We hope this message finds you well. As the school year gets into full swing, we are so grateful for your continued partnership in making our school a safe and welcoming place for all students and staff.
As you know, our parking lot is a very busy area, especially before and after school. We have noticed some instances of unsafe driving behavior and want to proactively address this to ensure everyone remains safe. This is a great opportunity to remind our students about the importance of being cautious drivers.
If your student drives to school, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to talk with them about safe driving practices in and around the school. Please encourage them to focus on a few key points:
Following traffic rules: All stop signs, one-way signs, and designated traffic flow patterns must be followed.
Keeping a low speed: The speed limit in the lot is 10 miles per hour to allow for quick stops and safe maneuvering.
Yielding to pedestrians: Students on foot and bicycle always have the right of way.
We believe that a simple conversation from you can make a huge impact. By working together, we can ensure that our school parking lot is a safe environment for every person who uses it. Just so you know, we have made morning announcements about this and asked HPD and the Sheriff's Department to patrol our parking lots before and after school.
Thank you again for your help in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Truelove, HHS Principal
Band will have its own separate QR code.
🎉 Congratulations, Katie Morris! 🎨
We are proud to share that Katie Morris has been named the 2025 Overall Outstanding Art Educator of the Year by the Kansas Art Education Association!
This statewide honor recognizes Katie’s incredible dedication to inspiring creativity, fostering student expression, and advancing art education across Kansas. Her passion for helping students see themselves as artists — and for making art a meaningful part of their lives — has had a lasting impact on our school and community.
Katie, Holton High Art Teacher, will be honored at the KAEA Fall Conference in Hiawatha on Friday, October 10, during a special awards banquet and ceremony.
Please join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and thanking Katie for the countless ways she enriches our students’ learning through the arts.
Katie — we are proud of you and grateful for the inspiration you bring every day!
Parents and Athletes,
Due to the projected high temperatures on Monday, August 18th (the first day of fall sports practices), we are adjusting some of the outdoor practice times. We will continue to follow KSHSAA’s heat acclimation guidelines, with the safety of our student-athletes and coaches as our top priority. Additional adjustments may be needed later in the week, and those will be communicated by each individual coach.
Please remind your kiddos to stay hydrated and fuel their bodies properly as we begin the season.
Practice Information – Monday, August 18th
HS Volleyball
Head Coach: Kristel Bontrager - k.bontrager@holtonks.net
Practice: 3:20 p.m. in the HHS Varsity Gym
MS Volleyball
8th Grade: Head Coach Keri Miller – k.miller@holtonks.net
7th Grade: Head Coach Emmy Tanking – e.tanking@holtonks.net
8th grade will practice in the old HHS gym right after school | 7th grade will practice at HES from 3:30–5:15 (Transportation will be provided to HES, the 7th graders will ride the duck bus).
MS/HS Cross Country
Head Coach: Terilyn Seele – t.seele@holtonks.net
HS Football
Head Coach: Brooks Barta – b.barta@holtonks.net
Practice: 6:00 p.m.
MS Spirit Squad
Head Coach: Tara Hurt – t.hurt@holtonks.net
Practice: Will be inside after school on Wednesday
MS Football
Head Coach: Justin Lillie – j.lillie@holtonks.net
Practice: MS Gym right after school
HS Girls Golf
Head Coach: Kurt Haussler – k.haussler@holtonks.net
Practice: Meet in Coach Haussler's classroom after school
HS Spirit Squad
Head Coach: Jessica Snyder – j.snyder@holtonks.net
Thank you all for your flexibility as we navigate the Kansas heat!
Bowe Behymer
Holton HS/MS Athletic/Activities Director
Mercer Funeral Home
GN Bank
Medical Pharmacy PA
White Law Offices
Foster Ford
B&P Propane
Jayhawk Appliances
USD 336 Education Foundation
Denison State Bank
ICE Automotive
Lifetime Eye Care
Holton Dental
Jayme Malsom
Director of Bands
Holton Schools, USD 336
See attached for information about the SAFE organizations fund raiser for painting parking spaces in the Student Parking Lot.
Thanks,
Jeremy Truelove, HHS Principal
📣 Important Update: District Calendar Now Online-Only
This year, Holton USD 336 will no longer print or mail a paper version of the district calendar. We know this is a change from tradition, and we want to make sure you still have full, easy access to everything happening in our schools.
🗓️ Always Up-to-Date: District Google Calendar
Our digital calendar is updated in real time and includes all district events.
📍 View the Holton Google Calendar
✔️ Subscribe to the Calendar
You can add the district calendar to your personal Google account or phone:
Open the link above.
In the bottom-right corner, click “+ Google Calendar”.
Accept the prompt to add it to your calendar list.
🖨️ Print a Calendar View (Month or Agenda)
On the Google Calendar page, click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner.
Select “Print”.
Choose Month, Week, or Agenda view.
Select your preferred date range and layout options.
Click Print or Save as PDF to share or save.
📱 Access the Calendar from the Holton USD 336 App
You can also stay connected using our free mobile app:
📲 Download & Open the App
Once inside the app:
Tap Menu ☰
Select “Events”
View daily events or select a specific school
Tap the share or print icons if you'd like to save or print
🌐 Access from the District Website
You can view upcoming events anytime by visiting:
🔗 www.holtonks.net/events
📄 Prefer a Printed List?
We’ve created a downloadable PDF with a full list of events:
📍 Printable 2025–26 District Event List
Don’t have a printer? Stop by the district office and we’ll print one for you.
Thank you for helping us make the transition to more accessible, more up-to-date communication. If you need support with calendar access or printing, we’re here to help.
📘 Week 3: Stay Close, Ask Twice — Mental Health Check-Ins That Make a Difference
This week, we close our series with one of the most powerful tools you have: intentional check-ins.
Checking in isn’t just asking “How was your day?” and moving on. It’s about listening deeply, spotting changes, and giving kids permission to talk about hard things—without shame or pressure.
🧠 Why it Matters:
Mental health experts like Dr. Lisa Damour and Dr. Mitch Prinstein emphasize that consistent, open conversations at home are protective against depression, anxiety, and suicide. Kids need safe spaces to process stress—and that starts with trusted adults.
✅ What You Can Do This Week:
Ask open-ended questions – Instead of “Did you have a good day?” try “What was something that made you smile today? What felt hard?”
Notice and name changes – Is your child withdrawing from friends? Sleeping much more or less? Losing interest in what they used to love? These can be early warning signs.
Don’t be afraid to ask directly – If you’re concerned, say: “Sometimes when people feel really down, they think about not wanting to be here. Has that happened to you?” Asking about suicide does not increase risk—it opens the door to help.
Know when and where to seek help – If your child expresses thoughts of suicide or shows serious warning signs, don’t wait. Call 988, reach out to school counselors, or seek professional mental health support immediately.
💬 Silence doesn’t mean everything is okay. Your steady presence and questions show your child they’re never alone.
Let’s stay close and stay connected—as a school and as a community.
Holton is seeking dependable and dedicated Daily Bus Drivers and Substitute Bus Drivers to safely transport our students to and from school each day!
If you enjoy working with kids and take pride in safety and reliability, we’d love to have you on board.
✅ Paid training provided
✅ Competitive pay
✅ A meaningful way to support our school community
Interested? Apply online or stop by the District Office — we’d be happy to help you get started!
5:30PM - Teen Talk @ HHS
5:30PM - Tiny Paws Open House
6:00PM - Preschool Open House
Parents of Freshmen! We started our Freshman Porch Visits this week. Our goal is to personally invite you and your 9th grader to Open House and answer any of your questions. Looking forward to seeing you soon!