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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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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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 6, 2022: Kearney School District is spreading the word about new opportunities and high expectations for students as part of the BeyondKSD Real World Learning program.

KSD will be sharing important updates and guidance for students and parents/guardians during two informational sessions on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The first session will start at 5 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Kearney Junior High, followed by the second session at 6 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Kearney High School.

These sessions will be led by Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp and Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw. The topics will include recent changes that will have a significant impact on the path to graduation for all current and future KSD students:

• KSD’s Portrait of A Graduate – Key characteristics that every student should attain by the time they graduate
• Latin Honors System – Replacing traditional class ranks, every student has the opportunity to earn a Suma Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude designation in this system
• Tiered Diplomas – Recognize the value of both college and career pathways
• Market Value Assets – Opportunities that allow students to gain Real World Learning experiences and required for every KSD graduate starting with the Class of 2025

KSD is also seeking community support to expand Real World Learning opportunities for all students. Ms. Holtzclaw is creating a contact network of individuals who would like to help grow the district’s BeyondKSD program in a number of ways, including:

• Serving as a guest speaker/subject-matter expert
• Providing job shadow opportunities
• Providing internship experiences
• Partnering with students and/or classes to solve authentic real-world problems (Client Connected Projects)

Currently, experiences related to healthcare careers are particularly sought after for students, according to Holtzclaw.

“While we desire business partners in all career paths, obtaining internships in the medical field is more challenging,” Holtzclaw said. “If you know of anyone in the medical profession who would like to partner with KSD, please let us know!”

Anyone wishing to partner with KSD on any of these activities or to recommend a potential partner should please complete the online BeyondKSD Contact Form.

DOWNLOAD: BeyondKSD Info Sessions Flier

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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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Kearney, Mo., July 14, 2022: Kearney School District is partnering with Fulfillment House to provide an option for families with children entering grades K-5 to purchase their school supplies in a kit to be delivered to classrooms shortly before the beginning of the academic year.

The KSD School Supply Kits initiative expands an effort already started by Parent-Teacher Organization members in the district to make it very convenient for families to get nearly everything their children will need to start school in the fall.

“Families always have a lot to juggle and we want to make the back-to-school process as easy as possible,” Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp said. “We see this as a great opportunity to work with the people at Fulfillment House to help serve our entire community in a really positive way.”

Visit www.ksdr1.net/supplykits today to order KSD School Supply Kits for your children. Click on the drop-down and choose your child’s grade level, school attending, and enter the last and first name of the student. Click “Add to Cart.” Follow this process for each student you choose to purchase supplies for and then proceed to the cart for payment.

The KSD School Supply Kits will include the items listed under each grade level – minus the backpack, earbuds/headphones and optional supplies – included on the 2022-2023 Elementary School Supply Lists.

The number of available kits is limited so that there are adequate supplies for everyone who orders. KSD School Supply Kits will be available for pick-up at your student’s school during the annual back-to-school open house. Elementary school open houses will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18.

The 2022-2023 academic year starts on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Visit www.ksdr1.net/back-to-school for important information and valuable resources to prepare for classes to begin.

The mission of Fulfillment House is to provide meaningful and enriching employment opportunities for adults with special needs. Fulfillment House staff inspire confidence and a greater level of independence for their associates by providing high-quality fulfillment, shipping, warehousing and inventory services to their clients. Learn more at thefulfillmenthouse.org.

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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.

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-22 to complete a short, online registration form.

DOWNLOAD: 2022 Back-to-School Resource Fair Flyer

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

School Supply Donations – All students who attend the resource fair get brand new school supplies to help start their school year off just like any other student. A list of requested school supplies is available online. School supplies can be donated at the KSD Administrative Office, which is located at 150 W. State Route 92, Kearney, MO.

Clothing Donations – New and gently used clothes are needed for families. Items for school-age children are particularly important. Kearney High School spirit gear is always appreciated. It is requested that donations of underwear, socks and shoes be new items only.

Monetary Donations – 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.

For more information about the 2022 KSD Back to School Resource Fair, contact Meeghan Masters at mastersm@ksdr1.net.

KSD’s 2022-2023 academic year starts on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Important back-to-school information is available and being 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 communications@ksdr1.net.

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Kearney, Mo., June 6, 2022: Gerri Spencer wants Kearney’s children to have a better view of their own history.

Ms. Spencer is the Director of the Kearney Historic Museum. She and two museum volunteers visited Southview and Dogwood elementary schools today to help launch Kearney School District’s summer school program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

Holding up a 150-year-old stereoscope that is part of the museum’s collection, Spencer explained how the device helped children in the 1870s experience places around the world before the advent of modern media. She wore a blue and white dress from the same time period in order to enhance the experience for the students.

“If you were a third-grader back then in Kearney, you might never have been able to visit places like New York or San Francisco, but you could still see them by using a stereoscope this like this with special stereo-card images,” she said. “Unlike a regular photo, this would give a more realistic viewing experience. It was their version of virtual reality.”

The 2022 Bulldog Summer program for elementary school students is focusing on helping Kearney students better appreciate their community’s past, present and future, according to program coordinator Kirsten Timchak. Each week through the end of the month will include presentations from different community organizations, including Watkins Mill.

“We’re looking forward to providing some really fun, interactive activities for our students while also helping them stay on track academically,” Ms. Timchak said. “I’m very grateful for all of our partners from the community who are working with us this summer!”

As part of this summer’s program, Timchak oversaw a client-connected project through KSD’s Real World Learning initiative. Kearney High School students produced four videos with community partners to introduce each week’s theme for the elementary summer school program. These video feature Spencer, Kearney Mayor Randy Pogue, Kearney’s Darrell “The Barber” McClung and Kearney Fire and Rescue District Captain David Pratt.

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DOWNLOAD: Open Letter for KSD Community Members

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Kearney, Mo., May 10, 2022: Kearney School District Nurse Karen Hughes knows that minutes can mean a lifetime when it comes to drug overdoses, which is why she helped lead the effort to ensure that KSD staff were prepared and equipped to respond.

May 10, 2022, is the first-ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The goal of this day is to raise public awareness about the growing fentanyl public health crisis and to focus national attention on the issue. The day is being organized by Song for Charlie – a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about counterfeit pills – along with dozens of other national and local parent groups, community organizations, and businesses.

Leaders of KSD started responding to the fentanyl crisis in 2019. That’s when Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) alerted local public service agencies and school districts that the powerful opiate was becoming readily available in Clay County. Assistant Superintendent for HR and Student Services Jeff Morrison quickly began collaborating with district nurses to identify steps KSD should take to help mitigate the danger for our students, families and staff.

“When your DHSS identifies your county as a concern, you need to respond to that,” Dr. Morrison said. “So, we started talking about it as a team with our School Resource Officer, school nurses and administrators.”

The KSD responders learned that Narcan nasal spray is the easiest and most effective treatment for fentanyl overdoses. Nurse Hughes took the initiative to find a program that provides the spray free of charge for secondary schools. Narcan was made available at Kearney Middle School, Kearney Junior High School and Kearney High School. In addition, select staff members were trained how and when to use the spray.

“We train our school nurses and other staff members to identify the symptoms of an overdose and respond,” Hughes said. “There’s no harmful side effect of giving Narcan to someone you think is overdosing. Our directive is to go ahead and give it and we will get EMS on the way.”

All that preparation and training paid off earlier this school year when a student started experiencing overdose symptoms after taking illicit fentanyl-laced pills. Staff responded within a couple of minutes and were able to administer two doses of Narcan, which likely saved the student’s life.

That crisis emphasized for Hughes why it’s so important to have anti-overdose medications on-hand in schools and be trained to respond, rather than waiting for emergency medical services to arrive.

“With an overdose, brain damage can start as early as three to five minutes, then death,” Hughes said. “So, having the Narcan available gives us a much better chance of a positive outcome than simply waiting for EMS, even if they can make it to us within 5 minutes.”

KSD’s response to the fentanyl crisis includes collaborating with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department and Clay County Public Health Department to make the entire community aware of the dangers of illegal opiates. The district hosted a public presentation about the crisis by the Sheriff’s Office this spring at Kearney High School. Deputies noted that it was one of the most well-attended presentations they had held thus far.

“This is a great example of what we as public service providers can accomplish when we work together for the benefit of our residents,” Morrison said. “I appreciate the DHSS and our local law enforcement agencies for bringing this to our attention. They’re trying to be proactive and help us deal with all of these types of situations.”

Visit fentanylawarenessday.org to learn more about the fentanyl crisis and how to respond.

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