Kearney, Mo., January 15, 2025: Kearney School District’s kindergarten enrollment will launch on Jan. 21 for the 2025-2026 academic year. If you have a child who will be age five on or before July 31, 2025, that will be the time to enroll them in kindergarten.

More details and a link to the enrollment process will be provided when it launches. Parents/guardians will be required to provide a birth certificate, a record of required immunizations, and a proof of residence for their child during kindergarten enrollment. Use our online district boundary map to locate the elementary school your child will attend. Note that those boundaries were recently changed and will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Any request to transfer an incoming kindergarten student to a different elementary school for the 2025-2026 academic year must be submitted by Feb. 11 for consideration. Transfer requests will only be considered for the reasons outlined in the request form. Approval is not guaranteed. A decision will be made as soon as possible and is contingent upon a wide variety of factors including classroom space and available resources. Parents/guardians will be responsible for providing transportation to and from school if the transfer request is approved.

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.

Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 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 2038!

The post Kindergarten Enrollment to Start on Jan. 21 appeared first on Kearney Middle School.

Kearney, Mo., December 17, 2024: On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Kearney School District’s Board of Education approved the changes recommended by the Elementary School Boundary Team.

These changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year:

• Students who reside in Grid 15 on the approved boundary map will switch from attending Dogwood Elementary to Kearney Elementary
• Students who reside in Grids 12A and 12B on the approved boundary map will switch from attending Kearney Elementary to Southview Elementary

As part of these adjustments, we are changing our practice regarding private daycare providers. Starting next year, KSD will provide transportation to the school in the attendance zone where the daycare is located:

Families always have the option to have their children attend the elementary school in the attendance zone of their home residence. If a family lives in the Southview Elementary attendance zone, for instance, their child may attend Southview. However, if their child is at Radiant Life in the morning, the family or the daycare will have to provide transportation to Southview.

As our community continues to grow, so does the need to ensure our schools operate effectively and efficiently. These adjustments are part of our ongoing commitment to providing equitable access to quality education while addressing our district’s growth and evolving needs.

The new boundaries will better align our resources with the needs of our students, maintain class sizes, and optimize the learning environments at each elementary school. These changes are the result of a thoughtful process led by parents/guardians that included analyzing enrollment data, gathering community feedback, and ensuring that our elementary attendance boundaries will help us achieve our long-term district goals.

We will work hard to help everyone have a smooth transition to their new school. All of our elementary schools are truly outstanding. Our principals and their teams will go above and beyond to help ensure that each new student is welcomed and nurtured.

Our principals will be contacting impacted families directly to share more details about this process and the steps we’re taking to make this a positive experience, including:

• Open House & Orientation Events: To help families get to know their new school, we will host open houses and school tours in the coming months. These will be opportunities to meet teachers, administrators, and fellow families.
• Additional Support: Our counselors and administrative team are available to assist with questions or concerns regarding the transition.

We are dedicated to supporting each student and family through this adjustment. Our goal is to provide every child with the tools and environment they need to thrive academically and socially.

Visit www.bit.ly/ksd-boundary-process for additional information about the boundary process. Should you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can be reached at communications@ksdr1.net.

The post KSD School Board Approves Changes to Elementary Attendance Boundaries appeared first on Kearney Middle School.

As you are doing spring cleaning these next few weeks and you have gently used children’s books that your family is no longer reading, Kearney School District would love to have them for our 2023 Spring Reading Night! Collection boxes are located in the front entryway at each of our elementary schools. We will accept donated books through April 28.

Our Spring Reading Night will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 at Southview Elementary and Kearney Junior High! This will once again be a fun event for families to get fired up for reading! We will share additional details as they are finalized.

The post Turn Spring Cleaning into Spring Reading! appeared first on Kearney Middle School.

A charismatic third grader at Hawthorne Elementary School, Gunnar is just one of many students with disabilities who are already benefitting from a specialized adaptive bike purchased with grant funds provided by Variety KC. He spun around the school gym and smiled wide when asked if he was having fun.

“Yes!” Gunnar exclaimed.

The bike cost $5,963, according to Kearney School District Physical Therapist Anne Hayter. Variety KC was able to help a whole group of students with its grant.

“They work with children with disabilities and their families all over the KC metro,” Ms. Hayter said. “I was thrilled that they were willing to award a grant to a school district. This one grant can meet several students’ needs.”

Some students with health conditions or physical disabilities can find PE and recess very challenging, Hayter explained. She and her team work creatively to modify or adapt activities to ensure access for all students, but even with those changes, PE and recess can be a source of frustration. This tricycle can offer these students an energy-efficient means of mobility while still working to improve strength and activity tolerance.

“Plus, it’s fun!” Hayter said. “We used the bike last week in PE for students to be able to participate in relay races with their classmates. It’s wonderful to see these children included with their peers!”

The post Bulldogs Applaud Variety KC for Adaptive Bike Donation appeared first on Kearney Middle School.

Kindergarten Screenings-
Sign Up Now!

Students that will be 5 on or before July 31, 2021 are encouraged to sign up for a Kindergarten screening. To sign up, click here.

What to expect during the screening

During the screening KSD staff members will…

Enrollment/Registration

Online enrollment for Kindergarten is now available. Click here to enroll your Bulldog!

Kindergarten Round Up

This year’s Kindergarten Round Up event details are still being finalized. This event will take place closer to the beginning of the school year. Please check back for more information.

The post Kindergarten Round Up & Kick Off appeared first on Kearney Middle School.