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Your Back-To-School Guide for Gardner-Spring Hill-Paola

Kids are heading back to school soon! Here's everything you need to know.

By Brittany Marsh, Publisher of Macaroni KID Gardner-Spring Hill-Paola July 31, 2023

Get ready, families of Gardner, Spring Hill, Paola & surrounding areas! The countdown has begun, and the first day of school for your little ones is just around the corner. 


Before you check out all the stuff below, be sure and enter this back-to-school giveaway, from our friends at Yard deSIGNS Gardner!






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We've got you covered with the ultimate guide to kickstart the school year. Looking for your child's school calendars? Fun back-to-school events in our area? Where to get your kid's back-to-school haircut or go back-to-school shopping in? 

We have it all, plus advice and tips for dealing with that first-day anxiety, printables to make those first-day pics special, and even ideas on what to pack for lunch! Check it all out here:


lisegagne | Canva


School calendars for Gardner, Spring Hill, Paola & More:

Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
First day for K-9th Grade and any students new to the district: August 10
First day for 10th-12th Grades: August 11
First day for Preschool: August 14

Spring Hill USD 230
First day for PreK-9th Grade: August 15
First day for 10th-12th Grade: August 16

Paola USD 368
First day: August 16

Osawatomie USE 367
First day for 1st-12th Grades: August 16
First day for K: August 21
First day for PreK: August 23

USD 232
Orientation for K-6th and 9th Grade: August 16
First full day for Early Childhood-12th Grade: August 17

Eudora USD 491
Orientation for 1st-9th Grades, and new HS students: August 17
First full day for 1st-12th Grades: August 18
Orientation for Early Childhood: August 21
First full day for Kindergarten: August 21

Wellsville USD 289
Orientation for 6th and 9th Grades and students new to the district: August 17
First full day of school for K-12th grade: August 18

Garnett USD 365
First day of school: August 16

Prairie View USD 362
First day of school: August 16

Central Heights USD 288
First day for K-6, 9th and students new to the district: August 14th
First day for all other students: August 15th

Louisburg USD 416
First day for 6th & 9th grade: August 14
First day for 1st-12th Grades: August 15
First day for PreK & K: August 16

Holy Trinity School
First day: August 16

Lakemary School
First day of school: August 14

Blue Valley USD 229
Orientation for 6th and 9th Grades: August 15
First day for 1st-12th Grades: August 16
Orientation for Kindergarten: August 16
First day for Kindergarten: August 17

Ottawa USD 290
First day for 1st-6th Grades, 9th Grade and students new to the district: August 14
First full day for all students: August 15

Baldwin City USD 348
First day of school: August 17

Lawrence Public Schools USD 497
Orientation for K, 6th and 9th Grades: August 16
First full day for K-12th Grades: August 17

Queen of the Holy Rosary - Wea Catholic School
First day for K-8th Grade: August 17
First day for PreK: August 18

Bishop Seabury Academy
First full day of classes: August 16



 Shutter2U | Canva

Back to school events in Gardner, Spring Hill, Paola & More:

July 23rd-August 6th: Baldwin City School Supply Kits
Details: The Nook will have ready-made school supply kits in-store and ready for pickup on August 14th. Make sure you order in advance based on your child's grade-level.

August 1st: Back to School Swim Party
Details: Ottawa Middle School students are invited to attend this pool party at Forest Park.

August 12th: Serving Our Students Back-to School Event
Details: School supply pickup will be at Trojan Elementary this year for Osawatomie students.
(Don't forget you must pre-register for supplies, and bring your voucher to pick-up your items.)

August 15th: Back to School with LES PTO & Kona Ice
Details: Louisburg families, celebrate the first day of school, after school with Kona Ice!  

August 26th: Osawatomie PIE (Partners In Education)'s Carnival
Details: All proceeds raised from carnival help support many educational projects and programs, teacher and district requests, spirit and reward programs, Trojan Nation, school libraries, scholarships and much more! 

Know of a community back-to-school event we're missing? Add it to our Macaroni KID Gardner-Spring Hill-Paola calendar now! Are you a local business offering a back-to-school special? Teacher supply store? Stylist offering back-to-school cuts or a local photog with BTS mini sessions? Reach out to me, I'd love to get you added to our guide!


More tips to make this school year a great one:


Free Back-to-School Printables to Celebrate that First Day


5 Teacher-Approved Tips to Make Back-to-School Time Great

Bento Box School Lunch Ideas


Teach Kids to Tie Shoes in Less Than a Minute



No More Lost & Found: Kiddo Tags Make For A Hassle-Free School Year