In our inaugural Seniors Who Shine, we feature a fully-bilingual, AP & college-course taking, humble servant leader who is also one of the best setters in the US. But that's not why the staff at WHS believe she makes them better every day. Meet Macie. https://youtu.be/bQsMETw4k7o
🗣️New Podcast/Vodcast Alert!📢
The Sioux Falls School District has a podcast (which can be found on Spotify or here: https://bit.ly/3Zq8SCf ) that puts out new episodes monthly, but this week we're trying something new with a "vodcast"!
If you've watched a Roosevelt High School football game recently, either through streaming or on KLRN, chances are you've heard the voices of Lucas Simonsen and Hunter Sieler. The two juniors at RHS have been calling games for a while now, and it's starting to get them quite the following.
In this conversation, the boys sit down with Superintendent Stavem to talk about their love of sports and how it sparks a drive to succeed, both on, and especially off the field. Sometimes stepping outside of our comfort zones and trying new things can open up doors we never even knew existed.
Watch here! https://youtu.be/ozoGqgxhnPo
Monday afternoon members of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, Sioux Falls School Board and Mayor Paul TenHaken officially broke ground on the new elementary school soon to be constructed on the northwest side of Sioux Falls.
This school is a long time in the making, and is the last part of the $190 million capital improvement bond passed by voters in 2018. It will be home to about 680 students and is scheduled to be open in the fall of 2025.
More photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAVcHY
You may have heard that the SFSD applied for, & received, a multimillion-dollar grant to address chronic absenteeism. One of the first actions we took was hiring & training additional staff to work directly with families. Learn more: https://youtu.be/GGPPULqv4_Y
All Stars videos are back for 23-24! She's the glue that holds together the Learning Lab, the EC office, a new preschool & more. She's the phone & in-person ambassador for the parents of our youngest learners, & Crystal excels at all of it. Meet her: https://youtu.be/CpI2Pz1A2Kk
Mark your calendar for Tuesday at 6pm! SFSD and experts from Avera are teaming up for the second year of the Family Forum Series. It's 30-minutes of online learning that includes practical advice to strengthen families. September 19 Topic :Benefits of Setting Limits.
The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is celebrating their 15th anniversary TODAY! For 15 years they have been providing funds to help support teachers, schools, and students. They are asking YOU to donate $15 today (9/15) to help them continue their important work for the next 15 years.
View an informative video here:
https://youtu.be/SUiuXBpP00o
And donate here!
https://sfpsef.kindful.com/?campaign=1259096
Congratulations to George Hawkins (Jefferson HS History/Government Teacher) on being a Region 2 South Dakota Teacher of the Year Finalist! He was the recipient of the SFSD TotY award this past spring, and will now be an excellent representative of our District at a statewide level. Selection is Sept. 28th in Mitchell, SD. Keep up the amazing work, Mr. Hawkins!
View more information on George Hawkins here:
https://doe.sd.gov/teachsd/emails/091323/Region2.html
This week's episode of Teacher Talk, presented by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, focuses on the role rewards play in the classroom. This fascinating conversation zeros in on the changing ways some teachers measure student growth. Listen here! https://bit.ly/3Zm01Sm
It's moving day at the CTE Academy! The 2nd of 2 completed houses, built from the ground up last school year, is being moved to its new location today... that means new space available to build two new houses in 2023-2024! https://youtu.be/80uyqRNCvKk
It's that time of year again: Pumpkin Spice Rockets! CTE Academy Aviation students build, launch and relaunch rockets as one of their first big projects of the year. Check out these spaceship superstars: https://youtu.be/Q4HWd4PGbE8
How cool is this?! Yesterday, students from Whittier Middle School got to visit with local artist Walter Portz as he works on a monumental mural in downtown Sioux Falls. They even got to help put paint on the wall! Now, whenever these students pass by this mural, they can take pride in knowing that they played a part in its completion, and they know the artist! Thanks Walter! Just one more reason to #supportSDpublicschools
New photos up from an amazing Presidents Bowl 2023! Check them all out: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAUdrV
The largest fundraiser of the year for all four high schools and all activities is underway! Presidents Bowl features football, cheer, dance, marching band and much more!
We have a special feature on our podcast today! The fine folks at South Dakota Public Broadcasting have graciously allowed us to air their new mini-series "Teacher Talk" on our podcast. "Teacher Talk" features a conversation with educators about the state of public education in a variety of contexts. The mainstay guests are Dr. Jackie Wilber with the University of South Dakota, and Gina Benz, a high school english teacher at Roosevelt, right here in the Sioux Falls School District. Talks are hosted by Lori Walsh with SDPB, and can be heard on "In The Moment" through SDPB.
A big THANK YOU to SDPB for letting us air these conversations on our podcast. These conversations are very important and the more we can get them out to the public, the better.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sfschools/episodes/SDPB-Presents-Teacher-Talk-e293ct8
The United States Marine Band is coming to Sioux Falls! They're bringing a patriotic salute to the armed forces to the Lincoln High School Gymnasium on Oct. 5th, 2023, and tickets are FREE! Just register and get your ticket beforehand at this link:
www.marineband.marines.mil/Tour
Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow or next Monday. We hope you have an enjoyable long Labor Day weekend! We hope you get to spend time with loved ones as we transition into fall!
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing two or more days of school per month. And it has doubled in South Dakota since 2019. In July, SFSD was awarded a grant from the SD Department of Education to help combat chronic absenteeism. Through this grant we have hired six Attendance Liaisons who will develop relationships with students and work to identify/eliminate barriers preventing school attendance. The first step towards a student's success is simply showing up!
The theme for the 2023-24 school year is...Cultivate!
We maximize growth by planting the seeds for success. Being in South Dakota, this is an especially relevant concept. SFSD is committed to fostering nurturing environments of growth from early childhood up through graduation. Fresh ideas, innovation, and creativity are just a few tools we use to prepare each student for success in a changing world.
It's time for the first SFSD All Star of the 2023-24 school year! Xavier Tatum!
Xavier has gone above and beyond the call of duty as an O.S Mechanic. He worked with Ben Schumacher recently to create some much-needed, overdue, and very helpful training videos. When asked, Xavier never hesitated to put himself in a unknown and never-done-before situation. These videos have been a great reminder and a helpful tool for all the custodial staff. Much of our equipment is used seasonally and these videos are a great refresher for staff who use this equipment. Xavier is always on-time and has a great attitude about getting any task asked of him done... even if it is not a pleasant one! Congratulations Xavier - you are an All Star!
