It's Homecoming time, Bobcats!
The 2026 Bobcat Homecoming Parade is Friday, September 25, at 2:00 PM in downtown Brookings!
Want to be part of the parade? School groups, organizations, businesses, and community groups are invited to enter. Last year we had more than 70 entries—let's make this year's parade even bigger!
Parade entries are due by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, September 22.
👉 Learn more and register for the 2026 Bobcat Homecoming Parade!
GO BOBCATS! ❤️🖤
This month, we're highlighting two Brookings High School graduates who have returned to BSD to help make a difference for the next generation.
Lynsey Magnus, BHS Class of 2009, serves as an Instructional Assistant at Dakota Prairie Elementary and Assistant Girls' Soccer Coach.
Zach Thomas, BHS Class of 2010, serves as Principal at Brookings High School.
Both share a special connection to the district they grew up in and the educators who helped shape their experiences. Now, they're continuing that legacy as members of the BSD team.
Take a look at their September Hometown Legacy features to learn more about their Bobcat roots and what brought them full circle.
Morning Drop-Off Options:
Parking and Walking In
You are welcome to park in the designated parking lot and escort your child to the front doors of the school. Please note that staff will not be available to supervise at the front entrance, as they will be assisting students who arrive without a parent or guardian.
Curbside Drop-Off
If you prefer to drop your child off at the curb, please ensure that they are ready to exit the vehicle promptly when you pull up. For the safety and efficiency of all, we ask that parents remain in their vehicles during drop-off. If children can exit on the left side of the car closest to the school, they can get right onto the sidewalk. This allows the traffic line to move smoothly and helps us avoid unnecessary delays.
Thank you for taking this matter seriously.
Today is National IT Professionals Day!
We're celebrating the Brookings School District IT Department and the work they do each day to keep technology running across our schools!
Our four-person IT team manages more than 4,900 devices, supports approximately 3,400 students and nearly 500 staff members, and closed 1,435 technology support tickets last year. Together, they have an incredible 58 years of service with the Brookings School District!
Thank you, Grant Sunne, Travis Vlaminck, Jason Smidt, and Adam Vaux, for everything you do to keep our schools connected! ❤️🖤
Pictured left to right: Grant Sunne, Travis Vlaminck, Jason Smidt, and Adam Vaux.
You may have seen several communications about the Manners Moose Fun Run happening this Friday, September 11, 2026. This is a new fundraiser our PTA is trying this year to raise enough money to add an additional playground at Dakota Prairie. We need your help in reaching our goal of $25,000!
If we reach that goal, the students get to slime me! 🎉
After you sign your learner up at mybooster.com, follow the prompts to share and request donations from family and friends via text, email, or social media. Your family and friends can donate to support Dakota Prairie no matter how far away they live. The kids will celebrate while they walk/run/dance at the fun run. Each grade will participate at staggered times to ensure they have time to take school pictures and participate in the fun,
Here’s how to help:
- Sign up at MyBooster.com
- Share your student’s page
- Give a donation
We’ve already raised $8,603. Every donation gets us closer!
We can’t wait to celebrate! 🎉
Thank you for your support!
PTA and Sarah Wiebersick
REMINDER: No School Monday, September 7
Brookings School District schools and administration office will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 8.
Tuesday, September 8th we're excited to launch our UPDATED School-to-School transfer service! Please visit the BSD Transportation Page on the Brookings School District Website for more information.
https://www.brookings.k12.sd.us/page/transportation
This week, our students from PreK through 3rd Grade will participate in a school-wide "Dolly Kindness Week," inspired by the generous spirit, bright smile, and big heart of Dolly Parton!
Each morning, our students will kick off the day with a special school-wide "Dolly Kindness Tip of the Day." We will focus on how small, free acts of kindness can make a massive difference in our community.
Here is what we will practice and how you can keep the magic going at home:
🦋 Bright Smile Challenge: We will practice flashing warm smiles to brighten people's days. Ask your child to show you their biggest "Dolly Smile!"
🦋 Coat of Many Colors: Inspired by Dolly's famous story, we will learn that kindness doesn't cost a thing. Talk with your child about ways your family can use "helping hands" for neighbors or relatives.
🦋Words are Like Seeds: We will practice giving sincere compliments to our classmates. Try sharing a specific compliment with each family member at dinner.
🦋School Helper Shout-Outs: We are going to go out of our way to say a loud, proud "Thank you!" to our school custodians, cooks, office staff, and bus drivers. Your family can give shout-outs too! Send notes to school, email leaders to share any staff member you want, or give a positive shout-out on social media!
🦋Shine Like a Star: Our focus will be on inclusion, making sure no one feels left out on the playground or anywhere at DP!
Thank you for partnering with us to raise kind, caring, and helpful world-changers! 🦋🎶
📣 We’re Hiring Playground Supervisors!
The Brookings School District is looking for Playground Supervisors to help supervise and assist learners during lunch and recess.
Morning and midday hours are available, with schedules that can work well around college classes or other commitments. Pay starts at $14.75/hour.
Come spend a few hours of your day with our Bobcats! ❤️🖤
Apply today at brookings.k12.sd.us/employment.
Yesterday, our Bobcat staff came together for our annual all-staff meeting as we get ready for the 2026-27 school year!
The Bobcat Band and Cheer Squad helped us start the afternoon with plenty of Bobcat spirit before Board President Teri Johnson and Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz welcomed our staff back for another year.
There’s something pretty special about seeing more than 500 Bobcat staff members together in one place, ready to kick off a new school year!
Here’s to a great year, Bobcats! ❤️🖤
Next week, we're back, Bobcats! 🐾
Back-to-School Days will be held Monday, August 24, and Tuesday, August 25, with the first day of school on Wednesday, August 26.
As a reminder, the first day of school will be a full day and will not follow the regular Wednesday early-release schedule.
Visit our Back-to-School Resources webpage for Back-to-School Days information, the 2026–2027 school calendar, and everything you need to get ready for the new school year: https://www.brookings.k12.sd.us/page/back-to-school-resources
Why are we excited?
✅ Easy-to-use fundraising platform
✅ Fun prizes and incentives for learners as funds are donated
✅ Fitness celebration event and t-shirt for every student!
Families will gather donations through MyBooster.com by simply sharing your student’s page with friends and family. Every share makes a difference!
Mark your calendars and watch for more information!
Sign-up opens at MyBooster.com – 08/19/2026
Kickoff in school – 09/02/2026
👟 Event Day – 09/11/2026
Stay tuned for more details and follow Dakota Prairie Elementary on Facebook for updates!
Bobcat Night is this Thursday!
Join us at Downtown at Sundown for an evening of live music, family fun, and Bobcat pride!
Think you can dunk a Brookings School District staff member? Stop by the dunk tank, get your face painted, play some yard games, and enjoy a great evening of fun for the whole family! Be sure to catch the BHS Band performing during intermission!
We can't wait to see you there! ❤️🖤
Join Our Child Nutrition Team!
We're looking for caring, dependable individuals to help prepare and serve nutritious meals to our students in a welcoming school environment.
Our Child Nutrition staff does more than prepare meals—they greet students with a smile, help create a positive cafeteria experience, and play an important role in each student's school day.
We offer:
Competitive pay starting at $17.90 per hour
Full-time and part-time opportunities
School-day hours that follow the school calendar
Excellent benefits for eligible full-time employees
A supportive team and great work-life balance
If you're looking for a rewarding position where you can make a difference in the lives of students, we'd love to have you join our team!
Apply online today:
brookings.k12.sd.us/employment
Become a Bobcat - We're Hiring!
We're seeking caring, dedicated Instructional Assistants to help support students and make a meaningful difference in our schools every day.
Starting pay: $17.93-$19.60/hour
School-day hours
Flexible scheduling around college classes
School calendar schedule
Great work-life balance
Excellent benefits
If you're passionate about helping students learn and grow, we'd love to have you on our team! Apply today: https://brookings.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
New and Returning Board Members Take Oath of Office
The Brookings School District Board of Education welcomed two members during this evening’s meeting as Kelsey Bowman and Wesley (Wes) Tschetter took their oaths of office.
Bowman begins a three-year term on the Board of Education. A longtime Brookings resident, she moved to the community in 2005 to attend South Dakota State University. She previously served as the Brookings School District’s Assistant Business Manager and is the owner of KB Consulting.
Tschetter begins a one-year term on the Board. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer at South Dakota State University and brings valuable financial leadership and experience to his continued service on the Board of Education.
We appreciate Kelsey and Wes’s willingness to serve our students, staff, families, and community. We look forward to their leadership and commitment to the continued success of the Brookings School District.
Dear DP Families,
As many of you know, our district has made some boundary changes, which means some of our students and staff will be moving to Hillcrest or Medary for the 2026-27 school year. Because of these changes, class lists were not sent out this spring as usual. The class assignments will be emailed out in August, aligning practices with the other two elementary buildings.
I know changes like these can bring up questions, and I want to assure you that we are working hard to make this transition as smooth as possible for every student and family.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions in the meantime.
Warmly,
Sarah Wiebersick
📣 Reminder! Don’t forget—Friday, June 12th is the last day to enroll in the Summer Power Up Program!
Power Up is a summer learning loss prevention program for youth enrolled in JK/Kindergarten-3rd grade during the 2025-2026 school year.
📌 Check the flyer for all the details and sign-up information.
