Congratulations to Cora Dow - Valedictorian:
Cora Dow plans to attend the Air Force Academy, where she will pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During high school, she has been actively involved in Student Council, cross country, track, cheerleading, powerlifting, and KAY Club.
Reflecting on those who have supported her along the way, Cora shares, “Sending a big thank you to my loving family, devoted coaches, and incredible educators.”
Each month, the Chamber recognizes a teacher for their outstanding service, but this month, they recognized an integral part of our school district - our Transportation Director, Debbie Elmer.
Mrs. Elmer has demonstrated a passion for the students and the district she serves for the last 41 years!
Over the last 41 years, Mrs. Debbie Elmer has exemplified excellence, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our school district as a bus driver and then eventually as Director of Transportation. Through changing times and numerous challenges, her leadership has ensured the safe and reliable transportation of literally GENERATIONS of students.
Debbie’s professionalism, knowledge of all things transportation, and tireless dedication to USD 204 has set a high standard - not only for our district, but for the profession itself! It’s no exaggeration to say she’s been the best at what she does, and we are incredibly fortunate to have benefitted from her dedication for so many years.
Mrs. Elmer will be retiring at the end of June, and we want to wish her all the best. Congratulations, Debbie Elmer, USD 204 Transportation Director, on being recognized as the May Chamber of Commerce School Staff Member of the Month!
Congratulations to Chasitee Sambol - Valedictorian:
Chasitee Sambol plans to attend college, where she will continue her athletic career in basketball, though she is still undecided on her specific path. Throughout high school, she has been actively involved in volleyball, basketball, track and field, National Honor Society, Orange Crush, Diversity, KAY Club, Prom Committee, and the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
Reflecting on her journey, Chasitee shares, “I want to thank my family, of course, Madilock, and myself for keeping my expectations high.”
We are proud to honor Rhonda Rush as Clark Middle School’s Substitute Teacher of the Year! She was also chosen as the District Substitute Teacher of the Year! We have truly enjoyed having Rhonda in our building this school year.
Rhonda has been especially helpful while working in our Working Braves classroom. She consistently goes above and beyond to support both students and staff with patience, kindness, and flexibility. She builds positive relationships with students, creates a calm and encouraging environment, and is always willing to step in wherever she is needed. Her dedication, compassion, and strong work ethic have made a lasting impact on our school community, and we are so grateful for the care and support she provides.
Congratulations to Addyson Thompson - Valedictorian:
Addyson Thompson plans to attend the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, where she will continue her athletic career in track and field. During high school, she has been actively involved in volleyball, basketball, track and field, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Orange Crush, and Youth Lead KC.
Reflecting on those who have supported her journey, Addyson shares, “I want to thank both of my parents and all the teachers that have taught me throughout the years.”
https://bonnerspringsedusdks.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/about-us/boe/board-beat/25298948
Congratulations to Tori Timmons - Valedictorian:
Victoria Timmons plans to attend Fort Hays State University, where she will major in Health and Human Performance with the goal of becoming an athletic trainer. She also plans to try out for the cheer team in the fall.
During high school, Victoria has been involved in cheerleading, served as a baseball manager, and was a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.
Reflecting on those who have supported her journey, Victoria shares, “I want to thank my family for pushing me to truly be the best version of myself. I would like to thank my mom for not only being an amazing role model but an amazing teacher and showing me the true meaning of hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank Ms. Madlock—her love and passion for teaching truly inspired me and influenced my decision to pursue a career in sports medicine.”
Please join us today for the Cavalcade Concert with sixth through twelfth grade at 7:00PM in the Braves Fieldhouse/PEC.
Congratulations to Sophia Schwartzkopf - Valedictorian:
Sophia plans to attend a four-year college, where she will major in either biochemistry, pathology, or chemical engineering, though she is still deciding on her final path. During high school, she has been actively involved in volleyball, track and field, bowling, and tennis.
Reflecting on those who have supported her journey, Sophia shares, “I would like to thank my family for providing such a strong support system for me. I'm forever grateful for their support. Also, I have a huge thanks to my friends for always being there for me and having my best interest in mind. Finally, thank you to all the teachers who have encouraged me along the way.”
Congratulations to our April Students of the Month! These students demonstrated the BRAVE character trait of VALUE.
These projects show off not just creativity, but a solid understanding of how electrical circuits function!
Don’t let the memories fade - grab your yearbook today! Deadline is May 1st!
Today, we participated in our STEM Olympics, where advisories from each grade level competed in a variety of exciting, hands-on challenges. Activities included designing structures to withstand simulated earthquakes, constructing and launching rockets, building balloon-powered cars, solving escape room puzzles, and creating protective vehicles to keep eggs intact during crash tests. The event encouraged creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving while showcasing students’ skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Congratulations to all of our talented performers!
🥇 1st Place: Layla Holton – winner of tickets to see Louis Tomlinson in concert!
🥈 2nd Place: Silas Cannon – recipient of a $10 gift card!
A big thank you to our wonderful judges for their time and support:
• Amy Gibbs (Third Space Coffee House, downtown Bonner Springs)
• Tracy Shiner (CST Sweets, downtown Bonner Springs)
• Jim Mitchell (beloved former CMS staff member)
• Rick Moulin (our Superintendent)
We appreciate everyone who helped make this event such a success! 🌟
Need help buying food for your children when school is out for summer?
Learn how the Kansas SUN Bucks program can help you!
SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get a one-time benefit of $120 per year for each eligible child to help buy groceries during the summer months. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect children or families’ immigration status.
Applications are now being accepted for SUN Bucks benefits for summer 2026. Benefits will not be issued until summer 2026. Some households may be automatically eligible and will receive a letter from DCF after January 2026 regarding SUN Bucks eligibility. Other households can create a DCF Self-Service Portal account or use your existing login to apply before 5 p.m. on August 31, 2026.
Our seventh-grade scientists took a deep dive into biology this week! To better understand how body systems work together, students stepped into the lab for hands-on frog dissections.
By locating specific organs and observing how they connect, our students gained a much clearer perspective on:
Anatomy & Physiology: Seeing firsthand how structures function.
Biological Links: Comparing frog anatomy to human systems to understand our own bodies.
Lab Skills: Practicing precision, observation, and scientific inquiry.
It was an incredible day of discovery and "aha!" moments. We are so proud of the curiosity and respect our students showed during this classic rite of passage in science education! 🧬✨
Don’t let the memories fade - grab your yearbook today! Deadline is May 1st!
