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.
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.
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
📣 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.
Here is a peek at our Back to School week! Please note the 3:22 p.m. dismissal on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 26.
We will start our earlier Wednesday dismissal schedule of 2:22 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2.
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
English Language Learner families are invited to join us at an Open House on Tuesday, August 11th!
If you do not see an email from the school, please check all of your folders. If you don't see one, call our office @ 605-696-4600 and we can help!
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.
📣 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.
Hello, Hillcrest! Our K-2 learners brought a blue bag home for the summer with some activities and fun! Staff will be available throughout the summer for kids to exchange books and grab some new activities. We hope to see you soon!
🦷 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
