It is with immense pride we announce this year's Auburn-Washburn Distinguished Staff Award recipients. These individuals were nominated by colleagues and selected by a 17-person, district-wide committee. They will be recognized at a special reception on Monday, April 29 at 6:30 pm in the Washburn Rural High School Library. The event is open to the public and family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Please join us in congratulating the following:

Kyle Nelson
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Indian Hills Elementary School

Kristin Taylor
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Washburn Rural Middle School

Emma Tichenor
Master Teacher
Indian Hills Elementary School

Meghan Baranski
Distinguished Certified Support Staff
Washburn Rural Middle School

Marisa Dexter
Distinguished Classified Support Staff
Auburn Elementary School

Russ D'Andrea
Distinguished Operations Support Staff
Transportation

UPDATE: The soccer games vs. Blue Valley West that were scheduled for tonight have been CANCELLED. At this time, there is no rescheduled date.

When you think about schools being the heart of a community, Auburn Elementary School is a shining example, and this is why. Today, students in all grade levels participated in a day of service, picking up litter from streets, parks, and ditches around town. Each grade level was assigned a different section of the city as part of their schoolwide cleanup project, showing their dedication to strengthening their bond with the community through service.

❗️REMINDER❗️There is no school on Friday, April 26, 2024. This is a day dedicated to staff professional development. Enjoy the extended weekend!

Three Washburn Rural High School students will get the opportunity of a lifetime this week when they sign with professional soccer team Sporting KC. Conner Schonlaw, Gentry Scheid, and Cohen Nimz have been chosen for Sporting KC's Unified team, which fosters social inclusion by uniting students with and without intellectual disabilities in their shared passion for soccer. All three students will fly to Minnesota next month with the Sporting KC Club to compete against the Unified team sponsored by Minnesota United.

Second-graders from across the district attended today's Farm to Table event at Domer Arena. They traveled from station to station learning about how food gets from the farm to their dining room table. The water cycle, soil and irrigation, harvesting crops, and the role of farmers were some of the many topics explored. They also learned about processing wheat – the number one field crop in Kansas – into flour for use in things like pizza dough! 🌾

Students at Farley Elementary School had the chance to learn about "Careers on Wheels" today as part of their career unit. They rotated through stations, learning about several jobs and their "wheels." Thank you to Evergy, Mission Township Fire Department, Mutt'Staches Mobile Grooming, Topeka Police Department, and Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for educating our students about your vocations!

Spanish teacher Cathy Terrell started the Washburn Rural Middle School Food Truck Competition last year as a way to educate students about Spanish and Latin American culture through food. The tradition continued this week, as "food trucks" lined the lobby serving a variety of tasty treats.

"Each country has its own distinct culinary culture and there’s a great deal of diversity within each country," said Terrell. "Food not only is fun and universal, but like music, it provides a window into the history of a given country. I love to allow students to explore the ways in which we are all alike as part of the human race, but also the beauty of our differences. This makes language learning fun and exciting."

The rain didn't keep these kindergarteners from enjoying a fun and educational day at Auburn-Washburn's Outdoor Environmental Lab! Among other things, they learned about plant parts, seed dispersal, the life cycle of a tree, and the difference between fruits and vegetables. Making and tasting their own applesauce was the cherry on top! 🍎

❗️REMINDER to 6th Grade Parents❗️
Parent Night is tomorrow – Wednesday, April 17 – at Washburn Rural Middle School. Please plan to attend to learn valuable insights about the next phase in your student's educational journey!