SoDakSACA South Dakota School Age Care Alliance

Recent News

State Afterschool Programs Benefit Mexico’s Children
Thanks to several Afterschool programs statewide, the Volunteer Optometrists for Humanity mission will be able to provide over 800 more eyeglasses to Mexico’s
Children. Programs participated in a statewide eyeglass collection project as part of National & Global Youth Service Day. Way to go!

Native Youth Club Honored at Afterschool for All Challenge in D.C.
The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation recently recognized the Native Youth Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as an Afterschool Innovator for involving the community in its program and forging partnerships between school and community. Native Youth Club was one of four organizations honored at the “Breakfast of Champions” at the Afterschool for All Challenge in May as an Afterschool Innovator. Each has been profiled in Afterschool Innovations in Brief, a series of Issue Briefs developed by the Afterschool Alliance with support from MetLife Foundation.

ESDS First Tribal School in US to Have Accredited Program
The National AfterSchool Association recently notified the Enemy Swim Day School
(ESDS) Afterschool Program they have met the requirements for national accreditation. Only six other programs in South Dakota besides ESDS are accredited. ESDS Afterschool Program is also the first and only BIA/Tribal school in the nation to be accredited. Way to go!

9th Annual SoDakSACA Conference
October 3-4, 2008
Watertown Convention Center
Watertown, SD

Join us in October for our 9th annual school-age conference! Featured keynotes for 2008 will be Bill Michealis and Ezra Holland, a GREAT training combo from California. (For more info on Bill & Ezra, click here!

9th Annual Lights On Afterschool!
October 16, 2008

Lights On Afterschool is celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. This annual national event is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has served as Chair of Lights On Afterschool since 2001. Since then, the number of events hosted in each state has grown dramatically, with over 10,000 events expected in 2008. For information on signing up to host an event in 2008, click here!

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Annual Highlights - OST Directors' Retreat

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Annual OST Director’s Retreat

This Retreat is sponsored by the Dept. of Social Services – Division of Child Care

Services in the spring of each year as a spring training enhancement to the annual fall SoDakSACA conference. OST directors and lead management staff attend the Retreat to network, re-energize, and learn new management and leadership skills. This conference provides a great opportunity for recruitment of new SoDakSACA members.

2007 OST Director’s Retreat – Ramkota RiverCenter – Pierre

The 2007 OST Retreat “Links to Learning in Afterschool Programs” provided two full days of training by trainers from the National Institute on Out of School Time. The training focused on strategies school age programs can use to communicate and coordinate effectively with schools and parents about children’s learning, building on the latest research on engagement and motivation.

Included were discussions on communication & coordination with schools, family involvement, community partnerships, homework centers and tools for learning. Ana DeHoyos O’Connor from San Antonio, TX and Dishon Mills, Boston, NIOST trainers, provided a fun-filled and intensive learning experience. Our own South Dakota-born Cory Lichty, Brookings, provided the Tuesday evening keynote session.

2006 OST Director’s Retreat – Ramkota RiverCenter – Pierre

“Making a Difference for South Dakota’s Youth” was the theme of the 2006 Director’s Retreat, held at the Ramkota RiverCenter in Pierre March 29- 30, 2006. Main presenter the first day was Michael Morrow, Portland, OR who presented a variety of sessions, including working with challenging children, effective behavior management, and building moral children. Deb Bowman, Dept. of Social Services Secretary, provided a motivational luncheon keynote and

Nikki Grandpre, Miss SD, presented on Internet Crimes Against Children after dinner, and also thrilled the crowd with a song and dance she performed at the Miss America pageant. The second and final day included a breakfast session with Carroll Forsch on Licensing Issues, Bridget Gothberg on Leadership Styles, Ellen Lee on Working with Children with Asthma, and Lisa Blake with a fun, ‘tools for the road’ session to re-energize the group for next year.

2005 OST Director’s Retreat – Cedar Shores – Chamberlain

The 2005 Director’s Retreat was held April 3-5, 2005 at Cedar Shores Resort in Chamberlain, SD. “Polishing the Professional in You” was the theme, and did we ever! Robert Prentice kicked off the conference Sunday evening with a motivational talk on Effective Leadership, followed by a fun “Jeopardy Game” with all participants. Tracey Ballas, President & CEO of School-Age Notes, was our main presenter. Although Tracey arrived at the hotel late Sunday evening without her luggage, on Monday she provided us with a fun, full day of “Hire, Fire, and Inspire” sessions.

(Picture at right: Tracey Ballas, President & CEO of School-age Notes, and afterschool training consultant from Ohio, presents to the SD OST directors outside on the east patio of Cedar Shores Resort overlooking the Missouri River due to the nice early April weather.)

Evening sessions included Marcia Kozel, ‘Working with Generation X & Y’ and Candy Kalil “SD Pathways Project’. The conference-goers were able to visit the Akta Lakota museum that evening, or just sit back for some needed R&R. The final day of the conference included Tracey presenting on Advocacy and Professionalism; Susan Randall of SD Voices for Children as luncheon keynote; and several OST directors

sharing their expertise on: Summer Planning Pizazz – Jan Stange; KidzLit/KidzMath-

Linda Merkwan; Game, Fish & Park & Extension Resources – Brenda Robertson;

Money, Marketing and More – Laura Dimock; and Accreditation – Nonie Watkins.

Approximately 65 participants attended the twoday event this year.

2004 Director’s Retreat - Holiday Inn CitiCenter - Sioux Falls

“Effective Management in Out of School Time: A Director’s Retreat” was held April 19- 21, 2004 in Sioux Falls. Training consultants from the National Institute on Out of

School Time, Ellen Clippinger and Molly McNally-Dunn, provided two days of

management training to approximately 65 participants. Some of the topic sessions

included: Laying the Groundwork for Change, Building a Strong Staff, Applying the

Standards/Program Improvement, and Research and Management. Round table

sessions on the 2nd day were a highlight of the two-day event, as they helped directors with specific issues on topics of interest to them.

2003 Director’s Retreat – Ramkota RiverCenter – Pierre

The very first OST Director’s Retreat titled “Leadership Institute” was held in Pierre April 7-8, 2003. Training consultants from the National Institute on Out of School Time, Tracey Ballas from Ohio and Molly McNally-Dunn from Colorado, provided two days of leadership training for school-age directors. Sessions included:

Elements of a Quality SAC Program; Human Relationships; Safety, Health, and Nutrition; Activities & Scheduling; and Environments.

Several times throughout the two-day session, participants were able to do group and team-building activities. After arriving in Pierre by plane, arrangements were made to transport Tracey and Molly to Rapid City so they could tour Mt. Rushmore the day before our event. Tracey claimed she had never seen anything like the faces at Mt. Rushmore, and was so glad to have been invited to South Dakota!