Belle Fourche School District

Back to School Newsletter

link to view newsletter:

https://www.bellefourche.k12.sd.us/documents/parents/2026-2027-school-year/25523008


This newsletter can also be accessed on our District website under Parent Documents.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Interested in Substitute Teaching?

Join Our Team!

Belle Fourche School District is proud to announce a new Pilot Preschool Program designed to serve young learners ages 3-4 as of September 1st in our community who are not currently enrolled in a preschool program. See flyer for more information. We are excited for this program!

Some of the wood projects done this last semester in Woods class.

Last Day of School Information

Superintendent’s Corner

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, there is a great sense of pride in all that has been accomplished across the Belle Fourche School District. The year is wrapping up on a strong note, highlighted by a beautiful and meaningful graduation celebration that honored the hard work and dedication of our seniors and their families. We now look forward to finishing the school year strong with students in all other grade levels as they complete their final learning experiences and prepare for a well-deserved summer break.

Even as the school year comes to a close, our District is already moving forward with purpose. This summer will be a busy one, as we “sprint” into several important capital projects at both the High School and Middle School. These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to maintaining and enhancing facilities that support high-quality teaching and learning for every student.

We are also excited about the new staff members joining our team this fall. Their addition strengthens an already dedicated group of educators and support staff. Most importantly, we are confident our students will return to classrooms where caring, skilled professionals are ready to support their academic growth and personal development.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to the parents and families of our students. Your partnership is essential in helping prepare children not only for academic success, but also for the social and life skills that are developed along the way. Your commitment makes a meaningful difference.

A very special thank you goes to the certified and classified staff of the Belle Fourche School District. Your dedication, professionalism, and care for students do not go unnoticed. You are the heart of what makes our District such a strong place for children to learn and grow.

I also want to recognize our administration and School Board members. Your leadership, service, and support provide the structure and direction that allow our schools to continue moving forward. You are a vital part of the work we do each day.

While we are proud of what we have accomplished, we also remain committed to continuous improvement. We will keep working to raise expectations, strengthen opportunities, and ensure that the time students spend in our schools is meaningful, challenging, and rewarding. This mindset will continue to raise the bar and support even higher standards for our future Broncs.

Finally, a reminder to families: children entering kindergarten should be registered as early as possible so we can prepare appropriately for their arrival. New families to the District are encouraged to register through our Administration Office/our online system. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to call, 605-723-3355, we are happy to help.

Enjoy the summer ahead, and thank you for a great year.

Go Broncs!

 Dr. Orion Thompson
Superintendent of Schools
Belle Fourche School District 9-1
2305 13th Avenue, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
605-723-3355 ext. 1

It is TEST DAY! Belle Fourche CDL students completing their DMV driving test. 5 Students are testing TODAY!!!

Congratulations to Jammie!

South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026 inductees.

Jammie (Coyle) Raba (Belle Fourche 1996)

Raba was a productive point guard for the Belle Fourche Broncs. A 5-foot-7 guard, Raba powered the Broncs to the 1995 Class A state championship, their only title in school history. Raba tossed in a Class A championship record 37 points in the championship win over Howard. Raba was a three-time all-conference and three-time all-stater for Belle Fourche. Raba averaged 28 points, 6.2 steals, 5 rebounds and 2.25 assists per game during her senior campaign. Raba, who was named the 1995 South Dakota Miss Basketball, scored 1,649 career points in high school. Raba later starred at Northern State University, where she was a three-time all-conference player and an All-American. Raba started 112 of 115 games and scored 1,856 career points.

605 Sports Link:
https://605sports.com/South-Dakota-High-School-Basketball-Hall-of-Fame-announces-Class-of-2026-inductees?fbclid=IwZnRzaARphYVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEej3aS-dLmqkJLCeQjbIlZ1GXKXJh3ACjFarg-KrOfMxSJ1GToYTc1e9dBl6E_aem_cQ_rUcyBBPaNEDMKojbSEg

Belle Fourche Elementary PTO Carnival
Friday, May 8
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Dr. Thompson recently served on a panel of Western South Dakota superintendents in collaboration with the South Dakota Department of Education, where leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing public education, including workforce shortages, student engagement, and the evolving needs of rural districts. The discussion also highlighted areas of success across Western South Dakota schools, such as innovative programming, strong community partnerships, and a continued commitment to student-centered learning, while exploring opportunities for the state to better support local districts. We sincerely thank the South Dakota Department of Education for taking the time to listen, engage in open conversation, and consider ways to come alongside and strengthen public education across our region.

STATE FFA CONVENTION

State Degree Awarded
Tucker Hughes, Atlee Olson, Jazlyn Olson, Andy Pruitt, Kate Williamson

District 5 Greenhand - Kate Blair!

Agriscience
Charliegh Silvernagel - Environmental Systems Division 3 - Second Place
Brahnson Brink - Power Systems Division 3 - 1st Place (National Qualifier)
Kasey Dobesh - Plant Systems Division 3 - 1st Place (National Qualifier)
Aalyiah Lennon - Social Systems Division 3 - 1st Place (National Qualifier)
Atlee Olson - Animal Science Division 5 - 1st Place (National Qualifier)

Proficiencies
Atlee Olson - Agriscience Animal Systems 2nd Place
Atlee Olson - Vet Science Placement 1st Place (National Qualifer)

STAR in Agriscience
Atlee Olson - 1st Place (National Qualifier)
Jim Chilson Agriscience Overall Project - Atlee Olson
CDE (Career Development Results)
Ag Business Management: Kasey Dobesh 16th
Agronomy: Team 6th - Clay Mackaben 14th, Justus Marshall 15th, Tucker Hughes 19th
Food Science: Team 4th - Kate Williamson 8th, Raif Parmeter 10th, Joseph McLennan 14th
Horse Evaluation: Team 4th - McKenzie Rans 10th
Natural Resources: Team 4th - Kale Williams 4th, Alexa Stone 14th
Vet Science: Atlee Olson 10th

OUR New FFA State Sentinel!!!! Andy Pruitt!!!

Congratulations to all the Broncs in Blue!!

Superintendent’s Corner – Finishing Strong Together

As we move deeper into spring, there is a great deal of positive energy flowing through the Belle Fourche School District. Our buildings are truly buzzing with activity, and it is one of those times of year when you can feel the momentum of a strong school community.

State testing is officially underway across our district. This is an important time for our students and staff, as it provides an opportunity to demonstrate the growth and learning that has taken place throughout the year. We are proud of the effort our students continue to show, and we encourage them to stay focused and give their best each day.

Outside the classroom, spring activities are in full swing, and our Broncs are representing Belle Fourche with pride in every arena. From the field to the stage, our students continue to shine. Our athletic teams are competing hard, while our band and choir programs have been outstanding showcasing the talent, dedication, and countless hours of preparation that often go unseen. In addition, our students involved in plays, performances, FFA, and other extracurricular activities continue to make us proud. These experiences are a vital part of what makes our school district special.

We also recently celebrated a wonderful prom, an evening filled with excitement, memories, and Broncs pride. Events like these remind us how important the full school experience is for our students and the lasting memories created along the way.

Looking ahead, summer will be a very busy time for our district. We have several important upgrades planned for both the high school and middle school buildings. These improvements are part of our continued commitment to providing safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments for our students and staff. Our buildings and grounds team is already hard at work preparing for a productive summer season.

We also want to share an important transition within our district leadership. After an incredible 37-year career, our business manager will be stepping away from her role. Her dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Belle Fourche have left a lasting impact. She truly “bleeds purple,” and we are deeply grateful for everything she has given to this district over nearly four decades. While it is difficult to see her go, we are excited to welcome a new business manager next year and look forward to the continued strength of our team.

At the same time, we are beginning to look ahead to the future by welcoming our youngest learners. Kindergarten enrollment for the upcoming school year is underway, and it has been a joy to see the bright eyes, energy, and excitement of our incoming students. These moments serve as a powerful reminder of why we do this work each day.

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to emphasize the importance of finishing strong. Attendance matters every day. Being present, engaged, and committed is not just about school; it is practice for the real world. The habits our students build now showing up, being prepared, and giving consistent effort will carry forward into their futures.

Finally, I want to speak directly to the importance of partnership. Our teachers, coaches, advisors, and staff work incredibly hard to support our students, and they need the support of families and the community. We must be on the same team. When we stand together supporting one another, reinforcing expectations, and focusing on what is best for kids we create the strongest possible environment for success.

Let’s continue to move forward together. Let’s support our students, our staff, and one another. And most importantly, let’s get back to “bleeding purple” as one unified Belle Fourche community.

Finish strong, Broncs.

Dr. Orion Thompson
Superintendent of Schools
Belle Fourche School District 9-1

2305 13th Avenue, Belle Fourche, SD 57717

605-723-3355 ext. 1

Belle Fourche Heavy Equipment Students Dig Into Real-World Experience

By Austin Bishop, Ag Education Educator and FFA Advisor; CTE Director

On Thursday, March 26th the Belle Fourche High School Heavy Equipment Operation (HEO) second semester students were able to showcase their heavy equipment operation skills on an actual worksite. Our industry partnerships with local companies Site Works Specialist and Scull Construction Service provided the opportunity for our second annual worksite field day.

Students enrolled in the HEO class work through industry theory and machinery operation in a controlled environment, operating equipment simulators in the classroom. Equipment highlighted in the class includes an excavator, forklift, skid steer, wheel loader, and bulldozer. Students advance through the course work based on industry standard performance indicators. These advancements are then demonstrated by their proficient use of the actual equipment. Belle Fourche High School educator Jim Hartwell explains, “This is an integrated part of the course curriculum. Hands-on experiences, like these, allow our students opportunity to take classroom fundamental skills and put them to action.”

Steven Uttecht, a Senior Site Superintendent for Scull Construction Service states: “Scull Construction and Site Works Specialists appreciate the opportunity to spend time with the area students. The time we get to spend with the future young minds of our industries through the strategic partnership with the Belle Fourche School District and their CTE program is invaluable to us. Community investment is one of the cornerstones of our companies and we look forward to these opportunities to give back and possibly create some interest in construction with the students along the way. “

The Belle Fourche School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, remain committed to embedding real-world experiences into its curriculum—closing the gap between classroom learning and industry, one piece of heavy equipment at a time.

Congratulations to Mr. Kevin Smidt on being selected as the SDASSP Region 7 Middle School Principal of the Year for the 2026–27 school year!

This honor recognizes his outstanding dedication to his School District and his meaningful contributions to the regional principal association. Mr. Smidt will be formally recognized by SDASSP at a banquet during the South Dakota Principals Conference in Deadwood this June.

As the regional award recipient, Mr. Smidt is now eligible to apply for the South Dakota Middle School Principal of the Year, which will be awarded in September 2026.

SDASSP association extends its sincere thanks to our District for continued support of Mr. Smidt and all the exceptional leaders across our School District.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. SMIDT!

Graduation is on May 16th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Lou Graslie Field, weather permitting.

The Early Learner Belle Fourche committee invites parents with children ages 3–5 to take their preschool survey! Your input will help them better understand the needs of families in the community and improve early learning opportunities.