Get ready to trot for a cause!🏃‍♂️🦃All of our elementary schools are joining together for our first ever Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Run to raise funds that benefit each school’s PTO! Bring your family, lace up your shoes, and come run, walk, or trot with us!

📅 When: Saturday, November 22
📍 Where: Washburn Rural High School
💻 Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Topeka/TurkeyTrotAndFunRun

Every registration supports your local elementary school. Let’s make this a district tradition full of fun, feathers, and community spirit!

REMINDER: Friday, October 10, 2025, is a Staff Work Day. Students will not have school on this date.

At last night’s Board of Education meeting, we were proud to honor three outstanding individuals from Wanamaker Elementary School:

💫 Shining Star Student Award – Caroline Wiltz
Caroline shines brightly as a student who leads with kindness, integrity, and determination. "She is kind, respectful, and always willing to help others," shared Principal Marc Sonderegger. "Her teachers describe her as mature beyond her years – someone who can always be counted on to make good choices, stay on task, and be a good friend." She represents what it means to be a model Mustang, and we are proud to honor her with the Shining Star Student Award.

💫 All Star Staff Award – Sarah Pruden
Special education teacher Sarah Pruden was recognized for being a remarkable educator who quietly makes an extraordinary impact. "She consistently goes above and beyond, not only for the students on her caseload, but for any student who needs her support," shared Sonderegger. "She's innovative, flexible, and always willing to try something new if it means helping a child grow." Sarah’s dedication and compassion make a lasting difference, and we are proud to recognize her with the All Star Staff Award.

💫 All Star Staff Award – Bruce Smith
Paraeducator Bruce Smith is known for being dependable, reliable, and open-minded. With patience and heart, he builds strong connections with students and lifts up his team. "He has a unique gift for helping students find their footing again when they're stuck, and he does it with a smile and a sense of humor that lifts everyone around him," shared Sonderegger. Steady, encouraging, and deeply valued, Bruce embodies the spirit of teamwork we celebrate with the All Star Staff Award.

Please join us in congratulating Caroline, Sarah, and Bruce for representing the very best of Wanamaker Elementary!

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Boys Soccer game vs. Bishop Carroll! Varsity game starts around 6:15 PM at the WRHS McElroy Field and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Join the Washburn Rural High School Student Council for a Trunk or Treat event on Thursday, October 30, from 5:30–6:30 PM. This family-friendly event is open to the entire Auburn-Washburn community. Don your favorite costume and stop by for a fun evening! Parking information and a map are available at https://usd437.net/news/2025-10-student-council-to-host-trunk-or-treat/public-wrhs-home.

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at the round-robin League Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, October 4! Games start at 9:00 AM in both the WRHS Activity Center and Gym A. Washburn Rural is hosting Emporia High School, Hayden High School, Junction City High School, Manhattan High School, and Topeka High School.

Games will take place on both courts in the Activity Center and in Gym A and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

To wrap up their science unit on Energy Conversions, fourth-graders at Auburn Elementary School got a hands-on lesson from Evergy about how energy works in our community! Students learned what causes blackouts, how we can help prevent them, and important ways to stay safe around electricity. A huge thank you to Evergy for bringing real-world science into our classrooms!💡

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Varsity Football game vs. Topeka High! Game starts at 7:00 PM in the WRHS Bowen-Glaze Stadium and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

The Homecoming Ceremony will take place during halftime.

You're invited to our annual Homecoming Parade tomorrow, Friday, October 3, 2025, at 2:15 PM! Please review the attached map for the parade route, spectator parking, road closures, and early pick-up details to help the event run smoothly.

The Auburn-Washburn Board of Education invites you to share your voice in the search for our next superintendent! Please consider joining us at one of the following in-person meetings:

📅 Mon., Oct. 20 at 5:15 PM | Washburn Rural Middle School
📅 Wed., Oct. 22 at 6:00 PM | Washburn Rural North Middle School
📅 Thur., Oct. 23 at 6:00 PM | Washburn Rural High School
📅 Wed., Oct. 29 at 6:30 PM | Shuler Education Center

In addition to these in-person meetings, please consider participating in our online survey, which gives every stakeholder an opportunity to share their input on the qualities most important in our next leader: https://forms.gle/aGT9XcwroPWAztpz8.

Your voice matters in shaping the future of Auburn-Washburn. Thank you for joining us in this critical process as we work together to ensure a bright future for our students and community.