Fort Larned USD 495

We’re starting the search for the right people to join our USD 495 team for the 2026–27 school year, and we’re excited to get it going! Right now, we have two teaching positions open: an Elementary Teacher and a Secondary Social Studies Teacher.

At USD 495, you’ll find small class sizes, supportive leadership, and a staff culture that truly works as a team. Our community shows up for its schools and students, and we offer competitive salary and benefits to support the people doing this important work.

If teaching in a close-knit district sounds like a good fit, we’d love for you to take a look. Learn more about working in Larned at www.usd495.com/workat495 or apply directly using the links below. We can’t wait to meet you! #larnedpride

Elementary Teacher: https://usd495.schoolspring.com?jobid=5490556
Secondary Social Studies Teacher: https://usd495.schoolspring.com?jobid=5490531

The LHS Girls and Boys Wrestling teams will be at HOME on Thursday! Matches are scheduled to begin at 1pm. Make plans to come by the Middle School and check out all of the action.

Quick reminder. 👋

LMS and LHS will dismiss at 12:00 PM tomorrow, Thurs. January 8 due to a high school wrestling tournament. Route buses will still run for middle and high school students. If after-school plans will be different because of the earlier dismissal, please notify your child’s school office.

LES will follow a normal school day schedule.

Thanks, families! #larnedpride

Both games tonight with Ellsworth come down to the wire, and the Indians come away with victories in both games! They will be back in action again on Friday as they travel to Lyons.

Game Day! The LHS BB teams are back at home on Tuesday vs. Ellsworth.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY
High School Gym
- 4:30pm JV Boys (Full Game)
- 6:00pm C Boys (Full Game)

Middle School Gym
- 4:30pm JV Girls (2 Quarters)
- 6:00pm Varsity Girls
- 7:30pm Varsity Boys

Congratulations to Ali Haney, the JAG-K student of the month! Here’s what her teachers shared about Ali:

“Ali is a fantastic student. She is attentive to detail, dedicated to doing her best, and has served as an editor for the school newspaper for the past semester. It is no surprise that she has been selected as the JAG student of the month.”— Mr. Keith

“Ali has a natural gift for caring for others. She consistently demonstrates genuine compassion and empathy in everything she does during Certified Nurse Aide class. She will make an excellent CNA.”— Ms. Nelson

“Ali is great to have in class! She is creative and brings a positive attitude to the art room. She is kind to other students and is always smiling in the hallway.”— Mrs. Pontius

#larnedpride

The Indians have a hard time shaking off the Christmas Break rust, and end up dropping both Varsity games at Colby tonight.

The LHS Basketball teams will make the trip to Colby on Friday for their first games of 2026. Games will begin at 4:30pm at the Colby Event Center.

Main Gym
- 4:30pm JV Girls
- 6:00pm Varsity Girls
- 7:30pm Varsity Boys

Auxiliary Gym
- 4:30pm JV Boys
- 6:00pm C Boys

Great job to the LMS band and choir on their performance earlier this month! And yes… those new stage lights deserve a shoutout, too. 💡✨ #larnedpride

Free family fun tomorrow! 🎬

The Larned State Theatre will be showing Brave at 2:00 PM on December 30, thanks to the Pawnee County Youth Initiative Foundation! Hope your family can take advantage. #larnedpride #bettertogether

Rulers out, pencils ready! 📏✏️

Mrs. Upson’s middle school math students were learning how to scale drawings and make everything match just right before break. #larnedpride

Thank you to the Welcome Inn for hosting our guitar class during their holiday party. Our students have loved playing music in different spots around town!

If you’d like us to come play some tunes for your group in the new year, contact Craig Lyman at craig.lyman@usd495.com
or Allisa Spain at allisa.spain@usd495.com. 🎸 #larnedpride #bettertogether

Wouldn’t be surprised if one of these showed up under the tree this year!🎄 Great work from Mr. Hewson’s class. #larnedpride

Look who got to make a good news call home before heading out for break! 📞 🧡#larnedpride #lesfamily

Kansas kids read… and sometimes Dad joins the fun. #larnedpride #KansasKidsRead #lesfamily

Kansas kids read anywhere, anytime, especially when they’re wrapped up in a good story (and a warm blanket!). #larnedpride #lesfamily #KansasKidsRead

We have a Varsity sweep tonight at Kingman as the Boys pick up the win 50-40.

The Varsity Girls go into Christmas Break with a win over Kingman tonight.

So much fun at LES during our annual cup stacking tournament. Students teamed up across grade levels, cheered each other on, and gave it their best while families and classmates packed the gym!

Congrats to our top team: Bode Dooley, Brooks Steinlage, Kip Smith, Sawyer Froetschner, Gehrig Brown, and Paizlynn Denning. 🏆

🏅 Team 1: Wesley Fitzsimmons, Chase Vansickle, Yareli Gonzalez-Renteria, Maggie Keith, Kobe Houser, Kallin Drimmel
🏅 Team 2: Champions!
🏅 Team 3: Asher Lawrence, Hadley Weizsbrod, Karver Froetschner, Kamille Smith, Kaysen Finger, Maizie Hearn
🏅 Team 4: Collins Hatfield, Olivia Tran, Karcyn Grandy, Korsin Castro, Averi Johnson, Eli Ramsey

Proud of all of these teams and the teamwork they showed! #lesfamily #larnedpride

How exciting to have Santa and Mistletoe the Elf stop by for Hi5 Friday at LES this morning! And was it snowing marshmallows?! Wishing all our LES families many moments of wonder as you see the magic of the season through your child's eyes.