The 2024 National History Day contest kicks off today at the University of Maryland, College Park. Twelve talented Washburn Rural Middle School students will compete over the next several days in preliminary and final rounds. Join us in cheering them on and wishing them the best of luck!

There are many summer camps happening across the district. Visit https://usd437.net/fliers to explore upcoming science camps, coding camps, music camps, and athletic camps!

The Washburn Rural High School Hall of Fame committee is calling for nominations. If you know of any former WRHS staff, students, or teams who should be recognized for their outstanding achievements or contributions, please consider submitting a nomination through the district website at https://usd437.net/wrhs/hall-of-fame.

Hundreds of students in grades 3-8 took part in this year's Battle of the Books, a program aimed at inspiring young readers through friendly competition with their peers and school staff. At the start of the school year, each participating team received a list of 18 books that included non-fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and other genres. Over the next eight months, the teams worked together to read and master the books in preparation for the competition. Teams faced off against one other and points were awarded based on their ability to answer questions about the books. Congratulations to the student championship teams from each school pictured here.

📚 Auburn Elementary School | Yellow Bananas
📚 Farley Elementary School | Skittles
📚 Indian Hills Elementary School | Full Boxed
📚 Jay Shideler Elementary School | Six of Hearts
📚 Pauline South Intermediate School | All Stars
📚 Wanamaker Elementary School | Home Run Readers
📚 Washburn Rural Middle School | Oompa Loompas

The University of Kansas Department of Special Education honored five Auburn-Washburn leaders last night as recipients of the 2024 Whelan Leadership for Learning Award. This award is bestowed annually to a practicing educational leader or leadership team that demonstrates the vigorous pursuit of learning opportunities for each and every student. It recognizes the team for their design and implementation of comprehensive, integrated, three-tiered (Ci3T) models of prevention to meet students' academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.

Award recipients include:

• Jaime Callaghan, Executive Director of Learning Services
• Chris Holman, Principal of Pauline South Intermediate School
• Debbie Williams, Principal of Pauline Central Primary School
• Sarah Lucero, Director of Title Services
• Jill Gratton, Assessment Data Manager

Please join us in congratulating these dedicated leaders for their commitment to meeting students' needs!

While students are off enjoying summer break, our dedicated administrators are still hard at work debriefing from this past school year and planning for the next! Today, they participated in an engaging retreat that focused on lead learning, data-based decision making, employee engagement, and more. Leading with purpose and intention is one of the ways the district fulfills its mission of "inspiring, challenging, and preparing every child, every day!"

Spread the word!

📆Thursday, June 6, 2024
⏰3:00–4:00 pm (by appointment) and 4:00–5:00 pm (walk-ins)
📍 Pauline South Intermediate School (7035 SW Morrill Road)

Our free summer meal program will begin on Monday, June 3 at Pauline South Intermediate School. To-go lunch and breakfast will be served to children up to 18 years of age. The meal program will run Monday through Friday, 11:45 am to 1:00 pm through July.

From send-off parades and graduation walks to field day events and commencement programs, our district is rich in tradition. We hope you enjoy these photos of some of our favorite year-end events! Thank you for a wonderful school year and all the best for a relaxing summer.

It's the final publication day of the school year for Washburn Rural Middle School's Falcon Press. Visit http://www.wrmsnews.net for news, including a feature story on the music program's recent trip to St. Louis!