2 days ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Hello Whitewood parents and students... I wanted to take a moment to share a little about myself. I grew up in Union Center, attended Union Center School K-8, and graduated from Faith High School. Later, I moved to Belle Fourche, where I earned a double major in Elementary and Special Education at Black Hills State University. I started my teaching career in Belle Fourche, working for 28 years in the elementary school as a reading and math interventionist, special education teacher, and 4th- and 2nd-grade teacher. During this time, I earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a reading endorsement, followed by a master's degree in Administration and Educational Leadership. My passion for leadership, literacy, learning, and especially kids inspired me to become a reading interventionist and a principal in the Meade School District. Outside the classroom, I volunteer as an assistant coach for Special Olympics, a youth basketball coach, and a soccer coach, and I am a past member of the soccer board. My husband, Scott, and I live just outside of Belle Fourche and near Union Center, where we help my parents on the family ranch. We have two grown daughters working in the medical field and three young grandchildren who keep us smiling and busy. We love watching them in wrestling, soccer, baseball, and rodeos. As I step into the role of Whitewood principal, I am grateful for the strong foundation already in place. I look forward to supporting the excellent work happening here and working with students, staff, and families to ensure ongoing success for every student. I am excited to partner with all of you to help each student learn, grow, and succeed! Thanks for your time! Shelly Mikkelson
4 days ago, Rural Meade Schools
Don’t forget! Family Night is Tuesday the 31st starting at 5:30 PM. The Black Hills Raptor Center will be presenting all about birds of prey—get ready to learn about these amazing creatures up close!
5 days ago, Whitewood Elementary School
The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTO, the Terry Peak Ski School staff, and all of the teachers and volunteers who helped make the ski trip such a success. Students had an unforgettable time making memories in the snow (slush)!
9 days ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Congratulations Lexi Ridley on being awarded Support Staff of the Year at Whitewood Elementary! 👏🏆
Position: Administrative Assistant
Years With The District: 2
Kind Words From Coworkers: "Lexi is known for creating a welcoming, compassionate environment and supporting students and families with patience and care. She communicates effectively during challenging situations, keeping families informed and reassured, demonstrating her strong dedication to student well-being."
14 days ago, Meade School District 46-1
Congratulations to Whitewood Elementary’s very own Mason Allen for earning his way to compete in the State AAU Wrestling Tournament this coming weekend! We are all cheering for you, Mason—good luck!
16 days ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Congratulations to our three 4th grade students who were selected to sing with the 17th Annual Festival Choir on Monday! Nearly 100 students from six different schools came together to participate as one incredible choir. We are so proud of our students for representing our school with confidence, talent, and dedication. What a wonderful musical experience and accomplishment—way to go!
29 days ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Check out the latest newsletter to stay up to date on all the exciting events coming up at Whitewood Elementary! You won’t want to miss what’s ahead—there are so many fun activities just around the corner!
Click on the link 👉 https://app.smore.com/n/r9yzn
about 1 month ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Congratulations to Mrs. Hill's 5th grade choir members who competed in the Solo & Ensemble Contest at Stagebarn Middle School! Our talented students earned a SUPERIOR RATING—the highest rating possible! We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication, and the courage you showed while performing. Representing Whitewood Elementary with such talent and confidence is truly something to celebrate. Way to go, musicians!
A special thank you to Joanne Baer for accompanying our students—your time and talent do not go unnoticed. We appreciate you!
about 1 month ago, Whitewood Elementary School
If you haven’t signed up your student yet, now is the time! Early screening helps us make sure your child is ready for a successful start to school. Call the school today to schedule your appointment — we can’t wait to meet our future learners!
about 1 month ago, Whitewood Elementary School
We would like to send a huge thank you to our very own Sturgis Brown High School Science Club for putting on an exciting science experiment presentation for our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students!
Our students were amazed by the hands-on experiments, engaging demonstrations, and the enthusiasm the high school students brought with them. It’s always so special to see our older students inspiring the next generation of scientists right here in our own community.
Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge, and love of science with us—we appreciate you!
about 2 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
We had a wonderful week celebrating HEART WEEK and filling our school with learning and heart-healthy fun ❤️
Monday kicked things off with a special presentation from George and Mrs. Lisko. Students learned what Heart Week is all about and heard George’s story. He shared about his heart journey, including showing his scar from multiple heart surgeries. The students asked thoughtful questions, listened closely, and learned so much from his experiences.
Tuesday, our Student Council hosted a heart bag sale after school and raised just under $200 to be donated to Heart Heroes. A huge thank you to everyone who donated and supported this meaningful cause!
Wednesday had students rotating through heart stations, getting their bodies moving and their hearts pumping with fun exercises!
Thursday brought perfect weather for a refreshing walk outside—keeping both hearts and minds happy and healthy.
Throughout the week, students also participated in a Heart Week coloring contest. Congratulations to Jordan (2nd grade) and Riley (5th grade) for their winning entries!
We wrapped up the week on Friday with the entire school wearing RED for George. We are so thankful George is part of our school, and we loved celebrating him and his incredibly special heart. ❤️
about 2 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Warning: Sudden Increase in “Senior Citizens” at School!
Today we celebrated the 100th Day of School, and many of our students and staff aged overnight! From canes and curlers to suspenders and spectacles, our hallways were full of students looking 100 days wiser and at least 100 years older. We saw students moving a little slower, complaining about their “bad backs,” asking for early bedtimes, and reminiscing about “the good old days”… like last recess.
To add to the fun, 99 pictures of Mr. Porterfield + 1 picture of Mr. Bruce were hidden throughout the school. With glasses perched on the tips of their noses and magnifying glasses in hand, our newly “aged” students searched high and low, carefully adding each picture to the poster. It was part scavenger hunt, part eyesight test—and proof that even at 100 years old, our students still have the energy to track down a good mystery! A special prize went to Weston for finding Mr. Bruce’s picture—cleverly hidden on the bottom of Mr. Porterfield’s coffee cup. Talk about a grounds-breaking discovery!
Thanks to our families for helping our students age so gracefully overnight. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re off rest our knees and maybe have a hard candy or two.
about 2 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
📢 Stay in the Loop with the Whitewood Elementary Newsletter!
Follow the link below to check out our latest newsletter and stay up-to-date on everything happening at Whitewood Elementary. You won’t want to miss the important updates, upcoming events, and fun highlights from around our school!
https://app.smore.com/n/5aw922 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Check this out! We truly have the best parents at our school! A special thank you to Jerity for generously donating her time and materials to our first graders. Each student had the opportunity to design their very own hat, and Jerity brought their ideas to life—making each one by hand! We are so grateful for her kindness and creativity.
2 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Preschool and kindergarten screening for the 2026–2027 school year is coming up!
📅 Thursday, March 26 | 3:00–5:30 PM
📅 Friday, March 27 | 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
⏱️ Each screening time slot is 30 minutes.
📞 Call the school at 605-269-2264 to sign your child up today!
2 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
Thank you to all of our dads and father figures who attended Donuts with Dad. We truly appreciate all you do in our students’ lives—your time, support, and dedication do not go unnoticed. It was a great turnout this morning! 🍩💙
3 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
3 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
In Whitewood Elementary, joy filled the air,
As lunchtime arrived with a magical flair.
Ms. Dena and Ms. Vikki appeared in green and red,
Little elves in aprons, making spirits well-fed.
4 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
The Whitewood Choir has been busy spreading festive cheer throughout our community! Students visited local businesses and events around Whitewood, sharing their beautiful voices and bright smiles through holiday caroling. 🎄✨
Thank you to our wonderful community for welcoming our choir so warmly, and to our students and Mrs. Hill for representing Whitewood with such pride and holiday spirit. It was a joy to see music bringing smiles and cheer to all who listened!
4 months ago, Whitewood Elementary School
