Summer is a great time for Bulldogs to stay active, build skills, try something new and stay connected with classmates, coaches and activity sponsors.
Kearney School District has created a new Summer Camps and Activities webpage to help families find opportunities in one convenient place. The page includes youth camps, high school camps and clinics, tryouts, team activities, summer conditioning, open gyms and summer leagues.
Families can view dates, times, grade levels, locations, flyers, registration links and coach or sponsor contact information at: www.ksdr1.net/camps
Please review the details for each activity before registering. Some opportunities are open to all students in the listed grade levels, while others are designed for specific teams, returning participants or invite-only groups.
We are excited to offer so many ways for students to learn, grow, compete, create and have fun this summer.
Go Bulldogs!
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Starting kindergarten is exciting. It is also a big step into something new for our youngest Bulldogs and their families. That is why Kearney School District’s Kindergarten Orientation events are such an important part of helping students feel ready, welcomed and confident before the first day of school. Even when children are excited, kindergarten can still feel like a big unknown. Orientation helps make that transition smoother for everyone.
Our 2026 Kindergarten Orientations will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. this Thursday, May 7, at:
- Dogwood Elementary
- Hawthorne Elementary
- Kearney Elementary
- Southview Elementary
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Kearney School District has updated Kids Club tuition rates for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Kids Club provides before- and after-school care for KSD families on days when school is in session. The updated rate information includes monthly and semester options for non-employee families and KSD employee families, as well as additional charges for snow days, full non-school days and Summer Expedition Camp.
For the 2026-2027 school year, Kids Club tuition will be divided into nine payments. The first payment is due Aug. 15, 2026. After that, payments are due on the first day of each month from October through May.
Families are encouraged to review the updated rate information carefully and select the option that matches their child care needs for the upcoming school year.
Thank you for allowing Kids Club to support your family and provide a safe, caring and engaging environment for our students before and after school.
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Bulldog families, staff, alumni and community members from across Kearney School District are invited to join the celebration from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at Dogwood Elementary School, 1400 Cedarwood Parkway.
The evening will include a picnic on the playground with food trucks available or the option to bring your own picnic, student-led tours featuring Dogwood’s recent renovation and library addition, yard games, and time to reconnect with former Dogwood friends and staff.
We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate two decades of Dogwood pride!
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Kearney High School FFA students are wrapping up their annual greenhouse sale this Saturday, May 9, and they’re adding something special for the final day!
The greenhouse will be open from 9 a.m. to noon behind Kearney High School. Hanging baskets will be available for $20, and families can also shop the SAE Student Showcase, where KHS agriculture students will be selling items they have created through their own student business projects.
Items will include painted flower pots, handcrafted plant tags, 3-D printed pots, planter boxes, handmade desserts and more.
There will also be a free activity for kids ages 3 to 10, who can plant a flower to take home.
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Kearney School District families are invited to help two of our secondary students turn gently used books into a meaningful gift for children across the Kansas City area.
Luke and Kate Vanderstel, members of the National Honor Society at Kearney High School and the National Junior Honor Society at Kearney Junior High, are organizing a used book drive as part of their community service project. Their effort will support Lead to Read KC, a local nonprofit that provides books and reading mentors to help improve student literacy in high-need areas of Kansas City.
Families are encouraged to donate gently used children’s books for preschool through eighth-grade readers. The most-needed items include culturally diverse and bilingual books, as well as high-interest books such as graphic novels.
Books may be dropped off at any Kearney School District elementary school through Wednesday, May 20.
Porch pickup is also available by request. To schedule a pickup, text “BOOKS” and your address to 816-826-8606. Books should be placed outside your front door by 2 p.m. Pickup will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, and Saturday, May 16.
Lead to Read KC also accepts cash donations to purchase books at a discount. Families can learn more at leadtoreadkc.org/donate.
Questions may be emailed to vanderstel54@ksdr1.net.
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Kearney High School musicians delivered an outstanding performance at the MSHSAA State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival on Saturday, May 2, at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
KHS sent a fully loaded bus of students to compete at the state level after each event earned that opportunity by receiving a Gold Medal at the district festival in March. The Bulldogs made the most of that opportunity, earning 14 Gold Medals, nine Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal across 24 events.
These results reflect far more than one day of performance. They represent months of preparation, discipline, teamwork and courage. Performing at this level takes talent, of course, but it also takes focus, confidence and a willingness to share something meaningful with an audience and judges.
Congratulations to all of our KHS music students who represented Kearney with excellence and class!
We also want to thank and recognize the outstanding educators who helped prepare and support our students: Dustin McKinney, Jamie Heil, Garrett Jones, Michelle Johnston and Ann Marzette. A special thank-you also goes to Jerri Morris for accompanying so many of our students throughout this process.
Please join us in celebrating these talented Bulldogs and their remarkable achievements at state! The full list of results is attached with this post.
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Kearney School District had the opportunity this week to celebrate something very special: eight outstanding Kearney High School students who are taking the next step toward becoming educators.
During the Future Teachers’ Signing Day event on Monday, May 4, these students were recognized as part of KSD’s Grow Your Own program, an initiative sponsored by the KSD Education Foundation. Their goal is both inspiring and important: to prepare for careers in education and, someday, return to serve students right here in the Kearney community.
Congratulations to our future public educators:
- Emmy Dibben
- Macy Gacke
- Kate Landewee
- Sami Marlott
- Kambri Morris
- Gracie Parks
- Ella Reagan-Lusby
- VaNessa Smith
This is what investing in our community looks like. Through KSD’s Education Internship program, these students are already gaining real experience in our schools and learning firsthand what it means to support students, teachers and families. Several have signed up to substitute, and one has already been hired as a paraprofessional, making a difference for KSD students right now. Dogwood Elementary's 2026 Support Staff of the Year Award recipient, paraprofessional Jaden Hensley, is a 2024 KHS graduate who completed the Grow Your Own program when she was still in school.
The KSD Education Foundation also helped support this next generation of teachers by awarding three $1,000 scholarships to Gracie Parks, Samantha Marlott and Ella Reagan-Lusby.
We also want to give special thanks to KHS Language Arts Teacher Mendy Salmonson for her leadership of the Grow Your Own program.
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We’re proud to share that two Kearney High School students have been selected by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative to take part in the 2026 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.!
KHS juniors Logan Daugherty and Ezra Stuart will represent the cooperative during this outstanding leadership experience. They will join students from across Missouri and the nation to explore our nation’s capital, meet elected officials and learn more about government, civic engagement and the important role electric cooperatives play in their communities.
Each year, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative sponsors local students for two leadership opportunities: the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., and the Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience. These programs are designed to help students build leadership skills, connect with peers and gain a deeper understanding of public service and community involvement.
This year’s selection process included applications and interviews with a panel of judges, giving students an opportunity to share more about their experiences, leadership potential and commitment to their communities.
Congratulations to Ezra and Logan on this well-deserved recognition! We’re excited to see them represent Kearney with pride.
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Kearney School District is proud to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week.
This is an important opportunity to pause and recognize the extraordinary educators who serve our students every day. Teaching is deeply meaningful work. It is also complex, demanding and often unseen in its fullest measure.
Our teachers plan lessons, assess learning, answer questions, provide feedback, adjust instruction, encourage effort, calm fears, spark curiosity and help students discover what they are capable of achieving. They celebrate breakthroughs that may seem small to others but can change the way a child sees themselves. They build relationships, create safe and welcoming classrooms, and help make our schools places where students feel known, challenged and supported.
During last week’s Team KSD Awards & Retiree Reception, we had the privilege of honoring educators and staff members who represent the very best of our district. That evening was a powerful reminder that excellent schools are built through the daily commitment of people who choose to invest their time, energy and hearts in the lives of children.
That is what our teachers do.
They show up with patience. They lead with purpose. They adapt when things get difficult. They carry high expectations because they believe in our students. They work alongside families and colleagues because they know education is built on partnership. And, in ways both large and small, they help shape the future of our community.
On behalf of Kearney School District, thank you to every teacher across our schools for the knowledge, care, creativity and dedication you bring to this work. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are grateful for the difference you make for our Bulldogs.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be expressing our gratitude for all of our teammates during our annual staff appreciation lunches at each school. Today and this week, please join us in thanking the teachers and other certified staff members who have made an impact on your child, your family or your life.
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week!
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Wednesday, May 6, was National School Nurse Day, and we cannot let it pass without giving a huge Bulldog thank-you to the incredible nurses who care for our students every day.
Our school nurses are part caregiver, part problem-solver, part comfort-giver, part health expert and part miracle worker. They are there for the stomachaches and scraped knees, the medications and medical plans, the allergies and action steps, the fevers and phone calls, and the countless moments when a student simply needs a trusted adult to help them feel safe, calm and cared for.
Most importantly, our nurses help students stay healthy so they can learn, grow and thrive at school. That work is not always loud or visible, but it is deeply important. Every day, they help connect health, safety and education in ways that make a real difference for children, families and staff members across Kearney School District.
Please join us in celebrating and thanking our KSD nursing team:
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Caitlyn Harstad, District Nurse and Kearney Early Education Center
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Allie Grace, Dogwood Elementary
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Shelby Liberty, Hawthorne Elementary
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Lori Walker, Kearney Elementary
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Jaci Mick, Southview Elementary
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Candice Walker, Kearney Middle School
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Delaney Cavanaugh-Shobe, Kearney Junior High
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Katelyn Morefield, Kearney High School
Thank you, KSD nurses, for your skill, compassion, patience and steady care. Our schools are healthier, safer and better because of you!
NOTE: This year's National School Nurse Day promotional graphic was created by Kearney High School junior Eva Ridle as part of a Real World Learning Client Connected Project in Art Teacher Angela Carmack's Graphic Design II class. Great job, Eva!
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Kearney School District’s kindergarten enrollment is open for the 2026-2027 academic year! If you have a child who will be age five on or before July 31, 2026, this is the time to enroll them in kindergarten! Start the kindergarten enrollment process by clicking the link provided below.
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If you already have a username and password: Enter that information into the windows on the left side of the page to access the Registration Gateway, then click “Add a Student” from the options on the left
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If you are new to this system: Click the “Registration Gateway” link and then click “Start” on the next screen to create a username and password
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For assistance with this process: Email reghelp@ksdr1.net
Parents/guardians will be required to provide a birth certificate, a record of required immunizations, and proof of residence for their child during kindergarten enrollment. Use our online district boundary map to locate the elementary school your child will attend.
After completing the enrollment process, one of our Parents As Teachers program Parent Educators will contact you to schedule a kindergarten screening. Parent Educators screen to help KSD plan for classes and the needs of each incoming kindergarten class. Parent Educators will also provide at-home activities and information about summer programs, as well as answer any questions parents/guardians may have.
All families are encouraged to fill out the Online Meal Application Form. Completing this form allows families to qualify for free and reduced meal prices and also allows KSD to potentially become eligible for additional academic resources and funding.
Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at each of KSD’s elementary schools. Stay tuned for details. This is an opportunity for families to receive helpful information about KSD, tour their school and meet their child’s teachers and building principal. We’re excited to welcome the Bulldogs Class of 2039!
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This annual event helps KSD students and families get ready for the start of a new school year by connecting them with school supplies, clothing and other helpful resources. Last year’s Resource Fair served 285 students, one of the highest turnouts since COVID. We are excited to continue working together to make sure every Bulldog has a strong start to the school year.
The 2026 Resource Fair will be held at Kearney Junior High:
- 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13
- 9 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14
Thank you to our KSD social workers, counselors, staff members and community volunteers who help make this event possible each year. Their work reflects the very best of what it means to be part of Team KSD: showing up for kids, supporting families and helping our students feel ready for the first day of school.
Please pre-register today and help us spread the word to any KSD family who may benefit from this opportunity. |
As the Missouri legislative session gets underway, Kearney School District is launching a short Legislative Update email newsletter to help our community understand how proposals in Jefferson City could affect our community's public schools. This newsletter will include a straightforward snapshot and brief analysis of proposals, bills, and laws at the state level that may impact public education, along with contact information for our local legislators. Please visit the KSD Legislative Updates page on our website at www.ksdr1.net/legislativeupdates and complete the opt-in form if you’d like to receive these newsletters. |
We are proud to share that Kearney High School senior Amara Miles has been named the grand prize winner of a regional T-shirt design contest organized by Go North KC and Park University as part of the Northland’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™!
As the grand prize winner, Amara will also be offered a renewable and stackable scholarship from Park University valued at up to $12,500.
We are also excited to celebrate two more talented Kearney High School student artists who were named among the contest runners-up: senior Scout Pimblott and junior Ruby Mendel. Scout attended today’s event at Park University, while Ruby was not able to attend. Both were recognized as top 12 student artists in the public-voting contest and will be offered renewable Park University scholarships.
This contest invited high school students from across the Northland to share their creativity while helping build excitement for one of the biggest sporting events in the world coming to the Kansas City region. Public voting took place online and during the North Kansas City Snake Saturday Parade.
Congratulations to Amara, Scout and Ruby for representing Kearney High School with such outstanding talent and creativity. We are so proud to see our Bulldogs helping our region get ready to welcome the world!
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May 12 - Seniors' Last Day
May 17 - KHS Class of 2026 Graduation
May 20 - Board of Education Business Meeting
May 22 - Last Day of School (Half-day)
May 25 - Memorial Day (Schools & Offices Closed)
June 1 - First Day of Summer School
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