Back to School Guide 2024-25

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

Get ready for an amazing start to the 2024-25 school year! Whether you're returning or new to our district, we're excited to have you as part of our Ft. Larned family. Here, you'll find everything you need for a successful year, from school supply lists and important dates (including the first day of school!) to other key resources.

WHO WE ARE AND WHERE TO FIND US

Fort Larned USD 495 is dedicated to providing high-quality education from Pre-K through 12th grade. Our team of approximately 200 staff members is committed to guiding, teaching, and advocating for around 860 students. Our mission is clear: Committed to ALL students, by preparing them for ALL challenges, while supporting them at ALL times.

Our district covers 518 square miles and includes several attendance centers, such as Fort Larned Elementary School, Larned Middle School, and Larned High School. Additionally, USD 495 hosts the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative, extending special education services to neighboring school districts (Kinsley-Offerle and Pawnee Heights).

Contact Information:

  • District Office: (620) 285-3185, located at 120 E 6th St., Larned, KS

  • Fort Larned Elementary School: (620) 285-2141, located at 2104 Broadway Ave., Larned, KS

  • Larned Middle School: (620) 285-8430, located at 904 Corse Ave., Larned, KS

  • Larned High School: (620) 285-2151, located at 815 Corse Ave., Larned, KS

  • Tri-County Special Services Cooperative: (620) 285-3119, located at 209 E 6th St., Larned, KS

  • Transportation: (620) 285-8492, located at 521 Edwards St., Larned, KS

STAY IN THE LOOP

Stay informed about school happenings, closures, staff and student success stories, and more by following us on social media. You'll likely see your own child's face pop up on your feed throughout the school year! We're most active on our USD 495 website/app and our Facebook account, but we also have Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

We can't wait to welcome your child to another successful school year! Visit our Student Online Registration Page on or after July 15, 2024, to get started with this process.

  • Returning Students: Your child is considered a “returning student” if they completed the previous school year with USD 495. Once you’ve signed into Family Access, use the “Registration for Returning Student” button.

  • New In-District Students: If your child did not end the 2024-25 school year with us, is attending for the first time (such as a PK or Kindergarten student), and lives inside USD 495 boundaries, they are considered a new student. In this case, click on “New Student Application” in Family Access to enroll your new student.

If you have any questions or issues during the registration process, please contact the USD 495 Tech Office at (620) 285-8451.

ATTENDANCE

The Kansas Compulsory School Attendance Law (KSA 72-3120) mandates that parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that children between the ages of 7 and 18 attend school continuously unless they have attained a high school diploma or GED.

Parental involvement is essential for optimizing your child's educational experience. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of school days, can significantly impact a student’s progress. For a typical 180-day school year, this means missing 18 or more days. This can sneak up on parents — students only need to miss about two days a month to be considered chronically absent.

We understand that life happens—whether it's dealing with health issues or family matters. If your family is facing obstacles or you just want to discuss your child's attendance, please reach out to their school principal. Together, we can work towards helping your child succeed and make the most of their education.

NEW: REPORT AN ABSENCE ONLINE

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, parents or guardians will now be able to report their child's absence online! All you need to do is open your Ft. Larned mobile app (if you haven't downloaded this, we can't encourage you enough to do so!) or visit our Attendance Hub. Click on your child's school and fill out the form, which will be forwarded to their principal and school secretaries. While you're still welcome to call your child's office for absences, we're excited to offer this additional option for your convenience.

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION

The first day of school for kindergarten students will be Wednesday, August 21, 2024 for Group A and Thursday, August 22, 2024 for Group B. Kindergarten families will be notified indicating which group your child will be placed in for the first day of school. If you have not received this information, please contact Larned Elementary School at (620)-285-2141 after August 1st.

PRESCHOOL INFORMATION

The first day of Preschool will also be Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Preschool families will be notified of their child’s placement in AM or PM Preschool. If you have not received this information, please contact Larned Elementary School at (620)-285-2141 after August 1st.

IMPORTANT DATES

JULY

  • Monday, July 15: Online Enrollment opens

AUGUST

  • Tuesday, August 6: In-Person Enrollment at LMS, 12:00 - 6:00 PM

  • Wednesday, August 7: In-Person Enrollment at LMS, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  • Tuesday, August 13: LHS Parent Meeting at Larned Community Center, 6:30 PM

  • Friday, August 16:

    • LHS Schedule Changes for Juniors: 8:00 - 10:00 AM

    • LHS Schedule Changes for Sophomores: 10:00 - 12:00 PM

    • LHS Schedule Changes for Freshmen: 1:00 - 3:00 PM

  • Monday, August 19:

    • Meet the Teacher at LMS, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

  • Tuesday, August 20: Meet the Teacher at LES, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

  • Wednesday, August 21:

    • First Day of School for PK - 12th grade, and Kindergarten Group A

    • Tears and Cheers Breakfast for Kindergarten Group A, 7:45 - 8:15 AM

  • Thursday, August 22:

    • First Day of School for Kindergarten Group B

    • Tears and Cheers Breakfast for Kindergarten Group B, 7:45 - 8:15 AM

    • Meet the Teacher at LHS, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

  • Friday, August 23: Tailgate with the Tribe located between 9th and 11th St. on Corse Ave., 6:30 - 8:30 PM

SEPTEMBER

  • Wednesday, September 4: Picture day at LHS

  • Wednesday, September 11: Picture day at LMS

  • Thursday, September 19: Picture day at LES

  • Friday, September 27: Early Dismissal at 1:30 PM - Homecoming Festivities

OCTOBER

  • Monday, October 14: Parent-Teacher Conferences

DECEMBER

  • Friday, December 20: End of 1st Semester

JANUARY

  • Tuesday, January 7: 2nd Semester Begins

MAY

  • Saturday, May 17: LHS Graduation

  • Thursday, May 22: Last Day of School

Download and view or print the 2024-25 school calendar here.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

  • Wednesday, August 21, 2024: First day for students in preschool through 12th grade.

  • Wednesday, August 21, 2024: First day for students in Kindergarten Group A.

  • Thursday, August 22, 2024: First day for students in Kindergarten Group B.

Preschool and Kindergarten families will be notified of their child’s placement in Preschool (AM/PM) or Kindergarten (Group A/B). Please contact Larned Elementary School if you haven't received your placement by August 1, 2024.

SCHOOL TIMES

AM Preschool - Monday through Thursday
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Breakfast is served)

PM Preschool - Monday through Thursday
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Optional lunch at 11:00 AM is served)


Larned Elementary School (grades K-5) Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Please note: The doors at Larned Elementary School open and supervision starts at 7:30 AM for students. We kindly ask for your cooperation in making sure that students arrive at school after this time. Additionally, remember that we stop serving breakfast at 7:55 AM with classes starting at 8:00 AM. If your child wants breakfast, please drop them off before then to allow time to eat.

Larned Middle School (grades 6-8) Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Larned High School (grades 9-12) Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Tailgate with the Tribe

LES Open House Info

LMS Open House Info

LHS Parent Mtg. and Open House info

TRANSPORTATION

Our top priority during student arrivals and dismissals is to ensure safety. We kindly ask everyone to be patient and vigilant. Specific drop-off, pick-up, and parking instructions are available in each building's handbook.

Log on to Skyward here to complete your back-to-school forms and update transportation information by August 1, 2024. This ensures that your child’s transportation is ready for the 2024-2025 school year.  

For questions regarding bus transportation, please contact the Support Service Center at (620)-285-8492

2024-2025 Bus Route Schedule Coming Soon!

CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND SCHEDULES

Classroom teacher assignments for elementary students and schedules for middle and high school students will be available to view in your Skyward account in early August 2024. Please understand as we continue to work through enrollment, changes may happen. Lists will be posted on the main entry doors on Monday, August 12th.

Schedule changes to ELECTIVE courses at Larned Middle School will be possible starting on the second day of school, Thursday, August 22 and conclude on Friday, August 23. Counselor, Mrs. Sundahl, will receive schedule change request forms from students during that time.

Change forms may be picked up in the LMS office at the end of the school day on the first day of school, August 21.

Schedule changes for LHS can be made during the times outlined below. Please plan to come in during the appropriate time:

  • Seniors: 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Thursday, August 15

  • Juniors: 8:00 - 10:00 AM on Friday, August 16

  • Sophomores: 10:00 - 12:00 PM on Friday, August 16

  • Freshmen: 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Friday, August 16

If you miss your time as outlined above, there will be another opportunity to change your schedule during the school day on August 22nd and August 26th. Please do NOT come during another class's time.

SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS

We're excited to share that we're using TeacherLists and making back-to-school shopping easier for everyone!

  1. Simply find your child's school and supply list.

  2. Choose how you'd like to shop:

    • One-Click Online Shopping: Select from major retailers like Walmart, Target, (and more!), and your cart is prefilled with the exact items on your list.

    • Shop In Store: Print the lists or use the mobile-friendly checkable list on your phone if you prefer in-store shopping.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE FEES

K-12 - $50.00
Pre-K - $25.00

Payment of book and student material fees, and/or school meal fees must be made through eFunds. To use the eFunds service, you need to have a debit or credit card or link a bank account. Families who qualify for Free or Reduced meals will also qualify to have their books and student materials fees waived. Directions for setting up your eFunds account are listed below!

HOW TO CREATE AND MANAGE AN EFUNDS ACCOUNT

  1. To make payments for book and student material fees, or school meal fees, follow these steps to set up and manage your eFunds account:

    • Create an Account:

    • Add Students:

      • Log into your eFunds account.

      • Click "Manage Account" in the left column.

      • Select "Manage Students".

      • Enter your student’s Last Name and Family ID.

      • Select "Add Student(s)" (Repeat to add additional students).

    • Add Payment Information:

      • Log into your eFunds account.

      • Click "Payment Settings" in the left column.

      • Select "Payment Methods".

      • Choose "New Credit Card" or "New Direct Debit" and enter the required information.

      • Read the Consent and select "Add" to save the payment information.

SCHOOL MEALS

We encourage all families to consider applying for free or reduced meals. It’s a simple process that can make a big difference in ensuring your child has access to nutritious meals every day! To apply, all you will need is:

  • The name, school, and grade for your school-age children

  • The name of all adults living in the home

  • Income information for any person living in the home

If your family experiences financial hardship at any point during the school year, you can apply for free or reduced meals for your child(ren). These forms are available through your Family Access portal on Skyward. Receiving this assistance can help alleviate some of the financial stress and ensure your child receives healthy meals every day. For help with completing these forms, please contact Hannah Smith at the District Office at (620) 285-3185.

MEAL PRICES

Larned Elementary School:

Breakfast: $2.00
Lunch: $3.25

Larned Middle and High School:

Breakfast: $2.25
Lunch: $3.50

Adults (Please place your order by 9:30 AM):

Breakfast: $2.75
Lunch: $4.75

EVERYTHING USD 495, IN YOUR POCKET.

Our district app is designed to keep you informed and connected with all things related to Ft. Larned USD 495. Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play to access school alerts, calendars, dining menus, event announcements, and more. The district app is available for anyone to download, including community members interested in upcoming events like sports, concerts, and more.

WHAT IS ROOMS?
Rooms is a secure, two-way messaging feature built into our district app. It allows teachers to send broadcasts, announcements, and messages directly to parents and guardians. Families can easily message teachers and staff, ensuring streamlined communication through one platform. No need to juggle between text, email, or Facebook—everything is in one place.

*Please Note: Rooms is a secure environment exclusively for families with students currently attending the district, along with active teachers, staff, and administration. Family members will need a login and password to access Rooms, ensuring secure communication and accurate message delivery.

HOW THE FT. LARNED APP AND ROOMS WORK TOGETHER
With our district app, you have a comprehensive tool for staying updated on your child's education. You can access Rooms within the app, making communication with your child’s school effortless. Simply toggle over to Rooms after logging in with your credentials to chat with teachers and stay informed about your child's classes.

HOW TO GET STARTED

  1. Download the Ft. Larned USD 495 app from the App Store or Google Play.

  2. Log in with your credentials.

  3. Toggle over to Rooms to start messaging teachers and accessing important school information.

For app assistance or to learn more, visit our webpage with FAQ or contact Allisa Spain at the District Office at 620-285-3185.

1:1 DEVICE PROGRAM

Fort Larned USD 495 implements a 1:1 device program to further personalize the way each student uses their time, receives support to master essential skills, and deepens understanding of content. Every student receives a device to access tools and resources, post their current school work, track progress, and interact with teachers and peers on projects. This program enhances learning by providing portable devices for each 6th-12th grade student for use at school and home.

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

  • Grades 6-12: Students are issued a Chromebook for educational use both at school and at home.

  • Grades 1-5: Students are assigned a Chromebook for educational use at school only.

  • Kindergarten: Students are assigned an iPad for educational use at school only.