This morning all SFSD 8th graders got to spend the morning watching their peers deliver moving, original pieces of poetry at the 2023 SFSD 8th Grade Poetry Slam. 18 fearless students took to the stage to share their stories. Congratulations to all of our amazing poets for making your voices heard! Check out photos from the event here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjADcMJ
We have become aware of a scam circulating that appears as if SFSD Child Nutrition Coordinator Gay Anderson is asking people to go out and purchase large dollar amounts of gift cards. Gay has NOT sent out a text or an email. Her communication devices appear to have been hacked. Please delete any communication and do not follow through with the request. We apologize for this inconvenience.
We are proud to announce the Sioux Falls School District has been named a #BestCommunitiesforMusicEducation from @nammfoundation for its outstanding commitment to music education! Congratulations to our music educators, our talented students, and our community for your support!
8th grade girls who are part of the Native American Connections class at Whittier Middle School have been working on making their own traditional ribbon skirts. With a donation from SDSU to purchase materials, they've been working in the library to fit, cut, and sew their garments. Some of the student's moms have come in to volunteer as well. This project gives indigenous students an opportunity to practice an aspect of Native American tradition together and connect with cultural ideas.
The stats are troubling-47% of SFSD students qualify for free/reduced lunches. Their family's income is not enough to make ends meet. That makes it difficult to support school fundraisers. Operation Hope & Caring helps! Get your tickets to the SF STORM game to support schools!
Does your child have conflict resolution skills to solve everyday problems? Join us Tues, April 18 at 6pm to hear from SFSD & Avera Behavioral Health in this month's Family Forum Series segment. Watch for the link in your email. It's practical advice to strengthen families.
Strike up the band! During a surprise announcement tonight, the Lincoln High School Marching Band learned it has been selected as one of only ten marching bands to participate in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC! Congrats to LHS!
#MacysParade
The School Board has voted to move the last day of student classes to Friday, May 26, 2023 - requiring students to make up two of the five days missed due to weather. Staff will report through Friday, June 2, 2023.
The deadline is quickly approaching for a summer of learning and fun! Discover at least ten career paths. Three full days on a college campus. Countless opportunities to make friends, have fun and explore your future. South Dakota 7th and 8th graders are invited to apply to attend free Career Explorations Camps, hosted this summer at BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU and USD. Apply today and shape your student’s tomorrow https://ourdakotadreams.com/elementary-middle-
school/career-exploration-summer-camps/.
It’s day 2 of the South Dakota Week of Work!
Throughout the week we’re introducing you to some of the programs and events used by the SFSD to get students excited about their future career opportunities. Yesterday we checked in on Career Cafe, an event that exposes 5th graders to a variety of professions to help them start thinking about career paths.
Today we’d like to highlight a program for 8th grade girls that helps build their confidence and introduce them to strong female leaders in the community. Power Lunch is a brand new program at Whittier Middle School that is already making a big impact on the lives of students. Natalie Eisenberg (CEO of Click Rain Inc.) and Margaret Carmody (former executive at Raven Industries) spearheaded the event and act as the program’s main speakers and coordinators.
Once a month, the group of 15 female students meets with Eisenberg and Carmody to discuss topics like finding your own inner strengths, overcoming obstacles, setting goals, and carving out paths to achieve them. A guest speaker is featured at the meetings, and at the session highlighted here that speaker was Chantelle Duncan, owner of 605 Vixen. She spoke to the group of girls about business ownership, how she overcame her struggles to find success and following your passion.
Programs like Power Lunch are an excellent way to connect students directly with leaders in the community; they learn how to network and build the skills and relationships necessary to start their own journeys towards future success. See the video attached to learn more about how Power Lunch is making a positive impact on SFSD students!
https://youtu.be/gO7aW5yOBXc
Grief and Loss are the topics of this month's Family Forum Series - an online program to strengthen families with a partnership between SFSD and Avera Behavioral Health. Watch for the link Tuesday at 6pm or join us at sf.k12.sd.us. Click Students & Families, then Counseling.
The Sioux Falls School District is excited to partner with Siouxland Libraries again for Everybody Reads! From March 13-31, students, staff, parents, and community members are being encouraged to track how many books they read. The goal is to create a community of readers ages 0 –100! Starting March 13, you will see a rocket, astronaut and a galaxy begin to appear in the library. For the next three weeks, a new star will appear in the galaxy when a book is read. Once your student(s) completes a book, they will receive a star to add to the galaxy. We look forward to a bright galaxy with billions and billions of stars!
Wondering how you can get involved as a parent? Encourage your student to read at home! As mentioned, this is a community-wide reading initiative. Anytime YOU finish a book throughout the month of March, we would encourage you to stop by your local library.
Ready, Set, READ!
To allow extra time for safe transportation, Sioux Falls School District schools will be opening 2 hours late on Friday, February 24th 2023. Please check your email for more information on how this may impact your family.
Due to the ongoing winter storm, there will be no school in the Sioux Falls School District Thursday, February 23, 2023. School and District offices WILL open at Noon Thursday.
No School for Sioux Falls School District Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 due to winter weather.
Parents of teens and preteens won't want to miss this month's featured Family Forum topic. Vaping is on the rise among young people and carries some costly concerns. Join us Tuesday, Feb 21 at 6pm at sf.k12.sd.us, click Students & Families, then Counseling or watch for the link.
SFSD sends a HUGE Thank You to our School Resource Officers from the SF Police Department! SROs establish relationships with students and staff to keep schools safe!
Mark your calendars! SFSD students will be on President's Break next week, so it's a great time to take in some fun at Air Madness to support Operation Hope and Caring! Levo and other community partners are "jumping in" to support schools without PTA/PTOs. Join us!
Every day is a GREAT day in SFSD classrooms! Thursday was extra special as Supt. Stavem and Board Member Marc Murren surprised six educators by naming them finalists for the Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year Award! Please join us in congratulating these amazing educators!
REMINDER: WMS Student Council is sponsoring $1 Valentine Candy Grams . These sweet messages (actually FULL SIZED candy bars) may be purchased from until February 13th by students before school in the cafeteria or during PRIDE in Rooms B20 or 135. If you would like to purchase a Candy Gram for your student please contact our Student Council Advisor at karen.lechtenberg@k12.sd.us
