Students at Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Washington High School will have an opportunity to take guitar lessons this fall through a new partnership with Pepper Entertainment. The class will be offered through the Sioux Falls School District’s (SFSD) Fine Arts Program. Through this joint effort, Pepper Entertainment will donate $1 from each ticket sold from…

Bryan Aukerman received $1,290 for his proposal, “A More Metacognitive Consideration of Media, Media Bias, and Valid Research Through Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart.” With the grant, Bryan will purchase an Ad Fontes subscription and the SUMMA News Literacy Curriculum. Both will be used by students in Accelerated English II and AP Language and Composition,…

Native American students in the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) celebrated their upcoming graduation in a traditional honoring ceremony at Washington High School. Ninety students were recognized for earning their high school diploma and/or GED certification. For the first time, the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation sponsored this event, thanks in large part to…

Nicole Fette and Michelle Clayberg received $1,277.66 for their proposal, “Building Skills for Success in School and Life.” This grant will serve students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Program. They will purchase copies of the books Top 20 Teens and 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. In…

Northern Tool + Equipment donated $5,000-worth of new equipment to staff and students at the Career & Technical Education Academy through their “Northern Tools for the Trades” Program. Nick Opdahl, the carpentry teacher at CTE Academy, received a pressure washer, leaf blower, knee board, floor jack, and 300-feet of garden hose through the donation. Students…

Jefferson opened in the fall of 2021, and the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation was thrilled to award four Public School Proud Grants to educators at Sioux Falls’ newest high school. Arlene Smith, Native American Connections teacher, received $1,500 for her proposal, “Tiyóspaye Owáyawa – Inclusive Drum Circle.” She will use funds to purchase…

Krystine Reavis received $2,249.25 for her proposal, “Go, Robot, Go!” She will use the funds to purchase Dash robotics kits that will be used by 200 students in the library during their Makerspace time. With the Dash robots, students learn to code and they then have the opportunity to apply their programming skills in a…

Becca Frahm, Cailey Linn, Donnetta Warrington, and Emily Dilly received $4066.79 for their proposal, “Increasing Regulation.” They will purchase emotions boards, light filters, kinetic sand kits, a sand and water table, therapy balls, and sensory sacks that can be used by students throughout the building in the sensory room. In the application, they wrote, “Sensory…

Tina Slade received a $1,726.77 Public School Proud Grant for her proposal, “The Learning Connection.” She will purchase alphabet books, phonics little readers, magnetic number tiles, learning locks, letter crayons, picture magnets, feelings and emotions dough maps, and a peaceful kids yoga kit. In the application, she wrote, “The Learning Connection will support the bridge…

Rhonda Wilson received $1,255.04 for her grant, “Come Play in Junior K!” She will use funds to purchase step and balance stones, activity balls, bean bags, wrist ribbons, the knock down number challenge game, a play tunnel, and a swing and catch cup set. These activities will help Rhonda incorporate gross and fine motor play…