Our Kearney High School Track & Field athletes capped off an outstanding season with an impressive showing at the Class 4 State Championships this past weekend in Jefferson City!
The Bulldogs competed at the highest level, battled through a major weather delay on Friday and came back Saturday ready to perform on the biggest stage of the season.
The boys' team, led by Head Coach Scott Crall, brought 23 athletes to the state meet and qualified in 11 of the 19 events. The Bulldogs finished eighth overall in Class 4, which is an incredible achievement for this group.
Coach Crall shared that he was especially proud of how the team responded to adversity.
“I came away more impressed with the way these boys performed, their leadership, how they were able to battle through adversity, and their attitudes,” he said. “On the biggest stage, they put forth their best efforts and that's all I ever ask of these young men.”
The girls' team, led by Head Coach Geoff Hutton, also brought home All-State honors, with Bulldogs placing in the top eight in both the 4x800m relay and discus. Congratulations to our All-State Bulldogs!
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We want to share an important message about electric bikes, motor scooters, and similar motorized devices on Kearney School District property.
As a reminder, a City of Kearney ordinance prohibits riding motorized devices on sidewalks/trails and by unlicensed riders on public streets. Our goal is to support safe transportation while also protecting our students, staff, visitors and facilities.
We have had some recent concerns about students riding dangerously on campus. These vehicles can move quickly and create serious safety risks, especially when summer programs bring younger students, families and staff members onto our campuses throughout the day.
Students may not ride electric bikes, motor scooters or other motorized devices recklessly or in unauthorized areas on district property. This includes riding on grass fields, athletic areas, sidewalks, walking paths, playgrounds or other spaces where they could damage property or create unsafe conditions for pedestrians.
Please talk with your child if they have access to an electric bike, motor scooter or similar device. Students who ride these vehicles to school or activities should park them in appropriate areas and follow all school, district, city and state rules. Unsafe riding on KSD property may result in students losing the privilege of bringing these vehicles onto campus.
Thank you for helping us keep our campuses safe, welcoming and well cared for this summer.
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Congratulations to Kearney High School Social Studies Teacher Jennifer West, who was recently selected to receive a Fund for Teachers grant for a research-driven study trip this summer.
Mrs. West’s project will take her to some of Europe’s most bicycle-friendly cities, where she will study bicycle infrastructure, urban connectivity, sustainable land-use planning and safe, efficient transportation networks. She will collect data, photos, maps and interviews that she can bring back to KHS to enhance her human geography instruction, especially her unit on urban patterns and processes.
This is exactly the kind of real-world learning that helps students connect classroom concepts to the communities around them.
- How do cities make decisions about transportation?
- What makes a place more walkable, bikeable and connected?
- How can lessons from other parts of the world help us think about suburban communities here in America?
Mrs. West will be exploring those questions this summer, and we’re excited for the knowledge and experiences she will bring back to our Bulldogs.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. West on this outstanding honor!
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We are proud to share that Kearney High School Science Teacher Kaitlyn Fountain has been selected to serve as a Mentor Teacher in the Real World Learning Market Value Asset Educator Network for the 2026-2027 school year!
This regional leadership opportunity is coordinated through the Kauffman Foundation’s Real World Learning initiative. As a Mentor Teacher, Ms. Fountain will help guide and support a cohort of educators as they develop and implement learning experiences such as Client-Connected Projects and Entrepreneurial Experiences.
That work matters deeply for our students. These are the kinds of experiences that help young people connect what they are learning in school with the skills, relationships and opportunities they will need after graduation.
Kearney School District has made Real World Learning a major priority, and our goal is to ensure that every KHS graduate earns Market Value Assets before they leave our schools. Ms. Fountain’s selection is another sign that Team KSD is helping lead that work across our region.
Please join us in congratulating Kaitlyn Fountain on this well-earned recognition and exciting leadership opportunity!
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Kearney School District sixth- and seventh-graders are adding a little color, creativity and celebration to summer school!
Students in Fred Skretta’s middle school Spanish Crash Course class at Kearney High School have been learning about the history and cultural traditions connected to piñatas while making their own from scratch. The students have been building and decorating their piñatas this week, carefully adding bright tissue paper and plenty of personality to each creation.
Once the piñatas are finished, the class will fill them with goodies and celebrate their hard work with a small fiesta.
This is exactly the kind of hands-on learning we love to see during summer school: students exploring language and culture while creating something together.
¡Buen trabajo, Bulldogs! 💜💛
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We’re proud to celebrate several Kearney High School students who were recognized during the Excelsior Springs Area Career Center Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 30.
This special event honored outstanding Career and Technical Education students for their hard work, skill, leadership and commitment throughout the school year. Congratulations to these Bulldogs!
Professional of the Year
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Devin McElwee, Fire Fighter
Perfect Attendance
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Anthony Dutzel, Automotive Technology
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Caroline Jury, Fire Fighter I & II
SkillsUSA State Medalist
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Arden Rhynerson, 2nd Place, Health Services: Nurse Assisting
These recognitions are a great reminder of the incredible opportunities our students have to explore career pathways, build real-world skills and prepare for life after high school. Way to go, Bulldogs! We’re proud of you!
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We have a couple of amazing academic accomplishments to celebrate from our Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences program!
Kearney Junior High ninth grader Elayna Viox and Kearney High School student Braelyn Howe both earned perfect scores on the PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science End-of-Course exam earlier this spring.
That is a huge achievement. Based on national score information published by PLTW, students who earn perfect scores on this exam are likely among the top 1% of students in the nation.
Principles of Biomedical Science is a rigorous, hands-on course that challenges students to think like medical investigators and scientists as they explore topics related to biology, medicine, public health and human body systems. Earning a perfect score on the End-of-Course exam takes focus, preparation and a deep understanding of some very challenging material.
Congratulations to Elayna and Braelyn on this outstanding accomplishment! We are proud of their hard work, curiosity and commitment to excellence. Please join us in celebrating this feat of biomedical science awesomeness!
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The City of Kearney, in partnership with GO North KC and other regional organizations, is hosting Cleats & Beats at Jesse James Park. This free community FanFest, World Cup watch party and concert event will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 19.
The highlight of the day will be a live outdoor viewing of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ match between the United States and Australia on a massive screen. Kearney is one of seven Northland locations helping bring World Cup excitement to our region through this partnership with GO North KC.
After the match, the celebration will keep rolling with live music from The Bangerz, plus a DJ to help keep the energy going throughout the event.
Families and fans can also enjoy food trucks, concessions, selfie stations, interactive Fan Zone activities and a drop-in soccer camp with international coaches from Challenger Sports from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Our friends with SFE, Southwest Foodservice Excellence, have been busy cooking up a great spring for our students and staff!
The April and May issues of their What’s Cooking newsletter are packed with smiling students, creative cafeteria fun and special events across Kearney School District. Highlights include the Roving Chef program, Lucky Tray surprises, a Cinco de Mayo Chipotle Bar at KHS, a pasta dinner for our Track & Field team, staff appreciation grill-outs, an ice cream social and more.
Across April and May, the SFE team served more than 72,000 breakfasts and lunches while continuing to bring energy, care and a whole lot of heart to our cafeterias.
Thank you to Angie Lyman and the entire SFE team for all they do to serve our Bulldogs every day!
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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
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Kearney High School is inviting golfers and Bulldog supporters to join us for the 2026 KHS Athletic Hall of Fame Golf Tournament on Thursday, June 25, at The Club at Marimack in Kearney.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be a four-person scramble and is limited to the first 18 teams. The cost is $240 per team and includes a catered BBQ lunch.
This is always a fun event that supports the KHS Athletic Hall of Fame and raises money for the Bob Pence KHS Hall of Fame Scholarship, which is awarded to two Kearney High School seniors each year.
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We have prepared our key 2026 Back-to-School dates, including schedule pick-ups, transition events, open houses and the first day of classes. The first day of school for the 2026-2027 academic year will be Tuesday, Aug. 25. More important events, information and updates are available at www.ksdr1.net/back-to-school. |
Kearney School District is excited to open fall enrollment for Kids Club, our before- and after-school care program for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Enrollment for families who are not currently enrolled in Kids Club opened on Monday, May 11.
Kids Club provides a safe, caring and convenient option for KSD families who need before- or after-school care during the school year. The program is available at each of our elementary schools and is designed to support students while giving parents/guardians peace of mind.
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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.
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.
Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at each of KSD’s elementary schools.
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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
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Kearney School District students got a hands-on lesson in the power of science this week during Michael Wernimont’s middle school summer school class at Kearney High School.
As part of this week’s “Exploring Electricity” theme, students worked together to wire up model homes, test circuits, troubleshoot problems and see firsthand how electrical systems help make our everyday lives work. Once their projects were complete, team members from Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative stopped by to inspect the model homes, talk with students about their work and help connect the classroom learning to the real-world systems that keep our communities powered every day.
This was a great example of summer school at its best: students exploring, creating, problem-solving and discovering something new.
Thank you to Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative for supporting our students, and great work, Bulldogs!
More photos:
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June 25 - Last Day of Summer School
Aug. 20 - Back-to-School Open Houses
Aug. 25 - First Day of School
Sept. 7 - Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)
Sept. 25 - Homecoming 2026
Oct. 16 - Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)
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