School / Sports   News - August 11, 2025

Barber County Schools gearing up for a new year

By Tammy McCain Lonker
The Gyp Hill Premiere
The beginning of school is rapidly approaching and both Barber County school districts are preparing for the return of teachers and students. School begins on August 20th for Barber County North. The beginning date for South Barber will be August 21st.
South Barber’s enrollment will be held in person August 6-8 at South Barber Elementary, located at 913 Main Street in Kiowa.
The dates are as follows: K-12 Wednesday, August 6th and Thursday August 7th from 8am-4pm and Friday, August 8th from 8am-4pm.
All Barber County parents of preschool and kindergarten students must complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). For South Barber, the form can be found at www.southbarber.com - click ENROLLMENT. The link for the survey for Barber County North is https://asqonline.com/family/90f218/chain_start
For preschool screening times, parents may call South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative at (620)672-7500. In addition to the preschool paperwork required by the preschool department, Barber County North parents will also be required to fill out all online district enrollment forms.
For Barber County North, new students or students that left the district and will be returning after attending elsewhere need to fill out the “New Student Enrollment Form”. This form is located on the USD 254 website under “Online Enrollment” at https://www.usd254.org/resources.
Online enrollment for Barber County North grades PreK-12 will be sent out to parents via Parent Square on August 7th. All enrollment will be completed online and are due by August 11th. There will be a drawing for a gift card for each building (GS, JH and HS) for those parents who have completed their forms by 7pm on August 11th. Office staff is available for anyone that requires assistance. Parents will receive an email from District Enrollment Coordinator Tammy McCain Lonker on August 7, 2025. The email will contain instructions for enrollment, along with the link for food service application. Only those requesting free or reduced lunch need to fill out the forms.
Questions for enrollment can be emailed to tlonker@usd254.org or patrons may call Medicine Lodge Grade School (620)886-5608 or Medicine Lodge Junior/Senior High School (620)886-5667 from 8am-4pm. All preschool questions can be answered by preschool staff by calling the MLGS phone number. Office staff will begin their school year on August 6, 2025. South Barber office staff will return to work the first week of August.
Kiowa Prescriptions Plus will provide school supplies K-6 grades for South Barber students from August 7th-21st. Hibbard’s Pharmacy will provide school supplies for Barber County North students grades PreK-8 from August 6th-22nd. "We are excited to kick off another amazing school year,” USD 254 Superintendent Ryan Cunningham said. “I want to offer a huge thanks to Hibbard’s Pharmacy for their generous donation of school supplies for our students again this year, as well as to many others who support and encourage our staff and students as we begin the year. We are truly blessed!"
Superintendent Mylo Miller shared similar sentiments, "We are profoundly grateful for our partnership with Kiowa Prescriptions Plus. Their annual school supply giveaway is a testament to their dedication to our community and ensures that every one of our elementary students starts the school year with the tools they need to be successful. This act of generosity removes a burden from families and allows our children to begin their new chapter of learning with excitement and confidence. It’s a wonderful example of our community coming together to support our kids."

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