📢 Reminder: 1st Quarter Midterms are Thursday, September 24th!

Hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the first quarter! Thursday, September 24, 2026, is officially 1st Quarter Midterms.

This is the perfect time to check your grades, connect with your teachers, and turn in any missing assignments before the final stretch of the quarter.

Let's finish the first half of the quarter strong!!💪
#WeAreSpartans

No School this Friday, September 25th!

Enjoy your three-day weekend! There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Friday, September 25, 2026, due to Teacher Inservice Day.

📅 Quick Schedule:

• Thursday, Sept 24: Regular school day

• Friday, Sept 25: No school for students (Staff Inservice)

• Monday, Sept 28: Classes resume

Have a safe, relaxing, and productive long weekend!
#WeAreSpartans

📢 Important Advisory Schedule & Activity Dates

Please review the upcoming dates designated for full 90-minute Advisory activities.

⚠️ Attendance Note: These are mandatory school days. If a student misses an Advisory session for an appointment, official verification/proof of the appointment may be requested and required for the absence to be excused.

📅 Activity Schedule

• September 2nd

  • Freshmen Advisory Goal Setting

• September 15th

  • Seniors Only: Jostens meeting

• December 16th

  • All Students: Lunchtime Solution Survey & PRIDE Survey

  • Seniors Only: Senior Survey

• January 25th

  • Seniors & Juniors: Course Scheduling

• January 27th

  • Sophomores: Course Scheduling

• February 2nd

  • Freshmen: Course Scheduling

• February 26th

  • All Students: CTE (Career and Technical Education) Survey

• May 12th

  • Seniors Only: Senior Exit Survey

**Please plan doctor appointments and non-urgent conflicts around these dates whenever possible to ensure you receive this critical information.**

HOMECOMING WEEK DRESS UP THEMES!

Monday 🎬 Adam Sandler Day
Tuesday 🎒 Anything But a Backpack Day
Wednesday 💿 Y2K Day
Thursday 🎨 Class Colors Day
- Freshmen: Brown 🪵
- Sophomores: Green 🍏
- Juniors: Blue 💙
- Seniors: Pink 🦩
- Staff: Camo 🌲
Friday 📣 Maroon Out!

Let's make this the most spirited Homecoming week yet!!
#WeAreSpartans

🎓 College Fair 2026! 🎓

Attention Juniors and Seniors! It's your time to be able to meet with 44 different pathways to plan your future!
🗓️ Thursday, October 1
⏰ 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Explore your options with:
🏛️ 4-Year Universities
🔧 Technical Schools
🪖 Military Recruiters
✂️ Cosmetology Programs

Don't miss out on exploring your next steps! 🚀 Questions? Stop by the Counseling office during school.
#WeAreSpartans

🌟 Attention Juniors & Seniors! 🌟

Juniors and Seniors who meet the GPA requirement are invited to apply for membership in the National Honor Society. 🎓

If your GPA is 3.55 or higher, please check your school email to view the application process.

Key Details:
⏳ Deadline to apply: Friday, September 18th
🏫 Questions? Please see Mrs. Ligtenberg if you need any details or assistance.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your scholarship, leadership, service, and character! ✨
#WeAreSpartans

🎓 Attention Seniors: Important Graduation Meeting!📝
The countdown to graduation is officially on! 🎓
To help you prepare for the big day, there will be a required meeting for all members of the Senior Class.
A representative from Jostens will be on campus to present essential information regarding graduation caps, gowns, announcements, and more.
📅 Meeting Details

• Date: Tuesday, September 14th

• Time: 1:45 PM

• Location: Main Gym

• Attendance: Mandatory for all Seniors

During this assembly, you will receive graduation information packets.
Please make sure to arrive on time and head straight to the main gym at 1:45 PM.

Let's make your Senior year unforgettable! 🙌✨
#WeAreSpartans

📢 Stay in the Loop! Check Our Daily Announcements 📢
Attention students, parents, and guardians!

Want to know what's happening around campus every single day???
Make sure to visit the Daily Announcements tab right here on our school website!
It is your ultimate go-to hub for staying up to date on everything happening in our school community.

By checking the tab daily, you won’t miss out on:

• 📅 Important Dates & Deadlines: Stay ahead on upcoming events, schedule changes, and deadlines.

• ⚽ Clubs & Activities: Get the latest updates on sports activities, club meetings, and extracurricular practices/events.

• 🍕 Daily Menu: Quickly look up lunch options.

Bookmark the page today and make it a part of your morning routine! 🌅
#WeAreSpartans

🗓️ Reminder:
There is No School Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.
Classes resume Tuesday, September 8.

Enjoy your 3 day weekend! 😀
#WeAreSpartans

Spartan Traffic Reminder: Keeping Our Parking Lot Lanes Safe and Clear
We recently repainted the parking lot lines at Spearfish High School!
Please review these important reminders regarding student drop-off and pick-up to ensure everyone's safety and keep campus traffic moving efficiently.

🚗 Respect the New Markings

• Park in a designated space – DO NOT wait or crowd our bus lanes.

• Do not block traffic – Keeping the driving lane clear allows buses to safely enter, load/unload students, and exit the parking lot.

• Use open slots – Please find an open parking space as shown on our parking map to keep traffic moving safely.

🚌 Follow the Painted Traffic Flow

• Bus Lane Rules – The newly refreshed bus lanes must remain clear of all personal vehicles at all times. This space is NOT for general parking.

• No Double Parking – Please do not stop or idle in the driving lanes to wait for your student as this can back up oncoming/exiting vehicles.

• Pedestrian Awareness – The freshly painted crosswalks mean higher visibility, but please continue to watch closely for students/staff cross walking.

  
  
  Thank you for doing your part to keep our Spartans safe!

📆 Reminder: High School Picture Day is Friday, August 28th!
All students will have their portraits taken throughout the morning in the high school Commons.

These photos will be used for school ID cards and the yearbook. All students should participate, even if you do not plan on purchasing a package.

📦How to Order:
Pick up a packet: Students can grab a physical order form and packet in the main office starting today.
Order online: Parents can skip the paperwork and order photo packages online ahead of time.

Let's make it a picture-perfect day! 😊
#SchoolReminder #PictureDay #WeAreSpartans

Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts, Spartans!
Regular attendance is vital for academic success, course credit, and extracurricular eligibility at Spearfish High School. We appreciate your partnership in making attendance a daily priority.

Expectations
🎯 90% Target: Students must attend at least 90% of school days to avoid chronic absenteeism and align with state guidelines.
📋 Eligibility: Daily attendance is required to maintain eligibility for all sports, clubs, and school activities. 

Reporting an Absence
Parents or guardians have 24 hours to report an absence to the school (contact us via phone call, email or note from home).
👤 Contact: Sarah Popkes, HS Attendance Secretary
☎️ Phone Number: 605-717-1212 | ✉️ Email: spopkes@spearfish.k12.sd.us
📝 Info Needed: Student's full name and the specific reason for the absence.
⏳ Late Reports: Absences reported after 24 hours must be approved by Mr. Seyer, Assistant Principal, to be excused.

Automated Notifications
If the school is not notified of an absence, alert notifications are automatically sent via the email and text listed on your child/ren's Infinite Campus profile. To guarantee you receive these time-sensitive safety updates, parents must proactively maintain accurate and active digital contact details in the portal.
⏰ 11:00 AM: Notifies parents of morning absences.
⏰ 3:30 PM: Notifies parents of all accumulated unexcused absences for the day.

A few Reminders:
🚗 Appointments: Please schedule medical/dental appts outside of school hours or during open blocks when possible.
🔑 Checking Out: All students must sign out through the front office before leaving campus early for any reason and then checking back in to the office when they arrive back at school.

Thank you for helping us build a culture of accountability and excellence!

Welcome Back, Spartans! 👋
As we prepare to kick off the 2026-2027 school year, Spearfish High School invites all students, parents, and community members to join us for our annual Open House!

What to Expect:
📚 Schedules & Lockers: Walk through your daily schedule and get a chance to snag a locker.
🧑‍🏫 Meet the Staff: Connect with teachers, administrators, and school staff. We've got some new teachers here at SHS who'd love to meet you!
🛠️ Campus Tours: Explore both the high school building and our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center.
⚽ Activities & Clubs: Learn more about joining extracurricular clubs, sports, and activities.

Event Details
📅 Date: Tuesday, August 25th•
⏰ Open House Hours: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

New Student Orientation
Starting high school or coming to a new school can be scary, and we want to help our incoming students start strong! New students and freshmen are encouraged to arrive early for a dedicated orientation session. This session will provide an exclusive run-through of the campus, an opportunity to meet fellow newcomers, and a chance to ask questions before the main open house begins.
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM
📍 Location: CTE Commons.

Mark your calendars, wear your maroon and white, and let's make this the best year yet!
We look forward to seeing you all on August 25th!
#WeAreSpartans

📘 Yearbook Information:
Your 2025-2026 SHS yearbooks will arrive in the fall during the 2026-27 school year!
If you have any questions about your yearbook, please reach out to Mrs. Walters via email: awalters@spearfish.k12.sd.us.

Have a great summer! ☀️📸

☀️ HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, SPARTANS! ☀️
We want to wish all of our students, families, and staff an incredible, safe, and relaxing summer break! 🏖️
Thank you for making this school year so memorable. Take this time to rest, recharge, and make amazing memories!

We are already excited to welcome everyone back on Thursday, August 27th! 🎒✨

🎓 Spearfish High School Class of 2026 Graduation! 🎓
Spearfish High School is thrilled to announce the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026!
Join us this weekend to celebrate the incredible achievements and bright futures of our graduating seniors.
📅Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
🕒Time: 2:00 PM
🏫 Location: SHS Main Gymnasium

Information for Families & Guests:
⏰ Arrival: Doors open to the public at 12:30 PM. Please arrive early to find your seats.
🪑 Seating: General seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be additional seating in our Performing Arts Theater with a Live Stream of the ceremony.
🚗Parking: Guests may park in the main school lots.
💻Live Stream Information- Watch Online: Can't make it in person? The entire ceremony will be broadcast live on the Spearfish Spartans Network YouTube page so long-distance family and friends don't miss a moment!

Information for Graduates
🕒 Report Time: Graduates must arrive at the designated staging area by 1:15 PM sharp.
👗 Dress Code: Full cap and gown regalia are required.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We cannot wait to celebrate this milestone with you!
#WeAreSpartans

🎶 SHS Spring Choir Showcase! 🎶

Join us for a wonderful night of music! Our concert tonight features beautiful performances from our Freshmen Choir, Treble Choir, A Cappella, and Concert Choir.

We will close the evening with a spectacular combined choir piece and a special senior recognition ceremony to celebrate our graduating singers! 🎓✨

📍 Where: SHS Auditorium
🕖 When: 7:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: Free!

Today is all about celebrating Spartan achievement!
We invite you to join us for a day full of recognition and excellence.

9th–11th Grade Honors Awards 🎓
🕒 Time: 2:00 PM in SHS Auditorium
🌟 We kick off the festivities this afternoon by honoring the academic excellence and outstanding character of our underclassmen. Congratulations to these students for their dedication in the classroom!

Spearfish High School Athletic Banquet 🏆
🕒 Time: Doors Open at 6:30pm. Awards start at 7:00pm @ CTE Commons Area
🌟Honoring all the hard work, sportsmanship, and achievements of our student-athletes across all sports. It’s a night to toast our players, coaches, and families who make Spearfish Athletics a source of community strength.

A massive congratulations to all our award winners and athletes! We are so proud of your commitment to excellence both in the classroom and on the field. Keep leading the way and representing Spearfish with honor. 🏅🙌
#WeAreSpartans

Early Release Day
📅 Wednesday, May 6th
🕒 Release Time: 1 PM

🚌 Buses will run immediately following the early dismissal.
🍎Lunch is served prior to release.

Celebrate a night of Spartan excellence at the annual SHS Fine Arts Banquet! 🏆
We invite the community to join us on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6:30pm in the HS Commons as we honor the dedication and talent of our student artists.
This special evening recognizes achievements across our Fine Arts programs—including band, choir, drama, art, journalism, and speech and debate—while celebrating the creative spirit that defines our school. 🎶🎭🎨

⭐ Note: The Spring Band Concert & Hall of Fame Induction will follow next week on May 5th in the HS Theater.

Let’s come together to applaud our students' hard work and the lasting impact of the arts at SHS!
#WeAreSpartans

🛡️For more information, you can visit:
https://gobound.com/sd/schools/spearfish/calendar?includePractices=false&v=week&date=2026-04-27
and
https://issuu.com/chickencreekcommunications/docs/spearfish_fine_arts_booster_program_2025