Hermosa School Family Newsletter

Hornet Families,

It’s been an exciting and eventful week at Hermosa School, filled with hands-on learning, field trips, and meaningful celebrations!

We officially wrapped up state testing this week, with just a few remaining make-up tests completed throughout the week. Our students have shown tremendous focus and resilience during this testing season, and we are proud of their efforts. Thank you to our staff for guiding them through the process and to families for your continued support at home.

We’re also proud to share that 15 students earned their South Dakota Hunter Safety Cards this week! These students participated in an off-campus visit with the Trap Club outside of Rapid City, where they practiced firearm safety under the guidance of conservation officers from South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. It was a memorable and educational experience that combined outdoor skills with real-world safety training.

On Wednesday, Mrs. Wonnenberg's 3rd-grade class enjoyed their field trip to Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City. The students had a wonderful time exploring nature, learning about wildlife, and participating in interactive exhibits that brought their science lessons to life.

On Thursday, we took time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our incredible lunch staff! Whether it’s preparing healthy meals or greeting students with a smile, their behind-the-scenes work makes a huge difference in our school community. We’re so grateful for everything they do each day to nourish and care for our students.

Thank you for another great week at Hermosa. We look forward to more learning adventures and special moments as we move into the final stretch of the school year.

Principal Paris

Hermosa School Families,

We have a busy and exciting week ahead at Hermosa School! Please take a moment to review the important events and dates below:

📅 Thursday, May 1st – VIP Family Dance
We’re thrilled to invite Preschool through 4th-grade students and their VIPs to our annual VIP Family Dance!

• Dinner will be served at 5:00 PM, followed by dancing from 5:30–7:30 PM.

• Please note: All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend.

• Afterward, our 5th–8th grade dance will take place from 7:30–9:30 PM.

🏃 Saturday, May 3rd – Jeff Smit Track Meet (Sturgis)
Good luck to our student-athletes competing at the Jeff Smit Track Meet in Sturgis this weekend!

🧠 Monday, May 5th – Spring i-Ready Assessments Begin
Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade will begin their Spring i-Ready assessments in Math and Reading. Please help your child get a good night’s rest and eat a healthy breakfast!

🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9)
Join us in celebrating our dedicated teachers all week long! Their hard work, care, and commitment make a lasting impact on our students each day.

🏃 Tuesday, May 6th – West River Track Meet (Rapid City)
Our 7th and 8th-grade athletes will be heading to Rapid City to compete in the West River Track Meet. Go Hornets!

✉️ Wednesday, May 7th – 3rd Grade Pen Pal Trip & School Nurse Appreciation Day

• Mrs. Wonnenberg’s 3rd-grade class will travel to Custer to meet their pen pals—what a fun connection!

• We’ll also take time to celebrate Mrs. Hewett on School Nurse Appreciation Day. We’re so grateful for all she does to keep our students healthy and safe.

🏃 Thursday, May 8th – Edgemont Track Meet
Another great opportunity for our athletes to compete and show their Hermosa spirit!

🏃 Friday, May 9th – Black Hills Conference Track Meet (Sturgis)
We’ll wrap up the week with the Black Hills Conference Meet. Best of luck to all our participants!

As always, thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to a week filled with fun, learning, and community pride!

Principal Paris

As this school year comes to a close, we have the bittersweet honor of announcing the retirements of two beloved members of our Hermosa School family: Ms. Judy Hansen and Ms. Rebecca Kaiser.

Ms. Hansen has been the heart and soul of our music program for an incredible 39 years. Her passion for music, theater, and unwavering dedication to our students has left a lasting legacy that echoes through every performance and classroom. From the first recorder note to the final concert solo, Ms. Hansen has inspired generations of students to find their voices and embrace the joy of music and theater.

Ms. Kaiser has nurtured our love of reading and learning as the school librarian for the past 8 years. With warmth, creativity, and a true love for literature, she transformed our library into a welcoming space for exploration, imagination, and discovery. Her efforts have helped instill a lifelong love of books in countless students.

We are deeply grateful for the profound impact both Ms. Hansen and Ms. Kaiser have had on our school community. Please join us in celebrating their remarkable service and wishing them the very best in their well-earned retirements.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Principal Paris

Hello May!

We officially have three weeks of school left, which still provides ample time to learn and master concepts students have been hard at work on all year. One of the biggest challenges is focusing on school and not thinking about summer and all the things we are excited for. When a student is mindful of their teacher, it makes it easier to listen and thus focus and learn. This means sitting up straight in their spot, keeping their hands in their lap, and having their eyes and body facing the teacher. This makes it easier to stay engaged instead of letting minds wander with thoughts of summer. It's always important to remind ourselves how to be an active listener. How do you model active listening with your child? What are your listening expectations at home, and how can you help transfer them to school as everyone's focus dwindles?

Let's all work together to help our students finish the school year strong!

Mrs. Graveman

School Counselor

7:30 Morning Playground Opens

7:40 Student Line-up

7:45 School Day Begins

3:30 Student Dismissal & Pick-up

* STUDENTS MUST BE PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER SCHOOL

* PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE IF YOU PICK-UP PLANS CHANGE

Jennifer.Conley@k12.sd.us

Laura Butler (Secretary & Attendance)

Laura.Butler@k12.sd.us

Seanna Hewett (School Nurse)

Seanna.Hewett@k12.sd.us

Scan the QR code below to get the new Custer School District SD app. This app will be your hub for all things Hermosa School and Custer School District.

To educate every student to his or her potential.

Email: forrest.paris@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.csd.k12.sd.us/Domain/11
Location: 11 4th St, Hermosa, SD 57744, USA
Phone: (605) 255-4345
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/340944485980158/