The Guardian Hawks PTO needs your trunk-decorating skills for Boo at the Barn! Grab your group or organization, deck out your ride, and help make Halloween magical for our littles. To kickstart the fun, the PTO is providing a giant starter bag of candy to every participating vehicle.
Ready to join the party? See the flyer to email to reserve your spot!

Junior Parent Night — Sept. 22nd
Parents and guardians of juniors are invited to the HHS Theatre at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22. Counselors will cover graduation requirements, ACT dates, college planning, dual credit, A+, ATS programs and more.
Jefferson College Helping Seniors Apply — Sept. 22nd & 23rd
Planning to attend Jefferson College next year? Representatives from Jefferson College will be at HHS Sept. 22 and 23 to help seniors complete applications for the 2027 school year.
Homecoming Dance — Sept. 26th
The Homecoming Dance is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, from 7-10 p.m. at Hillsboro High School. Tickets are $20, with discounted tickets available for eligible Renaissance cardholders. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door.
Manufacturing Day — Oct. 2nd
Students will have an opportunity to visit Jefferson College for Manufacturing Day. Students can explore careers in welding, precision machining technology and HVAC, see demonstrations and connect with local employers.

It’s time to put the Hawks jersey back on.
Hillsboro High School is launching its first-ever Hawks Hoops Night on Friday, Nov. 20—and we want former Hawks back on the court for our inaugural Alumni Basketball Game!
Any former Hillsboro boys basketball player is invited to play. Whether it’s been a few years or a few decades, this is your chance to reconnect with former teammates, represent the Hawks again and be part of a new tradition.
Hawks Hoops Night begins at 5 p.m. with scrimmages featuring our 2026-27 teams, followed by a Staff vs. Seniors Game and then the Alumni Game. Alumni should arrive no later than 6:30 p.m.
💙 Minimum $20 donation to the basketball program
🏀 Open to all former Hillsboro boys basketball players
📅 Sign up by Friday, Nov. 6
📧 Questions? Coach DJ Hardy at hardy_dj@hsdr3.org
Former Hawks: Who’s ready to get back on the court?
👇 Sign up for the inaugural Alumni Game here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM75QdmDuudVKgwA1_vh9ydZvDLZdlHdBcfM_urc-es2YYLw/viewform

The Hillsboro R-3 Homecoming Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25th, and travel along Business 21.
Friday will also be an early release day. All Hillsboro R-3 schools will dismiss three hours earlier than their normal dismissal times.
Planning to have a float or participate in the parade? Please complete the parade registration form provided in this post as soon as possible. Registration closes Sunday. You will also notice we have a map of the route.
One important safety reminder: NOTHING may be thrown from a vehicle or float. Walkers may hand candy directly to children along the parade route. This rule is in place to prevent injuries and keep candy and other items from being run over or left along the roadway. Floats that do not follow this requirement will not be allowed to participate in future parades.
Parade participants should also remember:
Floats may not be dropped off until district buses have left the grounds, around noon. Follow the parade lineup information and do not park in front of Hillsboro High School.
Everyone riding on a float must remain seated. Please bring a trash bag and help clean up any trash or decorations near your group before leaving.
Want to be part of the parade? Complete the registration form here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSetXEAVJivkaz.../viewform
Let’s fill Business 21 with Hawk Pride and make Homecoming 2026 a great celebration for our students, families and community!

The Hillsboro High School Cheer Team is inviting students in grades 1st-4th to take part in the Jr. Hawks Cheerleading Clinic on Saturday, October 24th.
SIGN-UP quickly through Infinite Campus because these camps fill up fast! The deadline to register is October 19th.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from our Hillsboro High School cheerleaders and coaches, practice new skills and experience what it’s like to be part of the Hawks cheer program.
Take a look at the graphic for registration details and everything families need to know.
We’d love to see our Jr. Hawks there! #BoroBuilt

It’s a great day to shop local vendors, find unique gifts and spend some time with our Hillsboro community.
Interested in being a vendor? Applications will be accepted September 2nd through October 30th. Booths are $45.
Here is the link to sign-up and be a vendor:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDhURHrl6IutvsAWbSMGFNxt6hBsLoI2/view?fbclid=IwY2xjawUEEwZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXJRcnc5TGl3WkZzUHkxeFlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeeR2KKRHZdMBEsFSEWp7uwe4FkSECiRnfMURd7E9tMv47hdf6M7LNBPrWR5w_aem_Wcyjpfz6L11LRVgIhHiKBA
Dear Vendor,
We are currently planning our Primary School Craft Fair. The craft fair
will be held on November 7, 2025 9am-1:30pm. The Vendor application window
is September 2, 2026 through October 30, 2026. Payment must be submitted
with the application to the Primary School Office.
The rental fee is $45.00 per 12ft booth. Please indicate on the
registration form if you need a table and/or electric. Vendors bringing their
own table must adhere to a maximum table length of 12 foot. Please note
that due to changes in booth size (14ft, 1 foot given on either side) exact
booth placement cannot be guaranteed from the past year.
The Primary Craft Fair is a community, family-friendly event. All
applications are subject to approval by the Primary Craft Fair
Chair/Committee. Applications that seek to sell or advertise items that are
obscene to minors or pervasively indecent/vulgar will be denied. Crafts,
antiques, home sales products, artwork, Christmas ornaments, or anything
else may be sold as long as it does not include alcohol, tobacco, firearms or
any other types of weapons.
Please provide a description of your products on the registration sheet
form. Once an application is accepted, an information packet will be mailed to
you with further instructions.
In addition, we will be offering a Friday evening set up from 5:00-7:00 this
year!
For more information, please call: 636-789-0050. We are looking forward
to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Hillsboro Craft Fair Committee
Hillsboro Primary & Early Childhood
101 Leon Hall Parkway
Hillsboro, MO 63050
636-789-0050

What should Hillsboro R-3 Schools look like 5, 10 or even 20 years from now?
What should we prioritize when it comes to our buildings, student safety, learning environments and the opportunities we provide the next generation of Hawks?
Those conversations are happening NOW, and we don’t want you to miss your opportunity to be part of them.
No decisions have been made. That’s exactly why tomorrow night matters.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Thursday, August 27
6:30 p.m.
Hillsboro Intermediate School
Board of Education Room
Parents. Employees. Taxpayers. Business owners. Alumni. Community members. Everyone is welcome.
Bring your spouse. Bring a neighbor. Bring a friend.
The decisions made in the years ahead could shape Hillsboro R-3 for generations.
Don’t wait until decisions are made to tell us what you think. Help shape the conversation now.
Your schools. Your community. Your voice matters.

Adult meals are also available in all cafeterias. The cost is $2.95 for breakfast and $4.75 for lunch. Flyers with these updated prices are posted in each of our cafeterias, but we encourage families to review them in advance to help plan for the school year.
Yes. We will have late start Wednesdays in 2026-2027.
The first one happens tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26th.
Our students have returned, and we’re excited to welcome an outstanding group of educators to the Hillsboro R-3 family.
Different backgrounds. Different experiences. But they all have a few things in common: They’re great educators, they care about kids, and they’re excited to be Hillsboro Hawks.
Help us give our newest teachers a big Hawk Nation welcome!
Welcome to Hillsboro R-3. We’re glad you’re here


LAST CALL: We need your voice before the survey closes August 19th.
What should Hillsboro R-3 look like 5, 10, or even 20 years from now?
This is your opportunity to help answer that question.
Our Community Survey closes Wednesday, August 19th, making this your final chance to provide feedback through the online survey as part of our Facilities Master Planning process.
No decisions have been made. We are still listening.
We want to hear from parents, employees, taxpayers, business owners, grandparents, alumni, and community members about the future of our schools, including our long-term facility, safety, and operational needs.
Take the survey before August 19th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HillsboroR3PlanningNest
And the conversation doesn't end when the survey closes.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Thursday, August 27, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Hillsboro Intermediate School
Board of Education Room
Come hear more about the planning process, ask questions, share your ideas, and be part of the conversation about where Hillsboro R-3 goes from here.
Take the survey. Come to the meeting. Make your voice heard.
The future of Hillsboro R-3 belongs to this community. Help us plan it together.

Parents. Employees. Taxpayers. Grandparents. Business owners. Alumni. Community members.
This survey is for all of you.
As Hillsboro R-3 evaluates the future needs of our schools, we want every District resident to have an opportunity to share what they believe should be priorities for the years ahead.
The survey has been shared throughout our community on social media and was mailed to every household in the District in the latest edition of The Nest.
But we're not finished listening.
The survey is still open, and if you haven't participated, we hope you'll take a few minutes to do so today.
Take the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HillsboroR3PlanningNest
Then, continue the conversation with us in person.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday, August 27
6:30 p.m.
Hillsboro Intermediate School, Board of Education Room

What about important vacation dates for the 2026-2027 school year?
Link to Open House and vacation dates: https://www.hsdr3.org/article/3027035

Link to Dr. Murphy's appearance on Hawk Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqH8R2jIQu8
Planning a family vacation during the holidays or spring break? Scheduling appointments?
We've put together a 2026-2027 Student Vacation Planner that highlights every extended school break and school holiday throughout the year, making it easier to plan ahead.
Whether you're looking for a long weekend or planning your next family getaway, this quick reference guide has you covered.
✔ Labor Day Weekend
✔ Thanksgiving Break
✔ Christmas Break
✔ Spring Break
✔ Holiday weekends
✔ Teacher Professional Development Days
Take a screenshot, save this post, or share it with family members who help care for your children.
Here's to a great 2026-2027 school year!

Tuesday, July 21st, we had a great turnout for our first Community Engagement Session, and one thing became clear: the people of Hillsboro care deeply about our schools.
Parents, employees, taxpayers, and community members came together to share ideas about our school buildings, student safety, learning environments, and the educational experiences we want to provide for the next generation of Hawks.
If you joined us, thank you. Your ideas matter.
If you couldn't attend, there's still time to have your voice heard.
Our next Community Engagement Session will be held:
Thursday, August 27
6:30 p.m.
Board of Education Room
Hillsboro Intermediate School
No decisions have been made. That's exactly why your participation is so important.
The choices we make in the years ahead will impact students, families, staff, and our entire community for generations to come. Before those conversations move forward, we want to hear from as many people as possible.
Bring your spouse. Bring your neighbors. Bring your friends. If you care about the future of education in Hillsboro, we hope you'll join us.
If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete our community survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HillsboroR3Planning
You can also watch the full July 21st Community Engagement Session on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XiKi7BbVh4



Find Out Your Child's Teacher!
K-6 Families: Watch Infinite Campus Messages on Monday, July 20th!

This week, nearly 20 new educators took their first steps as members of the Hillsboro R-3 family.
Some are returning home as proud Hillsboro graduates. Others are joining us from outside the district or coming back to the teaching profession. But today, they all became part of something special.
They experienced what it means to be a Destination District, met the people they'll be working alongside, and discovered why we're proud to call ourselves #BoroBuilt.
In just a few weeks, they'll be welcoming students into their classrooms and helping shape the future of Hillsboro R-3.
Please join us in welcoming our newest educators to Hawk Nation!




The Hillsboro R-3 Board of Education has been recognized as one of only 26 school boards in Missouri to receive the 2026 Missouri School Boards' Association Governance Team Award.
The award recognizes school boards and superintendents who go beyond the basics by investing in professional development, leadership training, community engagement, and advocacy for public education.
Behind every important decision is a commitment to learning, collaboration, and serving students, staff, and taxpayers.
Congratulations to our Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Jon Isaacson on this outstanding achievement.

