Located north of the Walnut Village building at 613 Walnut Street (once the home of Yankton High School and Yankton Middle School), Garfield School played a key role in educating generations of Yankton students.
🏫 A Look Back at Garfield School:
• Named after President James A. Garfield, a strong supporter of public education, Garfield became home to both elementary and later 6th grade students.
• Kate Stewart, one of the remarkable sisters for whom Stewart Elementary is named, served Garfield as principal from 1893–1936.
• Beginning in 1958, Garfield officially housed Yankton’s 6th grade.
• In 1907, a tennis court was built just north of the school and maintained by students.
• Garfield stood for decades before being torn down in 1975, leaving behind memories treasured by many in the community.
As we celebrate 150 years of the Yankton School District, we honor the teachers, students, and traditions that shaped schools like Garfield and helped build the district we know today.
💬 Do you have memories of Garfield School? Share your stories in the comments below- we’d love to hear them!
#YSD150 #MemoryMonday #GarfieldSchool #YanktonHistory #YanktonPride
📚 **Memory Monday: Beadle Elementary Edition**
This week, we’re celebrating the incredible history of Beadle Elementary— a school with nearly a century of memories, learning, and community pride.
🏫 **Did you know?**
* Beadle Elementary was named after General William Henry Harrison Beadle, known as the “savior of our school lands” for his dedication to preserving public education lands.
* The school first opened its doors in 1926 and has been remodeled and updated many times throughout its 99 years of serving students in the Yankton area.
As we honor the past, we’re also celebrating our district’s 150th Anniversary! 🎉
Show your Yankton pride and help us commemorate this milestone with official YSD 150 gear:
👉 **Shop here:**
https://jjbenji.com/shop/ols/categories/yankton-school-district-150th
https://stores.inksoft.com/YSD150/shop/home
Share your favorite Beadle memory below — a teacher you loved, a moment you’ll never forget, or a tradition that still makes you smile.
#MondayMemory #BeadleElementary #YSD150 #BeadlePride #YanktonHistory
Scan the QR codes or click the links below.
JJ Benji's
https://jjbenji.com/shop/ols/categories/yankton-school-district-150th
House of Brands
https://stores.inksoft.com/YSD150/shop/home
Looking for Christmas gifts? Give YSD merch!
Be part of something great!
Our Child Nutrition Department is seeking a Cook to help fuel student success.
This position comes with great benefits and a positive, team-focused environment.
📌 Apply today! www.applitrack.com/ysd/onlineapp/
Yankton High School is looking for an Attendance Secretary who’s organized, friendly, and ready to make a difference every day.
📌 Apply now and join our amazing YHS team!
As we commemorate 150 years of the Yankton School District, today’s Memory Monday shines a spotlight on YSD’s remarkable educators who earned the honor of South Dakota State Teacher of the Year:
✨ Florence Kribell – 1974
A dedicated Social Studies teacher at Yankton Middle School, Florence inspired countless students with her passion for history and civic learning.
✨ Merle Larson – 1978
Beloved band director at Yankton High School and Yankton Middle School, Merle shaped generations of musicians and helped build Yankton’s proud tradition of excellence in the arts.
✨ Beth Kaltsulas – 2015
A dynamic educator whose leadership and creativity impacted students at Beadle Elementary and Yankton Middle School, Beth is celebrated for her commitment to student growth and success.
This American Education Week, we honor these outstanding educators and all those who have contributed to 150 years of learning, leadership, and community in the Yankton School District. ❤️
Comment below a memory or a thank you to a Yankton School District Teacher who positively impacted your life ⬇️
This year marks the 20th Annual YMS Veteran’s Day Program, a meaningful event where students and staff come together to recognize and honor the brave men and women who have served our country.
The program features heartfelt performances from the YMS choir, band, and orchestra, as well as presentations by oral interpretation students and a special guest speaker. Each year, it’s a powerful reminder of the gratitude we share for our veterans and the values of respect and service we strive to instill in our students.
Thank you to all who have made this tradition so special over the past two decades. To our veterans, we thank you for your service.❤️🤍💙
#YSD150 #MemoryMonday #YanktonMiddleSchool #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #YanktonPride
As we celebrate 150 years of the Yankton School District, today we’re remembering a beloved part of our community’s educational story- Webster School.
The first Webster School was built in 1876 at 510 Pine Street to serve students in Yankton’s east side. The two-classroom brick schoolhouse, with two more classrooms in the basement if needed, welcomed first, second, and third graders. Built at a cost of $5,000, it proudly stood as a symbol of our growing town's commitment to education.
In later years, the original building no longer met fire safety standards and was eventually used by the American Legion before being sold and later removed.
A new Webster School rose in 1950 at 318 East 7th Street, where it continued to serve generations of students from preschool through fifth grade. For over seven decades, Webster was a place of learning and lasting memories until its doors closed after the 2024–2025 school year.
Today, we honor Webster School’s legacy, a cornerstone of education in Yankton for nearly 150 years. 🏫❤️
👉 Do you have fond memories of Webster School? Share your stories or favorite moments in the comments below and help us celebrate its place in our district’s history!
#YSD150 #YanktonPride #WebsterSchool #MemoryMonday
For this week's Memory Monday, we’re looking back at Lincoln Elementary School, one of Yankton’s most historic schools! 🏫
The first Lincoln Elementary building was constructed in 1882, serving generations of Yankton students and families. Lincoln School, as it exists today, was built in 1951 and contained 14 classrooms.
Over the years, the school has seen many changes, from the original building to the modern classrooms our students learn in today, but the heart of Lincoln has always remained the same: a commitment to learning and community. ✏️
As we celebrate 150 years of the Yankton School District, we honor the teachers, students, and families who helped make Lincoln Elementary such an important part of our story. 📚
Do you have memories from your days at Lincoln Elementary? Share them below! ⬇️
#MemoryMonday #YSD150 #YanktonSchoolDistrict #LincolnElementary
Can we take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come? From our youngest preschool learners to our graduating seniors, the Yankton School District now educates students from Preschool through 12th grade!
Our district has continued to grow and evolve over the years — always with one goal in mind: providing the best education and opportunities for every student. Check out this enrollment photo from 1895!
National School Lunch Week is October 13–17—and we’re celebrating our amazing Child Nutrition team next week, who have been fueling Yankton students for generations!
💭 Be honest… what was YOUR favorite school lunch? Pizza rectangles? Chili and cinnamon rolls? Maybe those legendary shakes from the 70s–2012? (We’re still sad about that one 🥤).
Fun throwbacks:
• 1958—students started eating in the YHS cafeteria in three shifts!
• Salad bars showed up in ALL schools (yes, even elementary).
• Punch cards turned into scan cards (goodbye lost lunch tickets!).
• Today, YSD serves 2,000+ lunches & 500 breakfasts every day!
• 💙 The Angel Fund was created to help families pay for meals—one of the first in the state.
👏 A huge THANK YOU to our Child Nutrition staff—past and present—for keeping generations of students full, happy, and ready to learn. ❤️
👉 Drop your favorite school lunch memory in the comments—we’d love to hear what you still remember!
