🍎Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application Now Available!🍎

Children need healthy meals to learn and Auburn-Washburn is here to help. Every student has access to nutritious meals each school day, and many families qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income and household size. Even if you haven’t qualified in the past, it may be worth it to check the eligibility guidelines for the 2025-2026 school year: http://usd437.net/food-service

BIG NEWS!

The Board of Education has just approved major changes to Auburn-Washburn's bus driver and paraprofessional compensation! Now is a great time to join our team, and here's why:

👉 Increased starting wage for bus drivers, with additional pay for relevant experience
👉 A new experienced-based pay ladder for paraeducators, which gives credit for prior relevant experience
👉 Open positions are also available for crossing guards, teachers, substitutes, custodians, and more
👉 Enroll your children in USD 437 schools, even if you live outside the district
👉 Receive health insurance benefits for full-time positions
👉 Enjoy flexible hours where you can pick your days to work and have summers off

If you’ve been considering a new opportunity, now's the time! Apply today at careers.usd437.net.

These outstanding members of our transportation team represented Auburn-Washburn earlier this month at the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association Safe Driving Competition. Affectionately known as the Bus 'Road'eo, this event brings together the top drivers from across the state to test their skills through a closed-course competition and written safety exams. Our team came home with some impressive hardware:

🥉3rd place – Safe Driver Team Category: Anna Cooper, Sue Carrick, and Stephanie Johns
🥉3rd place – Experienced Conventional: Stephanie Johns

To qualify for state, these drivers first excelled at the Eastern Regional competition in March, winning the following awards:

🥇1st place – Experienced Conventional & Overall Top Score: Anna Cooper
🥇1st place – Rookie Conventional: Sue Carrick
🥈2nd place – Experienced Conventional: Frank Kent
🥉3rd Place – Experienced Conventional: Stephanie Johns

Congratulations to these drivers for their award-winning performances!

Interested in joining our team? We're looking for dedicated professionals to get our students to and from school safely. Apply online today at careers.usd437.net.

Construction is underway on the new multipurpose facility at Washburn Rural High School. Once completed, the building will support physical education classes during the school day and a wide range of student activities and programs after hours.

Good kids doing great things! Washburn Rural High School student Diana Wolgast is making a big impact through her volunteer work at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center. Thank you, Diana, for your commitment to service and community! 💙

The National Speech & Debate Tournament kicked off Monday in Des Moines, Iowa, and we're proud to share that more than two dozen Washburn Rural High School students are competing on the national stage! Please join us in cheering on the following students as they represent our school community with skill, poise, and confidence:

▪️Jace Raines & GopikaaShri Chidambaranathan (Policy Debate)
▪️Kavinayashri Chidambaranathan & Aditi Nimishakavi (Policy Debate)
▪️Rebecca Reed & Aryan Verma (Public Forum Debate)
▪️Harris Chaudhry & Campbell Hight (Public Forum Debate)
▪️Tarrence Byrd (United States Extemp)
▪️Manaswini Koduru (United States Extemp)
▪️Zain Chaudhry (Congressional Debate-House)
▪️Sophie Heinen (Congressional Debate-Senate)
▪️Ella Conran (Dramatic Interpretation)
▪️Will Boyd & Lizzy Sturgeon (Duo Interpretation)
▪️Holly Sorrenti & Cambria Hall (Duo Interpretation)
▪️Jaiden Loreman & Morgan Boose (Duo Interpretation)
▪️Miriam Smith (Humorous Interpretation)
▪️Kennedy Wright (International Extemp)
▪️Xachary Browne (Program Oral Interpretation)
▪️Ariana Smith (Program Oral Interpretation)
▪️Abigail Buckhalter (Poetry)
▪️Ophelia Lackey (Informative Speaking)
indicates four-time-competitor

As of today, GopikaaShri Chidambaranathan and Jace Raines are still competing among the top 30 policy debate teams in the nation! You can follow the tournament and track results at https://www.speechanddebate.org/national-tournament-2025/.

The Debate and Forensics program is under the direction of head coach Tim Ellis. In his 12-year tenure, Washburn Rural has won three national championships and nine state championships in policy debate.

Go get 'em, Jr. Blues!

It was a great year! From state championships to academic honors, Auburn-Washburn continues to set the standard. Thanks for all you do to help us shine.

Hot off the press! The latest edition of School News is on its way to your mailbox! Inside, you’ll find:

🏆 Award-winning student and staff achievements
✂️ A look inside the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Washburn Rural North Middle School
📚 Highlights from every school in the district
🛠️ Construction updates and future plans
🗓️ Key back-to-school dates and registration information

Can't wait for your mail to arrive? A digital version is available now at https://usd437.net/assets/newsletters/school-news/summer-2025.

A huge shout-out to the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office for hosting their Youth Academy at Washburn Rural North Middle School last week! This incredible program was completely free and open to incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.

Participants had a jam-packed schedule with several live demonstrations and hands-on experiences that included deploying spike strips, working with K-9 officers, operating drones, and changing a tire. They also received training in basic first aid and CPR, internet safety, drug awareness, and firearms safety.

Thank you to the Sheriff's Office for providing such a fun and educational camp for our students!

Big things are happening at Washburn Rural Middle School! The final phase of a three-part renovation is underway, with summer upgrades including a refreshed entryway, renovated classrooms, updated restrooms, and completion of the Library Media Center. When it's all said and done, it will feel like we have two brand new middle schools in the district! Take a look at the progress! 👇