🚨 Event Alert: National Signing Day!

Come out and show your Spartan pride! This week, we are celebrating five incredible Spearfish High School athletes who are taking their talents to the collegiate level.
We invite family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the entire Spearfish community to pack the room and support these hard-working students as they sign their National Letters of Intent (NLI).

📅 Ceremony Details
• Date: This Wednesday, November 11
• Time: 3:30 PM
• Location: SHS CTE Building

These athletes have poured years of dedication into their sports and academics to reach this milestone.
Let’s give them the packed house and loud celebration they deserve!
#WeAreSpartans

Early Release Today!
📅 Wednesday, November 4th
🕒 Release Time: 1 PM

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

Attend this years Fall Drama: "The Curious Savage" at SHS! 🎭

Spearfish High School Theatre is proud to present this year’s Fall Drama, The Curious Savage by John Patrick!
Join us for an evening of laughter, heart, and unforgettable characters.

📅 Performance Details:
* Dates: Thursday, November 5 & Friday, November 6
* Time: 7:00 PM
* Location: Spearfish Auditorium

🎟️ Admission:
* Adults: $6
* Students: $4
* SHS Activity Passes Accepted

📖 About the Show:
The Curious Savage is a warmhearted comedy about Mrs. Savage, a wealthy widow whose late husband left her ten million dollars. Eager to use the money to help people pursue their foolish dreams, her greedy stepchildren instead commit her to a sanatorium called "The Cloisters." There, Mrs. Savage meets a vibrant group of social misfits who guide her to discover what truly matters in life.

Come out and support our talented SHS cast and crew!
We look forward to seeing you in the audience!
#WeAreSpartans

📢 SPARTAN ANNOUNCEMENT 📢
We made it! 🎉 Friday, October 30th officially marks the End of the 1st Quarter at Spearfish High School!

Congratulations to all of our students, teachers, and staff on a fantastic first 9 weeks of the school year.
🗓️ Looking Ahead:
• Keep an eye out for upcoming grade postings on Infinite Campus.
• Reminder: We have an Early Release coming up next week on Wednesday, November 4th at 1pm.

Let's finish the week and Quarter strong!
#WeAreSpartans

⏰ Don't Forget to "Fall Back" This Weekend! 🍂

A quick reminder for our school families that Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Before going to bed this Saturday night (Halloween!), remember to turn your clocks back 1 hour. Most smartphones update automatically, but manual clocks will need a quick adjust.

• 🛌 Enjoy 1 extra hour of sleep this weekend!

• ☀️ Brighter mornings are ahead for the school commute.

• 🌙 Earlier sunsets mean after-school activities will finish in the dark, so please plan accordingly.

Enjoy the rest of the week!!
#WeAreSpartans

Picture retakes will be held in the High School Commons from 7:30-8:30am, Tuesday Oct. 27th.

📢 REMINDER: NO SCHOOL FRIDAY
There will be no school on Friday, October 23rd for Fall Break 🍂

🏫 Classes and regular school operations will resume on Monday, October 26th.
Enjoy the extended weekend!
#WeAreSpartans

Attention Juniors:
Junior PSAT testing this Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 (during 1st and 2nd Block). This test is only for students who have previously signed up and registered for the exam.

** If you did not register for the PSAT, you will report to your regular 1st and 2nd Block classes. **

Please review the essential guidelines below to ensure a smooth testing morning.

📅 Testing Schedule

• Eligibility: Registered students only.

• When: Wednesday, October 21st, 2026

• Time: 1st and 2nd Block (Registered students must report directly to the library at the start of 1st Block).

• Where: Library

The Library will be CLOSED during testing time. It will re-open after lunch.

Questions? Reach out to Mr. Miller in the Counseling Office. Good luck on your tests!
#WeAreSpartans

📢 REMINDER: NO SCHOOL MONDAY
There will be no school on Monday, October 12th in observance of Native American Day.

This day serves to honor and recognize the rich histories, diverse cultures, and valuable contributions of Native American communities.

🏫 Classes and regular school operations will resume on Tuesday, October 13th.
Enjoy the extended weekend!
#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

📢 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

🌟 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

📢 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.**

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!