Two teams from Pauline South Intermediate School competed in the Regional KidWind Competition yesterday in Overland Park, designing and testing wind turbines, presenting to judges, tackling an "instant challenge," and completing a knowledge test. The results are in, and we're proud to celebrate these amazing students:

🏆Team Kings of the Wind (Zeke, Marek, Justus, and Jayden) placed second overall, securing a spot at the state competition in Salina this April. The team also received the Most Improved Bejouled Award and the Most Improved Peak Percentage Award.

🏆Team KidWind 'Til the End (Scarlett, Baylyn, Chloe, Payal) placed third overall and is the only team in any age division to earn a perfect 100% on the Knowledge Quiz.

The teams were advised by fourth-grade teacher Carlin Smith, who shared, "It has been the most challenging and rewarding project I’ve ever done with students. We have all learned so much. The growth I have seen in the students’ confidence has been incredible."

Materials for the competition were funded by the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation through its classroom grant awards program.

WRHS Bank, Common Grounds Coffee Shop, and The Shack, the school-based enterprises (SBEs) at Washburn Rural High School, have earned Gold Certification and will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in April in Atlanta, Georgia.

An SBE is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st Century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

The Washburn Rural DECA members who contributed to the certification were Nicholas He, Kaci Hodgson, Keegan Knudtson, Kate Muir, and Kailyn Petersen, with guidance from their DECA chapter advisor, Brian McFall. The SBEs at WRHS have operated for over 15 years, an accomplishment that reflects sustained excellence and commitment.

“DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory, and then translate that into meaningful outcomes,” said Christopher Young, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”

DECA’s SBE Certification Program recognizes outstanding achievement while motivating SBEs to pursue continuous excellence and growth. Enterprises may receive certification at three levels: bronze, silver, or gold. To apply, SBEs must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating how they meet established marketing and retail standards. Documentation is reviewed by a certification committee, which determines the level of recognition awarded. DECA’s SBE program is sponsored by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's basketball games vs. Emporia! Varsity Girls start at approximately 6:00 PM and Varsity Boys afterward around 7:30 PM in the WRHS Activity Center and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

REMINDER: There will be no school on Thursday, February 19, and Friday, February 20. We look forward to connecting with families during parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday, February 18, and Thursday, February 19. Please refer to information from individuals schools for conference schedules.

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's basketball games vs. Junction City! Varsity Girls start at approximately 6:00 PM and Varsity Boys afterward around 7:30 PM in the WRHS Activity Center and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

The King & Queen of Courts Crowning Ceremony will take place in between the Varsity Girls and Boys games.

Drumroll, please! 🥁

For the sixth consecutive year, an Auburn-Washburn student has claimed the title at the Shawnee County Spelling Bee. Congratulations to Washburn Rural North Middle School student Praneetha Bobba, who secured the championship with the winning word, “caribou.” Praneetha will go on to represent Shawnee County at the Kansas State Spelling Bee in Salina this March.

Registration for Summer Coding Camp is now live! Camp will be held June 1-4, 2026 at the Washburn Rural High School Innovation Center. Camp is available for Auburn-Washburn students entering grades K-9. Explore computer science concepts, play with robots, learn to code, and much more at summer coding camp!

Cost includes t-shirt, snacks, drinks, and liability insurance. Register by April 30 to receive the early registration rate of $75: https://sites.google.com/usd437.net/cshs/events/summer-camp.

The Blue Gallery at Washburn Rural High School is proud to feature alumna Clare Fallon and her show, “Slow Growin.”

Clare’s work is rooted in the people, places, and moments that surround us every day. She transforms photographs and lived experiences into powerful oil paintings that convey intense emotion through color, composition, and narrative. Inspired by artists like Daniel Sprick and Andrew Wyeth, Clare’s pieces capture not just what we see, but what we feel.

Welcoming Clare back to WRHS as a featured artist is a true full-circle moment. We invite you to stop by The Blue Gallery during the month of February to experience “Slow Growin” for yourself.

Washburn Rural High School Theatre is proud to present "Into the Woods," a musically sophisticated show with fantastical elements of a magical world:

📅 Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 PM
📅 Friday, February 6 at 7:00 PM
📅 Saturday, February 7 at 7:00 PM
📅 Sunday, February 8 at 1:00 PM

Tickets are on sale now: https://gofan.co/app/school/KS24358.

The story follows a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. The consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's basketball games vs. Blue Valley! Varsity Girls starts at approximately 6:00 PM and Varsity Boys afterward around 7:30 PM in the WRHS Activity Center and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.