SUMMER MEALS
Breakfast - Monday through Friday:
7:45 am - 8:30 am at South Park Elementary & Middle School
Lunch - Monday through Friday:
11:30 am - 12:00 pm at South Park Elementary & Middle School
Free for all children 18 and younger
Elevate - Educate - Empower
Teachers and Educational Leaders at the SD Literacy Conference are leading the way in using research-based methods to improve literacy. Our teachers are committed to helping all students become confident readers and building a stronger foundation for learning.
#ScienceofReading
#LiteracyMatters
#TeacherLeaders
Yippee! We finished out the 24-25 school year with a bang! We had an awesome awards ceremony and luncheon!
A big thanks to all staff for your hard work and dedication to our students! You are all very appreciated!
Congratulations to all!
Teacher of the Year Building Level Winners:
Austin Bishop - High School
Penny Louks - Middle School
Megan Haag - Elementary
Penny Louks was awarded overall Distinguished Teacher of the Year
Employees of the Year:
Susie Gross - Maintenance & Transportation
Sarah Graves - Paraprofessional
Stephen Schmeltzer - Human/Child Services
Kim Nelson - Clerical
Harlene Hill - Friend of Education Award presented by BFEA
Special thank you to:
Jean Helmer - guest speaker
Retirees:
Melanie Anderson - 33 years
Mary Day - 21 years
Lesa Krajewski - 17 years
Brenda LaBau - 31 years
Krista Minor - 29 years
Kim Nelson - 26 years
Jeanette Nicholas - 39 years
Have a great summer!
Caption on Group Photo.
Left to Right: Jermey Veldman, Site Works Superintendent; Evan Bryum, Ryan Stagelman, Levi Anderson, Steven Uttecht, Scull Construction Site Superintendent.
Other Captions: Students running equipment at the worksite.
Belle Fourche SkillsUSA Students Take Classroom Skills to the Job Site
By Austin Bishop, Ag Education Educator and FFA Advisor; CTE Director
Belle Fourche, SD – May 2025
Three students from the Belle Fourche High School SkillsUSA chapter recently took their education to new heights—literally and figuratively—by showcasing their heavy equipment operation skills on a live worksite. Thanks to a partnership with local companies Site Works Specialist and Scull Construction Service, these students had the unique opportunity to operate real machinery outside the classroom.
The students, all enrolled in the school’s Heavy Equipment Operations (HEO) class, demonstrated their proficiency on a range of machines, including an excavator, forklift, skid steer, wheel loader, bulldozer, and an articulating dump truck. The hands-on experience allowed them to translate the foundational skills they had developed through advanced classroom simulators into real-world application.
“Learning on simulators gives our students the foundation of operation in a controlled environment, but nothing beats the feel of operating the actual equipment,” said Advisor Jim Hartwell. “This opportunity helps them understand the scale and precision of what’s expected on a professional job site.”
Site Works Specialists and Scull Construction Service collaborated to provide an active worksite for the students to gain this valuable experience under professional supervision with Site Works taking the lead. With the help of Jermey Veldman, Site Works Superintendent; Brandon Foster, Site Works Project Manager; and Steven Uttecht, Scull Construction Site Superintendent this training event was held with safety protocols in full effect, and the students were accompanied by both instructors and industry mentors throughout the day. These types of relationships not only help in the equipment function correctly, but also with field experience and networking.
“This was a big moment for our students,” said Mr. Hartwell. “It’s not every day high schoolers get to jump in a bulldozer or haul material with an articulating dump truck. Experiences like this build confidence and solidify career interest.”
The Heavy Equipment Operations class is part of Belle Fourche’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, which aims to equip students with job-ready skills across a variety of trades. With the support of local industry leaders, the program continues to expand its reach and impact.
Both SiteWorks and Scull Construction expressed enthusiasm for continuing their involvement with the program, noting the importance of fostering the next generation of skilled workers. Mr. Steven Uttecht states that, “Scull Construction Service and Site Works Specialists strongly believe in investing in our communities and the construction industry’s future. We value partnerships like this one with Belle Fourche CTE to expose high school students to the construction trades. We strive to cultivate interest in the industry and show the students another potential option for their future. We hope to continue this partnership well into the future.”
The Belle Fourche SkillsUSA chapter along with the other Belle Fourche CTE programs plan to continue integrating real-world experiences into their curriculum, bridging the gap between education and industry—one piece of heavy equipment at a time.
We're SO grateful for our elementary P.T.O.! All of the elementary students received a book and bubbles for an end of year gift and were so excited! This amazing group of teachers and parents work so hard together to give back to the students, school, and community; we cannot thank them enough for their time, fun, and teamwork as we know it's all volunteer-based! We appreciate our wonderful P.T.O. - PS... if you'd like to be a part of it, you're welcome to join! ☺️
Folk Dances, Parachutes, and Drums, Oh My!
The 1st-4th grade students at South Park have been having lots of fun learning about other cultures through Folk Dances, melodic contour and form through parachute play, and rhythms and techniques with Tubano drums!
First grade may have had an indoor beach day due to lovely South Dakota weather, but we still had lots of fun! We read books on beach towels/tubes, (THANK YOU to our lunch staff for accommodating our entire grade level - we appreciate you!), we played summer bingo, and even made some sand to celebrate summer coming VERY soon!
First grade students took a walking field trip to the Old School House, had a picnic at the park, and visited the city library for a tour and to learn about the summer reading program (be sure to sign up)! Thank you to Connie Parker for her time, stories, and love towards our students when teaching them about what school used to be like! Thank you to the librarians for always hosting our kids and creating incentives for them to read during the summer! Thank you to Mr. Aspen for all he does and is willing to do for our students because he took the time to deliver their lunches to them at the park! Our students and teachers appreciate their community so much!
Every first grade student received a Porter the Hoarder book today! Thank you to our title team for setting this up, and of course the author, Sean Covel, for regularly supplying our learners with engaging texts to read with families and add to their libraries at home!
Special Thanks to the Welding Crew and Mr. Hartwell for our new signage! 1 of 1, Custom Job.........looks amazing!!
A few weeks ago, 1st graders got to visit the CTE building and watch some welding, plant their Mother's Day flowers, make a snack, and play some bingo! We are thankful for the planning and fun the teachers and high schoolers do prior to our arrival and all that Belle Fourche schools have to offer our kids now and when they're older!
1st graders recently let go of their butterflies! Each class got to experience a butterfly unit this Spring. They learn all about the life cycle and get to see it happen right in front of their eyes!
Thanks to Purple Pride's support this year, 1st graders went on field trip to Bear Country! They got a chance to see every single animal that was there. It was an awesome experience and we all had a blast!
Elementary students got the chance to see the BF seniors, Class of 2025, walk their halls! They were excited to see familiar faces! We are grateful for their time and proud of their many accomplishments here in Belle Fourche!
Belle Fourche School District Invites Community Input at Upcoming Master Planning Events.
The Belle Fourche School District’s Master Planning Committee is excited to host two upcoming public meetings aimed at continuing the important work of shaping the future of our schools—with your voice at the center.
Community members are invited to join the conversation and contribute their ideas as we advance our long-term planning efforts. These events will offer insight into the progress made so far, including highlights from our recent community survey. Attendees will also participate in interactive activities designed to help shape a shared vision for the future of education in Belle Fourche.
Public Meeting Dates:
Tuesday, May 20 | 5:30–6:30 PM at the Belle Fourche High School Lunch Room
Tuesday, May 27 | 5:30–6:30 PM at the South Park Elementary Lunch Room
“This is an opportunity for residents to help shape our District’s future,” said committee leaders. “We want Belle Fourche to remain a desirable destination for young families, and that starts with strong schools and strong community input.”
We encourage all parents, students, business owners, and community members to attend. Help us build a future that reflects the values, needs, and dreams of Belle Fourche.
For more information, contact:
Belle Fourche School District Office
Phone: 605-723-3355
Belle Fourche Education Connection Annual BBQ. Thanks to Purple Pride for providing food and prizes.
Fifth graders at BFMS had a fun REWARD day thanks to PURPLE PRIDE today! Students were rewarded for good behavior and no missing work!
Belle Fourche School District wants your input! Help shape the future of our schools by taking our quick Master Planning Survey. Your voice matters as we plan for facilities, programs & student success. Take the survey at the below link or open the attached image for the QR code.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BF_MasterPlan
Congratulations to the 2025 Arbor Day Essay winners. 1st place - Talia Thompson, 2nd place - Alex Madrid, 3rd place - Miley Ozuna-Heckenlainle and our school winner and state 9th place Arbor Day Poster Contest winner - Aspyn McKinney. Aspen's pater will be featured in next year's South Dakota Arbor Day Calendar. Congratulations 5th Graders!
1st graders enjoyed visiting a local store in their community to see the baby chicks and ducks to kick off learning about the life cycle of animals! We are so thankful to Runnings for preparing all they do for us; our students enjoyed it!
