As we move further into the school year, thank you for your effort in helping our students achieve a strong start. From day one, our RCAS community helped create welcoming, structured, and supportive environments—whether at home or at school—that set clear expectations and build meaningful connections. These early efforts lay the foundation for trust, engagement, and a positive school culture that supports every learner.

Your continued commitment to regular attendance, learning, and growth is already making a difference. Every lesson taught, every encouraging word, and every moment spent supporting students helps them see that they belong and that their success matters.

Thank you for your partnership, your passion, and your dedication to helping our students thrive. Together, we are building momentum for a great year ahead.

 -Dr. Thompson

Superintendent Thompson has convened a calendar committee that will begin its work on October 2. The committee, consisting of parents, teachers, and administrators, will collaborate to review options and provide input on the upcoming school year's calendar. The goal of this collaborative process is to create a calendar that balances the needs of students, families, and staff while supporting high-quality teaching and learning. The committee will bring a proposed calendar forward for board consideration. We will continue to share information as it becomes available!

We want to extend a big thank you to our school community for participating in September Attendance Awareness Month! Your support helped shine a spotlight on the importance of showing up every day. Attendance matters—because when students are Here Today, they are Ready for Tomorrow. Consistent attendance helps build strong learning habits, keeps students connected with their teachers and peers, and sets the foundation for future success.

We also want to congratulate the students who participated in the poster contest and give a special shout-out to our winners! Your creativity and messages about the power of attendance inspire us all to stay committed to being present every day.

Elementary Schools: October 16, 2025 (Evening 4:00 to 7:30 pm) and October 17, 2025 (During the day)

• REMINDER: No School for Elementary Students October 17, 2025

Middle Schools: October 16, 2025, 4:00 to 7:30 PM

High Schools: October 21, 2025, 4:00 to 7:30 PM

The “I Love My Public School” campaign, a collaboration between Rapid City Area Schools, the Rapid City Public School Foundation, and the Rapid City Education Association, is a great way to celebrate and support our schools.

Here’s how you can order a t-shirt:

1. Donate First — Give $10 per shirt at the Foundation’s donation link.

2. Place Your Order — After donating, complete the order form with your shirt size(s).

3. Show It Off — Shirts are ordered once a month (pending sufficient interest).

   CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR "I LOVE PUBLIC MY PUBLIC SCHOOLS" TSHIRT

Deadline for this order is Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM (noon)

Together, we can show that our schools have a strong, proud community behind them!