OSWS helps students achieve success
in the present and the future

The Office of Student Wellness and Supports (OSWS) provides assistance and resources for all students to learn, thrive, and grow. OSWS strives to build strong connections and partnerships across South Dakota so educators can best support whole child needs involving social-emotional, academic, and career.

Partner with Your School Counselor to Support Your Students
Supporting students requires collaboration across schools and families, and school counselors play a key role through prevention and intervention programs. Educators can partner with counselors using the TEAM approach:
   • Teach behavioral and social skills alongside learning strategies.
   • Empower each other by sharing strategies for academic, social-emotional, and career support.
   • Analyze data to identify needs and provide targeted interventions.
   • Mobilize family and community engagement to strengthen support systems.

Counselors use data-informed programs and resources like the South Dakota Comprehensive School Counseling Model to ensure every student receives the help they need. Working together creates a positive impact and helps students thrive academically and personally.

Essential Skills for Success: Helping Students Thrive in School, Career, and Life
In today's fast-changing world, technical knowledge alone isn’t enough—students need Essential Skills that shape how they interact, manage tasks, and approach challenges. These skills—such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, professionalism, initiative, time management, responsible technology use, and creative problem-solving—are critical for success in education, careers, and life.

Employers and post-secondary programs consistently emphasize these traits, noting that success depends not only on content knowledge but also on the ability to work well with others and adapt to change. Students can begin developing these skills in elementary school and strengthen them through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which provide hands-on and work-based learning opportunities across South Dakota.

The South Dakota Department of Education offers a framework and resources to help educators integrate these skills into classrooms, ensuring students are prepared for college, career, and life. Learn more at doe.sd.gov/cte/essentialskills.aspx.

SDMyLife
SDMyLife is an online career exploration and academic planning platform for South Dakota students in grades 6–12. Available since 2008 and powered by Xello, it is research-based and scientifically validated, placing students at the center of their postsecondary planning journey.

Students use SDMyLife to document their progress, explore career and education opportunities, create actionable plans, and continually reassess goals as they gain new knowledge and experiences.

A new feature, The Real Game, offers an interactive simulation where students build a life around a chosen career pathway, test lifestyle affordability, and understand how career choices impact life decisions. This tool encourages purposeful planning, critical thinking, and meaningful conversations among students, educators, and families.

SDMyLife also includes Methodize, a free ACT test prep resource, and continues to guide students toward being college, career, and life ready. Learn more at SDMyLife or contact Kara Schweitzer at kara.schweitzer@state.sd.us.