Kearney, Mo., June 28, 2024: Kearney School District is hosting its 2024 Back-to-School Resource Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, at Hawthorne Elementary School, which is located at 1815 S. Jefferson St. in Kearney, Mo.

The annual Back-to-School Resource Fair features school supplies, backpacks, gently used clothing and other community resources for students in need. The event is designed to ensure that every child in KSD has the support they need to thrive in the upcoming school year, according to District Social Worker Meeghan Masters.

“Last year we were able to help 256 students be ready for their first day of school,” Ms. Masters said. “This is only possible because of the help of many partners from across the community.”

Families are asked to register their children for the resource fair in order to help organizers plan and run the event. Visit bit.ly/ksd-resource-fair-24 to complete a short online registration form.

DOWNLOAD: 2023 Back-to-School Resource Fair Flyer

There are a number of ways for community members, businesses and organizations to support the resource fair.

Donate Items

KSD social workers will be collecting new and gently used clothes and shoes and distributing them during the Back to School Resource Fair. They need clothes and shoes in all sizes, from youth small to adult XXL. Basic school supplies are also needed. Donated clothes, shoes and supplies may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Aug. 5-9 at Hawthorne Elementary.

Buy A Shirt & Give A Shirt

Purchase a custom KSD back-to-school shirt for $17 and one will be donated for a student who attends the Resource Fair. A shirt can also be donated directly for just $8.50. Visit the Buy-A-Shirt-Give-A-Shirt site to learn more.

Donate Money

Monetary donations directly fund the fair and can be made to: Kearney R-1 School District, Attn – Back to School Resource Fair, 150 West State Route 92, Kearney, MO 64060

Volunteer

The fair is a great opportunity for individuals, families and organizations to volunteer for community service. Visit the online sign-up form to register as a volunteer.

More Info

For more information about the 2024 KSD Back to School Resource Fair, contact Meeghan Masters at mastersm@ksdr1.net.

KSD’s 2024-2025 academic year starts on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Important back-to-school information is available and updated online at www.ksdr1.net/back-to-school.

To learn more about how to enroll a child in KSD, visit our enrollment webpage, call (816) 628-4116 or email reghelp@ksdr1.net.

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Three Kearney High School students from history teacher Jennifer West’s class participated in the dedication event for the new Kearney-Holt Fallen Warriors Memorial at the park. Blake Longworth, Katelynn Shaffer and Avery Janiak each read essays they had written about why this memorial is important for young people in the community.

The new memorial is the result of a campaign led by U.S. military veterans Rich Kolb, Terry Buckler and Frank Johnson. They were determined to realize a long-time vision for a marker at the park to honor individuals from the Kearney and Holt area who died as a result of their service during a war or conflict.

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Miss Kirkland and Miss Wells were selected last fall from many applicants to be a part of this amazing program. This is truly a huge honor for them and for our music department. This weekend’s concerts are a culmination of their hard work.

YSKC is the premier youth orchestra program in the region that serves more than 400 musicians in grades 5–12, according to the symphony’s website. It comprises four full orchestras, a chamber music program, introductory and advanced chamber orchestras, elective classes, a summer micro-camp, multiple ancillary programs and a new Educational Residency program led by the Opus 76 Quartet. Every opportunity provides quality music education experiences to young musicians representing 111 schools and 57 communities across Kansas and Missouri.

Visit www.yskc.org to learn more about the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and to purchase tickets for the anniversary concerts.

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Kearney, Mo., March 11, 2024: The Kearney School District Education Foundation (KSDEF) invites the community to join hands in support of the annual Rise & Shine for Kids fundraising breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, April 19 at the Annunciation Community Center.

At the Rise & Shine for Kids breakfast, community members, alumni, and business leaders unite in a shared vision of providing unparalleled resources and opportunities to every student in KSD. Tickets are $50 each, which goes towards funding the charitable organization’s programs that support students and educators.

For more information about the 2024 Rise & Shine for Kids fundraising breakfast and to reserve your seat, please visit givebutter.com/RiseandShine2024. The community center is located at 705 N. Jefferson St. in Kearney.

At the heart of the foundation’s mission lies a steadfast commitment to catalyzing positive change for both students and educators within KSD. Beyond merely enjoying a delicious meal, talented students and inspiring messages, this event symbolizes a dedication to empowering Kearney’s youth. The funds raised serve as a vital lifeline, fueling classroom grants and scholarships that directly impact students and educators. These grants have helped to enrich learning environments, bridge achievement gaps, and introduce cutting-edge teaching technologies, leaving an indelible mark on the KSD community.

“In these challenging times, the support of our community holds profound significance,” KSD Superintendent Emily Miller said. “Now more than ever, we remain steadfast in our commitment to equipping teachers with the tools they need and ensuring every student graduates high school prepared for success.”

The projects funded by contributions to KSDEF play a pivotal role in igniting enthusiasm in young minds, offering opportunities beyond those supported by tax dollars alone. As participants gather for the Rise & Shine Breakfast for Kids, they not only enjoy a meal but also contribute to building a brighter future for the entire Kearney community.

“We invite everyone to join us in our mission to inspire, educate, and uplift,” KSDEF Board Chair Season Kerns said. “Together, we can ensure that every child in Kearney has the opportunity to rise, shine, and reach for the stars.”

About the Kearney School District Education Foundation:

The Kearney School District Education Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of students within Kearney School District through innovative programs, classroom grants, and scholarships. By fostering partnerships between the community and KSD, KSDEF strives to create a brighter future for all.

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Miss Killingsworth has been a member of the Youth With Vision (YWV) organization for the past five years and is the current Membership Chair. YWV is a student-led organization made up of students in grades 8-12 in Clay, Platte and Ray counties. They work to reduce teen substance use, promote wellness, and impact social policy to create resilient youth through education, intervention, and advocacy.

Killingsworth also received a Resolution from the State of Missouri recognizing her work as well as a United States flag that had been flown over the Capitol building.

The post Rep. Richey Recognizes KHS Student for Helping Reduce Substance Abuse appeared first on Kearney Elementary.

Kearney, Mo., January 10, 2024: Team KSD is alert and ready to respond to signs of human trafficking thanks to their recent professional development.

Kearney School District staff members returned from their winter break and spent several hours learning how to help identify and prevent human trafficking and support victims during an all-district professional development session led by Russ Tuttle on Monday, Jan. 8 at Kearney High School.

Mr. Tuttle is the President and Founder of the Stop Trafficking Project, an organization that uses communication, leadership, team development and compassion to combat domestic minor sex trafficking. He led the roughly 500 KSD employees through training that included the signs that a child is being trafficked, the scope of the problem, how to help protect students and the steps that need to be taken when a victim is identified.

One of the biggest mistakes made by responsible adults is believing that human trafficking can’t happen in their family or community, Tuttle said. In fact, traffickers target vulnerable suburban and rural communities.

Most people have a very narrow view of the problem based on the news and popular media, Tuttle explained. They believe that trafficking is most often committed by strangers in urban environments, which prevents them from seeing the dangers that exist closer to home.

“I want to expand your view of sex trafficking,” Tuttle said. “Sexual exploitation is often committed by family members in communities just like yours. The victims can be straight-A students who play three sports, participate in choir and band and are president of their FFA chapter. It only takes one mistake to make them vulnerable.”

Tuttle’s training centered on the fact that pre-teens and teenagers have immature brains, can often make impetuous decisions and have powerful digital tools that they carry around in the form of cell phones. These factors can combine with toxic long-term consequences for victims who make one bad choice that pulls them into the grasp of traffickers.

Tuttle cited the real-life example of a pre-teen girl who was a standout softball player in her small-town Kansas school. Angry at her mother, she started sharing explicit images of herself online with a stranger. This eventually led to her lifelong struggle to free herself from a series of sex traffickers.

Openness and honesty are very powerful tools that can be used to both help prevent and address human trafficking, according to Tuttle. For a variety of reasons, children can hide behavior – like using social media apps to post explicit imagery – that exposes them to being exploited by traffickers. It’s the role of parents/guardians and other responsible adults to proactively teach children how to use devices safely and what to do when they feel unsafe.

“I’m not angry with kids and I’m not against technology,” Tuttle said. “My mission is to tell kids they don’t need to feel embarrassed, afraid or ashamed to talk to an adult.”

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. KSD Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp invited Tuttle to lead the all-staff professional development because Missouri is a hub of human trafficking and public educators have an opportunity to be part of the solution.

“Several factors make our area a prime location for human trafficking, including our geographic location and interstate system,” Mrs. Kopp said. “As educators, we have direct access to students and can be pivotal in helping to raise awareness with our students and families.”

KSD recently released the Qustodio Parents App and the KSD Online Safety Hub, two valuable tools designed to enhance online safety for students and provide parents/guardians with helpful insights into their children’s digital activities. Qustodio, powered by KSD’s content filter partner Linewize, is a powerful app designed to help parents/guardians monitor and manage their children’s digital activities on school devices. The KSD Online Safety Hub, also powered by Linewize, is a comprehensive resource that contains expert advice authored by leading safety professionals.

If you suspect someone is being forced to engage in any activity from which they can’t leave—whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work or other activity—call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text BeFree (233733). Information is available online at humantraffickinghotline.org. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

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Kearney, Mo., October 24, 2023: The Kearney School District Board of Education (BOE) will be hosting an informational session for individuals interested in filing as Board candidates on the April 2, 2024, municipal election ballot.

The KSD BOE Candidate Info Session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the  KSD central office, which is located at 425 W. Washington St. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Please inform BOE Secretary Becky Burkemper by emailing burkemperb@ksdr1.net or calling (816) 628-4116 before the close of business on Monday, Nov. 6 if you plan to attend.

This session is designed to provide useful guidance for those who may want to serve on the school board. Topics will include information about board elections and the roles and responsibilities of the school board members.

“This info session is an opportunity to learn more about the expectations and work that come along with being on the school board as well as a chance to answer questions that potential candidates may have,” Board President Darlene Bailey said. “I encourage anyone who is interested in serving our community to attend.”

In Missouri, school boards are composed of seven non-partisan, volunteer elected officials who each serve three-year terms. The primary job of the school board is to employ the superintendent and set the strategic goals and policies for the district, according to the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA). The board’s other roles include:

• Facilitate public engagement in order to help meet stakeholder expectations
• Oversee the Superintendent of Schools, who in turn is solely responsible for district management and operations
• Monitor district progress toward meeting the Board goals
• Govern itself effectively, efficiently and with transparency

Two KSD school board seats will be open for next spring’s municipal election. Under Missouri statute, school board candidate filing for the April election will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, and will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26. Candidates must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• A resident taxpayer of the district
• A resident of Missouri for at least one year
• At least 24 years old

Candidates must also be current on state and local taxes and have filed required campaign documents for all previous campaigns, if any. Individuals cannot file as candidates if they have been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under Missouri or federal law, and/or are registered or required to register as a sex offender.

Visit www.ksdr1.net/board-of-education/elections for more information about the April 2, 2024, municipal election and links to additional resources for potential BOE candidates.

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Kearney, Mo., October 13, 2023: Get ready to have a scary good time, Bulldogs!

The Kearney High School Theatre program is hosting a Halloween-themed “Haunted Doghouse” from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the school. There will also be traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating through the high school hallways from 5 to 7 p.m. that same evening.

Both events are open to the public and appropriate for children of all ages. Entry for the haunted house will be $3 for students and $5 for adults. The trick-or-treating is free for students.

The “Haunted Doghouse” was organized by the cast of the upcoming KHS production of the Disney musical “The Little Mermaid” as a way to both create a fun community event for Halloween and help raise money for the Theatre program.

About two dozen KHS students will be involved in planning, preparing and performing in the haunted house. Program Director Haley Kernes also observed that this was a Real World Learning experience for her students.

“They approached me with this idea as a way to support the fall musical,” Ms. Kernes said. “I thought it was a great idea because it’s a new opportunity for the kids to learn new skills by trying something they’ve never done before.”

The haunted house will wind its way from the main KHS entrance, around the recently renovated auditorium and through the performing arts wing of the school. Kernes emphasized that the event will be family-friendly, with absolutely no contact from the performers.

“The Little Mermaid” production will be performed on Nov. 15-18 at the high school. Information and tickets are available at bit.ly/khs-little-mermaid.

Representatives from several clubs and organizations will be handing out candy in the KHS hallways during the traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Future Farmers of America Advisor Erica Hart organized this as both a fun and free community event and an opportunity to help younger students learn about all of the great extracurricular activities that are available at the school.

“We want this to be something that all of our families can enjoy as a community service,” Mrs. Hart said. “We’re also excited to spark some interest in our future KHS Bulldogs! This will be a chance for our clubs and organizations to get some good publicity.”

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The Kearney School District Education Foundation will host its 11th-Annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 at Bulldog Stadium! This will once again be an in-person race this year. There will also be a virtual race option for those unable to participate in-person. All registration fees help fund teacher innovation grants, special classroom projects and scholarships, and support the Kearney High School Cross Country team. Learn more: www.ksdef.com/news-events/turkey-trot

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