5th & 6th Grade VIP NIGHT - October 27th!
It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up the first quarter, what a great start to the school year! Everywhere I look, I see momentum, pride, and a lot of good work happening across our District. Thank you to our staff, students, families, school board, and community for the support you continue to show. When we move together, our students benefit.
Homecoming was a highlight this fall. It was energizing to see our School spirit on full display and our community show up in such a big way. We’re also seeing the impact of the renovations at the High School and Middle School. The improvements look fantastic, and these updated spaces will support teaching and learning for years to come. During our October School Board meeting, Board members toured the High School to see the changes firsthand, and it was great to share the progress with them.
We also took time at that meeting to thank Kelly Keegan for her service on the School Board and welcomed Matt Moore, who took the oath of office for a one‑year appointment. We appreciate Kelly’s contributions and look forward to working with Matt as we continue moving the District forward. In addition, our Board received the ALL Award from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) for its commitment to training, development, and ongoing learning. This recognition reflects the Bard’s dedication to strong, informed leadership.
Our Forever Broncs initiative continues to grow. At the recent football game, our Board president shared an overview of the program, we welcomed a large group of 3rd and 4th grade students, 50 preregistered and possibly close to 100, who attended with their families. The energy was incredible. Our next event will take place during a volleyball game and will welcome our 5th and 6th grade students. These moments help build connections between our students, families, and schools, and it’s exciting to see the enthusiasm building.
We’re also continuing our work on the Early Learner Initiative and exploring funding opportunities, including a potential partnership with United Way. Investing in our youngest learners is one of the most important commitments we can make, and we’re eager to keep moving this work forward.
Another positive development is the start of our search for a girls assistant wrestling coach. We’re excited to continue strengthening this program and expanding opportunities for students to participate, grow, and compete.
Finally, we’ve received our state report card and are reviewing the information carefully as we work through the appeals process. We’re encouraged by the work happening across the District and look forward to using this first year’s data to guide improvement, celebrate progress, and stay focused on what matters most: student learning and success.
As we head into the next quarter, I’m grateful for the energy, commitment, and collaboration that make Belle Fourche special. From Homecoming to facility improvements to student‑centered initiatives, there is a lot of positive momentum. Thank you for being part of it! When our schools and community work together, our students win and that will always be our focus.
Scan the QR code to watch our amazing students and staff! Or click/copy the link below.
https://aptg.co/xkZQnZ
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
https://bhssc.coursestorm.com/course/drivers-education-belle-fourche
Good morning! All parents and guardians in Belle Fourche School District should be receiving an email from Class Dojo to create their parent account and connect to our School District.
The invitation email will be sent to the email address we have on record for you in our student information system.
If you have issues with creating your account or connecting to our school, please email parent@classdojo.com for immediate support! They will also assist you with any questions after getting your account created.
We will be checking to make sure all our families get connected, and will be ready to assist if ClassDojo support cannot.
🌟Important reminder about ClassDojo🌟
ClassDojo is a wonderful tool that we are excited to use in the District!
It is also extremely affordable because they are monetized through OPTIONAL features in the parent app.
You will see some menus pop up for these OPTIONAL services when you first sign in with the app and get connected. You can ignore and close all of these if you would like.
You should also not receive further advertisement from the app beyond that initial notification.
None of these features are required for our School District.
You should not have to spend any money to use ClassDojo. If you accidentally paid for an OPTIONAL feature in ClassDojo, please reach out and we will work with ClassDojo to get you refunded!
We hope everyone has a smooth start to the school year!
Nathan Schreier
Technology Coordinator - Belle Fourche School District
Link for updated Newsletter:
https://www.bellefourche.k12.sd.us/documents/parents/2026-2027-school-year/25523008
RETURNING STUDENT REGISTRATION:
If student completed the 2025-26 school year in the Belle Fourche School District, please use this Registration for Returning Students. NEW to the District Students - please complete the Enroll New Student.
RETURNING STUDENT REGISTRATION ONLY - complete a questionnaire for each returning student and make sure that you click on SUBMIT and the end of the form.
Link:
https://forms.office.com/r/7H5DNAhRQB
or visit District website bellefourche.k12.sd.us and click on Register Returning Students in the upper right corner of the homepage.
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!
Congratulations to the Bronc Bird Busters from the State Tournament on May 30 and June 5-8!
The Skeet team won their 4th straight State Championship with a team total of 462/500.
The Trap team won the State Championship with a team score of 480/500. The Novice squad earned 3rd place in their division.
The 5 Stand team won their 2nd straight state championship last weekend in Ft Pierre, with a team total of 391.
Nathan Bowers won High Varsity Male and High Overall at Skeet with a score of 96.
Clay Whitehead (Sturgis) won High JV Male at 5 Stand with an 83, Tacen Carr took 2nd Varsity Male with an 82, and Sawyer Leitner took 1st Novice male with a 66.
Congratulations to all!
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
