Our Young People

Keeping up with district made easier

Published by admin on Wed, 09/11/2024 - 9:42am

Custer School District has a new messaging system, as well as a new app, to keep students, families and patrons up to date on anything they need to know for school and activities.
“When there is a snow day, for example, with the new system, administration can send one notice and it will instantly post to the district’s website live feed, to Facebook, as well as send a text, email and phone call to all staff and student families at the same time,” said superintendent Mark Naugle.

Custer School District welcomes eight new teachers

Published by admin on Wed, 08/21/2024 - 2:21pm

With the new school year at Custer School District comes eight new teachers in Hermosa, Custer Elementary and Custer Jr./Sr. High School.
Custer Elementary School welcomed three of those teachers, Jamie Neugebauer, Susan Ostenson and Kristin Seidler.
After five years away, 2019 Custer High School graduate Neugebauer is back to Custer, this time as a teacher.
“I wanted to teach here to be closer to family and be back in this community. I’ve missed the Black Hills and am glad to be back,” said Neugebauer.

Young Life archery set for Aug. 31

Published by admin on Wed, 08/21/2024 - 2:15pm

Summer is soon coming to an end, and with that comes the 11th annual Young Life Archery Tournament Saturday, Aug. 31, five miles west of Hill City on the Deerfield Road.

Band directors want live all-state auditions

Published by admin on Wed, 08/07/2024 - 9:30am

The state’s high school band directors have offered a plan that they hope will allow for live auditions for students trying out for All-State Band. The plan was approved at Thursday’s meeting of the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) board of directors.
In the past, the association has used the state airplane to fly judges to audition sites across the state over two weekends in January. On the third weekend judges were driven to the audition site.

Help fund Kieara's dream: the musical journey of a liftetime

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 8:52am
At the age of 15 Kieara Babcock is working five days a week at Sprockets Fun Foundry in Keystone  to save up for the trip of a lifetime. 
Babcock was a freshman when she was nominated by her teacher, Laura Hagen, for the South Dakota Ambassadors of Music Tour. Nominations are based on maturity, character, leadership and musicianship.
Babcock is excited about the trip, which gives students an opportunity to travel to Europe for 15 days to learn about the cultural aspects of five different countries and give musical performances in each.

Hill City Young Life

Published by admin on Wed, 05/29/2024 - 9:09am
Young Life is a global ecumenical ministry with areas in 112 countries. It began in 1941 in Texas as a way for teenagers to have fun, hang out, be themselves and hear a message. 
“It’s a ministry for adolescents, and the mission of Young Life is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith,” said Hill City Young Life area director Sarah Weischedel. 

South Park visits Keystone

Published by admin on Wed, 05/22/2024 - 8:58am
South Park Elementary was taken back in time as it visited the Keystone Museum and its newly revamped “Let’s Bring History to Life” program. 
Third grade students spent the morning of May 15 learning about what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. The program was led by two Keystone Area Historical Society board members, Sarah Walker and Andrew Jones.
Walker guided the students through a classroom experience, which began with the ringing of the museum school bell.

Rupert recognized for academic excellence

Published by admin on Wed, 05/15/2024 - 8:54am
The Class of 2024’s best and brightest students were recognized recently at the 34th Annual Academic Excellence Recognition luncheon. Gov. Kristi Noem’s office, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden and the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) honored students who  were identified as the top one percent of their senior class from the states schools April 29.
Students designated as their high school’s honorees) received a certificate, signed by the governor, a commemorative south Dakota pin and the opportunity to meet andhave their photo taken with Rhoden.

Maggie Taylor breaks school basketball records

Published by admin on Wed, 04/24/2024 - 9:31am
Hill City High School senior Maggie Taylor will soon move on from the Gins Gym court to pursue college basketball, but not without leaving her mark in Hill City. In the last year she broke five school records and grew a list of other accolades. 
Taylor lives between Hill City and Rapid City with her parents, Shane and Rachel Taylor. She attended school in the Hill City School District from kindergarten through high school. 

CHS prom Saturday

Published by admin on Wed, 04/17/2024 - 8:35am

Custer High School Prom will be held this Saturday, April 20 at Custer Jr./Sr. High School.
The theme for this year’s prom is Northern Lights. Prom-goers should arrive to the high school at 6 p.m. to get ready before grand march in the theater at 6:30 p.m.
The dance will start with the father/daughter and mother/son dances at 7 p.m. and will continue until 11 p.m. Following the dance will be a post-prom event organized by junior parents. Permission slips will need to be signed and turned in prior to be able to attend.