Kearney, Mo., April 22, 2025: Kearney School District is hosting 2025 Kindergarten Orientations from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 at Dogwood Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Kearney Elementary and Southview Elementary.

This will be an opportunity for students who are eligible for kindergarten this fall to prepare by spending time with their teachers and other school support staff. Parents and guardians will get to meet and interact with school administrators during a Q&A session.

In addition, these orientations will include devices and support for parents and guardians who want to complete the kindergarten enrollment process for their children. Families should go to the orientation at the school their child will be attending when school starts this fall.

Visit www.ksdr1.net/enrollment for details about how to enroll your child in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The post Calling All 2025-2026 Kindergarteners: Get Ready for School! appeared first on Kearney School District.

A team comprised of Dogwood students Titus Brewer, Colton Watson and Lachlan Griffith recently earned first place in the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game. The game celebrates top-performing teams across elementary, middle and high school categories.

The Dogwood team achieved the highest portfolio values among Missouri students in the competition and was recognized alongside their teachers and school. Coached by fifth-grade teacher Lindsey Thomas, these dedicated students and other fifth-graders arrived at school bright and early once a week to study the stock market and strategize their investments.

“I’m so proud of these students and impressed by all the work they put into this experience,” Principal Kathleen Bahan said. “This is the kind of Project Based Learning that prepare our students to thrive and contribute to our community.”

Hosted by the SIFMA Foundation in collaboration with dedicated local partners, The Stock Market Game underscores the value of equipping young people with essential financial skills and knowledge. This dynamic program allows students to engage in the complexities of stock trading by managing a simulated portfolio with a virtual $100,000. Through this hands-on learning experience, participants gain valuable insights into economics, finance, and market dynamics.

“Congratulations to all the outstanding student teams who excelled in this semester’s Stock Market Game,” said Melanie Mortimer, President of the SIFMA Foundation. “This program is about more than just numbers—it’s about inspiring the next generation of leaders to think critically, make informed choices, and approach financial challenges with confidence.”

Participants explore the value of long-term investing through an innovative educational platform used by Missouri teachers to enhance knowledge in math, economics and personal finance. This comprehensive program improves test scores while imparting critical life skills essential for financial independence.

In teams of up to five, students simulate real-world investing, trading stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. They research market trends, monitor global news, and make strategic trades in real-time using the Stock Market Game’s online tools or smartphone app. Additionally, students can prioritize socially responsible investments aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The Stock Market Game curriculum integrates lessons, hands-on activities and virtual events to develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills through an engaging real-world simulation. Teachers access a robust online support center, offering over 1,000 lesson plans that align with Missouri education standards, STEM requirements, and 21st-century learning goals. The program emphasizes the fundamentals of long-term saving and investing while enhancing core subjects like math, language arts, economics, and social studies.

Beyond the competition, students gain invaluable skills in research, risk assessment and decision-making. These lessons not only deepen their understanding of economic principles, but also instill a sense of financial responsibility and readiness for future academic, career and personal finance challenges.

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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!

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LINK: In-District Elementary School Transfer Request Form for Current Students

As part of the elementary school attendance boundary adjustments approved by the Board of Education last month, we are changing our practice regarding private daycare providers. Starting next academic year, KSD will provide transportation to the school in the attendance zone where the daycare is located:

Completed transfer request forms are required by the deadline for any students who will use district busing from a private daycare provider that is not in their home residence elementary attendance zone. For instance, if your child’s home elementary school is Southview and they receive before-school care at Little Dawg, you will need complete and submit the transfer request by the deadline in order to attend Kearney Elementary.

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 example, 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 if they don’t complete a transfer request to Dogwood by the submission deadline.

Please email RegHelp@ksdr1.net for questions about the transfer process.

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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.

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Kearney, Mo., December 4, 2024: A great education can start by learning that a German dog says, “wau wau.”

A group of foreign language students from Kearney High School visited classrooms at all four Kearney School District elementary schools today. The teens led 20-minute lessons in Spanish and German for the younger students.

Beth Pickle’s second graders at Kearney Elementary learned about how Christmas is celebrated in Spain and then sang the traditional “Feliz Navidad” song in Spanish; that was followed by a lesson on the names of various animals in German and how they sound in that language. Similar scenes played out at Hawthorne, Dogwood and Southview elementary schools.

This “sociocultural project” was conceived of by KHS foreign language teachers Stacey Getz and Brittini Starzl as a creative way to help their students earn a Seal of Biliteracy when they graduate, according to KSD Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw.

“In the past, our students have completed essays as part of the process of qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy,” Mrs. Holtzclaw said. “This year, instead, they did cultural research, developed lesson plans and visited the elementary schools to share their knowledge with those students.”

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation, according to the coalition that created the program. The goal is to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual.

A Seal of Biliteracy is a valuable credential for students as they pursue their college and career goals. It is considered a Market Value Asset (MVA) under Kearney School District’s Real World Learning initiative; all graduates will be required to have an MVA to graduate starting with the Class of 2025.

In addition, a number of colleges, universities and businesses offer incentives for students who have earned the seal. At Missouri State University, for instance, students with the seal can earn foreign language credits without having to take those classes.

Having the high school students teach at the elementary schools also helps nurture interest in studying foreign languages among younger classes, Holtzclaw added, and aligns with KSD’s goal to foster future public educators.

LINK: KHS Seal of Biliteracy Sociocultural Lessons Photos

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Mackenzie earned her spot among just 135 talented students selected from over 1,000 auditions statewide, according to Dogwood Elementary music teacher Xandria Obico. In January, Mackenzie will join the choir to perform during the 87th Missouri Music Educator’s Association Conference at the Lake of the Ozarks.

“Mackenzie has worked hard to develop her singing skills, and her dedication has paid off,” Mrs. Obico said. “This opportunity marks an exciting milestone for Mackenzie, Dogwood Elementary, and the entire community as they cheer her on in this prestigious event!”

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Kearney, Mo., October 16, 2024: The public education team at Kearney School District has long recognized that Lead Social Worker Meeghan Masters is extraordinary; now that distinction is being recognized by a prominent organization that focuses on supporting families across the nation.

Modern Woodmen of America has selected Mrs. Masters for its Hometown Hero Award. The honor was announced by Modern Woodmen Financial Representative Nicolas Vasquez during a surprise event with dozens of her family members, co-workers and friends yesterday afternoon at the KSD central office.

“Since I started working as a social worker for KSD, I’ve made it my mission to help ensure that every child can have the same kind of experiences and opportunities at school as my children have,” Masters said. “I’m so grateful to Modern Woodmen for this award because it affirms and supports that mission that we are all trying to achieve as a team. This is amazing.”

Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal financial services society headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois. The society’s Hometown Hero program provides an opportunity to honor an individual or volunteer group for their outstanding service to the community or an act of bravery. The award aligns with the organization’s commitment to support social, educational and volunteer activities that identify and meet local needs.

“I cannot think of a person in our Bulldog community who is more deserving of this award,” said Mr. Vasquez, who also serves as a member of the KSD Board of Education. “Meeghan embodies the true spirit of selfless service that is an example for us all.”

As part of the award, Modern Woodmen will make a $100 charitable donation to the organization or deserving individual of Masters’ choice.

Masters became KSD’s first social worker in October 2015. Since then, the program has expanded to include two other full-time social workers and her elevation as leader of that team.

It’s difficult to encompass the scope of Masters’ work for the district and the community. Her tasks broadly include ensuring that every student’s basic needs are met so that they are in a position to succeed in school. An incomplete list of her efforts includes:

• Helping provide dozens of Kearney High School students with nutritious meals through an on-campus food pantry
• Organizing and running an annual fair to distribute school resources for students in need every summer before the start of classes
• Ensuring that KSD is effectively and efficiently using its roughly $1 million Clay County Children’s Services Fund grant to best support families
• Connecting students with vital mental and emotional support services
• Assisting homeless students

KSD Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp is effusive when talking about the positive impact that Masters has across KSD.

“Meeghan is someone who, if there is a kid in need, she will be there to help them, no matter what,” Kopp said. “And she doesn’t just help the students. She will go above and beyond to help the entire family. She’s always available.”

Masters’ commitment to caring extends to her family. She and her husband, Jeremy Masters, have fostered four children over the years, and are raising four, two of whom are adopted. All of their children have developed a similar focus on service, according to Kopp.

“They open their home when there is a need, and their kids have the same spirit,” Kopp said. “Meeghan really is a hero.”

Contact Modern Woodmen of America Financial Representative Nicolas Vasquez at nicolas.a.vasquez@mwarep.org or (816) 231-9636. Visit www.modernwoodmen.org to learn more about Modern Woodmen.

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The situation involving the traffic stop on our campus this morning is resolved. Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested the individual on multiple outstanding misdemeanor warrants related to non-violent offenses.

To clarify our earlier message, the individual never tried to gain access to the school. The deputy was alerted about the outstanding warrants after checking the individual’s license plate. The individual pulled into the campus parking lot while being followed by the deputy. Our campus was simply a convenient location for this individual. During his initial conversation with the deputy, the individual claimed to have a student at the school, which he quickly admitted was a lie.

At no time were our students or staff in any danger. Again, we appreciate the sheriff’s office and KSD SRO Adam Kirkland for their diligence.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

Be advised that Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies detained an individual who had driven onto the Dogwood Elementary campus this morning on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The individual claimed to have a student at the school, which is not the case. At no time did the individual enter the school. The deputies have relocated the individual off of our campus and will be doing the same with the vehicle. An officer with a drug dog has been called to the scene. 

We are continuing to monitor the situation and classes are proceeding. We will provide updates as needed. This situation is completely unrelated to the message sent last night about the threat reported to Kearney School District. Our students and staff members were safe during the entire incident.

Our team did an outstanding job of following our safety and security procedures. We are very grateful to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and KSD School Resource Officer Adam Kirkland for their outstanding support. Please email dwoffice@ksdr1.net if you have any questions or concerns.

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Kearney, Mo., July 30, 2024: As the next academic year nears, Kearney School District’s Dogwood Elementary School is welcoming a new member to its leadership team.

Sydney Johnson is joining Dogwood Elementary as the school’s new Assistant Principal. Ms. Johnson is filling the job recently opened when former Dogwood Assistant Principal Kathleen Bahan moved up to Dogwood Principal.

Johnson is a lifelong Bulldog and a member of Team KSD who is taking on a new role. She grew up in Kearney, has children in the district, and taught fourth grade at Kearney Elementary during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Her path toward school administration began in 2019 as a member of the Liberty Public Schools’ Leadership Academy and the Building Leadership Team at Ridgeview Elementary, where she taught fifth grade. She was also part of the district’s English Language Arts collaboration committee for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Johnson is looking forward to continuing to contribute to the community she’s proud to call her home.

“In pursuing the Assistant Principal role at Dogwood Elementary, I was driven by a deep-rooted commitment to serve the vibrant community that made me who I am today,” she said. “With a passion for fostering academic excellence, nurturing student growth, and collaborating with dedicated educators, I am eager to contribute my skills and experience toward enhancing the educational experience for all students at Dogwood!”

As an elementary school assistant principal in KSD, Johnson will take the lead in supporting, supervising and disciplining students in a way that promotes their growth and reinforces positive classroom outcomes. She will also coordinate with Bahan to address a wide array of daily operational needs across the campus.

During the search process for the Assistant Principal position, Ms. Bahan was impressed with Johnson’s combination of classroom experience, leadership skills and passion for serving students, their families and her colleagues.

“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Johnson to the Dogwood community,” Bahan said. “I am confident she will bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that will benefit our students, staff, and families. As a KSD graduate, Ms. Johnson has a deep knowledge of the Kearney School District and is committed to fostering a positive school culture. Her passion for education, dedication to student success, and collaborative spirit make her a perfect fit for Dogwood Elementary.”

Before joining KSD last year, Johnson taught at Ridgeview Elementary starting in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Education Leadership and a Specialists in Superintendency degree, all from Northwest Missouri State University.

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