Atchison Public Schools

We are so excited to celebrate two AHS seniors, Harlee Forgey and Harley Elias, who have officially been accepted into culinary school! 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 As members of our Event Management & Culinary Pathway, these students have spent years sharpening their skills—planning events, mastering recipes, leading in the kitchen, and showing what passion + hard work can accomplish. Their dedication has been inspiring, and we couldn’t be more proud! This next step is going to open so many doors, and we know they’ll continue to shine just like they have at AHS. 🌟 Help us celebrate their success! #WeAre409 #CTEWorks #CulinaryPathway #AHSproud #PhoenixProud

Thank you to the Central staff and Guidance Center Staff for providing such a yummy Central Family Thanksgiving Lunch on Tuesday! We always love having our families attend! Thank you to the families that came to celebrate with us! #WeAre409

Third grade students made Thanksgiving Spoons of Thanks. They decorated them, added ribbon, and finished with an instruction sheet. The spoon is supposed to be put on the Thanksgiving table and passed from person to person who shares what the are thankful for! #WeAre409

As we head into the holiday break, we want to pause and share just how thankful we are for this incredible community. Our families, students, staff, and supporters fill our schools with heart, pride, and purpose every single day. We are grateful for the trust you place in us, the laughter and learning that fill our halls, and the strong partnerships that make USD 409 such a special place to grow. May your Thanksgivings be filled with rest, joy, and meaningful time with the people you love most. Enjoy the break! #WeAre409

Over the past two weeks, 372 “Thankful For You” notes have been delivered to staff across the district! Your gratitude has truly filled buckets and lifted spirits everywhere! To keep that momentum going, AHS set up a gratitude microphone in the cafeteria, inviting students and staff to share a moment of thankfulness. Their responses were heartfelt, fun, and a perfect reminder of what makes USD 409 such a special place. 🎤 Check out their gratitude moments here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrFrF9Tx/ #WeAre409

It was Fun Friday this past Friday at AHS. We had our first Attendance Bingo and any student who has 90% attendance and above received a Bingo Card. There were 2-3 numbers called each hour and we had several winners including teachers;) Thanks for having awesome Attendance at school! Thank you to our Atchison High School Booster Club for supplying the Casey's Gift Cards! Next week we will have mystery days. Any day could be a bingo day! #WeAre409

Happy National Substitute Educators Day!

Today we celebrate the incredible substitute teachers who step in with flexibility, patience, and heart—often at a moment’s notice. Our subs keep learning moving forward, support our students with positivity, and bring calm to the unexpected.

To every substitute who has walked through our doors, covered a class, built relationships, kept routines steady, and shown up with a smile: thank you. You make an enormous difference in our schools and in the lives of our students.

We appreciate your teamwork, your dedication, and your willingness to jump in wherever you’re needed. USD 409 is stronger because of you!

💛 #WeAre409 #PhoenixProud #ThankYouSubs

Third graders have spent the past nine weeks diving into multiplication, and to boost fact fluency and engagement, they kicked off “Turkey Races!” Multiple 3rd grade classrooms participated in this engaging activity that had kids up moving and applying their skills!! #WeAre409

Central is proud to celebrate two recipients of an Honorary Diploma — Bill Patterson, English Teacher, and Kerry Judd from the Guidance Center. Thank you both for the impact you’ve made on our students’ lives. Your support, encouragement, and belief in our kids truly make a difference every single day. #WeAre409 #PhoenixProud

Congratulations to our AMS SOAR winners for the week! #WeAre409

🎉We have great news in the music department!!! We have 4 high school band and 4 choir students who have been selected to participate in the NEKMEA 1234A Band 🎶🎺🪈 Jedd Casey, euphonium Ava Garoutte, flute Hailey Peterson, clarinet Leah Weinmann, tenor saxophone and the NEKMEA Mixed Choir 🎼🎵 Altos - Jacy Bond and Adriana Delgado Tenor - Kar Koenegstein Bass - Josh Stone We also had one Middle School student selected for the KMEA All State Middle Level Honor Choir - Jordan Smith Congratulations and good luck to all of you!! #WeAre409 #PhoenixProud ❤️💛

Each month, the USD 409 Board of Education proudly recognizes outstanding students and staff from across our schools. These individuals demonstrate dedication, hard work, and the true spirit of what it means to be part of the #WeAre409 family. This month the board recognized Ronda McDaniel, AMS Counselor, for all the amazing work she does with students on IPS and Career Exploration! congratulations! #PhoenixProud

🍁 Gratitude Season at USD 409 🍁
As we head toward Thanksgiving, we want to pause and celebrate one of the most powerful things we have—gratitude.

Over the next week, we invite staff, parents, students, and community members to share a special thank-you message for someone in our Phoenix family. It can be a quick note, a heartfelt letter, or a simple message of appreciation. 💛

📬 Each message will be printed and hand-delivered before Thanksgiving break—a small way to spread big kindness throughout our district.

✨ Deadline to submit your gratitude notes is Friday, November 21. Please help us fill our halls and schools with appreciation and joy!

Thank you for helping us continue to make USD 409 a place where every person is seen, valued, and celebrated.
❤️💛 #WeAre409 #PhoenixProud #SeasonOfGratitude
https://forms.gle/NRPtwSXKi6rGzTnXA

🌟 October Phoenix of the Month 🌟 We’re thrilled to celebrate three incredible staff members who truly embody what it means to RISE as a Phoenix — showing heart, dedication, and positivity in all they do. 💛❤️ 🔥 Cherrie Cherrie has been a bright light at Central — stepping in wherever she’s needed, often taking on roles outside her own with grace and humor. She’s built strong connections with both staff and students, helping our school feel more like family. Her positivity and willingness to go above and beyond don’t go unnoticed. We are so thankful for everything you do, Ms. Cherrie! 🔥 Ellen Ellen has done an amazing job since joining Atchison High School! Her kindness, flexibility, and initiative shine through in every task she takes on. Ellen has a gift for creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels supported. Her dedication and creativity have made a huge impact on her team and the students she serves. We’re so proud of you, Ellen! 🔥 Bre Bre is a calm, steady presence and an absolute rock at AES. She builds trusting relationships with students and models patience, empathy, and strength. Her ability to de-escalate tough situations and guide students toward success is truly a gift. Bre brings kindness, courage, and heart to everything she does — and our school is better because of her! 💫 Join us in congratulating Cherrie, Ellen, and Bre — our October Phoenix of the Month honorees! Thank you for going above and beyond and for showing every day what it means to lead with love, laughter, and resilience. #PhoenixPride #WeAre409

🎓💛 A Central School Tradition That Touches the Heart ♥️ 🎓 At Central, each senior chooses one special person — a staff or community member — to receive an Honorary Central School Diploma. This cherished tradition honors the people who helped them reach their finish line… and gave them the strength to believe in what’s beyond it. These are the mentors, cheerleaders, and quiet heroes who showed up, lifted spirits, and never stopped believing in our students. 💫 Each diploma is more than paper — it’s a thank you from the heart. Once a Phoenix, always a Phoenix. ❤️💛 #CentralSchool #PhoenixPride #HonoraryDiploma #WeAre409 a

🌟 Happy School Psychology Week! 🌟 This week we celebrate our incredible school psychologists and student support specialists, who helps students shine by supporting their learning, behavior, and emotional well-being every single day. 💛 Thank you for all you do to help our students rise, grow, and thrive! #WeAre409 #PhoenixPride

Don't miss the Fall Musical! #weAre409

Stay in the Loop with the Central School Scoop! Don't forget to RSVP for our Central Family Thanksgiving Luncheon! Invite is in the newsletter! https://secure.smore.com/n/7rzq1
#WeAre409

On Friday October 31, we'll be serving homemade apple cider during lunch for all of our students to enjoy. This delicious cider is sourced from Jirak Family Farms and made from their fresh, locally grown apples. We're proud to celebrate the season while supporting our local farmers and bringing a taste of fall to our school community! #WeAre409