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.
2-boxes of 24 Crayola crayons (non-washable)
1-pink eraser 3-10 Crayola classic broad tip marker (no scented)
1- Pair of scissors (child-sized Fiskars)
4- Expo low odor dry erase markers, thin/black preferred
1- Small, plastic school box (5x7)
1-spiral notebook, 100 pages (solid color, wide-lined)
8- Elmer's glue sticks (not scented)
12-#2 yellow sharpened pencils (prefer Dixon Ticonderoga)
1- Composition Notebook One 1/2" binder hard cover and solid color
1- box of Kleenex or Puffs tissues
1 set of headphones in a gallon Ziploc bag labeled.
1- backpack (no wheels, labeled inside)
* Page protectors (heavy-duty)
* Boys bring Clorox wipes
* Girls bring 1 box of Ziplock bags
* Please make sure the binder fits in the backpack.
** Please only label headphones and backpacks
1st Grade School Supply List
2 - boxes of 24 Crayola crayons
1 - box thin-tipped markers
1 - box broad line markers
1 - pair of scissors
4 - dry-erase markers
1 - zippered pencil pouch
2 - Elmer’s glue sticks
1 - single-subject, wide-lined spiral notebook
1 - folder with 3 hole punches
12 - #2 yellow pencils (Ticonderoga preferred)
1 - set of headphones (no earbuds or Bluetooth)
1 - backpack (no wheels, labeled inside)
2 - boxes of tissues (Boys)
1 - container of Clorox wipes (Girls)
2nd Grade School Supply List
2- boxes of 24 Crayola crayons
1 - box of 10 thick markers
1 - box of 10 thin markers
1 - box of 12 colored pencils
1 - pink eraser
1 - pair of scissors
8 - black dry-erase markers
6 - glue sticks
1 - pencil box or zippered pouch
1 - single-subject, wide-lined, spiral notebook, 70 ct.
1 - two-pocket folder
24 - pencils, sharpened (Ticonderoga preferred)
1 - box of tissues
1 - set of headphones in a Ziploc bag, labeled (no earbuds or Bluetooth)
1 - backpack (no wheels, labeled inside)
1- container of disinfectant wipes
3rd Grade School Supply List
2 black fine-point Sharpies
1-box Kleenex
1-box Crayola markers
1 box of 12 colored pencils
1-pair scissors
8-fine dry-erase markers
1-pencil box or zippered pouch
1-70 sheet, wide-ruled spiral notebook
1-two- pocket folder
1-set of headphones
1-container Clorox wipes
1-backpack(may use last year's, labeled inside)
🦷 Delta Dental Mobile Program – Free Dental Care in Brookings County!
Healthy smiles matter! The Delta Dental Mobile Program is returning to Brookings County to provide FREE dental care for children and young adults ages 0–21.
📅 Appointments still available:
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Monday, December 7, 2026
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
📞 To schedule an appointment:
Call 2-1-1 to connect with the Helpline Center.
📍 Questions?
Call the Brookings Area United Way at 605-692-4979 or visit 908 Hope Drive, Brookings, SD
Registration is now open for Bobcat Summer Camps!
The Brookings School District is offering a wide variety of summer camps for students entering grades K-12, including:
Basketball
Football
Volleyball
Soccer
Track & Cross Country
Wrestling
Softball
Tennis
Golf
Gymnastics
Speech & Debate
And more!
Camps run throughout June and July with opportunities for all ages and skill levels.
📋 View the full camp guide, schedules, and registration information by clicking [HERE].
⏰ Registration is due by May 29!
Scholarships may be available through individual camp directors.
Join the Summer Power Up Program!
Power Up is a summer learning program designed to help students currently in JK/Kindergarten–3rd grade (2025–2026 school year) strengthen reading and math skills while preparing for the next grade level.
Students will practice:
• Reading comprehension
• High-frequency words & phonics
• Writing skills
• Math skills
📅 Dates: July 7 – August 6 (Tuesday–Thursday)
📍 Location: Mickelson Middle School
⏰ Session Options: 8:30–10:00 AM or 10:00–11:30 AM
📌 Enrollment Deadline: Friday, June 12 (See flyer for more details)
