District Dialogue
Keeping you informed the week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 3
Public School Proud Grants - APPLY TODAY!
The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is currently accepting Public School Proud Grant proposals. Any educator (except administrators) can apply for up to $10,000 in funding to purchase materials that will give students hands-on, immersive opportunities. The smallest grant last year was $149, and the Education Foundation awarded two grants at the $10,000 level. The average award is typically around $2,500. Educators can submit a proposal for their classroom, their grade level, their building, or district wide. The Education Foundation will surpass $1 million in overall funding for this program during the 2023-2024 school year.
Please email (Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us) or call (605.367.4484) with questions.
Public School Proud Grant applications are due Monday, December 4th at 12 p.m. (noon).
Download the application below!
SFSD All Stars!
Matt Marsh
This week's SFSD is 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!
Imagine Solutions Conference is a nationally known thought leader conference that brings world-class visionaries to share ideas on today's most relevant issues. The conference offers an impressive speaker lineup in topics, such as Science and Technology, Biodiversity, Arts, and much more. We are excited to provide Sioux Falls School District teachers the opportunity to attend this year's conference virtually. Registered attendees will receive a link to the recorded videos that will be accessible until November 30, 2023.
- All registered teachers will be provided a link to the conference videos from the Sioux Falls School District.
- Each video is approximately 19-25 minutes in length and can be viewed 24/7.
- All registered teachers qualify for 5 hours of professional development for registering and completing a brief survey after watching all of the videos.
Upcoming Performances
The Promising Futures Fund presents a collaborative concert event featuring the Augustana University Choirs and the Choirs of George McGovern, Whittier and Ben Reifel Middle Schools.
No Soda November!
We want to highlight all the ways the Sioux Falls School District SHINES!
SHINE stands for Scholarship, Honors, Innovation, Networking and Exceptionalism. We’re looking for stories we can tell about high school seniors, any-age students, staff (yes, you can and should absolutely fill out this form for yourself!), projects and programs. Have a new partnership that is benefitting the classroom? Win a grant you think the world should know about? Get nominated for or receive a state-wide, regional or national honor? Know a senior stand-out on a team, in the fine arts arena, or in the classroom? How about younger students who are leading by example, making giving to charity a priority, or are making the most of a bad situation? Should a program or portion of your school be highlighted? What about some current projects: experiments, field trips, new collaborative lessons?
Send your suggestions today, and keep this in mind for the days, weeks and months ahead!
HR Radar
Get help with your student loan debt!
Sioux Falls School District partners with Horace Mann Insurance to bring you Student Loan Solutions – a program that can help you:
- Find out if you could save on your monthly student loan payment
- Determine if you may qualify for federal loan forgiveness
- Get access to loan coaches for one-on-one guidance and support
This program is available at no cost to you just for being a Sioux Falls School District employee.
Sign up for your complimentary account by visiting: https://www.horacemann.com/student-loan-debt-help/signup.
Student Loan Solutions loan coaches are available to help you via phone, chat and email. Our local Horace Mann representatives are also here to support you with one-on-one consultations. They can review your unique student loan situation, help find ways to save you money, and direct those savings toward your other life goals so you can get on a path toward a brighter financial future.
Feel free to reach out to them at:
Ryan Hofer
Ryan Hofer Agency
5010E Rosa Parks 201
Sioux Falls, SD 57110
605-339-0662
Upcoming Sand Creek Webinars
Click the link below to register for Sand Creek EAP’s live webinars.
Wednesday, November 8th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Competent Leadership
Wednesday, December 13th - 12:30pm - 1:30pm - Personal Fitness for Life
Upcoming South Dakota Retirement Events
SDRS: Early & Mid-Career Workshop: On the Road to Financial Success
This workshop targets those members in the early and middle stages of their careers and offers a wide-ranging spectrum of money-related topics to promote personal financial awareness and increase retirement preparedness through budgeting and financial planning exercises.
What people are saying about this workshop:
- This was incredibly helpful. I wish it were required of all employees. I'm very glad I came.
- I wasn't sure what to expect...it was very informal, educational, and even kind of fun.
- Surprisingly interesting and thought-provoking.
- I really need to go to another one of these because I didn't know how much I was missing!
Date: October 30, 2023
Location: Holiday Inn City Centre
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm with check-in beginning at 5:30pm
Registration Deadline: October 30, 2023
Woman and Financial Planning Workshop
Statistically speaking, women live longer, are more conservative investors, and are more apt to take time off work to care for children and elders, creating unique challenges when it comes to financial and retirement planning. The Women and Financial Planning workshop focuses on strengthening the overall financial wellness of SDRS's largest membership group.
What people are saying about this workshop:
- The focus on women was refreshing.
- Speakers were engaging and easy to follow. Topics were diverse and covered relevant topics.
- I never knew how important all of this was until this presentation.
Date: November 20, 2023
Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Virtual Event (A link to the workshop and presentation materials will be emailed to you prior to the event.)
Registration Deadline: November 20, 2023
Migraine Trainer App
Have you ever had a really bad headache called a migraine? Migraines make your head throb on one or both sides, and they can make you feel sick, weak, and sensitive to noise and light.
Migraines can happen for different reasons like stress, certain foods, or sleep problems. But there's a new app from NIH called "Migraine Trainer" to help you take control.
With the app, you can keep track of when your migraines happen, how long they last, and where it hurts. You can also record things like your sleep, exercise, and water intake before the migraine.
By keeping these records, you can figure out what causes your migraines and how to deal with them better. The app also gives you tips for managing the pain of migraines.
The app is available for free from the App Store for Apple or Google Play.
Adapted from Sand Creek