Dear Parents: USD 281 has called off school on Monday November 23rd & Tuesday November 24th.  Extracurricular activities will continue as scheduled.  If you would like to have lunch, please contact the school where your child attends on Friday November 20th. The meal pick up will be at the High School at 11 am. Enjoy the extra time off.  Be careful and stay safe. Dale Deighton Superintendent Graham County USD 281Hill City, KS daledeighton@usd281.com

Grade School Parents, We will be starting up the bus service to the Junior/Senior high school tomorrow, for kids who need to ride to the high school and walk home. If your child will be using this service, they will be leaving their school provided mask at school and will need to wear their own mask during the trip. Students riding to the Junior/Senior High will also need to get on the first bus in the bus line. Thanks, Jon Granberry

USD 281 Modified Quarantine Requirements This guide specifically addresses requirements around maintaining continuity of learning in the situation where all students and staff in a classroom are exposed to COVID-19; namely the modified quarantine requirements for close contacts of a case. What this modified quarantine allows is the ability for all students and staff in the exposed classroom to continue physically attending school during their quarantine period. This guide will be updated to reflect the current activity of the virus in our county and are subject to change at any time to protect the health of the students of Graham County USD 281. Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. Studies show that asymptomatic people and people in the pre-symptomatic phase (2-3 days before symptoms begin) can also be a source of infection. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever and lower respiratory symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. However, there are many other symptoms that may be associated with COVID-19 including chills, fatigue, muscle aches or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. The elderly and people with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, or chronic respiratory conditions, are at a greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Schools are an important part of the infrastructure of communities, as they provide safe, supportive learning environments for students, employ teachers and other staff, and enable parents, guardians, and caregivers to work. The unique and critical role that schools play makes them a priority for opening and remaining open, enabling students to receive both academic instruction and support as well as critical services. Current Isolation and Quarantine Requirements: A Person Under Investigation (PUI) is suspected of having COVID-19 disease. A person who is being tested for COVID-19 is required to be in isolation until test results are received. Possible outcomes of the test result include: 1) If the test result is positive, then the person becomes a case or 2) If the test result is negative and the person has a known exposure, then the person must finish their 14-day quarantine, or 3) If the test result is negative and there was no known exposure, then the person is released from isolation. Symptomatic cases are released from isolation 10 days after symptom onset OR 72 hours fever free without the use of medication and significant improvement in symptoms, whichever is longer. Meaning, symptomatic cases are in isolation for a minimum of 10 days. Asymptomatic cases are released from isolation 10 days after their positive sample was collected, as long as they remain asymptomatic. If they become symptomatic during the 10 days, then they would begin a new isolation period using the criteria for symptomatic cases. Close contacts of a confirmed case are in quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with a case while the case was infectious. A symptomatic case is considered infectious starting two days before the onset of their first symptom until they are released from isolation. An asymptomatic case is considered infectious starting two days before the date their positive sample was collected until they are released from isolation. Defining A Close Contact: A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of a case for 10 minutes or more or had direct contact with bodily secretions (for example, being coughed or sneezed on). Any students or staff that maintained a 6-foot distance from the positive case would not be considered close contacts and would therefore not be subject to the 14-day quarantine period. If the positive case, or close contacts, or both, always wore cloth face-masks this reduces the risk of developing COVID-19 disease. However, the use of cloth face-masks does not eliminate the risk completely; therefore, close contacts may still be subject to a 14-day quarantine. Any close contacts that wore appropriate PPE, either a fit-tested N95 mask with protective eyewear or a surgical mask with a face shield, would not be considered close contacts. The time for close contact tracing includes any day(s) the positive student or staff attended school and the preceding 48 hours prior to symptom onset (symptomatic cases) or the preceding 48 hours prior to sample collection (asymptomatic cases). Modified Quarantine Requirements: These modified quarantine requirements are contingent on the close contacts of a case remaining asymptomatic. Students and staff who have had an exposure but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during the school day: 1. Qualifications: To qualify for the modified quarantine, a student must be exposed during school or during a school activity. Contacts from non-school activities including household contacts are not eligible for modified quarantine. Positive cases also do not qualify. 2. Transportation: Students and staff on modified quarantine may not ride USD 281 school transportation to or from school. Parents must provide transportation for their children. If the student is of driving age, they may drive. 3. Arrival and dismissal times: Students and staff on modified quarantine need to arrive at 8:15 am and leave school at 3:20 pm and are required to wear a mask while entering the school. 4. Pre-screen: Modified quarantine students and staff will have their temperature taken when entering the school but will not undergo any further pre-screening by the school. They will be asked to monitor symptoms at home and to notify the school if any symptoms develop and stay home. 5. Medical check-in: Modified quarantine students and staff may be checked on periodically by school medical staff. If the quarantined student or staff becomes sick during the day, they will be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace should be cleaned and disinfected. Anyone who develops illness compatible with COVID-19 during the quarantine period should notify the school or school administration who will work with the local health department to arrange for testing. 6. Wear a mask: Modified quarantine students and staff should always wear a face-mask/face covering while in the school. When in their “quarantined room” and when they are socially distanced, they may remove their mask. 7. Physical separation: When able, modified quarantine students and staff should be physically separated from the general school population through groupings, classroom arrangements, and assigned seating as directed by school administration. A. In the Jr/Sr high school, the students will be located in the auditorium. They will enter the building through the main entrance to do the temperature scan. In the Auditorium they will be able to social distance with the size of the room. (If discipline becomes a problem, the students will be sent home to complete their quarantine). B. In the grade school, if a class is quarantined, they will enter the door closest to their classroom and the schedule for that room will be adjusted to make sure that the class will not interact with the other students. If we have a significant number of students quarantined, we will look for an alternate classroom or if needed an alternate site to hold class for the students that are quarantined. The school will provide adult supervision for the alternate site. (If discipline becomes a problem, the students will be sent home to complete their quarantine). 8. Bathrooms: Modified quarantine students and staff may be directed to a designated bathroom by staff. As this is often not feasible, school staff will be increasing cleaning times and all students and staff are encouraged to continue good hand washing and appropriate hygiene. 9. It would also be advised to avoid contact with family members or others who are vulnerable to serious disease such as the elderly or immunocompromised. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MODIFIED QUARANTINE: STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR MASK-IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT HAVE A SCHOOL ISSUED MASK, THEY MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MASK. STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR COMPUTER AND ALL BOOKS TO THE QUARANTINE ROOM. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO TO THEIR LOCKERS-BOOKS WILL BE KEPT IN THE QUARANTINE ROOM OR ALLOWED TO TAKE THEM HOME. STUDENTS MUST BRING HEADPHONES OR EARBUDS.

Dear Parents, Due to the recent increase in the number of COVID cases in Graham County and at USD 281, the school board has reviewed the Graham County USD 281 Crisis Mitigation: COVID-19 Exposure Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Plan. They have made a change in the document. Masks are now required to be worn at school at all times when social distancing can not be maintained. The BOE made this change while working with the Graham County Health department so we could keep students in school. This change MAY reduce the number of days a student is quarantined and the location where the student is quarantined. This means that masks are to be worn at all times in the hallways, classrooms, bathrooms, locker rooms and anywhere that students are not able to social distance. If students are able to maintain the social distance of six feet, then the students may remove their masks, but if they can not maintain social distance, they must put their mask back on. Students will be able to remove their masks during the eating time at lunch , but will be required to put their masks back on when not eating. The students will be spaced out as much as possible during the eating time at lunch. We have been working with the Graham County Health Department which has allowed us to use a modified quarantine policy at the Graham County Health Department’s discretion. In some cases, this policy will allow students to attend school while under quarantine. There are some qualifications to meet the modified quarantine. Qualifications: To qualify for the modified quarantine, a student must be exposed during school or during a school activity. Contacts from non-school activities including household contacts are not eligible for modified quarantine. Positive cases also do not qualify. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MODIFIED QUARANTINE: STUDENTS MUST BRING AND WEAR THEIR MASK-IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT HAVE A SCHOOL ISSUED MASK, THEY MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MASK. STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR COMPUTER AND ALL BOOKS TO THE QUARANTINE ROOM. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO TO THEIR LOCKERS-BOOKS WILL BE KEPT IN THE QUARANTINE ROOM AND/OR TAKEN HOME. STUDENTS MUST BRING HEADPHONES OR EARBUDS TO BE USED IN THE QUARANTINE ROOM. More information about the modified quarantine will be located on the web page and live feed. Thank you for allowing us to work with your children. Dale Deighton Superintendent Graham County USD 281

From HCJSHS: The Jr. High Basketball games scheduled for tonight, November 3, have been cancelled. #WeAreRingnecks

Order your 2020-21 Ringneck Yearbook today at this link: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A02619500 Thank you for your patronage.

School Pictures and JH FB/VB Sport Pictures School Picture codes have been given to students that had their pictures taken and are available for purchase online. www.leannsphotos.com Contact Christy or Leann Photos if codes get lost. Junior High Volleyball & Football team pictures are available for purchase at www.leannsphotos.com Retakes will be taken for anyone that would like them or students that were absent on November 19 at the high school.

From HCJSHS: Please find the attached document for information on the High School Football contests tonight at Leoti. Game time is 6:00 p.m. #WeAreRingnecks

From HCJSHS: Hill City will be the back-up host for the 2A Sub-State Volleyball tournament this Saturday, October 24. The first match will start at 1:00. This is a KSHSAA sponsored event and we must follow their protocols for hosting this post-season tournament. We ask that spectators from each school sit in designated areas in the gymnasium. Masks will be required in the building at all times regardless of social distancing, KSHSAA signs will be posted. Wristbands have been issued to schools to give each player 4 band to distribute to family and friends. You will not be allowed entrance into the facility if you do not have a wristband. Individuals with purple bands will be expected to purchase a ticket at the gate. Ticket prices are $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for students (K-12). The tournament will be streamed on openspacessports.com. #WeAreRingnecks

Hello Ringneck Nation. We just want to let everyone know that it is Bus Driver appreciation week. We wanted to let our drivers know that we think that they are the best. Thank you all for taking such great care of our students. Have a great day! Go Ringnecks!

Because of COVID, and in order to keep our schools open, we have an immediate need for Substitute Teachers. This position requires a license. The requirements for an Emergency Substitute License include: 60 college credit hours and a Fingerprint background check. This position pays $12.50 per hour. If you are interested, we can help you get this certification taken care of, and help get you in the classroom ASAP. Contact Nancy in the District Office at 785-421-2135, for more information.

From HCJSHS: Please find the attached document for information on the Jr. High Volleyball and Football contests this Thursday, Oct. 15 at St. John's- Beloit. There will be a limited amount of tickets available to enter the gymnasium for the volleyball match. The coaches will be giving each girl, on the roster, 1 spectator ticket for entry into St. John's gymnasium. You must present your ticket at the gate to pay your entry fee, if you do not have a ticket, you will not be allowed admission into their facility. #WeAreRingnecks

From HCJSHS: Hill City Jr./Sr. High School was notified today that a student/athlete, from another community who participated in the Ringneck Classic Volleyball tournament this past Saturday, October 10, has tested positive for COVID-19. The student that tested positive played their matches in the HCJSHS gym during the tournament. If you attended the Ringneck Classic Volleyball tournament this past Saturday, October 10, please monitor yourself for symptoms for the next few days and if symptoms develop, please contact your health care provider. If you have any questions, please contact Alan Stein at 421-2117. #WeAreRingnecks

From HCJSHS: Please find the attached document for information on the MCL Volleyball tournament this Thursday, Oct. 15. Hill City will be playing in Smith Center and our first match is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. There will be a limited amount of tickets available to enter the tournament. The coaches will be giving each girl, on the roster, 4 tickets to the tournament. You must present your ticket at the gate to pay your entry fee, if you do not have a ticket, you will not be allowed admission into the tournament. Thank you. Alan

The parent/guardian district climate survey will close tomorrow night. Please complete the survey if you have time. We appreciate your feedback. USD 281 Parent/Guardian Survey: https://forms.gle/Ei2k7ZkewWXw4t1F9

Please find the attached document for information on the MCEL Volleyball tournament this Saturday, Oct. 10. Hill City will be playing in Phillipsburg and our first match is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. There will be a limited amount of tickets available to enter the tournament. The coaches will be giving each girl, on the roster, 4 tickets to the tournament. You must present your ticket at the gate to pay your entry fee, if you do not have a ticket you will not be allowed admission into the tournament. Thank you. Alan

Grade School Parents, I am needing your help with two things today. First, for the last few weeks we have had several people driving through the bus loop each day to drop-off students. The bus loop is only for the busses. When dropping off, Please pull up next to the curb and drop students off on the sidewalk. Second, please have your students bring water bottles to class. This is an issue since the water fountains have been turned off, and only the bottle fillers are operational. Thanks, Jon Granberry

Dear Parents and Guardians, USD 281 conducts a District Climate survey annually. This survey assists us in selecting district initiatives and as a data collection tool for our accreditation report. If you have time, we'd appreciate your completing this survey. The survey will close October 9, 2020. Let us know if you have any questions. USD 281 Parent/Guardian Survey: https://forms.gle/Ei2k7ZkewWXw4t1F9

Just want to send a quick reminder that parent/teacher conferences will be held this coming Monday and Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00. This semesters conferences will be the traditional style conference. Teachers will be available in their classrooms on these two evenings. If you cannot make it to the school, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher via phone or email.

FYI: The Hill City Cross Country meet scheduled for tomorrow, September 24, has been cancelled. #WeAreRingnecks

FYI: The decision has been made to postpone Homecoming to the week of October 12-17. Thank you for your understanding.

FYI: The Jr. High volleyball matches that are scheduled with Russell and Wakeeney for Monday, September 28 have been cancelled. #WeAreRingnecks

Here is the list of homecoming activities and times for next week. #WeAreRingnecks

The high school football game scheduled for this coming Friday, September 25 against Atwood has been cancelled. #WeAreRingnecks

FYI. If you attended the varsity volleyball tournament in Jetmore on September 12, please read the attached news release from the Hodgeman County Health Department. #WeAreRingnecks

Lifetouch Pictures at the High School will be taken on Monday, September 21. You can order ahead of time at mylifetouch.com and use school code EVT428NXP.

If you are planning to attend the High School football game on Friday, Sept. 18, in Leoti, I want to let know there will be no concessions served at the game. #WeAreRingnecks

Moms and Dads of USD 281. Beginning Monday September 14, 2020, USD 281 will be utilizing the waiver from USDA to offer FREE breakfast and lunch for ALL Students. Meals will be served and provided as normal; however, your child’s breakfast/lunch account will not be charged. Meals will be served on the days that USD 281 is in session. If school is cancelled due to inclement weather, no meals will be served that day. If your child currently has a positive lunch balance, the money will remain as a credit until the program ends. The program has been extended until the end of first semester, December 18, 2020 or until the Government money runs out. So, the program could end sooner. Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions. Dale Deighton Superintendent Graham County USD 281

Sorry, the post about the email issues was posted by Mr. Stein.

I am just reaching out to say that outlook must have been hacked and you may have or may get strange emails from me. Please do not reply to those emails.

Hill City Grade School Parents, I apologize if there has been any confusion at drop-off in the mornings. The front door opens at 7:30 am. The two other entrances open at 7:45 am. Please note the highlighted information on the updated parent letter. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MLoYgnYGjEzLZuj5OEprezNhNxAkZaMy2a4L_oIAkF8/edit?usp=sharing

Please find the attached information for the activities hosted by Hill City Jr./Sr. High School. This information will be followed for all high school and middle school activities. Thank you for your understanding. #WeAreRingnecks

Please find the attached information for the Jr. High volleyball and football games hosted at Osborne on Thursday, September 3 and for the high school football game on Friday, September 4. Please pay close attention to the COVID-19 Mitigation information for entry into the facilities. #WeAreRingnecks

Please find the attached information for the high school volleyball matches hosted at TMP-Marian on Tuesday, September 1. Please pay close attention to the COVID-19 Mitigation information for entry into the facilities. #WeAreRingnecks

2019-20 yearbooks are in! If you did not get a chance to order one last year, please contact me via kimpfeifer@usd281.com, call the HCJSHS office at 785.421.2117, or stop by my classroom or the HCJSHS office to get yours before they are gone!

HCGS Parents, It was wonderful to see all of the students and have them back in the building today. The teachers and I are excited for another great year as well. Just a quick note for tomorrow... Parents, please talk with your student/s in the morning and discuss where you will meet when school lets out. Since we are using several exits, students may be confused on where they are to meet-up with parents at the end of the day. Thanks, Mr. Granberry

Please be advised, HCJSHS doors will open at 7:45 am. There was a glitch between the USD 281 website live feed and our district Facebook page.

I hope this message finds everyone doing well. I want to welcome and wish you a safe and enjoyable school year. Please understand there will be some differences as this year kicks off. The teachers and staff have been working hard to be ready for you on Monday. I want to let you know that the building will not open until 7:45 am daily and everyone will need to enter though the main entrance by the office or from the north parking lot door across the hall from the office. Temperatures will be taken as you enter the building. Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.

Parents, I wanted to post this for all families. If you are looking for online reading resources, EPIC! is a great choice. Please check it out. https://www.getepic.com/learn/introducing-epic-free/. Epic! - A digital reading platform for kids 12 and under. It has 40,000 books, audiobooks, learning videos, quizzes, more.

HCGS Parents, Please see the attached document for changes in procedures we are making at the grade school this year. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MLoYgnYGjEzLZuj5OEprezNhNxAkZaMy2a4L_oIAkF8/edit?usp=sharing

The first Cross Country practice will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 18. Please meet in Mrs. Michael’s room at 3:30.

Mrs. Hart would like to remind all Colby Community College dual credit students to check their school email for time sensitive info. Some CCC classes start on Monday, Aug. 17.

Hill City Jr./Sr. High School is still looking to fill our Cross County Head Coaching position. If you have any interest in coaching Cross Country, please contact Alan Stein at alanstein@usd281.com.

To USD 281 Graham County Schools parents/guardians, and community members: Below is a link to the USD 281 COVID-19 plan that has been approved by the USD 281 Board of Education. https://bit.ly/31i5MTl

To all USD 281 parents/guardians: Dale Deighton will be hosting a question and answer session regarding the upcoming school year. This event will be held in Tebo Auditorium at Hill City Junior/Senior High School this Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 pm. All parents are invited to attend.

To all parents, students and staff. At last nights Board of Education meeting, the board voted to push the start date of school back until Monday, August 24th. This will be a half day of school with an early release at 11:30am. NO LUNCH will be served. We are excited to have all students back in the building. If you have not enrolled in yet, please come by your respective building and start the enrollment process. Open enrollment is going on now through Thursday, July 30th.

Reminder! Junior High Football camp is Monday, July 27 through Thursday, July 30 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM.

A Message from Coach Jilka: The junior high boys basketball camp is rescheduled for August 3 through August 7, from 8:00am-10:00am, at the high school gym. Thank you!

Enrollment will be held at the respective school offices Monday, July 27-Thursday, July 30 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please contact the HCJSHS or HCGS offices should you need to enroll at a different time. The first day of school has not yet been determined. When a specific date has been set we will let parents and the community know on the USD281.com website and Facebook.

The HCHS Commencement ceremony is today, July 17, and begins at 7:00 PM. We will live stream the ceremony on the USD 281 Facebook page. Congratulations to the 2020 graduates!

USD 281 is requesting your feedback regarding the return to school in the Fall. Please complete this short survey. https://forms.gle/3Gwi66zKVQPa9wMy7

Hill City Grade school Parents, Please click on the link below to access the 20-21 School Suppy list. bit.ly/38WSIpW

Sports Physical Date

Revised: Due to the recent situation surrounding COVID-19, all summer sport activities for Hill City Jr./Sr. High School have been postponed until July 18. We will reassess the situation at that time to determine our course of action. Please understand that our student/athletes, coaches and communities are our highest priority. Sorry for any confusion. #WeAreRingnecks

Due to the recent situation surrounding COVID-19, all summer activities for USD 281 have been postponed until July 18. We will reassess the situation at that time to determine our course of action. Please understand that our student/athletes, coaches and communities are our highest priority.

The Hill City High School Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, July 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. After taking into consideration the COVID-19 activity in our county and surrounding areas, the decision has been made to follow a limited attendance format for the ceremony. Each graduate will be issued ten tickets for admission of family and friends. Seating on the gymnasium floor will be reserved for graduates and faculty only, with each family assigned (by random drawing) a specific area in the bleachers. The ceremony will be recorded and streamed on social media. Hill City High School officials express a sincere desire to honor their graduates while recognizing the current health concerns in our community. It is respectfully requested that all in attendance wear protective masks, social distance, and use hand sanitizer upon entering the facility. Also, please do not attend the ceremony if you are feeling ill, running a fever, or experiencing any other symptoms. We want to keep our communities and county healthy. #WeAreRingnecks

HCHS Volleyball will not have camp next week and summer weights have been suspended until the 17th and then we will make a decision if and when we can start again.

A MESSAGE FROM COACH ATKINS HCJH football will have camp on July 27-30 from 7:30-9:00 AM. All 7th and 8th grade boys interested in playing football this fall are encouraged to attend.

A MESSAGE FROM COACH JILKA Sorry for the late notice but the junior high boys basketball camp will be postponed to a later date. Thank you.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT USD 281 is requesting the public’s help in staying off the newly sodded football field. We are watering the field and the new grass calls for an extreme amount of water so the roots can establish themselves. So, we are asking, for the ENTIRE summer, NO activities and no walking on the field until September 2020. We are watering enough, that even walking on the field will leave holes in the field. Please help us by staying off the field. You are more than welcome to go into the stands and take a look at the field. Thanks, Dale Deighton Superintendent USD 281

High School Volleyball camp will be held at the grade school from 8-10am July 13th-July 17th. Please try and make it! If you can’t be there, but want to play during the season let us know.

We’re excited to announce the 2020-21 HCHS cheerleaders! Lindsey Blanks Zoie Beckman Grace Bieker Gretchen Bieker Toria Larson Leah Lindenman Caelyn Pimlott Michelle Richmeier Maggy Smith Stephanie Wahrman Go Ringnecks!

Senior students across the state reached out to the Kansas Department of Education because they wanted to recognize the class of 2020 in some way state wide. This student effort has resulted in Senior Appreciation Day which will take place Wednesday, May 20. We’d love for our seniors to participate! See the flyer for more information.

Wow! The way our community came together to offer Kids Summer Cafe during these uncertain times is amazing! This was a massive undertaking and the Graham County Health Department along with 45+ volunteers did a phenomenal job providing this service to Hill City and surrounding communities. Thank you for all you've done! Check out our Facebook page to see a fun video showing some highlights from this program.

Information from Mr. Jilka: Hello, after talking with our local health department we have decided that we will be starting Drivers Education on June 8th. We have also determined that we can proceed with an important student/parent meeting on Wednesday May 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria to discuss the course and get important papers signed. There will be some additional information in the mail for those of you that have already signed up.

I hope this finds everyone doing well. As we approach the end of the school year, the last day of instruction will be Friday, May 15. All assignments and projects will need to be completed and turned in to your teachers on or before May 19, unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher. Student check-out will be Wednesday, May 20. Students will need to turn in their laptops and chargers, all books (text and library), pay fees, and anything else that belongs to the school. If your device or charger has been damaged or missing, please be prepared to pay replacement charges. The schedule for Wednesday, May 20 is as follows; Seniors at 9:00 a.m. Juniors at 9:30 a.m. Sophomores at 10:00 a.m. Freshmen at 10:30 p.m. 8th Graders at 11:00 p.m. 7th Graders at 11:30 p.m. Have a great summer. Be Safe!!!

Dear Parents and Students of Hill City Grade School, We are quickly approaching the end of the school year. I know that this school year has been challenging for students, parents, teachers, and staff alike. As restrictions continue to be lifted in the coming days and weeks, I hope you continue to practice social distancing. I am excited to see you all out and about this summer. Next Friday will be the last day of instruction for the 2019-2020 school year. Please make sure that any and all assignments are turned in by May 15th, 2020. No assignments will be accepted after the 15th unless prior arrangements are made with individual teachers. On Monday, May 18th, we will be having students and families return devices (iPad’s and/or Laptops) and school materials to the Grade School. There will be two opportunities on Monday, one in the morning and one in the evening. This will be on Monday only. If you are unable to make your scheduled time please contact the office to set up a drop off time. Please bring all devices, chargers, books, and completed workbooks as advised by teachers. Please do your best to be on time. The full schedule is listed below. Drop-Off Schedule First Opportunity By first letter of the last name 8-9 am -- Letters A-G 9-10 am -- Letters H-M 10-11 am -- Letters M-Z Second Opportunity By first letter of last name 4-5 pm -- Letter A-M 5-6 pm -- Letter N-Z If you need to reach the school please don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Kennedy or Me via email: melaniekennedy@usd281.com; jongranberry@usd281.com. If your device or charger has been damaged or missing, please contact the office in advance for replacement charges. Thanks, Mr. Granberry https://bit.ly/2WErsqg

Driver's Ed Info from Mr. Jilka: We WILL be having Driver's Education at some point this summer, not sure the dates right now, but will let you know as soon as possible. Right now, Mr. Jilka needs to know those interested in taking this course. Even if you have already signed up on the school sign up sheet, please confirm with Mr. Jilka. You must be 14 years of age by June 1 to attend the course. For those of you interested, please respond as soon as possible to let me know if you plan to take this course. If you or your parents have any questions, please contact Mr. Jilka at kylejilka@usd281.com.

🏆State KSPA Winners! Congratulations!🏆 We are proud of everyone who competed! 1st Film Review - Mason Nichol 2nd Advertising - Cadence Cole 3rd Advertising - Darius Obermeyer 4th Sports Writing - Michael Blanks 6th Photo Gallery - Jayda Sansom WAY TO GO, RINGNECKS! See full results at www.kspaonline.org

Hill City High School will celebrate commencement for the class of 2020 on Friday evening, July 17, at 7:00 p.m. A decision will be made no later than July 7 regarding the format of the ceremony. Considerations include a traditional commencement ceremony in the high school, a modified ceremony with limited attendance, or a drive-by ceremony.

Ringneck Stadium will be lit up tonight at 8:20 to honor the Senior Class of 2020, all student of USD 281, their families, teachers/coaches, and the communities of USD 281. We are all dealing with these trying times and we are stronger together. Stay Safe Ringneck Country!!! #WeAreRingnecks

CLASS OF 2020 PARENTS! Please check with your senior and ask if they have sent their senior portrait AND baby/kid photo to me for the yearbook. If not, please help them do so by Thurs., April 16, to meet publishing deadlines. Send to kimpfeifer@usd281.com. Thank you!

As we all adapt to change, one thing that remains constant is the yearbook tradition of documenting the history of our students and capturing their school year forever. We are working hard to complete the yearbook and make sure it is printed. Order yours @ https://www.jostens.com

USD 281 would like to honor the Senior Class of 2020. We all know this is a trying time for all of them and their parents. #WeAreRingnecks

Information for parents regarding online learning at HCGS. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1muvYGuOV63JWXaESoKrYkzy4BgIej4zmwNgdANO-4Cg

Any current 6th and 7th grade girls interested in junior high cheer next year 2020-21 are asked to join the Facebook group Hill City Junior High Cheer.

Office hours for Hill City Jr./Sr. High School are limited. If you have any questions please email christykeith@usd281.com or alanstein@usd281.com. You may also call the office at 785-421-2117 and leave a message. Phone messages will be checked throughout the week. Thank you and Stay Safe!! #WeAreRingnecks

Any student in the 11th thru 8th grades interested in being a HS cheerleader for the 2020-2021 school year, please contact Melissa Lindenman at mslind@ruraltel.net or Mindy Bieker at mbieker@nex-tech.com. Please contact them by April 20. #WeAreRingnecks

Due to the current situation hours for the grade school are limited. You can email melaniekennedy@usd281.com or jongranberry@usd281.com as well as leave a message on the phone at 785-421-3425. Phone messages will be checked weekly and email will be checked daily.

New Hours for School District Office Due to our current situation the School District office hours will be shortened until further notice. The District Office will be open 9am - 3pm Monday through Thursday and 9am - 12:00pm on Friday. Face to face contact will be held to a minimum and you are encouraged to call or email with questions. We will have only 1-2 people in the office at a time so if you do need to schedule a face to face meeting please contact the office ahead of time so the person you are wanting to speak to will be here. 785-421-2135, nancylaw@usd281.com lannabucl@usd281.com rebeccarichmeier@usd281.com jimhickel@usd281.com Thank you all so very much for your support and understanding during these changing times.

Parents and Students - Education Update HCJSHS - Teachers are beginning to push lessons to students. This will increase throughout the week. Please be patient. Lesson expectations will be different. Do not expect to have a lesson every day. The number of lessons per week will vary by teacher and subject. Students should check their school email for notifications from teachers. If you have questions about lessons you are encouraged to email your teacher or Mr. Stein, alanstein@usd281.com HCGS – Teachers are developing and preparing lessons this week. Some may start communicating with their classes during this week but all should have something out by April 6th. Please check your school email for notifications from teachers. Again, the process and expectations will be different. If you have questions as this unfolds you are encouraged to contact your child’s teacher or Mr. Granberry, jongranberry@usd281.com

To all KDG - 2nd Grade parents: All iPads at the grade school are ready to pick up. I will be in the office until shortly after noon today, Friday March 27th. Thanks, Mr. Granberry

To Kindergarten - 2nd Grade parents: If you took a school issued iPad home, PLEASE return it to the school at your earliest convenience. We are having a software issue and it needs to be updated by our technology supervisor. Even if it is working, it will need to be reset at the school or it will soon quit working. If you cannot bring it back today by 4pm please call the office at 785-421-3425 to schedule a drop-off. My apologies for the inconvenience, Mr. Granberrry

Dear Parents and Students of Hill City Grade School, I hope this letter finds you well. We will be allowing students into the Grade School this Wednesday and Thursday, March 25 and 26th (whichever day works best for your family) starting at designated times based on the first letter of their last name. This will start at 8am with last names beginning with A, B, and C runs 1 hour at a time. This is in the hope to minimize exposure to family, students, and staff. We would appreciate it if you could come at the beginning of your hour. We will only be letting 10 students in at a time, please do your best to be on time. Please bring backpacks, bags, grocery sack or trash bag to clean out lockers and pick up needed supplies, and drop off all library books. You will be allowed to take home your students' computers/iPad. To do so, parents will need to review the attached technology agreement. We will only release the computer/iPad to students who are accompanied by a parent/guardian or trusted adult with a signed permission form. The person signing the technology agreement will be responsible for all damages or loss. The full schedule is listed below. At the bottom is the link to the Technology Agreement. Please review it in advance. Both Wednesday and Thursday, March 25th, and 26th 8-9am A-C 9-10am D-G 10-11am H-J 12-1pm K-M 1-2pm N-P 2-3pm Q-S 3-4 T-Z https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fm42vi-RsI02dq8LbJGRpy4XgbEQBnGj/view?usp=sharing If you need to reach the school please don't hesitate Mrs. Kennedy or Me via email: jongranberry@usd281.com; melaniekennedy@usd281.com Thanks, Mr. Granberry

I hope everyone is doing well. Starting Tuesday, March 24, students of Hill City Jr./Sr. High School will be able to come to the school to pick up books for classes, computers and charging cords, music instruments, and to clean/gather personal items out of their lockers. Please reference the schedule below for your date and time to come to the school. Your time is scheduled by the beginning letter of your last name. If there are multiple students in one household, please come at the time designated for the oldest student. I will meet you at the main entrance and will only allow one student in the building at a time unless; they are from the same family. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at alanstein@usd281.com. Sincerely, Alan Tuesday, March 24 9:00 AM - Seniors with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 9:45 AM - Seniors with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 10:30 AM - Seniors with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 11:15 AM - Seniors with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z Wednesday, March 25 9:00 AM - Juniors with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 9:45 AM - Juniors with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 10:30 AM - Juniors with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 11:15 AM - Juniors with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z 1:00 PM – Soph. with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 1:45 PM – Soph. with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 2:30 PM – Soph. with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 3:15 PM – Soph. with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z Thursday, March 26 9:00 AM – Freshmen with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 9:45 AM – Freshmen with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 10:30 AM – Freshmen with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 11:15 AM – Freshmen with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z 1:00 PM – 8th Grade with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 1:45 PM – 8th Grade with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 2:30 PM – 8th Grade with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 3:15 PM – 8th Grade with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z Friday, March 27 9:00 AM – 7th Grade with the letters A-B-C-D-E-F-G 9:45 AM – 7th Grade with the letters H-I-J-K-L-M-N 10:30 AM – 7th Grade with the letters O-P-Q-R-S-T 11:15 AM – 7th Grade with the letters U-V-W-X-Y-Z

Educational Update Since the announcement last Tuesday of closing school buildings, administration and teachers have been working on retooling to deliver instruction to our kids. Thursday, the Kansas Department of Education provided guidance to us for this process. Friday, principals met with teachers to begin discussion for developing our plan. Over the next two weeks, teachers and administration will be developing a Plan for Continuous Learning. The Department of Education is giving us two weeks to get our plan developed and begin instruction. Due to the limitations on face to face contact, USD 281 will be evolving to a digital instructional delivery model for our primary mode of instruction. This will require students to have access to the internet. In the event internet access is not currently available to the student, we are asking parents to try to get service through a phone hotspot, MiFi access point, or contact a service provider about providing temporary access. If you are unable to do so due to finances, please call your child’s school office and let us know. Working together we will figure it out. The next two weeks: Principals will be developing a schedule for children to get in the school, retrieve their personal possessions, and pick up their computers and books to take home for the remainder of the school year. Look for this in the upcoming week. Teachers will be lesson planning. When they are ready to start instruction, they will post it on the live feed or/and will be contacting your child through their district google email. 7-12 grade students – Teachers are working toward starting some instruction March 30 with the digital plan and be fully immersed by April 6. Communication will be through a variety of apps: Google Classroom, Google Meet, posting links provided through student email. K-6 grade students – Instruction will begin April 6. Communications through: Google Classroom, Class Dojo, See Saw, and others. Teachers will notify parents and students of the app to be used and prepare training videos if needed. Contact your teacher by email once instruction begins if you have questions. If a problem with technology arises, contact the teacher or principal and if needed the student will switch to an individual learning platform. We are definitely building this plane while flying. Please be patient with us. Teachers are working to do their best for your children. Jim Hickel Superintendent USD 281

Dear Parents and Guardians, On March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school buildings will close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. She did not cancel school services and we are obligated to develop a plan for continuous learning by the Kansas Department of Education. KSDE will be providing guidance to develop alternative learning opportunities for all students and we will share more information as it becomes available. The administrative team and teachers will be working diligently the coming days to develop a Continuous Learning Plan for USD 281. Education will continue but will not look the same as before. We will be looking at a combination of several delivery models; Online, Face-to-Face, and Learning Packets. We need to know about anyone that DOES NOT have WIFI access in their home. Please contact your child’s school office to let us know if you DO NOT have this access. Secretaries will not be full-time in the offices so please leave a message if no answer. If you know a neighbor that does not have access please let them know about this needed information. The School buildings, including the gyms and weight room will remain closed to the public until further notice. We understand the hardship this places on our families as well as the social and emotional impact it may have on our students. Kay Mitchell, Michelle Billips and team have developed a process to provide meals to students and will be providing information soon. We are also working on other critical issues, such as what this means for our seniors and how this will affect next school year. We will provide updates on these issues as soon as the information is available. We are committed to working together with County Health and community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times. Communication will remain a top priority. We will continue to provide updates via the live feed on the district web page. Please be patient and flexible as we work through this process. As a reminder, this school modification is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is also referred. Please be mindful of the following: • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing (cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue). • Please keep sick children at home. • Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms. Follow additional guidance from these sources: • National Center for Disease Control (CDC)  • Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)  Jim Hickel, Superintendent of Schools

I am reaching out to all of the students, parents and staff of USD 281, to let you know that I am thinking about all of you as we navigate these rough waters ahead. As many of you are aware, Laura Kelly, the Governor of Kansas, held a press conference today along with Dr. Randy Watson, the Kansas Commissioner of Education, to inform the public that all schools in Kansas will be shut down for the remainder of the school year. This is an unprecedented time in our state and nation. School officials will be meeting tomorrow to discuss this situation and to provide you more information as we move forward. Please take care of yourself and your family members. Sincerely, Alan

RINGNECKS! Good news for our HCJSHS KSPA state qualifiers! Even though the state competition at the KU campus has been cancelled, regional digital entries will be forwarded on to new judges as state entries! (Traditionally, new prompts were given and contestants were required to create all new entries for state.) On site contests will be REMOTELY available during a 24hr window period planned for late April. We will have more details on the latter very soon! Hang in there during these challenging times! #WeAreRingnecks Mrs. Kim Pfeifer Mr. Collin Pfeifer

Spanish students- It's finals week for La Locura de Marzo! You can still login and vote this week! I've also posted opportunities for extra credit, and if I have enough interest I will host a live Gimkit review on Wednesday at 2. Check your google classroom for updates!

Update: There will be no practices or activities until March 30 for USD 281. #WeAreRingnecks

Graham County U.S.D. 281 schools in Hill City will be closed Monday, March 16th through Sunday March 29th. This precautionary closing is in response to the recommendation by the Kansas Department of Education and Graham County Health Officials concerning COVID-19. Students will not be allowed into the buildings during this period of time and all activities are suspended. School and activities will resume Monday March 30th.

Please be advised there will be NO practices allowed for the week of March 16-22. Please read the release from KSHSAA below. #WeAreRingneck

Jaque Beckman visited with the eighth graders today about good interview skills. The students are preparing for their Ameritowne interviews and learning skills needed to have a successful interview.

March is National Nutrition Month, an annual observance to celebrate and support children in making informed food choices and encourage them to create responsible habits around nutrition and physical activity. Spring is approaching and as the weather gets warmer, opportunities for gardening, buying fresh produce and playing outside grow larger – a perfect time to try something new and a set new goals. Try this interactive Healthy Eating Toolkit https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/nutrition-toolkit/ for recipes, resources, and ideas on a variety of topics for use at school and at home.

USD 281 staff had a fantastic in-service today. The poverty simulation was an eye-opening experience and provided valuable information. It wouldn’t have been possible without all the volunteers. Thank you for your time! Katia Stein, Susan Deges, Amber Owen, Abi McKeever, Kristen Shewey, Traci Jilka, Jessie Thompson, Sheryl Fabricius, Connie Dombrowski, Nansy Sauser, Dianna Hart, Joe Green, Lois Richmeier, Carl Keith, Zach Thompson, Darcie Barker Schierkolk, Maegan Gosselin, Stephen Sansom, Julie Davis, Randall Weller, Suzie McDowell, Bev Staffford, Kim Nutting, Nancy Law, Chris Smee)

Good luck to these four young men as they get ready for state wrestling tomorrow morning. #WeAreRingnecks

USD 281 students do not have school Friday, February 28 or Monday, March 2. Enjoy your weekend & we'll see you Tuesday!

State Wrestling Information Site: Fort Hays State University-Gross Memorial Coliseum Ticket Prices K-12: $9.00 * Adult: $12.00 * * Due to site policy, a $1.00 surcharge has been added to the Adult ticket prices. * Due to site policy, a $1.00 surcharge has been added to the K-12 ticket prices. Parking Fee: No Charge Gates Open: Friday at 8:00am and Saturday at 7:00am Schedule: http://www.kshsaa.org/public/wrestling/PDF/TimeSchedule.pdf Open Spaces will be streaming all matches. GO RINGNECKS!

Here are the sub-state brackets. Let's go Ringnecks! Girls: http://www.kshsaa.org/public/ScoreCenter/Brackets/Basketball/2ASub-State.cfm?Activity=2&WeekID=4532 Boys: http://www.kshsaa.org/public/ScoreCenter/Brackets/Basketball/2ASub-State.cfm?Activity=2&WeekID=4490

Pre-School Registration - The Board of Education, Graham County USD 281, has approved an expansion of the current pre-school program. The expansion class will be a half-day morning session offered at Hill City Grade School and will be available for 4 and 5 year old children. All applications will be through the current application process by the Graham County Early Childhood Center. Parents wishing to apply for pre-school services please contact the Graham County Early Childhood Center at 785-421-3340.

It's a busy night at HCJSHS. See you there! 4:00 Basketball Here vs Oakley (all games at the high school) Academic Night (between varsity games) 1st & 2nd Grade Basketball Game (halftime of Varsity Boys) UMYF Serving Hamburgers/Chips/Salad/Dessert in Cafeteria Pep Club spirit theme is Jersey Night.

America’s Farmers is now accepting nominations for their Grow Rural Education program $15,000 STEM grant. Districts must be nominated by a farmer. The website to nominate is https://www.americasfarmers.com/grow-rural-education/

School resumes tomorrow. We hope everyone is feeling well and rested. If your child is still feeling ill, with or without fever, it is recommended that he/she stay out of school until his/her symptoms have resolved and he/she has been fever-free for AT LEAST 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. Reminder of illness guidelines that will be followed at the school and that are also recommended for the general public: • 24 hours since the last vomiting episode • 24 hours since the last diarrhea episode (3 or more watery stools in a 24-hour period) • 24 hours fever-free (<100° F) without the use of fever-reducing medication • If testing positive for influenza, remain home for 5 days after onset of symptoms or until fever-free for 24 hours, whichever is LONGER. • No open blisters on rashes (and fever-free guidelines) We appreciate your following these guidelines and efforts to keep kids well.

Please read this information provided by the Graham County Health Department.

There will be no school for Graham County U.S.D. 281 February 5th,6th, and 7th due to illness. All activities are cancelled starting Wednesday going through Sunday.

We are looking for a few more volunteers for our March 2 teacher in-service from 7:45-10:15 AM We are hosting a poverty simulation for our teachers so that they can better understand the experiences of students and families living in poverty. The simulation is comprised of several stations that represent businesses and places that people in poverty frequent for assistance and survival needs such as a church, grocery store, police station, school, work place, food bank, and bank, to name a few. The volunteers will be provided with 45 minutes of training, a script, details, and props for their assigned station. If you are able to help with this event on March 2, 7:45-10:15 AM, please contact Rebecca Richmeier (785) 421-2135 or rebeccarichmeier@usd281.com.

Due to sickness; our High School Wrestling dual scheduled with Wakeeney for Tuesday, Feb. 4, has been cancelled.

USD 281 is collaborating with the Northwest Educational Service Center on the EVERS Project. The EVERS Project is a 5-year federal grant designed to develop trauma-informed communities, schools and classrooms for the purpose of breaking cycles of violence and trauma in the lives of rural students and their families. Participation in this project will help USD 281 build programs, resources, and student assistance over the next 4-6 years in a way that that can be sustained in the community. Please help us get started by taking this SHORT 3-minute survey. https://forms.gle/RGuaUQnWk6qGZN1j8

Notice: There is a change in dates for the upcoming parent/teacher conferences for both the Jr./Sr. High and Elementary Schools. The dates will be Monday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 27, from 4:00 - 7:00.

High School basketball game today at Ellis will start at 2:00. JV girls will play 2 quarters, JV boys will also play 2 quarters, followed by the varsity girls and boys. Everything will be played at the high school. #WeAreRingnecks

Invitation to Meet Superintendent Candidate USD 281 will be holding a reception with coffee and cookies for Mr. Dustin McEwen at 4:00 p.m. at Tebo auditorium today, January 22, 2020. Please join us in greeting Mr. McEwen for a casual conversation.

Invitation to Meet Superintendent Candidate USD 281 will be holding a reception with coffee and cookies for Mr. Keith Hall at 4:00 p.m. at Tebo auditorium today, January 21, 2020. Please join us in greeting Mr. Hall for a casual conversation.

The Girls and Boys basketball teams will both play in Plainville on Tuesday, Jan. 21. in the next round of the MCL Tournament. Girls game starts at 6:00 pm followed by the boys. #WeAreRingnecks

The basketball games scheduled for tonight at Ellis have been postponed. Make up date has not been set. #WeAreRingnecks

Congratulations to Jayce for being named Outstanding Wrestler at the Ellsworth Tournament.

Ringneck wrestling placed second at the Ellsworth Tournament today. Great Job! #WeAreRingnecks

The high school basketball games scheduled for tonight have been postponed and will be rescheduled for Feb. 10. #WeAreRingnecks

Start time for Friday’s Basketball games has been changes to 4:00. All games will be played at the high school.

The USD 281 Wellness Committee is working on several goals this year related to nutrition education, physical activity, and integrated school wellness. Our goal for nutrition education is to provide families information about health and nutrition at least once per semester. For now, we will just share fun facts and tips through Facebook and our web site. Someday we hope to provide an annual Family, Food, and Fitness night. We know that families are extremely busy and we don't want to overwhelm you with unnecessary information. However, wellness is an important aspect of school and family life and we hope that you are able to maybe apply one or two tips when we share them. More information regarding our wellness policies can be found here: https://www.usd281.com/o/graham-co…/…/wellness-committee--14

Congrats to the Ringneck Wrestling team and coaches for winning the Osborne Wrestling Tournament today. Great Job!!! #We are Ringnecks

Order a 2019-20 Ringneck Yearbook by Dec. 6 and receive 20 FREE Holiday Notecards! https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1070853/Hill-City-High-School/2020-Yearbook/20191112041642310159/CATALOG_SHOP/

Due to the anticipated winter storm there will be no school for U.S.D.281 Tuesday, November 26th. School will resume Monday, December 2nd. Have a great Thanksgiving break!

The Freshmen class is selling Little Caesar's Pizza Kits. If you are interested in ordering pizza kits, cookie dough, breadsticks, or cinnamon bites, you can order online at pizzakit.com using the fundraiser ID 378060 or order from any freshman. Orders are due by Dec. 4th!

Our students performing Snow White MusicPolusa. Great Job!!! #We are Ringnecks

Ringneck cheer squad making us proud. They competed in the KSHSAA Game Day Spirit Showcase in Topeka. Great job representing your school. #We are Ringnecks!!!

The KSDE Blue Ribbon Task Force on Bullying and KNEA are partnering to provide an online information session regarding bullying, “Shedding Light on Bullying” at 7:00 p.m. on November 19. See the flyer for further information.

Order a 2019-20 Ringneck Yearbook by Dec. 6 and receive 20 FREE Holiday Notecards! https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1070853/Hill-City-High-School/2020-Yearbook/20191112041642310159/CATALOG_SHOP/

USD 281 is proud to announce that Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, will be coming to Hill City to make a special announcement on Monday, December 16 at 9:00 am in the Tebo Auditorium. All students, staff, parents, and patrons are invited and encouraged to attend! @ksdehq

The varsity scholars bowl team took first place yesterday in Rexford! Way to go Ringnecks!

Congratulations to the JV Scholars Bowl team for taking first place in WaKeeney today!

A limited number of 2018-19 Ringneck yearbooks are still available at the price of $65.00 each. Pick up yours by emailing kimpfeifer@usd281.com, or calling the high school office at 785.421.2117 before they are gone!

The Regional Football game will be Friday, Nov. 8 at St. Francis. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm central time. GO RINGNECKS!!!

Fun on el dia de los muertos!

Fun on el dia de los muertos!

The annual KAY Trunk-or-Treat that was scheduled for Thursday, October 31 has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

October 28, 10:00 AM - This is a test of the Graham County USD 281 notification system. In the event of a school closing or other emergency situation, notification will go out via. this system. If you do not want to receive this notification or if you did not receive it and wish to, please contact Melanie Kennedy melaniekennedy@usd281.com or Christy Keith christykeith@usd281.com

We will be hosting Wakeeney in the first round of the football playoffs. The game will be Friday, Nov. 1 at Ringneck Stadium, 7:00 pm.. Come out and support the Ringnecks.

Spanish 3 made sugar skulls in preparation for el dia de los muertos!

Tomorrow night will be Sr. Night for football and cross country. Presentation will begin at 5:45 and the football game will kick off at 6:00.

USD 281 will conduct a test of our new alert system on Oct 28 at 10am. If you do not receive a call or text announcing a test of the system that day, please let us know.

The football game against Victoria has been postponed for tonight and will resume tomorrow morning at 11:00 am.

Football at Victoria 7:00 Game will be LIVE on Nex-Tech Channel 1 and Streamed at Nex-Tech.com starting at 6:45PM

Congratulations to the HCJH football team on their undefeated season!

The 2019-2020 USD 281 calendar has been revised. February 10, 2020 is now a regular school day. Students will not have school on March 2, 2020 due to teacher in-service.

USD 281 does not have school on Monday, October 14 due to teacher in-service. Have a great weekend!

The high school football game scheduled for tonight, against Lincoln, will kickoff at 7:00pm. Come out and support your Ringnecks.

The Cross Country meet scheduled for today in Phillipsburg has been postponed until Monday, Oct. 14. Same start time.

The public may be interested in attending: Senator Moran Listening Tour Friday, October 11, 3 p.m. at the Nicodemus National Historic Site

Thank you to the parents/guardians who completed the 2019 District Climate survey. We had 86 families respond. This feedback is helpful in establishing goals and programs in our accreditation plan. More importantly, this feedback helps us impact student achievement and success.

The JV Football game scheduled for Monday, October 7 has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

U.S.D. 281 does not have school Friday, October 4. Enjoy your long weekend!

So proud of HCGS students for working hard and raising funds for the PE department, Bryce Ashbaugh Cancer fund, and the PTO playground fund! Thanks to HCGS PTO for organizing this event, to everyone who donated, and all the volunteers. We have awesome students, parents, teachers, and community support. Ringneck proud!

The start time for the JV Football game scheduled for tonight in Hoxie is 5:30.

REMINDER! Parent/Teacher conferences are tonight & tomorrow. Refer to the schedule sent home by your child's school for time.

Junior Ringneck Classic Hill City JV vs. hodgeman county 1st set- 19-25 loss 2nd set- 25-19 win 3rd set- 15-6 win We are in the semifinals!

Junior Ringneck Classic Hill City JV vs. Plainville 1st set- 25-18 win 2nd set- 25-22 win

Junior Ringneck Classic Hill City JV vs. Ellis 1st set- 25-6 win 2nd set- 25-16 win

The HCHS cross country meet is at home tonight at 5:00 at Prairie Trails Golf Course! Let's go Ringnecks!

HCHS Volleyball plays at Larned tonight and Football away at Clifton-Clyde tomorrow. Both locations are offering free will donation meals. Support our teams and their local organizations!

Spanish 2 students enjoyed doing medical skits this homecoming week! Full videos are in the links! https://drive.google.com/file/d/11K0_Kcgbv67Xx-5QvDJrPMpKK9q3nvzN/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/11EqDai-qvqksiKKgw_Sz0MtbrzISzEp2/view?usp=sharing

The homecoming parade route has been changed due to unforeseen circumstances. The parade lineup will be at the hospital and travel south down Pomeroy to highway 24, then left to West street back up to the park.

Spanish 3 had fun today making arepas for the first time!

STICKING with BRYCE is September 19, 7:15 AM, at HCJSHS. For $1 per foot of tape, you can tape Mr. Stein on the wall and support Bryce Ashbaugh.

Just a quick reminder the Jr. High Volleyball games are in Plainville today beginning at 4:00.

Hill City JV vs. Dighton 1st set- 25-15 win 2nd set-25-18 win Hill City JV vs. Wheatland Grinnell 1st set- 25-13 win 2nd set- 25-13 win Hill City JV vs. Norton (Championship) 1st set- 23-25 loss 2nd set- 23-25 loss JV volleyball came home with 2nd place in the Quinter Tournament! Great job girls!

Hill City JV vs. Trego 1st set-18-25 loss 2nd set- 25-17 win 3rd set- 15-13 win Hill City JV vs. Oakley 1st set- 25-8 win 2nd set- 25-17 win

Hill City Jv vs. Scott city Set 1- 13-25 loss Set 2- 15-25 loss Hill City Jv vs. Hoxie Set 1- 25-18 win Set 2- 25-15 win Hill City varsity vs. Scott City Set 1- 17-25 loss Set 2- 20-25 loss Hill City varsity vs. Hoxie Set 1- 12-25 loss Set 2- 16-25 loss

School picture day is TOMORROW (September 10)!

Kindergarten and 1st grade students put on a great performance for their grandparents today! https://youtu.be/PUxyspy-4Lw

Hill City JV vs. Plainville 1st set- 23-25 loss 2nd set- 25-15 win 3rd set- 11-15 loss Hill City JV vs. Trego 1st set- 25-17 win 2nd set-25-17 win

The start time for the Cross Country meet on Thursday at Norton has been changed to 6:00 pm.

Hill City JV vs. Smith Center 1st set-19-25 loss 2nd set- 23-25 loss

Juniors are selling magazines and more until Wednesday, September 4th. Check out all we have to offer at shopfund.com!

Students in the 7th & 8th grade Study Skills Classes enjoyed learning about the Marines today. Nathaniel Hamel-HCHS Alumni Class 2015 came and talked about his role as a Marine. Thank you so much for visiting us Nathaniel and especially for your service to our country!!

Download our app for a mobile friendly way to stay informed of U.S.D. 281 news, events, and other information.

What a great first day of school! Here are some highlights. https://youtu.be/o_HuGfRb3IY

USD 281 2019-20 District Calendar

Junior High Football meeting and equipment checkout will be Thursday after school. Make sure your child has his physical before Monday too!!

Enrollment is this week: July 31 and August 1 8:00-4:30.

HCHS football camp is on July 15, 16, 18, and 19 from 6-8 AM.

HCHS boys basketball camp is July 15-19 7:00-8:30 PM in the high school gym.

HCJSHS Supply List 7th-8th Grade: Composition Notebook 2 pocket folders with 3 metal fasteners Black or Red Shorts White Shirt 7th-12th Grade: Notebooks, Folders, Pens/Pencils Anything needed to stay organized

High school students planning to take dual credit College Algebra must either have a 21 or higher on the math section of their ACT or score a 263 on the Accuplacer Nex-Gen. Students will be able to take the Accuplacer at HCHS on Thursday, August 8th at 1:00 PM or they can take it at Colby Community College any time this summer.

HCHS cheerleaders are having a great time and learning a lot at camp. Thank you to all the individuals and local businesses that supported them. Hair Crazy Salon Hill City Lions Club First State Bank Graham County Livin’ on a Prairie Nex-Tech People’s State Bank The Busy Bean Unicorn Floral & Gifts Bob & Connie Dombroski Phillip & Beverly Burney Hill City Auto Parts Hill City Times Russell’s Renovations & Construction William A Miller, D.D.S Win Hill Insurance Assoc. Happy Creek Chic Central Veterinary Services Sub Station Solutions North Bank Cameron’s Corner

USD 281 enrollment is July 31 and August 1 from 8:00-4:30. Visit the building your child will attend in August 2019.

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

Don't forget about kindergarten/preschool physicals and required immunizations. Visit the health department before the school year starts!

Junior High Boys basketball camp is July 8-12 from 8-10 am at HCJSHS.

Congratulations to Coach Riley!

It has been brought to our attention that wheeled devices and pets were found using the inside of our track facility, football field, and practices fields. If this continues to be a problem, the gates will have to be locked.

Good luck to the state track participants! GO RINGNECKS!

2019-20 HCGS Supply List

Best of luck to Jacob Lindenman as he participates in the state golf tournament tomorrow!

Due to forecasted weather the 1A state golf tournament in Salina will start at 8AM tomorrow.

The Kids’ Summer Cafe’ will be serving meals again this summer!

The Regional track meet has been moved up to Thursday, May 16. Start time is 3:00.

Our lunch menu items have changed for our last week of school! Check here https://www.usd281.com/o/graham-county-usd-281/dining?filter=7413 to see what has changed! (This will not be updated on the printed menus)

The Awards Night/Open House scheduled for tomorrow, May 10, has been moved to Wednesday, May 15. Open House will start at 5:30 with awards to follow at 6:00.

The MCL Track Meet scheduled for today has been postponed to tomorrow, May 10, same start time.

The Golf tournament at Oakley scheduled for today has been cancelled.

HCHS freshman had a great time working on team-building, communication, and leadership at Goddard Place.

The MCEL Track Meet has been postponed until Friday, May 10.

Congratulations again to the KSPA State participants. We are proud of you!

RINGNECKS took 2nd place at the 1A Kansas Scholastic Press Association State Contest. Congratulations! Individual placing- 1A/2A Academics Photography: 1st Place: Lauryn Bagley 1A/2A Photo Illustration: Hon Men: Brianna Mikkelson 1A/2A Student Life Photography: Hon Men: Lauryn Bagley 1A/2A Student Life Photography: 3rd Place: Brianna Mikkelson 1A/2A Online Photo Gallery: Hon Men: Mason Nichol 1A/2A Editorial Cartoon: Hon Men: Brianna Mikkelson 1A/2A Yearbook Sports Writing: Hon Men: Dalen Journigan

Students in grades 8-11 have their pre-enrollment forms for the next school year. These must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the school by Thursday, May 9th. If you want to make any changes, please write them on the form.

The Hill City High School KAY club would like to thank all of our supporters and donors throughout the 2018-19 school year. We've had an awesome year and are already planning our events for the upcoming 2019-20 school year. Thank you to our community for all of your support!

Mark your calendars! The HCGS student award assembly is May 15 at 8:15 am. See you there!

8th grade students had a great time learning about the programs and opportunities at NCK Tech last Friday.

The High School golf meet scheduled for today, April 30, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for May 7.

The High School track meet scheduled for today, April 30, at Oberlin has been cancelled.

The Jr. High Track meet scheduled for tomorrow at Plainville has been cancelled.

The annual Hill City High School Awards Night is May 10, 2019. Open house begins at 5:30 in the gym. The awards ceremony will begin at 6:00 in Tebo Auditorium.

Hill City Junior High Students picked up trash at Dollar General and the City Park today. Thanks for making a difference in Graham County!

We are looking for pictures from any and all Junior High / High School sporting events that you may have from the current school year! If you have any that you would like to share with us for use on the new school website, contact Mr. Collin Pfeifer at: collinpfeifer@usd281.com

MCL High School Choir @ Colby has been rescheduled to April 24th.

The varsity track meet scheduled for Friday, April 12 has been moved to Monday, April 15. Start time is 3:00.

The JV Golf tournament scheduled for Thursday, April 11 has been cancelled.

2018-19 Ringneck "Snapshots of Our Lives" Yearbook sales have been extended until May 1 in celebration of the launch of the new USD 281 website! Order yours now using the button at the top of the website homepage. Thank you for your patronage!

DIGITAL SENIOR PORTRAIT FINAL DEADLINE: The Yearbook Staff needs a digital 300 res. jpeg, vertical pose by Weds., April 10. Please send to KimPfeifer@usd281.com, share via Google Drive, or bring on a flash drive/SD card. Lifetouch photos will be used after this deadline.

Welcome to the new www.USD281.com! USD281 is proud to announce the launch of our new website. We hope that you enjoy your new user experience.