Hot Springs School District 23-2

Seniors: We would highly encourage you to apply for this scholarship. Deadline is January 31st. 2025 VIBZ Scholarship Applications are Open! Are you headed to college in the fall? How would you like some money to help pay for books, tuition, and that all-you-can-eat meal plan? Now is your chance to apply for one of BHFCU's ten $2,000 VIBZ scholarships! Great applicants look like high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding commitment, leadership, community service, and academic achievement. To qualify, applicants must be in their senior year of high school, 19 years old or younger, and a BHFCU member. Students can use the scholarship at any accredited vocational and technical school, college, or university during the 2025 – 2026 academic year. Apply online by Friday, January 31! We will share our ten lucky recipients by Friday, February 21. Good luck! https://www.bhfcu.com/explore/learn/blog/2025-vibz-scholarship-application

This is for JUNIOR and SENIOR BOYS! Boys State is a once in a lifetime opportunity for junior and senior boys. Throughout the week, students will hear from the SD Congressional Delegation, SD Municipal League Office, Secretary of State, County Officials, among many other state leaders. You will participate in law enforcement class from the SD Highway Patrol, legal classes from members of the SD Bar Association, run for elections at every level of state government and join in the party caucuses. This is one of the best leadership trainings offered to high school students and is a great opportunity to network with other student-leaders from around the state. To register go to www.southdakotaboysstate.com. If you have already attended Boys State, you won’t be eligible. Boys State will be June 2-6 on the campus of NSU in Aberdeen.

Hello Bison Families, We are inviting our students, parents, and community to nominate individuals for the following awards: Hot Springs Teacher of the Year and Hot Springs Classified Staff of the Year. The deadline to submit the following form is Friday, January 24th. We have so many excellent staff members, but this gives you the opportunity to acknowledge the one that has gone above and beyond for you/your child/the community. Teacher nomination form: https://forms.gle/WydUHmnXMTbGawJA8 Classified Staff nomination form (custodians, maintenance, paraprofessionals, secretaries): https://forms.gle/NqNWFquqntKWSW9R8

Juniors and Seniors: Be on the lookout for an announcement about Paul Mitchell in Rapid City coming to Hot Springs to talk to interested students. This would be for students interested in Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Massage Therapy. 🎓 2025 Scholarships Now Available at Paul Mitchell The School Rapid City! 🎓 We’re excited to announce new scholarships for students starting in June - November! Whether you’re pursuing a career in cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics, or massage therapy, we’ve got you covered with $1000 scholarships! Available for ALL Programs! ✨ 2025 High School Graduates Scholarship: • High School Transcript with a minimum 2.5 GPA • Submit a written or video essay • Graduate High School in the year 2025 ✨ Military Scholarship: • Medically or Honorably Discharged Veterans • Active Duty Military Personnel • Spouses of Active Duty Military Personnel 🔗 For more information and to apply, email our Financial Services Leader, Mary Popkes, at: maryp@rapidcity.paulmitchell.edu Note: • One scholarship available per applicant. • Scholarships are limited. • You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to keep your scholarship.

Hello Bison Families. I apologize for some students being left off of the Honor Roll list yesterday. We will be sharing the names of those students that are also on the honor roll lists. Thank you so much for your patience and I once again apologize for the list not being complete. We are so very proud of these students for their academic accomplishment for first semester. I also want to thank all those parents that reached out to me and let me know that their student may have been mistakenly left off of the list. Dr. Cumbow Additional students on the Roll of Merit (3.0-3.49 with no Ds or Fs): Zoren Aspinall Jasmine Crowley Lukas Cupsa Kye Kutz Brylee Mello Eliza Nadeem Peter Noteboom Jaidyn Schuh Taven Crowley Avery Davis Emma Druce Bentley Hughes Victoria Davis Elizabeth Lauing Lilly Parker Layton Ringstmeyer Holten Rutz Carter Walz Additional students on the Roll of Excellence (3.5-3.99 with no Ds or Fs): Isaac Ambuul Eva Erickson Junibelle Gilbert Casen Humbracht Tanner Naze Lyla Perez-Nitsche Sylvia Wermager Kash Baker Zoey Dunn Dalton Hunter Gunner Parisien Reagan Schultes Alain Rono Gaige Sides Haylee White Keenan White

Hello Bison Families. I apologize for some students being left off of the Honor Roll list yesterday. We will be sharing the names of those students that are also on the honor roll lists. I have completed the high school lists and will be working on the middle school lists as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your patience and I once again apologize for the list not being complete. We are so very proud of these students for their academic accomplishment for first semester. I also want to thank all those parents that reached out to me and let me know that their student may have been mistakenly left off of the list. Dr. Cumbow Additional students on the Roll of Merit (3.0-3.49 with no Ds or Fs): Keagan Braucher Adisyn Clasen Elizabeth Jones Nehemiah Lewis Jacob Merrill Mira Palyan William Robinson Oakley Sowers Emma Torres Konnor West Ben Black Reese Naze Ray Sanders Jax Tschacher Braxton Watson Therese Ambuul Sergio Cantu Ashlynn Elshere Cardar Halls Wyatt Nellen Lakoda Shafer Rose Burchfield Teagan Erskin Kaemyn Kippenstein Kenadee Maciejewski Senay Pulscher Additional students on the Roll of Excellence (3.5-3.99 with no Ds or Fs): Karlie Mathis Shayna Morgan William O'Neill Ruby Russell Azbayar Bayambanorov Olivia Moffitt Annelieke Deboer Clancy Koupal Olivia LeGrand Kiana Lewis Lyzzet Rapp Trenton Jordan McCoy Rippentrop Laura Walker

Congratulations to our middle and high school students that earned academic achievement by being on the Roll of Merit by earning a 3.0-3.49GPA this first semester. https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcHWsLaok/3_Uw0cmieKzgNBg3K117Lw/view?utm_content=DAGcHWsLaok&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hbe8522e3fe

Congratulations to the following middle and high schoolers for achieving the Roll of Excellence (3.5-3.99GPA) for first semester. https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcHR6MqtA/YwB6-xM6-aaeQMtLgWrotw/view?utm_content=DAGcHR6MqtA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h4922690eeb

Congratulations to these middle and high schoolers for their academic achievement of a 4.0GPA for first semester. https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcG10qEcc/AS1wYu1AGtILuQvCL2HfXw/view?utm_content=DAGcG10qEcc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h415416c6e3

Spelling Bee: 3-5th graders will be involved in classroom spelling bees this week. It is amazing what some students are able to spell (without spellcheck!!). The middle schoolers will be participating the week of January 21st.

2025 Legislative session opens tomorrow The 2025 legislative session will begin Tuesday, Jan. 14, with the Governor’s State of the State Address at 1 p.m. (CT). This year marks the 100th session of the South Dakota Legislature. You can track all bills via the Legislative Research Council’s website at https://sdlegislature.gov/. SDPB streams committee meetings and meetings of the House and Senate at https://www.sd.net/.

22 students showed up interested in Archery today. If your 4th-12th grader is still interested, make sure that you contact Mrs. Mazzocchio and/or Mrs. Palo.

Hot Springs spirit wear is always in style! • 1/20 - 1/26: Quarter-Zips $10 Off • 1/27 - 2/2: Crewnecks $10 Off • 2/3 - 2/9: Pajama Pants 25% Off Gear up for the winter at https://1stplace.sale/114508

Informational meeting and auditions for the Spring Musical will be Monday, January 13th in Mr. Chohon's Choir Room at 4:00pm. All middle and high school students are welcome to attend.

EDUCATOR RISING ANNOUNCEMENT: HEY HOT SPRINGS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL! Are you ready to shape the future of education? Join us during lunch on 1/28! This is your chance to test cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology, play interactive games, and share your ideas—all while enjoying free pizza! What’s Happening: Test-drive innovative VR experiences. Play new games and provide feedback. Share your thoughts on education and teaching. Enjoy complimentary pizza while participating. Discover paid opportunities and earn college credits. Why You Should Join: Your voice matters: Help shape the programs that will prepare the next generation of educators. No experience needed: Open to everyone—whether or not you're interested in teaching. Be a trailblazer: Try out exciting new technology before anyone else. Reap the benefits: Get paid, enjoy free pizza, and explore opportunities to earn college credits. This event is hosted by Compass Partners in Learning, your partner in education, innovation, and empowerment. Together, we’re guiding education forward in South Dakota!

Attention Junior and Senior Boys: For more information, please see Mrs. Cutlip. SOUTH DAKOTA AMERICAN LEGION BOYS STATE PO BOX 67 WATERTOWN, SD 57201 January 3, 2025 Greetings School Counselors and Officials, On behalf of Boys State, I would like to say Happy New Year; I hope this finds you well! In attempts to ensure all Boys have an opportunity to attend Boys State, the 2025 session is open to all Junior and Senior Boys, however, they will only be allowed to attend one time. Registration for 2025 South Dakota Boys State is available NOW at www.southdakotaboysstate.com . We highly encourage applicants to apply early as space is limited and we already have many high-quality students. The dates for this year's session are June 2 – 6, 2025 Your continued involvement in the recruiting process is vital to the success of our future leaders. Boys State is an American Legion Program that teaches young men about the functions of State Government through a hands-on process. Students will create a fictitious state starting at the City level, then continuing to the County level and onward to a State level culminating with the election of a Boys State Governor and a full state government. Nowhere else will they be able to take part in such process. Throughout the week, students will hear from South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation, SD Municipal League Office, Secretary of State, County Officials, among many other state leaders. They will participate in law enforcement classes from the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Legal classes from members of the SD Bar Association, run for elections at every level of State government and join in Party Caucuses. Some will even litigate real SD Supreme Court cases at the Brown County Courthouse. Students also have an opportunity to create friendships and contacts that will carry them throughout their lifetime. Just a reminder, registration is purely on-line. When a boy registers, the person in your designated American Legion Post will receive it via email to evaluate the applicant. Your post will evaluate using the established criteria and notify the Boys State Registrar (registrar@southdakotaboysstate.com), via email, if the candidate has been approved or not. If your student does not hear back within two weeks from the Post, please let me know directly. I will personally follow up with the Post representative. This is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS!! Additional details regarding the session can be found at www.sdlegion.org and www.southdakotaboysstate.com. Your continuing support will ensure that South Dakota Boys State is the premier summer program for South Dakota's best and brightest. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Best Regards, Gene Opbroek Director South Dakota American Legion Boys State 605-830-0012 gcopbroek@gmail.com

High Schoolers already looking for summer employement? Go to the website: bhr.sd.gov/workforus/ In Keyword, Type Seasonal, In Location, Type Hot Springs Right now a Gate Attendant and Season Firefighter are advertised.

Did someone say archery? NASP is starting this Friday, in the Bison Gym, 9-11am. The program is open to students in 4th-12th grade. Please direct questions to Mrs. Mazzocchio and/or Mrs. Palo. We hope to see a great group of students giving it a try.

EXCITING NEWS: Corner Pantry had contacted us before school began with a proposition. Would we want to advertise a "round up" program for scholarship opportunities for students in our district? Our answer was a definite YES! Today, the regional general manager shared with us where that "round up" fund is at. The Corner Pantry round up for education scholarship funds from the customers in Hot Springs, as of December 31, 2024, have donated $3,079.29 to the scholarship fund. The projections show the program should have 3-4 scholarships available for the seniors this spring! We thank Corner Pantry and its customers for their donations.

Honor Roll Lists coming soon. The Hot Springs School District plans to individually recognize all of our middle and high school students that achieved a 4.0GPA first semester at a NIGHT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. Please save the date of January 20th at 6:30pm in The Case. Parents, relatives, neighbors, classmates are invited to help us congratulate this academic achievement of our students.