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Lawrence Public Schools

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🔥 Introducing the 2026 Lawrence High School Hall of Honor Class! 🔥

We are proud to recognize five individuals whose accomplishments, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on Lawrence and helped shape the legacy of the Lions.

Congratulations to the 2026 inductees:

🏆 Kim Murphree ’76 — Award-winning broadcaster, musician, and community leader whose public service includes 23 years with the Lawrence Police Department and helping revive the Lawrence Veterans Day Parade

🏆 The Honorable Judge John B. Nalbandian ’87 — Distinguished jurist who has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit since 2018

🏆 Jim “Punkin” O’Connell ’66 — Dedicated volunteer athletic trainer who supported generations of Lawrence High student-athletes, including members of six state championship teams, and co-founded Red Dog Days

🏆 G. Craig Weinaug ’70 — Longtime public servant whose 43-year career in local government helped advance important community initiatives and facilities throughout Douglas County

🏆 Dr. Quentin Lamerle Rials ’95 — Former student-athlete and Lawrence High School principal remembered for his compassion, student-centered leadership, and lasting commitment to the Lawrence community

We are proud to celebrate these five outstanding Lions and their induction into the Lawrence High School Hall of Honor. Their accomplishments and dedication to others reflect the very best of the Lion spirit.

A special thank-you to the Lawrence Lions Alumni Association for continuing this meaningful tradition of honoring the people who make our school community proud!

📸: Reagan Yanek ‘28, Lawrence High School by @usd497

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4 hours ago

Today, Lawrence Public Schools joins communities across the country in recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day to celebrate and honor Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations.

Here in Lawrence, we recognize the deep history and continued presence of Indigenous peoples, whose cultures, knowledge, and contributions remain an important part of our community.

With schools and district offices closed, we reflect on the significance of this day and our commitment to honoring Indigenous communities.

Graphic courtesy of IllumiNative and Voices for Healthy Kids. by @usd497

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2 days ago

The Lawrence Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13. The district will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Community members are invited to review the board’s agenda and supporting materials at www.usd497.org/school-board

The meeting will be held at 110 McDonald Drive and may be watched live at www.youtube.com/@USD497/live or LPS TV 26 (Midco Channel 26). by @usd497

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3 days ago

The Lawrence High School Homecoming Parade celebrated the traditions, school spirit, and generations of Lions that make our community special!

A highlight was the bicentennial float created by the Class of 1976, connecting decades of Lawrence High history with our nation’s 250th anniversary. It was a wonderful reminder that the traditions built by generations of Lions continue to bring our community together.

Here’s to celebrating our history, honoring our traditions, and building memories for generations to come! 🦁 by @usd497

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5 days ago

📅 CALENDAR REMINDER: There will be no school for students on Friday, October 9 and Monday, October 12. Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 13. by @usd497

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6 days ago

🔥 Introducing the inaugural Lawrence Free State High School Hall of Fame Class! 🔥

As we celebrate Free State’s 30th anniversary, we are proud to honor five individuals whose excellence, dedication, and service have helped shape the Firebird legacy.

Congratulations to our inaugural inductees:

🏆 Cheryl Nelsen — Founding journalism educator and award-winning adviser who inspired generations of students through The Talon and The Free Press

🏆 Chief Kyle Schreiner ’07 — Student-athlete and Navy SEAL whose career exemplifies perseverance, leadership, and service above self

🏆 Dr. Craig Rosenstengle ’08 — Valedictorian, student-athlete, and transplant hepatologist dedicated to caring for patients and improving lives

🏆 Dr. Lasé Ajayi ’00 — Valedictorian, student-athlete, and distinguished physician and leader who serves as Chair-elect of the American Medical Association Board

🏆 Steve Grant — Free State’s first athletic director and a foundational leader who helped establish the school’s traditions, identity, and culture

We are proud to welcome these five outstanding Firebirds into the Lawrence Free State High School Hall of Fame. Their accomplishments and service represent the very best of the Firebird spirit. 💚🤍

📸: Carter Braden, ‘28, Free State High School by @usd497

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7 days ago

Homecoming spirit was on full display last week at Free State High School!

Students, staff, families, and community members came together to celebrate Homecoming with a parade filled with school spirit, creativity, and plenty of smiles.

We love seeing our schools and communities come together to celebrate these special moments. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Firebird Homecoming Parade a fun and memorable tradition! 💚🤍 by @usd497

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8 days ago

🧹 Happy National Custodian Day! 🧹

Did you know the word custodian comes from the Latin word custos, meaning “guardian”? We think that’s the perfect way to describe our incredible custodial staff.� They are guardians of our schools and facilities, working tirelessly to keep our buildings clean, welcoming, safe, and ready for learning—not only during the school day, but well into the evenings and weekends.�

Today, we want to recognize the important role our custodial staff play in our schools and express our appreciation for all they do each day to support our students, staff, and school communities.�

💙💛 Thank you to our custodial staff for everything you do! We appreciate you! by @usd497

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12 days ago

Lawrence Public Schools is updating how we use all of our district and school social media channels in response to new requirements under Kansas House Bill 2299, which limits social media communication between school district employees and students.
Because it is not always possible to determine whether a social media account belongs to a current student, comments will be turned off on district and school social media accounts, and staff will no longer respond to direct messages through social media.

Our social media channels will continue to be an important way for Lawrence Public Schools to share information with our community, including:

📣District, school, and student team and club activities and announcements
🎉Student and staff celebrations and honors
📅Upcoming events and opportunities
📣Important updates and reminders
❤️Stories from across our school communities

If you have a question or need assistance, please contact the district or your school directly by phone or email. Contact information for our schools and district departments is available on our website at www.usd497.org

We look forward to continuing to use our social media channels to celebrate our students, staff, and schools, to inform you, and to tell the story of Lawrence Public Schools. by @usd497

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13 days ago

The Lawrence Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Community members are invited to review the board’s agenda and supporting materials at www.usd497.org/school-board

The meeting will be held at 110 McDonald Drive and may be watched live at www.youtube.com/@USD497/live or LPS TV 26 (Midco Channel 26). by @usd497

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16 days ago

Through a partnership between the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Steve Tilford Foundation, nearly 500 second-grade students are receiving new bicycles and properly fitted helmets over two days as part of the Let’s Ride! program.

Let’s Ride! is designed to remove barriers to bicycle access while helping children develop confidence, learn safe riding skills, stay active, and experience greater independence in their neighborhoods and community. Through the program, students are matched with a bike and receive a helmet individually fitted for them, helping reinforce safe riding habits.

Behind the rows of new bikes waiting for students were many hours of preparation. Ahead of the two-day event, 20 volunteers spent 12 hours assembling the bicycles to make sure they were ready to roll into the hands of Lawrence second graders.

Bike and helmet distributions began Tuesday and will continue Wednesday at participating elementary schools across the district. This year’s Let’s Ride! program marks the beginning of what organizers hope will become an ongoing effort, with opportunities to expand the program across the district in future years.

Special thanks to the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Steve Tilford Foundation, as well as the many volunteers and staff who spent hours assembling hundreds of bicycles, fitting helmets, matching students to bikes, and supporting distributions across the district to make this opportunity possible for Lawrence students.

Read the full story on our website: https://www.usd497.org/about-us/news by @usd497

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22 days ago

Happy AVID Day!

Students and staff across Lawrence Public Schools joined districts nationwide today in celebrating AVID Day with college gear, games, creative activities, student-led projects, and even some pancakes!

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) helps students build skills in critical thinking, collaboration, reading, and writing while encouraging them to take ownership of their learning and set goals for their future.

Find the full story on our website: https://www.usd497.org/about-us/news by @usd497

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a month ago