PHES News Archive

ENROLLMENT HAS REOPENED - PLEASE COMPLETE BY AUGUST 7

Dear USD 417 Families, Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year has reopened. All returning and new students are required to complete the enrollment process. Please note that there will be no on-site...

August 3, 2026

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - AUGUST 20th

The first day of school for all students is Thursday, August 20th. Please follow the district and your child's school on Facebook, download the ParentSquare app, and check your "How's School Going"...

August 3, 2026

USD 417 July District Spotlight

USD 417 July District Spotlight: The Quiet Grind Behind the ScenesWhen people drive past our schools in July, the empty parking lots and quiet playgrounds give the impression that the district has ...

July 31, 2026

#DBLA417

🚀 A New Journey Begins!🎓 We're excited to introduce our theme for the 2026-2027 school year: #DBLA417 - Dream, Believe, Lead, Achieve!This year, we’re focused on empowering our students and staff t...

July 31, 2026

District Office Resumes Normal Hours Starting August 3

July 30, 2026

ENROLLMENT HAS REOPENED - PLEASE COMPLETE BY AUGUST 7

Dear USD 417 Families, Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year has reopened. All returning and new students are required to complete the enrollment process. Please note that there will be no on-site...

July 27, 2026

Foster Grandparent Program - Please Share

🌟 Exciting News for Our USD 417 Community! Please share this information with someone who might be a perfect fit! 💛USD 417 is joining the Foster Grandparents Program, and we are so excited about wh...

July 27, 2026

July 13 BOE Meeting Highlights

July 17, 2026

Back to School Supplies at The Apothecary

📣 A big thank you to The Apothecary for their generous donation of school supplies for our students at CGES and PHES! 🎉 Supplies will be available for pick up from July 27 through August 14 at the ...

July 14, 2026

USD 417 Regular BOE Meeting - July 13

USD 417 Board of Education - Regular MeetingMonday, July 13th, 2026, at 6:oo p.m.District Office - 17 Wood St, Council GrovePatrons who wish to address the board during the patron forum are asked t...

July 11, 2026

2026-2027 Vacation Planner

July 6, 2026

26-27 Food Service Letter to Household

Attention Parents! Please read the Food Service Letter to Household Online applications for free or reduced meals for the 2026-2027 school year will open later in July. Mark your calendars and stay...

July 1, 2026

USD 417 June District Spotlight

June 26, 2026

USD 417 June 8 Regular BOE Meeting Highlights

June 11, 2026

FREE WRISTBANDS for USD 417 STUDENTS - WASHUNGA DAYS

🎉 Exciting News for USD 417 Students! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce that all students will receive FREE wristbands for Washunga Days on June 20th! 🎶🌟 Get your wristbands for Saturday night’s music e...

June 3, 2026

COMMUNITY MEETING - JUNE 4

🌟Community Meeting Invitation🌟The USD 417 Board of Education invites you to a Special Board Meeting. This is a community meeting regarding the bond survey, led by the USD 417 Board of Education.🗓 D...

June 2, 2026

Foster Grandparent Program - Please Share

🌟 Exciting News for Our USD 417 Community! Please share this information with someone who might be a perfect fit! 💛USD 417 is joining the Foster Grandparents Program, and we are so excited about wh...

June 1, 2026

26-27 & 27-28 DISTRICT CALENDARS

2026-2027 and 2027-2028 USD 417 District Calendars#ForwardTogether417

June 1, 2026

USD 417 May District Spotlight

USD 417 May District SpotlightHow Kansas Funds Its Schools — And Why It Matters for Morris CountyOne of my goals as superintendent is to make sure our community has a clear picture of what is happe...

May 28, 2026

COMMUNITY MEETING - JUNE 4

🌟Community Meeting Invitation🌟The USD 417 Board of Education invites you to a Special Board Meeting. This is a community meeting regarding the bond survey, led by the USD 417 Board of Education.🗓 D...

May 27, 2026

INVITATION - AV CORE COMMUNITY BBQ AUG 3

May 19, 2026

ENROLLMENT - COMPLETE BY MAY 20

Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year has been extended. We have over 100 current students who have not completed enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. Please complete all necessary enrollment...

May 18, 2026

MAY 20 - Last Day of School

🎉🌟 Wednesday, May 20, is the last day of school! 🌟🎉Students will be dismissed at their regular times. We want to thank everyone for a fantastic year and wish you and your families an amazing summer...

May 18, 2026

8th Grade Promotion Update

USD 417 Community,We have an important update regarding tonight's 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony.Due to severe weather moving into our area — including large hail, heavy rain, and the threat of torna...

May 18, 2026

ENROLLMENT - COMPLETE BY MAY 20

Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year has been extended. We have over 100 current students who have not completed enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. Please complete all necessary enrollment...

May 13, 2026

CGHS Class of 2026 Visits PHES

CGHS Class of 2026, thank you for coming to our school and walking through our halls. We wish you all the best!

May 13, 2026

Summer Food Flyer

Menus are posted on our website

May 13, 2026

ENROLLMENT - COMPLETE BY FRIDAY

Dear USD 417 Families, Please enroll your students by Friday, May 8th, for the 2026-2027 school year. This is for all returning students and new students. You can complete enrollment online through...

May 7, 2026

PHES Walk & Roll to School Day Photos

The weather was perfect for our first Walk & Roll to School Day. Every year, the Kansas Department of Transportation and Safe Routes to School promote walking and rolling to school as a way to ...

May 7, 2026

ENROLLMENT - COMPLETE BY FRIDAY

Dear USD 417 Families, Please enroll your students by Friday, May 8th, for the 2026-2027 school year. This is for all returning students and new students. You can complete enrollment online through...

May 5, 2026

USD 417 April District Spotlight

USD 417 April District SpotlightApril is done and we are on the way to May and our last few weeks with our students in the 2025-26 school year. Many great accomplishments have happened over the cou...

May 5, 2026

FREE WRISTBANDS for USD 417 STUDENTS - WASHUNGA DAYS

🎉 Exciting News for USD 417 Students! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce that all students will receive FREE wristbands for Washunga Days on June 20th! 🎶🌟 Get your wristbands for Saturday night’s music e...

May 1, 2026

MAY CALENDAR - IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

May 1, 2026

Notice of BOE Vacancy District 2 - Letters of Interest are due to Amber Weeks by May 7th

April 30, 2026

Foster Grandparent Program - Please Share

🌟 Exciting News for Our USD 417 Community! Please share this information with someone who might be a perfect fit! 💛USD 417 is joining the Foster Grandparents Program, and we are so excited about wh...

April 29, 2026

ENROLLMENT IS OPEN - PLEASE COMPLETE BY MAY 8

USD 417 Families, Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open from April 8 to May 8, 2026. We want all returning and new students to complete this process. Enrollment is done online through Powe...

April 28, 2026

2-hour Late Start - April 29

Attention, USD 417 families! We wanted to let you know that there will be a 2-hour late start on Wednesday, April 29th. - Enjoy a Grab-and-Go breakfast, which will be available for all students! - ...

April 27, 2026

ENROLLMENT IS OPEN - PLEASE COMPLETE BY MAY 8

USD 417 Families, Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open from April 8 to May 8, 2026. We want all returning and new students to complete this process. Enrollment is done online through Powe...

April 22, 2026

Electronics Recycling Event - ENDS FRIDAY

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET. FUND OUR KIDS. Morris County USD 417 is partnering with PayMore for a FREE Community Electronics Recycling Event — and it's also a FUNDRAISER! Every device you drop off puts ...

April 21, 2026

4th Graders Wrap Up Social Studies Assessment with Wax Museum

Ms. True's, 4th grade class, wrapped up their Kansas social studies state assessments last week and extended the task by performing a wax museum for parents, students and staff members on Monday. E...

April 16, 2026

Electronics Recycling Event - April 20-24

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET. FUND OUR KIDS. Morris County USD 417 is partnering with PayMore for a FREE Community Electronics Recycling Event — and it's also a FUNDRAISER! Every device you drop off puts ...

April 16, 2026

April USD 417 Board Meeting Highlights

April 16, 2026

Notice of BOE Vacancy District 2 - Letters of Interest are due to Amber Weeks by May 7th

April 16, 2026

NO SCHOOL - APRIL 17

USD 417 will not have school on Friday, April 17th, for Teacher Data Day.#ForwardTogether417

April 15, 2026

BOND SURVEY

Following the March bond election, USD 417 Morris County Schools is committed to listening to our community as we plan for the future of our facilities. We want to hear from you — whether you are a...

April 14, 2026

Kindergarten Round-up - April 16

Attention future kindergarten families! Kindergarten Round-up will be held at each of our two elementary schools on Thursday, April 16— please plan to attend the event at the school your child will...

April 13, 2026

Purple Up! April 15th is Military Kids Day

Purple Up! Wednesday, April 15th is Military Kids Day.Governor Kelly declared April as the Month of the Military Child. To honor this, we invite everyone to wear purple on Wednesday, April 15, for ...

April 12, 2026

ENROLLMENT IS OPEN - PLEASE COMPLETE

USD 417 Families, Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open from April 8 to May 8, 2026. We want all returning and new students to complete this process. Enrollment is done online through Powe...

April 8, 2026

BOND SURVEY

UPDATE: If you cannot complete the survey at home, you can visit the district office located at 17 Wood St in Council Grove. Computers will be available for you to fill out the survey on-site. This...

April 7, 2026

Digital Literacy Community Seminar - April 28

A Digital Literacy Community Seminar will be held at the Council Grove Public Library on April 28th as part of a DOCK Grant in which the ESU Teachers College and the CYROC Program are collaborating...

April 6, 2026

K-2 Easter Egg Hunt Hosted by the Alta Vista Senior Center

The Alta Vista Senior Center recently brought an extra dose of springtime joy to our students, hosting a delightful Easter egg hunt for children in grades K-2. The air filled with laughter and exci...

April 3, 2026

ENROLLMENT 26-27 - NEW & RETURNING STUDENTS

Enrollment for new and returning students at USD 417 will begin on April 8 for the 2026-2027 academic year. More information will be shared next week to assist you with the enrollment process.#Forw...

April 2, 2026

Kindergarten Round-up April 16

Attention future kindergarten families! Kindergarten Roundup will be held at each of our two elementary schools on Thursday, April 16— please plan to attend the event at the school your child will ...

March 30, 2026

UPDATED 26-27 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The USD 417 Board of Education approved the updated 26-27 school calendar.#ForwardTogether417

March 26, 2026

CGJSHS - NO SCHOOL on MARCH 27th

Attention: CGJSHS WILL NOT have school on Friday, March 27th, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.CGES & PHES WILL have school on Friday, March 27th.#ForwardTogether417

March 25, 2026

2- hour late start - Wednesday, March 25

Attention, USD 417 families! We wanted to let you know that there will be a 2-hour late start on Wednesday, March 25th. - Enjoy a Grab-and-Go breakfast, which will be available for all students! - ...

March 23, 2026

April Calendar - Important Dates to Remember

March 20, 2026

No School - Spring Break

There will be NO SCHOOL for USD 417 on Friday, March 13, due to Teacher Talent Development Day. Spring Break is scheduled from March 16 to March 20, with classes resuming on March 23. #ForwardToget...

March 11, 2026

Kindergarten Round-up April 16

Attention future kindergarten families! Kindergarten Round-up will be held at each of our two elementary schools on Thursday, April 16— please plan to attend the event at the school your child will...

March 9, 2026

Prairie Heights Book Fair

Thank you to Kayla Romme for planning and hosting our book fair. Large book fair companies will not come to our school because we won't generate enough profit, so Mrs. Kayla Romme collects book don...

March 9, 2026

USD 417 Regular BOE Meeting Agenda - March 9

USD 417 Board of Education - Regular MeetingMonday, March 9th, 2026, at 6:oo p.m.District Office - 17 Wood St, Council GrovePatrons who wish to address the board during the patron forum are asked t...

March 6, 2026

SUN Bucks 2026

SUN Bucks are Back!!!SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. SUN Bucks auto-enrollment was completed on Februar...

March 6, 2026

Early Childhood Screenings - April 10

What is Early Childhood Screening?Early childhood screenings are brief check-ups that assess how your child is developing in areas such as speech, movement, vision, hearing, and social-emotional sk...

March 6, 2026

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TODAY

Today is Election Day.Polls are open. Your vote affects students, staff, and our communities for generations to come.If you haven’t voted yet, please do so today. Every voice matters. Every vote co...

March 3, 2026

TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY

Tomorrow is Election Day.If you haven’t voted yet, visit usd417.org/bond to get all the information you need. Every vote matters. Your voice makes a difference.

March 2, 2026

ELECTION WEEK IS HERE

This week, our communities will decide the future of USD 417 schools.This bond proposal represents careful planning and discussion. It is about providing the best possible learning spaces for our s...

March 1, 2026

February Terrific Twister - Camille Macy

Each month, Prairie Heights Elementary focuses on a character trait during morning announcements. In January, our focus character trait was Honesty. Students who exemplify this character trait were...

February 27, 2026

EVERY VOTE COUNTS - MARCH 3

In local elections, a few votes can make a big difference.The March 3 bond election is more than buildings. It’s about creating spaces where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn.Vis...

February 27, 2026

6th Graders Gather Feedback for Engineering Task

Mrs. Pollock’s 6th graders were tasked with building toys that demonstrated both potential and kinetic energy. Today, 3rd graders had the opportunity to test the toys and provide feedback. Tuesday,...

February 27, 2026

MILL LEVY INFO - YOUR VOTE MATTERS - MARCH 3

We want to make sure our communities have accurate information about the USD 417 Bond.We know there are numbers circulating in our communities that don't tell the full story — so we want to set the...

February 25, 2026

CGHS Robotics Team Visited PHES

The Council Grove High School Robotics team visited today. The presented to 5th & 6th grades as part of their competition preparation. They demonstrated the robot, spoke about the competition r...

February 25, 2026

Farm Bureau Outreach Teaches about Pollinators at PHES After School Program

We had some special guests at our afterschool program today. Thank you to Cris Wilson and Lacey Autrey from Farm Bureau Outreach for coming to teach us about pollinators.

February 24, 2026

Late Start Wednesday - Taco Bar

Grab and Go Breakfast will be served at all schools

February 24, 2026

YOUR VOICE MATTERS FOR OUR SCHOOLS

The March 3 USD 417 bond election is an opportunity to shape the future of your children’s education.The proposal focuses on safer facilities, modern learning spaces, and expanded early childhood p...

February 24, 2026

2-hour late start - Wednesday, February 25

Attention, USD 417 families! We wanted to let you know that there will be a 2-hour late start on Wednesday, February 25th. - Enjoy a Grab-and-Go breakfast, which will be available for all students!...

February 23, 2026

TRAFFIC LANE AT CGES REMINDER

Attention Families,We want to share an important safety reminder regarding our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures at Council Grove Elementary.The traffic lane around CGES is a single...

February 23, 2026

EVERY VOTE COUNTS - MARCH 3

On Tuesday, March 3, our community will vote on the proposed USD 417 school bond. As parents and staff, you play an important role in the life of our schools every day. Participating in local elect...

February 20, 2026

Future Smiles Dental Care Available March 31st, 2026

Future Smiles, a Bureau of Oral Health (BOH) program, is coming to our USD #417 schools on, March 31, 2026. A registered dental hygienist will provide an oral evaluation, cleaning, oral hygiene ins...

February 20, 2026

Kindergarten is Mastering Subtraction

Ms. Stanielle Stewart incorporated super fun manipulatives. Each student started with three characters and then they choose how many to subtract by springing them away. Students also created subtra...

February 19, 2026

4th Grade Science - Engineering

What would you do if you won an island? Students in Ms. True’s 4th grade class worked together to design a house they could live in. The house needed to be built to survive a natural disaster. They...

February 19, 2026

MARCH 3 - USD 417 MORRIS COUNTY BOND ELECTION

On Tuesday, March 3, our community will make an important decision in the USD 417 School Bond Election. This proposal includes improvements at all three district schools. The bond focuses on safer ...

February 18, 2026

YOUR VOTE MATTERS - MARCH 3

March 3 USD 417 Morris County Bond Election In a community like ours, every single vote truly counts. Still not convinced? • The 2025 Council Grove Mayoral Election was won by just 𝟭 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲. • The 20...

February 16, 2026

March Calendar Days to be Aware of

February 16, 2026

No School - February 13

USD 417 will not have school on Friday, February 13, due to Teacher Talent Development Day.#ForwardTogether417

February 11, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline is Today

📢𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬! 🗳️Make sure you're registered for the March 3 USD 417 Morris County bond election! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 (Feb. 10th).✅ Register or check your stat...

February 10, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline is Tuesday, February 10

Make sure you're registered for the March 3 USD 417 Morris County bond election! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵!✅ Register or check your status now: https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg...

February 6, 2026

USD 417 Regular BOE Meeting - February 9

USD 417 Board of Education - Regular MeetingMonday, February 9th, 2026, at 6:oo p.m.District Office - 17 Wood St, Council GrovePatrons who wish to address the board during the patron forum are aske...

February 6, 2026

Early Childhood Screenings - April 10

What is Early Childhood Screening?Early childhood screenings are brief check-ups that assess how your child is developing in areas such as speech, movement, vision, hearing, and social-emotional sk...

February 5, 2026

Early Childhood Screening on 4/10/26 at Council Grove Elementary School

It is free of cost for any child in our community ages 0-4. It is required to attend USD 417 preK next school year. Early childhood screenings are brief check ups that look at how your child is dev...

February 5, 2026

USD 417 School Nurse Recognized for Health Leadership

Dana Reddick, RN, School Nurse for USD 417 Morris County Schools, has been formally recognized by the University of Kansas Medical Center for her exceptional commitment to improving the health of s...

February 3, 2026

USD 417 District Spotlight - January

January 2026 USD 417 District Spotlight As we move through the second semester, USD 417 Morris County has several exciting updates to share with our community.Bond Election - March 3rdOn March 3rd,...

February 2, 2026

No School - February 2

USD 417 will not have school on Monday, February 2nd, for Teacher Data Day.#ForwardTogether417

January 30, 2026

Wednesday, January 28th - 2-hour late start

This is our regularly scheduled late start for Wednesday. School will be in session on Tuesday, January 27th.Attention, USD 417 families! We wanted to let you know that there will be a 2-hour late ...

January 26, 2026

USD 417 Bond - Community Meetings

Please check out the schedule for the USD 417 Bond Community Meetings! This is a great opportunity to learn about the bond and its impact on USD 417 students. #ForwardTogether417

January 23, 2026

Camille Macy is Prairie Heights Spelling Champ

The 2026 Prairie Heights Elementary Spelling Bee took place on January 20, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. in the Prairie Heights Elementary Gymnasium. Students competed in seven rounds to find the winners. Cam...

January 22, 2026