Our Young People

Hill City rolls out the red carpet for royalty

Published by admin on Wed, 10/08/2025 - 1:11pm
Hill City High School rolled out the red carpet for this year’s homecoming royalty court at Monday night’s coronation at the High School Theatre. 
The presentation was emceed by Grace Daiss and Brooke Thayer-Burke. It began with the high school band performing the Star Spangled Banner followed by the cheer squad leading the crowd in the school song. Daiss and Thayer-Burke recognized past kings and queens and then started introductions of the pages and the 2025 homecoming court and king and queen candidates. 

Hermosa to celebrate ‘Walk to School’

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:30pm

Hermosa Elementary School in Hermosa will join schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day.
Approximately 225 students from Hermosa will be walking and rolling to school on Wednesday, Oct. 8, along with parents, teachers and community leaders.
The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. with kids, parents and community leaders walking from the local post office on Main St. to the Hermosa school. Other special activities associated with the walk include a free water and fruit stand at the end of the walk.

Here comes Ranger homecoming Oct. 6

Published by admin on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:05am

It’s one of the most anticipated, biggest, loudest, most spirited events of the school year—homecoming week.
Homecoming is a tradition that stitches together generations of Rangers—alumni, current students and families—and unites the entire Hill City community. It instills pride and tradition in the next generation of Rangers and transforms the town into a sea of green and gold.
This year’s theme is “Rangers Can be Anything.”

YouTube celebrity stops by football game

Published by admin on Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:55pm

Meeting a celebrity is often a dream for young people, but in a small town like Custer, it doesn’t happen every day. Xavier Holtquist helped break that standard by asking IShowSpeed, an American YouTuber and online streamer, to attend the homecoming football game Friday night. 
Speed, or Darren Watkins Jr., is one of Holtquist’s favorite content creators, along with many other students in the Custer School District. 

Murray honored at DSH awards

Published by admin on Wed, 09/17/2025 - 9:30am

Dr. Taarna Murray, a Custer High School graduate, was a recipient of the Trauma-Informed Ambassador award, and recognized at the 2024 California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) VIP awards ceremony held in June.
DSH employs approximately 13,000 individuals across its five state hospitals and headquarters Murray was one of 40 DSH employees who received awards. The annual VIP awards highlight employees’ accomplishments, which helps define DSH culture, while prioritizing safety, treatment, responsibility, empowerment, respect and communication in all that we do.

More schools remove, lock up student phones

Published by admin on Wed, 09/03/2025 - 11:52am

Platte-Geddes superintendent Joel Bailey remembers an “eerily quiet” lunch room when his students were still allowed to use their cellphones during the school day.
“We decided that since the kids are in class the majority of the day, they need to talk to one another during lunch. We want that social interaction,” Bailey said. “Albeit, it’s a noisier lunch room now, at least they’re talking and interacting.”

New staff welcomed into Custer School District

Published by admin on Wed, 08/27/2025 - 5:27pm

The 2025-26 school year is up and running in the Custer School District (CSD), and a brand new group of staff members are ready to help make the year a success. 
Serving as the new special education director, Dr. Rhonda Frederick said, “What I enjoy most about this position is my ability to lead and advocate for children with disabilities.” 
This is Frederick’s ninth year as a special education director. She previously held the same position in the McLaughlin School District. All told, Frederick has worked in the special education field for 36 years. 

Grilling on the Green

Published by admin on Wed, 08/20/2025 - 1:02pm
Ready or not, the new school year is right around the corner, and the Hill City Elementary School is kicking off in Ranger style with the eighth annual Grilling on the Green and open house Aug. 28 at 5 p.m.
Held each year before classes begin, this event gives students a chance to meet their new teachers, drop off their school supplies and enjoy a meal with friends while sharing the excitement of the year to come.

Booster club hosts football opener

Published by admin on Wed, 08/20/2025 - 10:36am
The Hill City Ranger Booster Club is kicking off football season with something sweet. Ahead of Friday night’s home opener against Stanley County, the club will host a pre-game Ice Cream Tailgate at Ranger Field. 
It’s not just ice cream that the club is serving up. They are also dishing out volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. 
The Booster Club is an organized non-profit that promotes and supports Ranger athletics, and it actively seeks volunteers and sponsors to help throughout the 2025-26 season. 

Growing Roots announces limited fall enrollment

Published by admin on Wed, 08/06/2025 - 12:31pm

In an era where the average preschool-aged child in the U.S. spends significantly more time with screens (often up to four to five hours a day compared to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guideline of one hour or less) and averages only four to seven minutes of unstructured outdoor play per day (Outward Bound, 2020), Growing Roots Preschool in Custer is championing a vital return to nature.