School starts Aug. 24

Even though the calendar says the end of summer is still more than a month away, summer vacation for Custer School District students ends next week. The first day of the 2022-23 school year will be Wednesday, Aug. 24, and there are plenty of activities leading up to that day in the week ahead.
Currently ongoing and ending Thursday is new student enrollment at all three district buildings. For incoming students in Custer, enrollment is taking place from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. high and elementary schools and in Hermosa new student enrollment is from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For returning students at the Jr./Sr. high, schedules may be picked up and computers checked out at the school from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday. Paperwork containing a parent’s signature must be completed and handed in plus the necessary payment made before laptops will be issued. A $25 non-refundable deposit is required for each student with a cap of $50 per family. Prices for computer coverage do not include lost chargers or battery replacements and laptops are for students in grades 7-12 only.
Students and parents new to the district will get opportunities to get oriented through open houses being held in every building on Monday. The Custer Elementary Open House will be held from 4-6 p.m. and the kindergarten and junior kindergarten meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. in the grade school gym.
The Jr./Sr. High Open House is set for 5-7 p.m. and at Hermosa School an open house will take place from 4-6 p.m.
At Custer Elementary and Hermosa School, the school day will begin at 7:45 a.m. and school lets out at 3:35 p.m. The school day begins at 7:50 a.m. at the Jr./Sr. high and concludes at 3:46 p.m.
A major change taking place this year is that school lunches will no longer be free to everyone. The district’s National School Lunch Program grant which enabled the schools to provide free lunch and breakfast expired June 1.
Parent Portal is available to put money into student meal accounts and those needing to sign up for Parent Portal are asked to contact the administrative assistant at their child’s school.
Those wishing to apply for free or reduced meals for 2022-23 must complete an application and may return it to any school office or the district administrative office at the Armory.
The district is also in the process of looking for host families for foreign exchange students who would like to spend the school year, or part of it, in Custer. Students from Germany, Brazil and France are all looking for host families.
“These students arrive with grateful enthusiasm and their own spending money,” said program coordinator Dayna Dick.
Those wanting more information about becoming host families may contact her at 605-484-2738 or by email at daynadick@gmail.com.
Students and spectators won’t have to wait long to experience fall school activities. The first high school football game of the season is an away game against West Central on Saturday, Aug. 27 and the first home game is Friday, Sept. 2 in which the Wildcats will face Tri-Valley of Colton at Wildcat Stadium.