Delaware Ridge Elementary School

Dear DRE Families,

Over the next few days, the photo packages from picture day should go home with your student. Here are some instructions on what to do with those packages.

If you wish to keep the photos that you received, you can turn in your payment to the office. There is also an option to pay online if you are not paying with cash or check.

If you do not want the photos, please return them to the office. If you would only like to keep certain photos, you can return the ones that you do not want and your payment for the ones you keep to the front office.

Payments and portraits should be returned to the front office by April 24th. Please contact Ms. Kaya at the front office if you have any questions!

Hello 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade DRE Families,

The deadline to register for our school Variety Show is getting close. Registration ends on Friday, April 17th at 4:00 PM. This registration can be found in grade level Newsletters, the Rooms App, or through this link. Right now, we are very low on participants and need MANY more for the show to be able to go on. Let Mrs. Timmons in the Music Room know if you have any questions.

Thank You!

USD 204 Board of Education Appoints Nicole Perica Gerken to fill BOE Vacancy

The Bonner Springs/Edwardsville Board of Education appointed Nicole Perica Gerken as a school board member to replace the vacancy opened when former member Ashley Razak resigned to accept a position within the district. Gerken will serve in this position through December 2027.

A 1997 graduate of Bonner Springs High School, Gerken brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across nonprofit management, strategic communications, fundraising, marketing, public relations, brand development, and operational oversight to the position. She has worked at The HALO Foundation for the past 16 years, including serving as their Chief Operating Officer since 2016.

Gerken applied for the Board position because she believes strong schools are the foundation of a strong and thriving community.

“Through my professional work at HALO supporting homeless and at-risk children and families, I have seen firsthand how education, stability, and supportive environments shape a child’s long-term trajectory,” Gerken said. “I believe school boards play a critical role in setting vision, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, and supporting educators so they can focus on student success.”

USD 204 Board President Angie Thomas said, “The Board unanimously agreed Gerken’s expertise and leadership make her well suited to fill this role. Her skills and perspective will strengthen our board, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on USD 204 and the community we serve.”

1st through 12th graders are invited to participate in the Bonner Springs Summer Weights 2026 program! There is FREE registration with a physical on file before April 20, otherwise the program is $20 (includes t-shirt, prizes and giveaways for highest attendance, and free breakfast/lunch offered daily)!

Youth Sessions (1st - 3rd graders):
July 6 - 23 (Monday - Thursday only)
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Middle School Sessions (4th - 8th graders):
June 8 - July 23, M-Th only (no workouts June 26 through July 5 due to KSHSAA Moratorium)
Session 1: 7-8 grade boys - 7 - 8 a.m.
Session 2: 7-8 grade girls - 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.
Session 3: 4-6 grade boys and girls - 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

High School Sessions (9th-12th graders)*
June 8 - July 23, M-Th only (no workouts June 26 through July 5 due to KSHSAA Moratorium)
Session 1: high school boys - 6:15 - 8:15 a.m.
Session 2: high school girls - 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

*There will also be an orientation and newcomers camp for all incoming freshmen and new high school students May 15, 16, 22, and 23rd from 6 - 8 p.m. (Meet in the BSHS commons area.)

Sign up NOW using this link! (Make checks payable to BSHS Athletics)

Please feel free to email Coach Mays with any questions!

Our 2026 boys basketball team made history!

This season, our boys basketball team brought home a state championship, only the second in school history, and the first since 1984. What makes this team special goes beyond the scoreboard, they showed toughness, discipline, and a commitment to each other every single night.

Championship T-Shirts: Bonner Springs made history, and this championship hits different. This isn’t just a shirt, it’s the season we’ll never forget. Get yours and wear it proudly.

If you would like to order one of the championship shirts, here is your chance! We accept cash and card (there is a fee if you pay by card). The deadline for shirt orders will be April 12, 2026. To guarantee you receive your shirt, you need to do two things:

Complete the Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkEKWeFQIVaomeUZwy0-28fCFuDiMpNU2JjeOHjRAq1OgVAA/viewform

Submit payment: If paying cash, you will need to bring it into the high school (give it to the athletic secretary - Mrs. Kelly); If paying by card (there will be a small fee), use this link: https://gofan.co/event/6414951?schoolId=KS18100

Both steps are required for a successful t-shirt order!

From DRE PTO,

To celebrate our teachers and staff the week after break, we are having a day where they can dash into the lounge and dip into some snacks. On Thursday, March 26th, PTO will be providing several dippable snacks for our wonderful DRE staff. We'd love your help filling up this dip buffet. Please sign up to bring in a tasty dip plus the items that go with that dip. Some easy examples would be fruit tray and dip, veggie tray and ranch dip, pita and hummus, apples and caramel, chips and salsa, potato chips and french onion dip, pigs in a blanket with mustard dip, bread and oil, meatballs and spaghetti sauce, egg rolls and sweet and sour sauce, strawberries and chocolate etc. These are just some ideas to get you thinking but any dip type snack would be fantastic. When you sign up, please list the type of dip as well as the item(s) that go along with that dip. To sign up, please use the link below!

DRE Teacher Appreciation Dip and Dash

The 3rd Annual DRE Fun Run is coming up NEXT THURSDAY, April 2nd. Fundraising envelopes will be sent home this evening! If you would like to volunteer to help with the Fun Run, you can sign up with the QR Code provided!

On these flyers, you will find ways to help out, how to donate, and times for each grade level. Join Us for a wonderful opportunity to connect, engage with our DRE Community, and make great memories together. We hope to see you there on April 2nd, your participation makes all the difference!

We are one week away from Spring Picture Day on March 24th. Students will take their spring photos and classroom pictures on this day as well. We can wait to see those smiling faces!

Flashback Friday: The year of the last boys state basketball championship for the Bonner Springs High School Braves was 1984! Jim Sechrist shared photos he took during the game his senior year!

Check out:
Mike Martin #13
Rob Stewart #12
David Hall #10
Hughes Suffern #23
Randy Reed #11
Joe Sechrist #5 jacket
Brad Palmberg #4 jacket
Coach Carl Taylor

Did you know 1984 was also the year of the original Orange Crush? (Before that, the group was called Bleacher Creatures!)

Congratulations to Superintendent Rick Moulin as he was awarded the NAACP Louisa Fletcher Excellence in Education Award for 2026!

Mr. Moulin was recognized for the following:
"Rick has grown up in this community since third grade, graduating from BSHS in 1990. He has contributed to our education system as a student, teacher, principal and superintendent, and continues to use his expertise to support its development. He has been an advocate for diversity in our schools and our community. As a BS NAACP member, he has shown his support each year for the Freedom Fund banquet, by grilling at Tiblow Days, and at the State NAACP meetings hosted by Bonner Springs, he has given the greeting addressing the support of NAACP's principles and goals. Rick is an excellent role model."

Mrs. Fletcher was an advocate for the rights of African Americans not only in this community, but at the state and national levels as well. Since 2017, BS NAACP has given a Louisa Fletcher "Excellence in Education" award.

Congratulations to our Braves boys basketball team on their win tonight! Next, they will travel to Wichita State University to play at Koch Arena this Thursday night, March 12, at 8 p.m. for the semifinal round of the KSHSAA 5A State Tournament!

Because the team is advancing and we anticipate many families traveling to Wichita to support the team Thursday evening, the BSHS and CMS Family Engagement Nights will be postponed. Originally scheduled for this Thursday, they will now be moved to Thursday, March 26th from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. (The BSHS band pre-festival solo and ensemble recital already scheduled for March 26th will continue as scheduled at 7 p.m.)

Elementary school conferences will still take place on Thursday, March 12. If an elementary teacher would like to attend the state basketball tournament they will be allowed to do so. If elementary students are impacted because a staff member is not available Thursday evening, individual teachers will reach out to reschedule parent teacher conferences. Along that same line, if your family is planning to cheer on the Braves in Wichita Thursday night, please just contact your child’s teacher to reschedule your conference appointment.

Thank you for your understanding, and please join us in cheering on our Braves as they continue their season!