Share Your Feedback: Great Schools = Great Community Online Surveys
Kearney School District is continuing its Great Schools = Great Community public engagement work focused on long-term financial stability and long-range facility planning, and community feedback is an important part of that process. No final decisions have been made. KSD is currently gathering input through a random telephone survey and three online surveys for community members, parents/guardians and staff. Each online survey takes about 5 to 7 minutes and will remain open through Tuesday, Oct. 13. Before responding, stakeholders are encouraged to review the information, tools and FAQ available at ksdr1.net/greatschools to learn more about the challenges, options and questions being considered. Take a few minutes to learn more and make sure your voice is part of the conversation.
Help Save a Life at the KHS HOSA Blood Drive
Kearney High School HOSA students are inviting our community to roll up their sleeves and help save lives during their upcoming blood drive.
The Community Blood Center is currently experiencing a severe blood shortage, making every donation especially important. At the same time, donors will be supporting KHS HOSA students as they work toward their goal of collecting 65 or more units of blood this year.
KHS HOSA Blood Drive
Friday, Oct. 9
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kearney High School Old Gym
715 E. 19th St.
Community members can schedule an appointment at savealifenow.org/group using group code 7H.
Donors should eat well and hydrate before their appointment, bring a photo ID and be feeling healthy and symptom-free. Donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent, and meet minimum weight requirements.
As an added thank-you, donors can receive a stainless steel flip-spout water bottle while supplies last. Please consider giving a little of your time to make a potentially life-saving difference for someone in our community.
Bulldog Football Hits the Road to Face Raytown South
The Kearney High School Bulldogs travel to Raytown South on Friday, Oct. 9, for another exciting night of football! Fans planning to attend should review the host school's admission procedures and stadium guidelines before heading to the game.
Tickets and Admission
Raytown South is a cashless venue, and all tickets must be purchased online in advance. No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Thank you to our Bulldog families and fans for following these guidelines and supporting our student-athletes!
GO DOGS!
KHS Volleyball Rallies Around Team Kolby
Kearney High School Volleyball is inviting our Bulldog community to come together for a special Cancer Night at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in support of 10-year-old Kolby and his family.
Kolby is currently fighting high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. As his family navigates treatment, appointments and the many challenges that come with a serious illness, our volleyball community is stepping up to make sure they know they are not facing this alone.
All proceeds from Cancer Night will be donated directly to Kolby’s GoFundMe to help support the family with medical costs, travel, meals and other expenses connected to his care.
Bulldog fans are encouraged to wear purple and gold, fill the gym and help surround Kolby and his family with encouragement and support. KHS student Aiden Vasquez has also created a special story about Kolby that will be shared during the evening.
This is what community looks like: showing up for one another when it matters most. One team. One community. One fight.
Congratulations to the Kearney High School Girls Golf team on capturing its second consecutive conference championship!
The Bulldogs finished with a team score of 363, ahead of Smithville's 389, and turned in some outstanding individual performances.
Varsity Results:
Kindell Owen: 74, Conference Champion
Jessi Kutch: 89, First Team All-Conference
Suraya Jardak: 98, First Team All-Conference
Kendall Resler: 102, First Team All-Conference
Makenna Sallee: 112, Second Team All-Conference
The Bulldogs' JV team also had a strong showing, earning second place in the conference tournament. Congratulations to Rebecca Harris, Kadence Baker, Ella Lorenson and Peyton Holt, who each earned JV All-Conference honors!
Special thanks to Head Coach Troy Resler, who also teaches physical education at Kearney Middle School, for his leadership and dedication to our student-athletes.
Congratulations to all our Bulldog golfers on a terrific accomplishment! We're proud of you!
KHS Varsity Cheer is State Bound!
Congratulations to the Kearney High School Varsity Cheer team, which punched its ticket to State with an outstanding third-place finish at the Regional Cheerleading Competition on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Liberty North High School!
The Bulldogs entered Regionals after taking a different approach to this season. Rather than spending months focused on a competition routine, the team devoted the summer and fall to strengthening individual skills, sideline presence and KHS traditions. They put their complete competition routine together in less than a week before taking the floor at Regionals.
And they delivered.
KHS finished just 1.7 points out of first place while earning some of the session’s highest scores in Dance, Creativity, Performance and Pyramids. The Bulldogs also “hit zero,” completing their routine with no deductions or penalties, something only three teams in their session accomplished.
Congratulations to our Bulldog cheerleaders and coaches for the composure, teamwork and determination they showed when it mattered most.
Next stop: Mizzou! KHS Varsity Cheer will compete for a state title on Oct. 24 at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Go Bulldogs!
Start Thanksgiving with a Bulldog Tradition: 2026 Turkey Trot
Registration is now open for one of Kearney’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions!
The 15th Annual KSD Education Foundation Turkey Trot will step off at 8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 26, at Kearney High School Stadium. Families, students, alumni and community members are invited to start the holiday together with a 4-mile or 1-mile walk/run, plus a free Tot Trot for the youngest Bulldogs. A virtual option will also be available Nov. 24-29 for those who want to participate wherever Thanksgiving takes them.
Even better, every step supports Kearney students. Registration fees, donations and sponsorships benefit KSD Education Foundation classroom grants and scholarships while also supporting the Kearney High School Cross Country team. The Foundation’s work helps provide learning opportunities and resources beyond what the regular district budget can support.
Early-bird registration is $30 through Oct. 11 and includes the 2026 Turkey Trot race shirt. Regular registration will be $35 through Nov. 8. Participants can also register later, although race shirts are not included with late registration.
Whether you plan to race, walk with family and friends or simply enjoy being part of a great Kearney tradition, the Turkey Trot is a wonderful way to begin Thanksgiving while supporting our Bulldogs.
Based on the beloved Mary Rodgers novel and the Disney films, Freaky Friday follows a mother and daughter who magically swap bodies for 24 chaotic hours. Along the way, Katherine and Ellie gain a new understanding of each other’s challenges and discover just how much love and respect hold their relationship together.
Performances will be held Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Kearney High School Auditorium. The production runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Come support our talented Bulldog performers, musicians and crew members as they bring this funny and heartfelt story to the stage!
KSD Winter Sports Registration and Tryout Information
Winter sports are just around the corner, and families can help make sure student-athletes are ready to participate by completing their Activities Registration in PowerSchool before the first day of practice or tryouts.
High School (Grades 9-12)
Nov. 2: Girls Wrestling
Nov. 2: Girls Basketball
Nov. 2: Boys Basketball
Nov. 9: Boys Wrestling
Junior High (Grades 7-8)
Oct. 26: Boys & Girls Wrestling
Nov. 2: Girls Basketball
Nov. 2: Boys Basketball
Times and locations will be shared at a later date. Students who participated in a fall sport are already cleared for participation.
To complete registration, families should log in to PowerSchool, select Forms and then the Enrollment tab. Complete Form J, followed by Form K, including the required consent and release sections. If a new physical is needed, families should upload Page 5 of the completed MSHSAA Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation Form in Form K. If a current physical is already on file, the expiration date should appear automatically and no new upload is needed. The attached step-by-step guide walks families through the entire process.
Thank you for helping our Bulldogs stay eligible and ready to compete this winter!
Learn About Running for the KSD Board of Education at Nov. 10 Information Session
Community members interested in learning more about serving on the Kearney School District Board of Education are invited to attend a Board of Education Candidate Information Session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the KSD central office, 425 W. Washington St.
The session is designed to help prospective candidates better understand the election process and the roles and responsibilities of a school board member. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
The next General Municipal Election will be held Tuesday, April 6, 2027. Candidate filing for the election will open Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, and close Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027.
Under Missouri law, KSD Board of Education candidates must be:
A U.S. citizen
A resident taxpayer of Kearney School District
A resident of the district for at least one year immediately preceding the election
At least 24 years old
Additional state requirements and disqualifications also apply. KSD will provide complete candidate filing information before the filing period begins.
Anyone with questions about the information session or the Board candidate process may contact Board of Education Secretary Becky Burkemper at burkemperb@ksdr1.net or (816) 628-4116.
Serving on the Board of Education is an important form of public service and an opportunity to help guide the future of Kearney School District. We encourage anyone who may be considering Board service to attend and learn more.
And last but not least...
Student Voices Help Shape KSD's Future
Kearney School District students are helping shape the future of our schools!
As part of KSD's Long-Range Facility Planning process, Superintendent Dr. Emily Miller is meeting with secondary students to hear their perspectives on our school facilities and what they believe will best support students in the years ahead. Dr. Miller visited with Kearney Junior High School students on Tuesday and Kearney High School students today. A conversation with Kearney Middle School students is also planned.
These discussions are an important part of our Great Schools = Great Community initiative. By listening directly to students who use our schools every day, KSD can better understand their experiences, needs and ideas as we plan for the future.
Thank you to our students for sharing their voices and helping make our schools even better!
