🍁 A sure sign of fall at RCAS! 🍁
Ms. Macziewski's Jr. Kindergarten students at Valley View had a blast making their very own scarecrows with the help of their 4th-grade buddies!
From scarecrow dance warm-ups to crumpling newspaper for their creations, these students did great at every part of the activity. 🍂
We love seeing our students learn, create, and build connections across grade levels. Great job, Valley View! ✨
Ms. Macziewski's Jr. Kindergarten students at Valley View had a blast making their very own scarecrows with the help of their 4th-grade buddies!
From scarecrow dance warm-ups to crumpling newspaper for their creations, these students did great at every part of the activity. 🍂
We love seeing our students learn, create, and build connections across grade levels. Great job, Valley View! ✨
Today at South Park, Tara Kingi showed students hoop dancing and led 17 extraordinary young ladies in their beautiful regalia as they danced with pride and confidence! What a wonderful celebration of culture and courage. ✨💖
Next week 8th graders have a unique opportunity to learn more about careers that interest them. Thanks to our Silver Level Sponsors for their time, dedication and donation to the young people in our community.
On Wednesday, November 12th, RCAS College & Career Readiness Department will host its 9th annual 8th Grade Career Fair at The Monument. All 8th grade students from RCAS Middle Schools will have the opportunity to attend this event. With nearly 80 vendors registered, students will have the opportunity to learn about career options as well as post-secondary opportunities. It will be a fun, hands-on experience for the students. Thank you to our Bronze Level Sponsors!
📢Parents of High Schoolers, Mark Your Calendars! 📢
Join us for an incredibly insightful Parents' Night focusing on Responsibility-Centered Discipline™! This is a unique opportunity to learn practical techniques to help your student become a responsible, self-disciplined citizen.
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Rapid City Alternative Academy Historic Theatre (601 Columbus Street | Rapid City, SD 57701)
We're thrilled to host Joseph Cope, a RCD Certified Master Trainer and international coach, who will guide us through the "Give 'em Five" guided conversation to train educators and parents. Learn about:
Obedience-Based vs. Responsibility-Based
Why Time-Based Consequences Don't Work
Developing Self-Regulation Skills
Exits Off the Road to Responsibility
The Response-Ability Process
This program is being implemented in schools across 50 states and is proven to impact student behavior and morale positively. Don't miss out on these valuable strategies to foster growth and independence in your child!
For questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Brandi Christoffer at 605-394-4071.
Join us for an incredibly insightful Parents' Night focusing on Responsibility-Centered Discipline™! This is a unique opportunity to learn practical techniques to help your student become a responsible, self-disciplined citizen.
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Rapid City Alternative Academy Historic Theatre (601 Columbus Street | Rapid City, SD 57701)
We're thrilled to host Joseph Cope, a RCD Certified Master Trainer and international coach, who will guide us through the "Give 'em Five" guided conversation to train educators and parents. Learn about:
Obedience-Based vs. Responsibility-Based
Why Time-Based Consequences Don't Work
Developing Self-Regulation Skills
Exits Off the Road to Responsibility
The Response-Ability Process
This program is being implemented in schools across 50 states and is proven to impact student behavior and morale positively. Don't miss out on these valuable strategies to foster growth and independence in your child!
For questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Brandi Christoffer at 605-394-4071.
Reminder: ELA Curriculum Review Open House Tomorrow!
Rapid City Area Schools is in the process of reviewing high-quality instructional materials for English Language Arts (ELA). Our K–12 ELA Committees have worked to ensure alignment between South Dakota’s ELA standards, classroom instruction, assessments, and resources.
After a thorough evaluation, two instructional programs have been selected for pilot testing. A final recommendation will go to the RCAS Board of Education in spring 2026, with full implementation planned for fall 2026.
🗓 ELA Pilot Open House Dates:
October 21, 2025 | 4:00–5:15 PM | RCEC, Room 222 (625 9th St.)
November 18, 2025 | 4:00–5:15 PM | RCEC, Room 222 (625 9th St.)
📲 Can’t attend in person? Review the materials online through December 5, 2025: rcas.org/o/rcas/page/community-curriculum-review
Your feedback plays an important role in shaping the future of ELA instruction for our students—thank you for partnering with us!
Welcome Our 2025-26 Student School Board Representatives! 🎉
We are excited to introduce the students who will be representing their schools on the Rapid City Area Schools Board this year:
✨ Marissa Bonsness – Central High School
✨ Elena Braun – Stevens High School
✨ Warren Merrill – Rapid City Alternative Academy
We look forward to working with them and hearing their perspectives as part of our school board.
We are excited to introduce the students who will be representing their schools on the Rapid City Area Schools Board this year:
✨ Marissa Bonsness – Central High School
✨ Elena Braun – Stevens High School
✨ Warren Merrill – Rapid City Alternative Academy
We look forward to working with them and hearing their perspectives as part of our school board.
The Extra Mile Award 🎖✨
Congratulations to Donivan Long, the incredible custodian at North Middle School and Support Staff of the Month for September!
Donivan was nominated by his coworker, who said:
"Donivan has made a tremendous impact in his first year at North. Stepping into the role, he had big shoes to fill as the previous janitor was known for going above and beyond in many areas outside of cleaning. Donivan has not only met those expectations but has also demonstrated his genuine commitment to fulfilling that role fully. He consistently asks where he can help, takes initiative, and shows a willingness to step in wherever needed. His positive attitude, reliability, and strong work ethic have made a noticeable difference in our school environment. Donivan’s dedication has quickly earned him the respect and appreciation of staff and students alike, making him an invaluable part of our community."
A big thank you to Bickett Insurance Agency & Financial Solutions for sponsoring this recognition and celebrating Donivan’s dedication!
Congratulations to Donivan Long, the incredible custodian at North Middle School and Support Staff of the Month for September!
Donivan was nominated by his coworker, who said:
"Donivan has made a tremendous impact in his first year at North. Stepping into the role, he had big shoes to fill as the previous janitor was known for going above and beyond in many areas outside of cleaning. Donivan has not only met those expectations but has also demonstrated his genuine commitment to fulfilling that role fully. He consistently asks where he can help, takes initiative, and shows a willingness to step in wherever needed. His positive attitude, reliability, and strong work ethic have made a noticeable difference in our school environment. Donivan’s dedication has quickly earned him the respect and appreciation of staff and students alike, making him an invaluable part of our community."
A big thank you to Bickett Insurance Agency & Financial Solutions for sponsoring this recognition and celebrating Donivan’s dedication!
🌟 Celebrating Excellence in Education! 🌟
First Interstate Bank honored nine incredible teachers from our district for going above and beyond in their roles. Each teacher was recognized with a certificate, beautiful flowers, and a $500 gift card as a token of appreciation for their dedication, passion, and impact on students every day. 💐🎉
Congratulations to:
Mrs. Campbell & Mrs. Georgas – Pinedale
Mrs. Sara Zimmer – Southwest
Mrs. Hansen – Corral Drive
Mr. Dorsman – Rapid City Alternative Academy
Mr. Pearson & Mrs. Hadorn – Central High School
Mrs. Wesolick – Knollwood
Mrs. Arnold – Rapid Valley
Thank you for inspiring our students and making our schools shine! 🌟✨
First Interstate Bank honored nine incredible teachers from our district for going above and beyond in their roles. Each teacher was recognized with a certificate, beautiful flowers, and a $500 gift card as a token of appreciation for their dedication, passion, and impact on students every day. 💐🎉
Congratulations to:
Mrs. Campbell & Mrs. Georgas – Pinedale
Mrs. Sara Zimmer – Southwest
Mrs. Hansen – Corral Drive
Mr. Dorsman – Rapid City Alternative Academy
Mr. Pearson & Mrs. Hadorn – Central High School
Mrs. Wesolick – Knollwood
Mrs. Arnold – Rapid Valley
Thank you for inspiring our students and making our schools shine! 🌟✨
Nearly 120 Intro to Construction students from Central High School and Stevens High School rolled up their sleeves at the AGC Construction Camp at the Central States Fairgrounds! 🔨⚡️ From concrete and electrical to welding and heavy equipment, students got hands-on experience in a variety of trades and career pathways. A big thanks to AGC for providing this incredible opportunity
Check out our September Newsletter! https://rcas.edurooms.com/engage/rapid-city-area-schools/newsletters/september-news
Congratulations to our Attendance Awareness Poster Contest winners! Your creativity brought the message loud and clear: Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow! 🖌️✨
Thank you to all our students who participated and reminded us how important it is to show up every day—because attendance today builds success tomorrow!
Thank you to all our students who participated and reminded us how important it is to show up every day—because attendance today builds success tomorrow!
Soaring to new heights with literature! 🦅📖
Our amazing third graders from across the district had the incredible opportunity to meet the authors of 'Wings of an Eagle,' a book given to all third graders in South Dakota! This wonderful initiative is sponsored by Black Hills Reads, a program of United Way. We're so proud of our young readers and their enthusiasm for books!
Our amazing third graders from across the district had the incredible opportunity to meet the authors of 'Wings of an Eagle,' a book given to all third graders in South Dakota! This wonderful initiative is sponsored by Black Hills Reads, a program of United Way. We're so proud of our young readers and their enthusiasm for books!
We were thrilled to host Dr. Joseph Graves, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education, and First Lady of South Dakota, Sandy Rhoden, at Rapid City Central High School last Friday!
They met with the Student Council for a thought-provoking discussion on the topics of grit, resilience, and the use of smartphones in schools.
Thank you for your time and for championing our students!
They met with the Student Council for a thought-provoking discussion on the topics of grit, resilience, and the use of smartphones in schools.
Thank you for your time and for championing our students!
Gourd-geous news, everyone! 🎃
We're so excited to host a booth at The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival this Saturday! Come find the Rapid City Area Schools booth for free temporary tattoos, cool swag, and a chance to chat with us! We can't wait to see you there!
We're so excited to host a booth at The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival this Saturday! Come find the Rapid City Area Schools booth for free temporary tattoos, cool swag, and a chance to chat with us! We can't wait to see you there!
Reminder that the RCAS School Food Pantry will be open today, from 3:30–5:00 PM.
📍 Location:
Rapid City Alternative Academy
601 Columbus Street – Building #625 (back side off South Street)
✅ Open to all RCAS families
✅ Please bring an ID to verify district enrollment (any ID works)
⚠️ A quick note: Please do not park in the box office parking spots.
We look forward to serving you and your family!
We had an amazing night at the Board of Education meeting, where we had the opportunity to share some incredible news about our Advanced Placement program. Our students are truly excelling and pushing themselves to new heights.
Looking at the numbers from the May 2025 AP Exams, our students took a total of 807 exams, and a fantastic 649 of those received a passing score of 3, 4, or 5. That's an impressive 80% passing rate!
Enrollment is also soaring for the 2025-26 school year, with a total of 1,609 students enrolled in AP courses across our high schools. This represents a significant 42% increase since last year.
We're so proud of our dedicated students, teachers, and staff who are making all of this happen. We're committed to offering more opportunities for academic success and helping all of our students reach their full potential.
Looking at the numbers from the May 2025 AP Exams, our students took a total of 807 exams, and a fantastic 649 of those received a passing score of 3, 4, or 5. That's an impressive 80% passing rate!
Enrollment is also soaring for the 2025-26 school year, with a total of 1,609 students enrolled in AP courses across our high schools. This represents a significant 42% increase since last year.
We're so proud of our dedicated students, teachers, and staff who are making all of this happen. We're committed to offering more opportunities for academic success and helping all of our students reach their full potential.
Did you know?
✅ Elementary students with good attendance are more likely to read well by the end of 3rd grade.
✅ Middle schoolers who attend regularly pass more classes and stay on track.
✅ High school students with strong attendance are more likely to graduate on time.
✅ College students earn their degrees—and workers succeed in their jobs—when good attendance habits continue.
Every day in school matters! Let’s work together to develop strong attendance habits, because being here today means being prepared for tomorrow. 🙌 #heretodayreadyfortomorrow #attendanceworks
✅ Elementary students with good attendance are more likely to read well by the end of 3rd grade.
✅ Middle schoolers who attend regularly pass more classes and stay on track.
✅ High school students with strong attendance are more likely to graduate on time.
✅ College students earn their degrees—and workers succeed in their jobs—when good attendance habits continue.
Every day in school matters! Let’s work together to develop strong attendance habits, because being here today means being prepared for tomorrow. 🙌 #heretodayreadyfortomorrow #attendanceworks
The results are in—see what our community had to say in the latest survey! Use the link to view the full newsletter!
https://rcas.edurooms.com/engage/rapid-city-area-schools/newsletters/rcas-community-update-community-survey-results
https://rcas.edurooms.com/engage/rapid-city-area-schools/newsletters/rcas-community-update-community-survey-results
Students, we want your voice at the table!
Applications are now open for the RCAS Student School Board. This is a great opportunity to learn about school governance, enhance your resume, develop leadership skills, and work alongside RCAS decision-makers.
The term runs September through May, with monthly meetings on the 4th Monday at 5:30 p.m. The application deadline is September 8.
Apply today by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by clicking this link: https://forms.office.com/r/c6vfsjBsu5
If you would like more information, you can contact Kristin at 605-310-4400.
Applications are now open for the RCAS Student School Board. This is a great opportunity to learn about school governance, enhance your resume, develop leadership skills, and work alongside RCAS decision-makers.
The term runs September through May, with monthly meetings on the 4th Monday at 5:30 p.m. The application deadline is September 8.
Apply today by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by clicking this link: https://forms.office.com/r/c6vfsjBsu5
If you would like more information, you can contact Kristin at 605-310-4400.
