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Kearney Middle School

KSD News Update (Aug. 27, 2026)

Posted Date: 08/27/26 (03:22 PM)


KEARNEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Reaching beyond success to develop individuals of character

Bulldog News Update

August 27, 2026

Great Schools = Great Community: Public Sharing and Listening Events

Kearney School District is hosting several Public Sharing and Listening Events this September as part of our Great Schools = Great Community initiative.

These events are designed to help families, staff members, residents and community partners learn more about KSD’s school finance, long-range facilities planning and community engagement efforts. They are also an opportunity to ask questions, share priorities and provide feedback before final decisions are made later this year.

The same information will be shared at each session, with details related to all district buildings. Please choose the date or location that works best with your schedule.

Friday, Sept. 4
8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Kearney Elementary

Wednesday, Sept. 9
8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Southview Elementary

Thursday, Sept. 10
8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Hawthorne Elementary

Friday, Sept. 11
8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Dogwood Elementary

Tuesday, Sept. 15
6 to 7:30 p.m.
KSD Central Office

Wednesday, Sept. 16
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kearney Senior Center

Wednesday, Sept. 16
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Kearney High School

Thursday, Sept. 17
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Kearney Middle School

A separate online survey will be available for residents who are not able to attend in person.

Friday Night Football Returns to Bulldog Stadium!

A football team in purple uniforms, numbered 25, 15, 6, 55, and 14, walks onto the field with coaches and referees.
Bulldog football is back! Kearney High School opens the 2026 season at home against Belton at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, and fans will want to review a few important game-night updates before heading to Bulldog Stadium. This year brings new conference-wide ticket prices, cashless admission gates and updated information about student expectations, parking and traffic, Activities Passes, and e-bikes and motorized scooters. Click here for everything you need to know before Friday night’s home opener!
A group of cheerleaders in purple and white uniforms perform on a basketball court.

Join the Golden Girls & KHS Cheer for the Fall Spirit Clinic!

Calling all young Bulldog cheer and dance fans! The Kearney Golden Girls and KHS Cheerleaders are inviting elementary students to join them for their 2026 Fall Spirit Clinic and experience what it’s like to perform under the Friday night lights!

Participants will spend an evening learning cheers and dance routines with our KHS students, then join them at the Friday, Sept. 4, varsity football game for a special pre-game cheer performance and halftime dance performance.

The Fall Spirit Clinic will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Kearney Junior High main gym.

The $55 registration fee includes:
  • A 1.5-hour clinic with the KHS Cheerleaders and Kearney Golden Girls
  • Admission for the participant to the Sept. 4 home varsity football game
  • A pre-game cheer performance
  • A halftime dance performance
  • A Spirit Clinic shirt, poms and hair accessory for participants who register by Thursday, Aug. 27
Registration closes Thursday, Aug. 27, so don’t miss out! Register online today!

An aerial view of the Club Carwash building with cars entering and waiting.

Get a Clean Car and Help Support KSD Students & Families!

Club Car Wash of Kearney is helping our community kick off the school year with a simple way to support Kearney School District students and families!

From Aug. 28-30, Club Car Wash is offering its MVP Wash for just $5, with $1 from each qualifying wash going to support KSD through our Resource Fund.

The KSD Resource Fund helps us provide resources and assistance directly to students and families who need them, including support for efforts such as our annual KSD Resource Fair. Money raised through this promotion is dedicated to that work.

There’s another way to celebrate our schools, too: Club Car Wash is inviting customers to nominate a favorite teacher for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card!

So, if your vehicle could use a back-to-school cleanup, Aug. 28-30 is a great time to get it done while helping KSD care for students and families across our community. See the attached flyer for promotion details and information about nominating a teacher.

Clean car. Stronger schools. Great community.

Explore Service Opportunities at Academy Day

Kearney High School is pleased to host Academy Day on Saturday, Aug. 29, an opportunity for students and families to learn more about attending one of our nation’s military service academies.
Organized by the Office of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, the event will include representatives from:
  • U.S. Military Academy at West Point
  • U.S. Naval Academy
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
  • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
  • U.S. Coast Guard Academy
  • U.S. Navy ROTC
Students and families will also have an opportunity to meet with staff representing Sen. Hawley, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves and learn more about the congressional nomination and admissions process.
  • Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026
  • Kearney High School, 719 W. 19th St.
  • Doors open at 9 a.m.
  • Program begins at 9:30 a.m.
To RSVP, email academy@hawley.senate.gov with your name, address, phone number, school and graduation year.

For students who may be considering service, leadership and a college experience unlike any other, this is a great opportunity to learn about the possibilities and ask questions directly from the people who know the process.
Three people in purple wigs and matching shirts walk down a hallway, holding spirit items.

Students Lead the Way for Team KSD at Convocation 2026!

Nearly 500 Kearney School District employees came together Friday morning, Aug. 21, at Kearney High School for our 2026 Convocation. This year, we let our students lead Team KSD into the new school year!

KHS student leaders served as emcees, introduced speakers and recognitions, led some very spirited competitions between our schools and helped bring an incredible amount of energy, humor and heart to the morning.

A teacher smiles while holding a purple folder and a phone, standing near two young girls at a table in a classroom.

Builldogs Prep for Classes at 2026 Back-to-School Open Houses

There was a ton of excitement across Kearney School District on Thursday, Aug. 20, as every one of our campuses welcomed students and families for our 2026 Back-to-School Open Houses!

From our youngest Bulldogs at the Early Education Center to our Kearney High School students, it was wonderful to see hallways and classrooms filled again with students reconnecting with friends, meeting their teachers and getting ready for a new year of learning.

A Kearney Police School Resource Officer drives a black police car during a parade, with spectators lining the street.

Keeping Our Bulldogs Safe: Resources for KSD Families

Creating safe, welcoming and supportive schools is one of our most important responsibilities at Kearney School District, and it is work that takes place every day across our campuses.

Our approach includes strong partnerships with local law enforcement and first responders, trained school safety personnel, emergency planning and drills, threat assessment procedures, visitor management systems and ongoing work to help students and staff know how to respond when concerns arise. Families are important partners in that work, and we want to make sure you know about the resources available to you.

Two young girls in helmets stand with their bicycles on a path lined with autumn leaves.

Important Reminder Regarding E-Bikes & Motorized Scooters

We’re looking forward to welcoming our students and community back for the start of school and another great season of Bulldog football and other activities! This is a good opportunity to share an important safety reminder about electric bikes, motor scooters and similar motorized devices on Kearney School District property.

Students are welcome to use appropriate transportation to get to the event, but e-bikes, motorized scooters and similar devices should be parked once students arrive on campus. They should not be ridden around the KHS campus or athletic facilities during after-school activities.

And last but not least...

A group of people, including children and adults, walk together outdoors near parked cars.

The Bulldogs Are Off and Running!

The first day of the 2026-2027 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 25, brought plenty of the things you would expect across Kearney School District: new backpacks, hugs and high-fives, friends reconnecting, teachers welcoming students at classroom doors and just a little bit of first-day nervous energy. But one thing stood out across every campus: teaching and learning began on day one.

From our youngest learners at the Early Education Center to our high school students, classrooms were already buzzing with conversations, questions, reading, writing, problem-solving, collaboration and hands-on learning. Our teachers were building relationships and establishing routines while also making it clear from the start that every student belongs here and every day together matters. That's a pretty great way to begin a school year.

Thank you to our teachers, support staff, school leaders, families and everyone across Team KSD who did so much work to get our schools ready for the first day. And, most of all, welcome back to our students. We are incredibly glad you're here.

Here's to a terrific 2026-2027 school year! Go Bulldogs!

KSD Athletics & Activities
 
A black and white calendar icon with rounded corners.

Upcoming Events

Aug. 29 - Academy Day
Sept. 3 - Dole Whip Day (Summer Reading Incentive)
Sept. 4 - Great Schools = Great Community Public Listening & Sharing Session
Sept. 7 - Labor Day (NO SCHOOL)
Sept. 23 - Board of Education Business Meeting (Tax Rate Hearing)
Sept. 25 - Homecoming 2026
Oct. 16 - Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)

Visit the KSD website to stay up to date on all of our important events.
Kearney School District