-on learning in just about every major career field! Join us!


This week, schools across the country will celebrate the benefits of healthy school meals during National School Lunch Week (NSLW), October 9-13, 2023. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been fueling student achievement in and out of the classroom for more than 75 years. SFSD is lucky to have a highly dedicated staff of child nutritionists who make sure that all of our students are well nourished for a full day of learning. Thank you for everything you do, this week and every week!


In this week's episode of Teacher Talk, presented by SDPB, our hosts discuss a question every teacher has asked themselves at some point: am I doing this right? From imposter syndrome to second guessing, our hosts have great advice on how to get out of your head and become a leader in the classroom. Listen here: https://bit.ly/46DVHju


For students at our Challenge Center or in elementary gifted programs throughout our schools, Middle School Honors may be the next logical step. Challenges, hands-on learning, HS credits earned & MUCH more. Learn about this Program that Shines! https://youtu.be/vgFBKT6iRp4

Join us live for the 2023 Native American Day parade in downtown Sioux Falls! https://www.youtube.com/live/ozabLkKM530?si=DJZzkd9dzHJYQZTK

We're live streaming the 2023 Festival of Bands Parade this morning! Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/live/kSGiR6CaqJ4?si=WfkdpZc3T4RQQ2M1

REMINDER that there is no school next Monday, October 9th in observance of Native American Day. Also, no school on Tuesday, October 10th for an inservice day. Classes will resume as normal on Wednesday, Oct. 11th.


Suzy Ries teaches much more than general foods, advanced foods & personal finance at Jefferson, as you're about to find out. Cheerleader, mom, leader, backer, confidant, caretaker - you name it, she does it. That's why she's our newest All Star. https://youtu.be/OYraLaJXJR0

Lincoln High School & the Sioux Falls School District were proud to host The President's Own #usmarineband tonight as a part of the groups's 2023 National Concert Tour!





This morning students with the Okichiyapi Club at WHS celebrated their culture and traditions by setting up a tipi and performing a dance during lunch hour in honor of the upcoming Native American Day. As we pause and recognize Indigenous Peoples, we acknowledge that when students are given an outlet to connect with their heritages they have ample room to grow and thrive.



