30-minute period for lunch. In this time the students can work on homework, tests, or whatever the teacher assigns. This takes place three days a week and freshmen are required to attend. If the other classes do not need the extra help, they get an extended lunch. Activities and athletics Championships State Class 'A' speech: 2016 State Class 'AAA' football: 1997 State Class 'A' volleyball: 2005, 2006 State Class 'A' boys basketball: 2003, 2007 State Class 'A' baseball: 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2016 State Class 'A' boys' track and field: 1941, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999 State Class 'A' girls' track and field: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1990 State Class 'A' boys' cross country: 1986, 2000 State Class 'A' girls' cross country: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 State gymnastics: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 State Class 'A' dance team Jazz: 2009 Hip Hop: 2009 State Science Bowl: 2008, 2009 State Girls Softball: 2021 Mascot controversy There has been controversy surrounding Dickinson's mascot, the Midget. In the mid-1990s the school became concerned that their 80-year-old mascot was not politically correct and communicated that they were considering a change. In 1996, the school board voted to change the mascot. Residents of Dickinson were angry at the decision and recalled at least three of the board members. A South Dakota school changed its nickname from "Midget" to Mustangs" by request of the Little People of America, but Dickinson refused a change. In 2010, the school board's president, Dean Rummel, brought up the issue again, but the board decided not to address it. In 2019, the Little People of America came to Dickinson to request again that the school consider changing the mascot. The school board directed the school district administration to collect feedback from the community about the change. A resulting survey found that 35% of the community supported the change, while 65% opposed it. , the name has not been changed, with the mascot still visible on the school website. According to the Little People of America, as of July 2021, Dickinson was one of five schools in the United States still using a midget mascot. Notable alumni and staff Mitch Malloy (born 1961), singer, songwriter, and producer mix and mastering engineer Kelly Armstrong (born 1976), U.S. Representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district Lucas Sandman