Ad Astra Academies

We are in need of substitute teachers. Unfilled substitute jobs create logistics issues for our principals to find coverage within the building, often resulting in teachers providing coverage on their planning time, or administrators or other staff covering as their schedule allows. Our teachers and staff are always there for one another, but it is most ideal to have a qualified substitute fill the job all day to provide continuity to not only the absent teacher's class, but to prevent schedule shuffling around the school. Thank you for considering and sharing with those that may be able to help!

Various agencies are participating in a FREE early childhood screening opportunity on March 5th at Our Father's House Church. From 9:00am - 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 5:30pm screenings will be available for hearing, vision, height/weight, social/emotional, motor, speech/language, and thinking and reasoning. See the flyer for details

Congratulations to our very own, Justin Seuser, for being honored as the District 1 Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Athletic Director of the Year! Mr. Seuser will receive his award at the 2024 KIAAA Conference in March. If you know Mr. Seuser you know he exemplifies our core expectation of a commitment to excellence through constantly searching for ways to help our coaches and athletes take their teams to that next level. Congratulations Mr. Seuser! #Bexceptional #CommittedtoExcellence

Our first PreK and Kindergarten application clinic is coming up next Monday, March 4th. See below for details! Mark your calendars to join us for our preschool and kindergarten application clinics in March! There are three dates to join us and you do NOT have to attend the site your child will ultimately attend. The dates are: March 4 - Union Valley Elementary (5-7pm) March 18 - Plum Creek Elementary (5-7pm) March 25 - Buhler Grade School (5-7pm) ALL prospective preschool families should attend one of these dates, but only NEW to the district kindergarten families should attend. Current preschool students that will continue with us in kindergarten need not attend. Share with your friends looking for preschool options for their children. Students in our preschool classrooms can utilize our low cost child care options for all day care in the same building. Click here for a list of FAQs prior to the event, including a list of items to bring with you: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTKE0IsNYhQbjR2vBfDp0gQpFNsy8H-5-81zP2wdpGedz57bpjJ0-lrNLLmJum5BfGqqTiWK48q_Bp0/pub See you soon!

Reminder! Our 3rd Annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Family night is THIS THURSDAY February 29th from 6-8pm. We can't wait to see you there!

BUHLER EXCEPTIONAL! For the third year in a row, a Buhler graduate teaching at Buhler schools has been awarded the Horizon Award AND the highest rated application in our region!! In 2022, Katelyn Stoss was recognized, last year, Ashley Sides-Bunting was recognized and this year, Jenna Newsum-Kimble was honored! We are so proud of you, Jenna. Thank you for choosing Buhler Schools. #Bexceptional

Buhler USD 313 has employment availability. Teaching positions are available for next school year and the classified positions, excluding child care, are available upon hire. Each of these positions is vital to our district! See the image for job openings and click here to apply: https://www.applitrack.com/buhlerschools/onlineapp/default.aspx Please share with friends who may be interested in joining our team! #BetterTogether

It is hard to express the work the happens in our schools each day accurately. There is so much exceptional work being done across multiple industries including food service, IT, an auto shop, finance, grounds and maintenance, oh, and teaching and learning! See the image below for numbers highlighting the breadth and success of our operations. #Bexceptional #BetterTogether

Mark your calendars to join us for our preschool and kindergarten application clinics in March! There are three dates to join us and you do NOT have to attend the site your child will ultimately attend. The dates are: March 4 - Union Valley Elementary (5-7pm) March 18 - Plum Creek Elementary (5-7pm) March 25 - Buhler Grade School (5-7pm) ALL prospective preschool families should attend one of these dates, but only NEW to the district kindergarten families need attend. Current preschool students that will continue with us in kindergarten need not attend. Share with your friends looking for preschool options for their children. Students in our preschool classrooms can utilize our low cost child care options for all day care in the same building. Click here for a list of FAQs prior to the event, including a list of items to bring with you: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTKE0IsNYhQbjR2vBfDp0gQpFNsy8H-5-81zP2wdpGedz57bpjJ0-lrNLLmJum5BfGqqTiWK48q_Bp0/pub See you soon!

Mark your calendars! Our 3rd Annual STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Family night is February 29th from 6-8pm. We can't wait to see you there!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight Greg Lackey Greg graduated from Buhler High School in 1987, Hutchinson Community College in 1989, and Emporia State University in 1991. He currently serves as the Branch Manager for Hutchinson Prairieland Partners. His family includes his wife Kelly, son Tanner (a 2017 Buhler High School graduate), daughter-in-law Lindsey, and son Bryar (a 2018 Buhler High School graduate). Both of his children have been part of Buhler Schools. “Public Education and the Buhler School District gave me strong a foundation, providing me the tools and confidence to be successful at anything I put my mind to. It has been an honor being able to give back to such a great school district and community!” Thank you for your service Greg!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight Tim Lackey. Tim is a Hutchinson native and graduated from Buhler High School in 1989. He played football at Emporia State University and was a four-year letterman, contributing to the 1989 NAIA National Championship Runner-up Team. Afterward, he attended Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, where he met his wife and business partner, Dr. Andrea Nielson. Following graduation, Tim and Andrea opened Lackey & Nielson Chiropractic Center in Hutchinson. In the same year, Tim initiated the athletic training program at Buhler High School, a role he continues to direct. In 2002, he became a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, and in 2012, he qualified for the Chiropractic Staff for the PGA. Tim and Andrea have two daughters: Maren, a 2022 Buhler graduate and current sophomore at HCC studying pre-chiropractic and playing soccer, and Jenna, a BHS sophomore involved in various school activities. As a family, they enjoy watching and playing sports, managing their hobby farm, and engaging in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and boating. Tim expresses appreciation for the education and opportunities provided by the Buhler school district to himself and his daughters. Serving as a school board member, he is part of a family legacy, following in the footsteps of his father Lynn and grandfather Art, making him a third-generation school board member, with his brother Greg also contributing to this legacy. Thank you for your service Tim!

Family Reading Night was a blast! We were thrilled to see so many Buhler families. Thank you to the Hutchinson Public Library for hosting us and providing so many exceptional activities!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight new board member, Jessica Goering. Jessica has a background in education, having taught 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade reading in Newton for 2 years, followed by 2 years teaching 2nd grade in McPherson. She later served as a School Counselor for grades pre-k to 5th in McPherson for 8 years. Currently, she is involved in property management. In her family life, Jessica is married to Gabe Goering, and they have three children: Evan (11th grade at Buhler High School), Ellie (9th grade at Buhler High School), and Emree (6th grade at Prairie Hills Middle School). Jessica's connection to public education comes from her family background, as her mother was a teacher. Her career has been driven by a commitment to the well-being of students, staff, and parents. Jessica is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of Buhler 313. Welcome, Jessica, and thank you for your service!

Buhler Families, We wanted to send a reminder to join us for Family Reading Night at the Hutchinson Public Library tomorrow, January 25th, from 6:30 - 8:00. This is a come and go event and library staff will have read alouds, book themed crafts, games, and the makerspace available. We also encourage you to check out a book, or 2, or 7! See you there!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight new board member, Chris Shank. Chris is a Buhler alum, having attended Union Valley, Prosperity, Prairie Hills, and graduated from Buhler High in '99. He holds an AA from HCC ('01) and a BS in Secondary Education with a minor in Geography from K-State ('03). Currently, he is the Owner and CEO of Ad Astra Radio, a family-owned radio network in Kansas started by his parents in 1986. Te company has grown to become the largest family-owned radio network in the state. In his personal life, Chris Shank has been married to Jessica for 20 years. They share four children: Calvin, a freshman at K-State majoring in Milling Science; Juliette, a junior at Buhler High; Clara, a 6th grader at Prairie Hills; and Jack, a 4th grader at Union Valley. Chris Shank comes from a family of educators, and his grandfather taught Geometry for over 45 years while coaching football at Manhattan High. He taught and coached for nine years before joining the family business in 2012, with roles at Linn (2003-2006) and Hill City (2006-2012) in 7-12 Social Studies, Athletic Director, and coaching various sports. The decision to move back to the hometown was driven by a desire to provide their children with a strong K-12 experience in USD 313, a district strong in Academics, Arts, and Athletics. Chris Shank and Jessica are actively involved in the community, and their children participate in various activities. Welcome to the board and thank you for your service Chris!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight Monte Cross Monte Cross has served on the school board for eight years. He currently serves as President at Heartland Wealth Strategies, where he has been for 15 years. Monte is a proud Buhler graduate from the class of 1995 and all of his children have graduated from Buhler as well. Monte and wife of 26 years, Michelle, have three children together. McKinley graduated in the class of 2019 and has now earned a Bachelor’s degree from Peru State College in Criminal Justice and emphasis in youth counseling. Mallory was part of the Buhler class of 2022 and is currently bowling for Columbia College and majoring in Environmental Science. Mitchel was part of the class of 2023 and is currently swimming for Morningside University and majoring in Computer Science. “I know in my heart that the education our kids received in the Buhler District set them up to be successful in college. Being able to excel in a sport they love and continue to compete in college on scholarship makes us very proud of our Crusaders.” “Being able to serve the community in the district I grew up in is a privilege I do not take lightly. I bleed Maroon and White and am a Crusader to the core. I am excited about the future of USD 313!” Thank you for your service, Monte!

Did you know? Increased costs have a significant impact on Kansas public schools. #DYKKansasKids

Buhler Staff and Families,  Due to the freezing fog and drizzle this morning, Buhler Schools will be on a 2 hour delay on Monday, January 22nd. Bus routes will run 2 hours late.I recognize this is in an abundance of caution, but there are slick spots this morning in open areas and bridges. This also allows our maintenance staff to salt sidewalks and entrance areas.      With the 2 hour late start, the following will be implemented: No morning PreK No breakfasts will be served Shining Stars will be open 2 hours late All start times will shift back two hours: BGS 9:50 UV/PCE 10:10 PHMS 9:45 BHS 10:00 AdAstra Alternative 10:00 High school students will report directly to 1st hour Middle school students will report directly to 1st hour Buhler Schools has utilized all the built-in snow days.  State statute counts a 2 hour late start due to inclement weather as a full day so Buhler Schools will not have to make up these two hours.   Cindy Couchman, Superintendent Buhler USD #313

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month! USD 313 has long been blessed with exceptional board members who are dedicated to our district and student success. We will be highlighting each member throughout the rest of the month so that you can get to know each of them. Today we highlight new board member, Dr. Michael Green. Mike Green is an avid golfer, K-State fan, loves to travel and spend time with his family, and he is thrilled to have recently joined the Buhler School Board. Mike has been a practicing Gastroenterologist at the Hutchinson Clinic since 2020 when he returned to his hometown, and he views his work as a privilege serving patients from rural communities across the state. Mike graduated from Hutchinson High School (2006), received a Bio-Chemistry Major from Southern Nazarene (2010), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D). from the University of Kansas School of Medicine (2014). He completed his education through residencies in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Mike is married to Kirsten Green, a Buhler alumnus, and Director of ESG at Global Prairie. They have an 8-year old daughter, Leisl, who is a 2nd grader at Plum Creek Elementary. Living and working in this community is a blessing to Mike and his family as they are close to all of their extended family, they enjoy seeking out the many small-town opportunities & activities available, and they recognize the value the Buhler school system provides. Although once a Salthawk, Mike has converted to Crusader, and is looking forward to serving the Buhler district. He values public education and civic leadership and is excited to work with others to help provide an exceptional educational environment for the future generation. Welcome to the team Dr. Green, and thank you for your service!