Parkston School District 33-3

State Educators Rising Conference 2026: Seven PHS students attend conference at Black Hills State University the past two days. Members competed in events, networked, and attended workshops! Hilary Polreis led the confernce as the State Ed Rising President. Members Lexi Schoenfelder, Icis Muilenburg, Randi Norgaard, Hilary Polreis, Ava Laffey, Kennedy Knippling, and Carlee Hockett all competed in interactive bulletin board. All recieving gold scores. Lexi, Icis, Hilary, Ava, Carlee, and Kennedy all advance to National Competition. Seniors Hilary, Ava, Icis, and Lexi competed in Ed Rising Moment sharing their "why" they want to become a teacher. Hilary recieved gold and placed third in the state (advances to nationals). Ava recieved a silver (advances to nationals). Lexi recieved gold (advances to Nationals). Icis received gold (advances to Nationals). National Competition will be held in Portland, Oregon in June. Parkston is growing future teachers! Another great day to be a Trojans! 🍎💙🧡

Happy National FFA Week! Once again our chapter will be hosting the District IV Qualifying CDE on Monday, March 30th. Just like last year, we need A LOT of help to pull this off! If you would be interested in donating your time from 9:45-3:00 on March 30th, please fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/H4KQamJ2GXtFjG1v7
No experience required, just a great opportunity to volunteer and learn more about what FFA does and the awesome things they are learning about.
Contact Miss Ackerman if you have questions!

Congratulations to all of our wrestlers who are advancing to the State Tournament on Thursday!!

Don’t forget tomorrow morning is the Pancake Breakfast to kick off National FFA Week. We’d love to celebrate with all of you!

Music festival and contest season has kept our students busy over the last few months! Our students have done a wonderful job representing our school in our region as well as the state level.

November 2025:
7-8th Band/Choir Festival @ Platte
HS Band/Choir Festival @ Gregory
All State Chorus & Orchestra @ Sioux Falls

January 2026:
7-8th Grade Honor Band @ DWU
HS Honor Band @ DWU
6th Grade Honor Band @ DWU

February 2026:
HS Vocal Solo/Ensemble @ Kimball
EFHC @ Brookings
HS Instrumental Solo/Ensemble @ Chamberlain

Upcoming Festival/Contest Events:
March 2nd - 4-6th Grade Elementary Festival Choir @ Mitchell
March 31st - Young Band Festival @ Mitchell
April 10th - 5-8 Armour Contest @ Armour
April 29th - 5-8 Instrumental Contest @Platte

High school band members competed at the Region V Solo/Ensemble contest at Chamberlain on Wednesday, February 18th. The students had an outstanding day and received high scores for the event!

Superior Ratings:
Cohen B. & Isaac S. - Trumpet Duet
Gabe E., Zoey G., Carlee H., and Matias L. - Clarinet Quartet

Excellent Rating:
Carter K., Elizabeth S., and Mason T. - Instrumental Trio

Come join the Parkston FFA Chapter in celebrating National FFA Week next Monday, February 23rd at the annual Pancake Breakfast! It will be located in the Armory and serving from 7:00am-9:00am.

Here is the liveticket link for tonight's GBB game at the Corn Palace. $10 is the fee and you get both of the games tonight.

https://liveticket.tv//beavers/

Congratulations to Wyatt Anderson and Traeson Weatherford on their commitments to compete at the next level! Wyatt will wrestle for Northern State University and Traeson will play football for Mount Marty University.

Congratulations to the Parkston-Ethan-Hanson Gymnastics team on their Class A State Runner-Up title!

Region Art Wars 2026 was absolutely incredible today! We had 5 students represent our school in a field of nearly 200 talented artists. Each student was able to compete in two of five areas: photography, digital art, ceramics, drawing, and painting.
I am beyond proud to share that Isabel Leischner is advancing to State Art Wars in the ceramics division! Her breathtaking swan sculpture earned 2nd place today — an amazing accomplishment considering students were given just 90 minutes and a single prompt to create a full piece and write an artist statement to accompany it. Talk about pressure and talent under a tight timeline!
I am so lucky to teach every student who showed up and gave it their all. It takes courage to think, create, and finalize a meaningful piece of artwork in such a short time. Days like today remind me that while we may be a small town, we are overflowing with BIG talent. 💛🎨

Next week is South Dakota School Board Appreciation Week. We'd like to give a huge shoutout to the Parkston School Board members! Thank you for all you do for our schools, staff, and students!! We appreciate all your hard work.

🚨 PARENT–TEACHER CONFERENCES: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 🚨TONIGHT!!!
The PTO has been working HARD to prepare for this year’s After-Prom — and this is 3 years in the making! 🎉
🚌 Huge thank you to our local bus barn for their amazing donation to safely transport our students to the event!
✨ Our new 4-year rotation means something NEW and exciting every year!
📄 Permission slips are piling up and the excitement is building!
💥 FEBRUARY SPECIAL — Sign up during conferences!
• Prom Meal: $25
• After-Prom: $25
• 🔥 Bundle Deal: BOTH for $44 (February only!)
Stop by and see Mrs. Andrea or Mrs. Mette to:
✔️ Sign your waiver
✔️ Turn in forms
✔️ Make payment
⚠️ Students cannot attend After-Prom without a signed waiver — no exceptions!
Please complete all forms ahead of time for this amazing event.
(If you need financial assistance, please see Mrs. Mette.)
💙 The PTO is proud to sponsor a SAFE, FUN, and INCLUSIVE night for all our 9–12th grade Trojan students! 💙
Let’s make this a night they’ll always remember!

Congratulations to the PEH Royals Gymnastics Team on their Region 2A Championship! The Royals will compete at the state meet Friday, February 13th!

There will be a free-will donation bake sale to support a Spring Play and start to build funds for new theater curtains at the games tonight! Stop by and get yourself a little sweet treat!

THANK YOU Seniors for everything you have done for the wrestling program! Fun way to finish things off with wins over Wagner! Special shoutout to wrestling fan of the year MILBANK!!!

Several HOSA members toured Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton today. They got to see Respiratory Therapy, Radiology, Nursing (ICU and Labor & Delivery), and Lab. What an amazing group of kids to represent our chapter and school!

FYI Alert: The PSD nurses will be starting health screenings the week of Feb 9-13 for ALL students in grades K, 3, 5, and 7. Please get in touch with your child's appropriate school office if you would like to decline the screening services. Nurses will follow up with parents about any concerns raised by the screenings.

Good Luck to these two at 1:00 today in the HS Rodeo Showcase out in Rapid City! Morgan is competing in Poles and Elle in Goat-Tying. Good Luck Girls!!