Holton Unified School District 336

📣 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:

1. Open the link above.

2. In the bottom-right corner, click “+ Google Calendar”.

3. Accept the prompt to add it to your calendar list.

🖨️ Print a Calendar View (Month or Agenda)

1. On the Google Calendar page, click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner.

2. Select “Print”.

3. Choose Month, Week, or Agenda view.

4. Select your preferred date range and layout options.

5. 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:

1. Tap Menu ☰

2. Select “Events”

3. View daily events or select a specific school

4. 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.

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!

📘 Week 2: Belonging is a Buffer — Helping Your Child Feel Connected at School
Week 2 of our back-to-school mental health series focuses on something every student needs to thrive: a sense of belonging.

Loneliness and social disconnection are strong predictors of depression and suicidal ideation in youth. But belonging isn’t just about having friends—it’s about feeling valued, accepted, and safe.

🧠 Why it Matters:

According to psychologist Jean Twenge and findings from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, students who feel connected to adults and peers at school are 50% less likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

✅ What You Can Do This Week:

Talk about identity and purpose – Ask your child what they’re most proud of, what they’re excited to try this year, and how they want to show up. Belonging starts with self-worth.

Reach out to teachers early – A quick email to your child’s teacher (especially if they’ve had a tough year or loss) can help educators build stronger connections from day one.

Encourage safe risk-taking – Suggest clubs, sports, music, art, or volunteer activities. Trying something new helps kids discover where they fit.

💬 Belonging is built. And you are your child’s first and most powerful source of belonging.


Next week, we’ll wrap up with a focus on mental health check-ins and when to seek support.

TEEN TALK: Because Parenting Doesn’t Come With a Manual

📅 Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
🕠 5:30–6:30 pm
📍 Holton High School

Over the past few months, our school community has faced deep heartbreak. These moments have reminded us how urgently our kids need support, connection, and care — not just at school, but at home and in the wider community.

This upcoming Teen Talk event, hosted by Kanza Mental Health, offers parents and caregivers a safe space to learn, reflect, and connect. It’s not a lecture — it’s a conversation. One rooted in understanding, resilience, and practical tools you can use with your teen right away.

If you’ve ever wondered how to better support your child, or how to navigate the hard stuff — you’re not alone. Please consider attending, even if things are going well. Preventative conversations matter just as much as responsive ones.

➡️ Kanza is also collecting feedback through a brief survey (QR code on the flyer). Your voice helps shape the services available in our area.

We can’t undo the pain we’ve experienced, but we can move forward by showing up — for our kids and for each other.

📘 Week 1: A Strong Start — Supporting Mental Health as We Head Back to School

As we prepare for a new school year, we’re launching a 3-week series focused on helping families support their children’s mental health and emotional readiness.

Coming back to school can bring excitement—but also anxiety, grief, or uncertainty. And after the tragic loss of two of our students to suicide, we know many families are asking: How do I help my child feel safe, supported, and connected as school begins?

Over the next three weeks, we’ll share practical, research-based tips you can use at home. These aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re protective factors that support mental wellness and even reduce suicide risk. This week’s theme: set the emotional tone early.

🧠 Why it Matters:
Research from the American Psychological Association and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center shows that kids who feel emotionally connected to family and school are more resilient and less likely to experience crisis in isolation. It all starts with what happens at home.

✅ What You Can Do This Week:
• Start conversations now – Don’t wait for Day One. Ask how they’re feeling about returning. Normalize mixed emotions. ("Are you feeling nervous or excited—or a little of both?")
• Acknowledge hard feelings – If your child is grieving or anxious, reflect it without trying to fix it. ("It makes sense that you're still thinking about what happened.")
• Rebuild routines gradually – Help your child ease into earlier wake-up times, regular meals, and screen-free wind-downs.

💬 You set the emotional tone. If your child feels seen, heard, and supported, they’re more likely to seek help when they need it.

Stay tuned next week as we talk about building a sense of belonging and how you can help your child feel connected at school from day one.