We are proud to announce the 2026 Washburn Rural High School Hall of Fame inductees, who will be honored during an induction ceremony at 5:00 pm on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Washburn Rural High School.

✨ Christopher Currie (Class of 1983) – Currie built an extraordinary 21-year career in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant. He spent 17 years in the elite Marine Corps Reconnaissance community and deployed in multiple major operations, including Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. His courage and leadership under fire earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, among other honors. Currie’s lifelong commitment to service exemplifies the highest ideals of leadership, integrity, and dedication.

✨ 1989 WRHS Football Team – The 1989 Junior Blues completed a perfect 12–0 season and captured the Class 5A state championship in a thrilling 10–8 victory over Salina Central. Led by head coach Ron Bowen, the team’s dominant defense, resilience in close games, and unmatched toughness defined one of the greatest seasons in WRHS football history.

Established in 2003, the WRHS Hall of Fame recognizes graduates and staff who have achieved remarkable accomplishments at the local, state, or national levels. You can learn more about these and other inductees at https://usd437.net/wrhs/hall-of-fame/inductees.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding Hall of Famers!

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Girls Basketball game vs. Olathe North! Varsity game starts around 7:30 PM in the WRHS Activity Center and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Coming to a mailbox near you! The latest edition of School News is out, featuring:

👉 Messages from the Board of Education President and Superintendent
👉 Fall semester awards and state championships
👉 Education in the age of artificial intelligence
👉 Highlights from every school in the district
👉 Spring semester dates

Prefer digital? Read it here: https://usd437.net/assets/newsletters/school-news/winter-2025-2026.

Yesterday, the Washburn Rural High School Robotics class, led by instructor Dean Gerlach, hosted a robotics tournament for students from Washburn Rural Middle School and Washburn Rural North Middle School at the Innovation Center. High school students designed the game and served as mentors, offering guidance and problem-solving support to middle school students throughout the event. It was a great example of collaboration and hands-on learning in action!

Reminder: There will be no school from Monday, December 22, 2025 through Friday, January 2, 2026. School will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. Happy holidays!

We want to hear from you! Please plan to attend one of the focus groups hosted by HYA, our superintendent search firm. Focus groups are scheduled for January 11-13, 2026. Both in-person and virtual options are available:

➡️ Monday, January 12 at 9:00 AM at Shuler Education Center
➡️ Monday, January 12 at 2:00 PM via Zoom (link in comments)
➡️ Tuesday, January 13 at 6:00 PM via Zoom (link in comments)
➡️ Wednesday, January 14 at 6:00 PM at Wanamaker Elementary School

Visit http://www.usd437.net/superintendentsearch to view the full schedule.

These Pauline South Intermediate School fourth-graders are número uno in our book! After learning that the card game UNO is a favorite among patients at Children's Mercy, they organized a collection to help spread some joy. Their donations were delivered to the hospital’s volunteer center on Saturday.

Thank you to our students and staff for all the ways you spread cheer and kindness this time of year!

Students in the Washburn Rural High School (WRHS) Architecture & Construction pathway witnessed a historic moment this afternoon as FHLBank Topeka president and CEO Jeff Kuzbel presented a $10,000 check in support of the program. The gift will directly enhance hands-on learning for students enrolled in residential carpentry, woodworking, drafting, and other architecture- and construction-related courses by funding essential materials and equipment to support their work.

“We are incredibly grateful for FHLBank Topeka’s investment in our students,” said Auburn-Washburn Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott McWilliams. “This gift strengthens a program that provides meaningful career exploration and industry-aligned skills. Partnerships like this help us prepare students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades.”

The gift reflects FHLBank Topeka’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and affordable housing initiatives. The organization has championed similar education-to-career models, including its partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver to establish the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute at MSU Denver, which helps address the need for skilled professionals in affordable housing, property management, and resident services.

“Education is an important driver for community growth,” said FHLBank Topeka president and CEO Jeff Kuzbel. “As a proud member of the Topeka community since 1932, FHLBank Topeka has long partnered on initiatives that strengthen local development. We recognize the vital role that architecture and construction programs play in preparing high school students for future success and are honored to play a small part in expanding these opportunities at Washburn Rural High School.”

To learn more, visit https://usd437.net/news/2025-12-10-000-gift-from-fhlbank-topeka-supports-hands-on-learning-for-wrhs-architecture-construction-students/public-home.

Congratulations to Washburn Rural Middle School orchestra instructor Donita McLeland, who has been named the Outstanding Middle Level Orchestra Director by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association (NEKMEA) for the 2025–2026 school year! Donita was honored during Saturday’s NEKMEA mini-convention at Washburn Rural High School.

In a message announcing her selection, NEKMEA President Mariah Barnett shared, “You are doing incredible work in the Auburn-Washburn district and have been an integral part of that community. In addition to that, I have greatly valued your leadership in NEKMEA and the mentorship you provide to other orchestra directors.”

This award highlights Donita’s exceptional talent, leadership, and dedication to her students, colleagues, and the larger music education community. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

The annual Blue & White Football Clinic hosted by Washburn Rural High School coaches and players is just around the corner. The clinic is open to elementary students in grades 2-5 and will focus on skill development, position-specific drills, scheme awareness, and games. Registration is $30 and the schedule is as follows:

🏈Jay Shideler Elementary School: January 6, 7, 8 (T/W/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm
🏈Auburn Elementary School: January 12, 13, 15 (M/T/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm
🏈Farley Elementary School: January 20, 21, 22 (T/W/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm
🏈Wanamaker Elementary School: January 27, 28, 29 (T/W/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm
🏈Indian Hills Elementary School: February 3, 4, 5 (T/W/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm
🏈Pauline South Intermediate School: February 10, 11, 12 (T/W/Th) @ 3:45-5 pm

Online registration is available at https://forms.gle/rUypqkrDxoBNvtqY8.