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Stay informed with all the top stories in HMC-1! Here we highlight the most important news, events, and achievements from across the district. From major events to student successes, this is your spot for staying connected with our vibrant school community.
![Thinking Boldly at Kansas City’s MECA Business Challenge]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1760715557/hickmanmillsorg/aeqdbi4wkhibggkyrrjx/IMG_3472.jpg","width":2200}])
Juniors and seniors from Ruskin High School’s Incubator EDU program recently showcased their entrepreneurial spirit at the fall Business MECA Challenge, a city-wide competition hosted by Longview Community College. This event brought together high school and college students from across Kansas City to tackle real-world business problems alongside local startups.
![From Sports and Leadership to Nursing: Jennifer Torres Learned Lessons of Balance]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1760380384/hickmanmillsorg/mp5rd8gptf4hegb8jmex/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaTorres.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1760380384/hickmanmillsorg/mp5rd8gptf4hegb8jmex/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaTorres.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1760380384/hickmanmillsorg/mp5rd8gptf4hegb8jmex/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaTorres.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1760380384/hickmanmillsorg/mp5rd8gptf4hegb8jmex/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaTorres.jpg","width":1200}])
Jennifer Torres, a proud member of the Ruskin High School class of 2022, credits her high school experience with laying the foundation for her future. From sports fields to leadership programs, Jennifer’s time at Ruskin offered more than academics; it shaped the habits, values, and confidence that continue to guide her today.
![Setting a Quality Foundation: Janeth Lopez Soars Beyond Expectations]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759349884/hickmanmillsorg/jg02ptnleplu5ghfa4kp/HMC1Alum2025JanethLopez.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759349884/hickmanmillsorg/jg02ptnleplu5ghfa4kp/HMC1Alum2025JanethLopez.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759349884/hickmanmillsorg/jg02ptnleplu5ghfa4kp/HMC1Alum2025JanethLopez.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759349884/hickmanmillsorg/jg02ptnleplu5ghfa4kp/HMC1Alum2025JanethLopez.jpg","width":1200}])
For Ruskin High School alumna Janeth Lopez, embracing change and her passions has defined her success. A proud member of the Class of 2017, Janeth reflects on how Ruskin’s support continues to guide her as she builds her career and pursues new goals.
![HMC-1 Celebrates 2025 Missouri Assessment Program Top Performers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759860573/hickmanmillsorg/tnjvno7r2gjuxug0w6wy/TopPerformerArt2025.jpg","width":1800}])
Last week, the Academic Services team brought smiles and applause to classrooms across the district as they surprised HMC-1’s 2025 Missouri Assessment Program and End-of-Course Top Performers.
![Stakeholders Share Concerns at October 1 Town Hall]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1757691909/hickmanmillsorg/xbqvd8wyr0xknhpm9ktd/Theroad.png","width":1920}])
On October 1, during an HMC-1 Town Hall, stakeholders shared their perspectives through a ThoughtExchange activity. The top concerns centered on education, quality, and success, with many expressing concerns about maintaining a high-quality education to achieve student success and regain certification, as well as how to incentivize quality educators to stay with HMC-1 amid the upcoming cuts, including the potential closure of buildings and staff reductions.
![From Eagle to Accountant: Itzayana Gomez’s Path to Success]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759167800/hickmanmillsorg/tl3hjbjzbyzlyyfxthcb/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaGomez.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759167800/hickmanmillsorg/tl3hjbjzbyzlyyfxthcb/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaGomez.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759167800/hickmanmillsorg/tl3hjbjzbyzlyyfxthcb/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaGomez.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759167800/hickmanmillsorg/tl3hjbjzbyzlyyfxthcb/HMC1Alum2025ItzayanaGomez.jpg","width":1200}])
Itzayana Gomez, a 2020 graduate of Ruskin High School, carries a sense of purpose, determination, and gratitude that was fostered during her high school years. Now, as she enters the accounting field and pursues a Master’s, she reflects on how those experiences laid her foundation.
![DESE Announces Kimberly Sixta as the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758902220/hickmanmillsorg/ls7fgletwonj5c4gfvtg/KimSixtaTOY.jpg","width":2200}])
Kimberly Sixta, a Social Studies teacher at Ruskin High School in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District, was selected by a committee of her peers and education partners across the state as the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year. She becomes the 57th Missouri Teacher of the Year since the program’s inception in 1957.
![Kansas City Health Department to Host Health on the Block South Edition at Ruskin High School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758813134/hickmanmillsorg/aff1gvzxkdjs288djcxa/HealthBloc_Update_2025_RG.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758813134/hickmanmillsorg/aff1gvzxkdjs288djcxa/HealthBloc_Update_2025_RG.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758813134/hickmanmillsorg/aff1gvzxkdjs288djcxa/HealthBloc_Update_2025_RG.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758813134/hickmanmillsorg/aff1gvzxkdjs288djcxa/HealthBloc_Update_2025_RG.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758813134/hickmanmillsorg/aff1gvzxkdjs288djcxa/HealthBloc_Update_2025_RG.jpg","width":1275}])
The Kansas City Health Department is pleased to announce the Health on the Block South Edition, a free community block party taking place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Ruskin High School, 7000 E. 111th St., Kansas City, MO. The final event in May 2025 at Central High School drew over 600 people.
![LINC Family Night at Ruskin High]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759155404/hickmanmillsorg/chd65ybgioqhl8gpyqtb/LincFamilyNight2025.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759155404/hickmanmillsorg/chd65ybgioqhl8gpyqtb/LincFamilyNight2025.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759155404/hickmanmillsorg/chd65ybgioqhl8gpyqtb/LincFamilyNight2025.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759155404/hickmanmillsorg/chd65ybgioqhl8gpyqtb/LincFamilyNight2025.jpg","width":1137}])
There’s no better way to spend a fall Friday night than under the lights at Ruskin High! On Friday, October 10, the Eagles will face off against the Lone Jack Mules – and this game is extra special because it’s LINC Family Night.
![HMC-1 Seeks Applicants to Fill Board of Directors Vacancy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1758576253/hickmanmillsorg/xqlr8hkvxdtdf1pbomtv/IG_BoardVacancy.jpg","width":2200}])
HMC-1 invites interested community members—especially parents and family members of HMC-1 students—to consider applying and helping shape priorities that impact student learning, safety, budget stewardship, programs, and facilities across the district.
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