Students from Dell Rapids St Mary and Dell Rapids schools showed their acting skills with public performances of plays.

Photo used with permission from St Mary Facebook page

Dell Rapids St Mary performed the comedic plays, Check Please and Check Please: Take 2, as two acts on Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th.  It was about two people that go on a string of dates, in hopes of finding a girl/boyfriend, but they find out that dating is a lot harder than they anticipated. Every date the main characters go on have some crazy quirk. By the end of the first act, the two main characters go on date (later it’s implied that they do become a couple). Then, at the beginning of the second act we find out that they have broken up, and then they are back to dating. By the end of the play, they run into each other again and decide to at least hang out as friends.

Play director Jennifer Riegel said, “It was so much fun working with the students! As a teacher in the classroom, you see them in one light, so it was so fun to see them a new light—and literally take on new personas!”.

Seventh graders through seniors at Dell Rapids school performed the musical The Little Mermaid.  They put on four shows over the course of three days on Friday, April 23rd through Sunday, April 25th.  Sharon Mitchell and Robert Michalscheck directed the musical.

“So many people put hours of work into a successful production. It was great to see 60 plus students from grades 7-12 come together for this show. I appreciated (and I know they did) the large support they got from their community shown by the record numbers of audience members in attendance. A great time was had by all!” said Mitchell.

Both plays received nothing but great reviews from the public!

After five months since students were last in a classroom, some semblance of normalcy is returning to the area this week.  School activities have begun and classes will begin this week.

Dell Rapids St Mary will be back in the classroom starting on Thursday, August 20th.  They did not alter their school start date this year.  Teachers are having in-service on Tuesday, August 18th and Wednesday, August 19th.  An open house is also being held on Tuesday, August 18th.  A copy of their “Return to Learn” plan can be found by clicking here.

Dell Rapids public school pushed their start date back a couple of days to Monday, August 31st.  Dell Rapids will have scheduled open house times on Thursday, August 27th and Friday, August 28th.  A copy of their “Return to Learn” plan can be found by clicking this link.

Activities have started for both schools.  Sports teams are now in pre-season practice time or have already had contests.  The Garretson/Dell Rapids girls soccer team has already played two matches (Vermillion and Groton) and are currently 0-1-1.  The Dell Rapids boys golf team have three tournaments in consecutive days on August 17th (West Central), 18th (Madison) , and 19th (Dakota Valley).

The start of this school year has not been without a hiccup.  Dell Rapids St Mary announced on Monday, August 17th their football game scheduled for Friday, August 21st at Estelline was cancelled by Estelline/Hendricks due to positive Covid tests.  Athletic Director Casey Michel is currently looking for a replacement game for Friday.  If they are able to find a game, Big Sioux Media will share those details.

In a growing trend among communities across the state, the Dell Rapids and Dell Rapids St Mary schools both held parades for staff and students this past week.

The Dell Rapids staff drove through the community the evening of Monday, April 6th.

Dr. Summer Schultz, Dell Rapids High School Superintendent, said in a school update interview, “For students to see their teachers, to see Mr. Bunkers, and to see Rocky our mascot, I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback on that.  I think that was just so important for our students and on the flip side, our staff.  Staff needed that as much as our students did.  It just reminded me how passionate my staff is for the kids to see their excitement in doing it.”

Photo taken and submitted for use by Joni Smith

The Dell Rapids St Mary staff lined up in front of their elementary school as students were able to drive by the evening of Wednesday, April 8th.

“All the teachers and staff enjoyed waving to the students and parents as they drove by the school. It was great to see the signs that the students and parents made and to see all of their smiles. It was also fun to see the seniors drive by and notice that their senior banners had been hung in the windows of the grade school! We can’t wait until we can open the doors to the school again and see everyone’s face everyday!!!” said Dell Rapids St Mary music and band teacher Joni Smith.