This is a reminder that there will be no school and all KSD offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, in recognition of the Presidents Day federal holiday. Visit our website to view our 2025-2026 academic calendar. Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend.
Three-Peat: KHS Girls Swim Wins Another Conference Championship
Kearney High School Girls Swimming has done it again.
Over the weekend, our Bulldogs competed in their conference championship meet to close out the regular season and brought home a third-straight conference title. Head Coach Trevor Woehrman shared that the team “did not shy away from the moment,” showing poise and confidence from the opening races Friday night through Saturday afternoon. The results backed that up in a big way: Kearney won 9 of the 11 events and won the meet by 230 points.
What makes this run even more impressive is the steady growth behind it. Coach Woehrman and his staff have been proud of how this group has developed “both in and out of the pool,” and it showed all weekend with personal bests, season bests, and clutch performances when it mattered most.
The Harlem Wizards are known nationwide for their high-energy blend of basketball skill, comedy, and audience interaction. This family-friendly event promises laughter, incredible tricks, and unforgettable moments as students, staff, and community members come together to celebrate Bulldog pride.
As KSDEF’s first Harlem Wizards event, this game marks an exciting new chapter for the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Proceeds from the event will support KSDEF’s mission of enhancing educational opportunities for Kearney students through classroom innovation grants, student programs, and scholarships.
KSDEF hopes this inaugural Wizards game becomes a new Kearney tradition, one that brings the community together while directly supporting students and teachers across the district. Join us on Saturday, April 11, at KHS!
KSD Elementary Teachers Equip Families with Literacy Tools and Techniques
Recently, our kindergarten teachers and instructional coaches at Dogwood, Hawthorne and Kearney Elementary hosted a special hands-on family learning night focused on early reading support.
Families of students who could benefit from a little extra help in reading were invited in to learn alongside our staff. Together, they explored simple, high-impact phonics strategies and talked through practical ways to reinforce those skills at home. The goal was straightforward: give families clear, usable tools that build confidence and keep students moving forward. Each family also left with a take-home toolkit so they can keep practicing beyond the classroom.
"We are grateful to our families for showing up, leaning in and partnering with our teachers, and we are proud of our educators for creating welcoming, supportive opportunities that meet students where they are," KSD Director of Curriculum & Instruction Ali Stewart said. "Early literacy is one of the most important building blocks we can provide, and nights like this are a great example of what happens when schools and families work together."
Our foodservice partners at SFE shared their January 2026 newsletter, highlighting the great meals, special events, and all the hard work their teams put in each day to support our students and staff. It’s clear how much pride they take in serving KSD. The full newsletter is attached to this post. Please join us in thanking our amazing kitchen teams across the district. They make such a positive difference in our schools every single day!
KEC Spark Opportunities for K–7 Students on No-School Days
Bulldog families, if you’re looking for a fun, structured option for your child on days when Kearney School District isn’t in session, the Kearney Enrichment Council has two great opportunities coming up through its Spark program for children in kindergarten through seventh grade.
Our latest Kearney Academy newsletter is now available, and it’s a great snapshot of the learning, relationships, and momentum happening in KSD’s alternative program for our students who are working toward graduation!
In this issue, you’ll meet one of the program's newest students, sophomore Gemma Grosvenor, who describes Kearney Academy as a “very open space” with “nice people,” and shares how the program gives her time to focus on what she’s interested in without feeling rushed.
You’ll also find student reflections on recent learning experiences and field trips, including visits to the Steamboat Arabia and a Kansas City courthouse, as well as museums, pottery painting, a knitting class and more.
Please take a minute to read the attached newsletter to learn more about these awesome students and their learning experiences!
Kindergarten Enrollment Now Open!
Kearney School District’s kindergarten enrollment opened on Monday, Feb. 2, 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.
If you already have a username and password: Enter that information into the windows on the left side of the page to access the Registration Gateway, then click “Add a Student” from the options on the left
If you are new to this system: Click the “Registration Gateway” link and then click “Start” on the next screen to create a username and password
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.
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.
All families are encouraged to fill out the Online Meal Application Form. Completing this form allows families to qualify for free and reduced meal prices and also allows KSD to potentially become eligible for additional academic resources and funding.
Kindergarten Orientation events will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 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 2039!
Sign Up for the KSD Legislative Update
As the Missouri legislative session gets underway, Kearney School District is launching a short Legislative Update email newsletter to help our community understand how proposals in Jefferson City could affect our community's public schools. This newsletter will include a straightforward snapshot and brief analysis of proposals, bills, and laws at the state level that may impact public education, along with contact information for our local legislators. Please visit the KSD Legislative Updates page on our website at www.ksdr1.net/legislativeupdates and complete the opt-in form if you’d like to receive these newsletters.
Elementary School Transfer Requests for 2026–2027 (Due April 1)
Kearney School District students are expected to attend the elementary school assigned to their home address. However, if you would like to request an elementary school transfer for the 2026–2027 academic year, please complete the Student Transfer Request Form and submit it by April 1, 2026.
Thank you for helping us plan ahead for next year.
And last but not least...
Team KSD Goes to School!
We have world-class educators in Kearney School District. That means they never stop learning. There were no classes on Feb. 11 so that our teachers, administrators and support staff could go back to school. They were fully engaged in high-quality professional development to hone their skills in order to help every student achieve better outcomes. This is the Bulldog way.
