Virtual Backpack
KUSD’s Virtual Backpack provides an outlet for the district and community organizations to share events, activities, and resources with our families in one easy-to-access location. Materials and/or activities below may not be sponsored by KUSD or its personnel.
Organizations or individuals who want to add an item to the Virtual Backpack must submit a Virtual Backpack request form at least 1 month prior to their event date. All requests must abide by the procedures outlined in Board Policy 1520. Note: Due to changes in accessibility standards, KUSD will no longer be posting images or PDFs on the Virtual Backpack.
Items that have expired or that are more than six months old will be removed to keep this page current. If items are removed, they may be resubmitted in alignment with the procedures above for review/consideration.
March
Family Forensic Night (March 12)
-posted Feb. 17, 2026
Middle school families are invited to step inside the world of forensic science! During this interactive program, students will collaborate with local police officers to explore how evidence is collected and analyzed. This hands-on program will bring science to life as you learn how real investigators use critical thinking, observation skills, and teamwork to solve crimes.
A light family meal will be served and free childcare is available for younger family members.
You do not need to be affiliated with KUSD to participate in family education programs—we welcome all members of our community!
Event Details:
📅 Thursday, March 12
🕑 5:30 – 7 p.m.
📌 Washington Middle School, 2600 50th St.
🔗 Register for Family Forensic Night
Non-KUSD families and community members must join our Family Education Programs Community Group at to register for this event. Once joined, you’ll receive updates and can register for future events without rejoining.
March Math-ness Night (March 12)
-posted Feb. 17, 2026
Elementary students and their families are invited for an evening of math fun! Rotate through various stations to try your hand at different math games and activities. This is a fun night of problem-solving and skill-building for the whole family!
This event will be offered at two locations- choose the one that works best for your family! A light meal will also be served at both locations.
You do not need to be affiliated with KUSD to participate in family education programs—we welcome all members of our community!
Event Details:
📅 Thursday, March 12
🕑 5:30 – 7 p.m.
📌 Bose Elementary, 1900 15th St.
OR
📌 Somers Elementary, 1245 72nd Ave.
🔗 Register for March Math-ness
Non-KUSD families and community members must join our Family Education Programs Community Group at to register for this event. Once joined, you’ll receive updates and can register for future events without rejoining.
Ready, Set, Learn! open house event (March 18)
-posted Feb. 23, 2026
Join Us for Ready, Set, Learn! on March 18! Our elementary schools invite families with children entering 4K or Kindergarten to attend our Ready, Set, Learn! 4K and Kindergarten Open House on Wednesday, March 18, from 4:30-6 p.m.
Come see what KUSD has to offer!
🍎 Meet caring 4K, Kindergarten and school staff
🍎 Discover what your child will learn throughout the year
🍎 Explore 4K and Kindergarten classrooms
🍎 Learn about schedules, goals and programs
🍎 Meet daycare and wraparound care partners
🍎 Connect with community and parent resources
🍎 Talk with Head Start staff about program options and enrollment for eligible families
Our friendly staff will guide you through the registration process, answer questions, and help you feel confident about your child’s first school experience.
Whether you’re a new or returning KUSD family, we’re here to support you every step of the way!
Non-KUSD families and community members must join our Ready, Set, Learn! community group to register for this event.
Visit Ready, Set, Learn to learn more, find your boundary school, and see the documents you’ll need to bring to register at the event.
New Readers’ Adventures (March 19)
-posted March 10, 2026
Kids ages 5-8 are invited to join us for fun activities using beginning reading books that provide practice using their new reading skills. We’ll enjoy creative activities and games together based on the books we’ve read. Snacks and take-home handouts included.
- When: Thursday, March 19, from 4-5 p.m.
- Where: Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy 2222 63rd St., Kenosha
Questions? Email Jacqueline Easley: jeasley@carthage.edu
Young Authors Club (March 24)
-posted March 10, 2026
Calling all future authors ages 9 and up! You are invited to join our Young Authors Club, where we participate in creative writing activities and work on publishing our own literature and arts magazine. Snacks included!
- When: Tuesday, March 24, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
- Where: Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy 2222 63rd. Street, Kenosha
Questions? Email Jacqueline Easley: jeasley@carthage.edu
Learn more at Carthage College Community Literacy Center.
Navigating the Future: Preparing Families of Individuals with Disabilities for Life After High School (March 25)
-posted Feb. 24, 2026
Navigating the Future is an event to prepare families of individuals with disabilities for life after high school. Families of youth (ages 14+) with intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited for an informational evening to learn about postsecondary transition options, long term care funding, local day service options, Social Security benefits, supported employment opportunities and much more! Free childcare is provided and a family meal will be served.
You do not need to be affiliated with KUSD to participate in family education programs—we welcome all members of our community!
Event Details:
📅 Wednesday, March 25
🕑 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
📌 Indian Trail High School, 6800 60th St.
🔗 Register for Navigating the Future
Non-KUSD families and community members must join our Family Education Programs Community Group to register for this event. Once joined, you’ll receive updates and can register for future events without rejoining.
Booked for Dinner: A Family Book “Tasting” Event (March 26)
-posted March 3, 2026
Elementary students and their families are invited to join us for a delicious evening of literacy fun! Step into our “restaurant” where books are always on the menu!
Families will:
- Sample a variety of book genres
- Get the scoop on signing up for a library card
- Learn the benefits of reading together
- Discover easy, fun ways to encourage reading at home
Bring your family and get ready to “taste” some good books! A light family meal will also be served.
Event Details:
📅 Thursday, March 26
🕑 5:30-7 p.m.
📌 Pleasant Prairie Elementary, 9208 Wilmot Road
🔗 Register for Booked for Dinner
Everyone is welcome to participate in our family education programs! Non-KUSD families and community members must join our Family Education Programs Community Group to register for this event. Once joined, you’ll receive updates and can register for future events without rejoining.
Volunteers Needed at Solo & Ensemble Festival (March 28)
-posted March 9, 2026
Please help support our incredible student musicians at this year’s Solo & Ensemble event on Saturday, March 28, at Tremper!
Shifts Available:
- 7:30-10:45 a.m.
- 10:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- 1-4:15 p.m.
Sign up to volunteer at Solo & Ensemble
This event can’t happen without amazing volunteers like you! Whether you help for one shift or the whole day, your time makes a huge difference. Thank you in advance for supporting our student musicians!
SENSE-ational Special Needs Egg Hunt (March 28)
-posted Feb. 11, 2026
Hope City Church invites families to join us for our 5th Annual SENSE-ational Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Racine. This special Easter event is designed specifically for children with special needs, along with their siblings and parents, offering a sensory-friendly, calm, and inclusive environment where every child can experience the joy of Easter.
Families will enjoy an accessible egg hunt with 5,000+ eggs, interactive sensory stations, hands-on activities like cookie decorating and crafts, a blacklight egg hunt, and additional fun experiences—all created to be stress-free and welcoming.
This event is free for families, but registration is required.
👉 Register for Special Needs Egg Hunt
We would love to celebrate Easter with your family in a way that is meaningful, joyful, and designed with your child in mind.
April
Spring Nature Club at Pringle Nature Center (April 7-9)
-posted Feb. 12, 2026
Pringle Nature Center invites the community to participate in the Spring Nature Club! Themes include: Nature Engineers, Mosaic of the Woods, Spring Detectives. Participants will participate in nature hikes, games, crafts, and more!
- April 7-9th, 2026
- 10 am-12 pm each day
- Ages 5-10
- Pringle Nature Center located in Bristol, WI
- Registration is required
Learn more and register for Spring Nature Club
Barks and Blooms Spring Break Camp (April 9 and 10)
-posted Jan. 26, 2026
Students in grades 1-6: “Spring” into an awesome day of animal antics at the Wisconsin Humane Society Racine Campus! During this one-day camp, kids will enjoy crafts, games, and meeting animal friends. Each day of camp will offer new experiences; register for one day or both. Runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at 8900 16th Street, Mount Pleasant, 53177.
i9 Sports – Spring 2026 Youth Sports (starts April 11)
-posted Feb. 17, 2026
i9 Sports is focused on high-quality, community-based kids sports leagues. We offer recreational sports leagues for kids in today’s most popular sports, such as Flag Football, Soccer, and Baseball / T-Ball.
Our coaches and instructors provide age-appropriate instruction that’s both fun for kids and convenient for busy families. We are committed to our mission of Helping Kids Succeed in Life Through Sports. That’s why we teach sportsmanship values alongside skills and drills every week. To us, it’s simply The Way Youth Sports Should Be.
- 2026 Spring location is Nash Elementary School
- Saturdays – one day a week that includes practice and games
- STARTS APRIL 11
- Register ASAP, it’ll be spring soon!
September
Eagles Nest Projects Wisconsin 2026 Sweepstakes (Sept. 13)
-posted Jan. 26, 2026
Eagles Nest Projects Wisconsin is proud to announce the launch of its 2026 Sweepstakes, offering supporters a chance to win a Van’s RV-12 ULS aircraft or $50,000 cash, while directly supporting hands-on aviation education for local high school students. The sweepstakes helps fund Eagles Nest Projects’ mission to inspire and equip the next generation of aviation leaders in Southeast Wisconsin.
Through real aircraft construction, authentic flight experiences, and immersive aerospace education, students learn by doing, gaining practical skills, confidence, and a vision for what’s possible in aviation and beyond.
Ongoing
Teen Achievers – Free Afterschool Tutoring
-posted Feb. 17, 2026
Free Homework and Tutoring for middle school students after school offered by the YMCA Teen Achievers program located at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy building. Transportation provided from Washington Middle School and Lance Middle School.
Contact Nate Kreamalmyer, nkreamalmyer@kenoshaymca.org or Dr. M. Rachel Mall, EdD rmall@kenoshaymca.org if interested in registering/scheduling your student.
Reading Tune-Ups at the KELA
-posted Feb. 11, 2026
Teachers and Parents: Do you have a reader that would benefit from an extra boost in developing their reading skills while focusing on joyful interactions with books?
Contact Jackie Easley at jeasley@carthage.edu to set up an appointment.
AFS – Host an Exchange Student
-posted Jan. 12, 2026
Bring the world into your home with AFS!
Starting March 1, KUSD families will be able to sign up to host an international exchange student next fall.
As a host family, you will provide a student from another part of the world with an experience of a lifetime and give your family the opportunity to learn about the world and build a meaningful intercultural connection.
To be a host family, you must provide three meals a day, coordinate transportation when needed, and have a bed for the student. Students will arrive in August and depart in June.
Please visit AFS to learn more about hosting with AFS, and contact AFS Rep Erica Ness at eness@afsusa.org or 262-445-0856 with any questions or to start reviewing student biographies for next year!
Early Head Start
-posted Jan. 8, 2026
Did you know Kenosha offers a free Early Head Start program for income-eligible families who are pregnant or have children under 3? Enjoy weekly home visits filled with fun, hands-on learning that supports your child’s healthy development and school readiness—even for infants!
Plus, don’t miss our free weekly playgroups for families with children ages 0–5! These playgroups let kids practice social skills, explore through age-appropriate, engaging activities, and give caregivers a chance to relax, chat, and build friendships with other adults.
Call or text Genna Garcia at 262-818-3581 for more information!
2025-26 Family Engagement Programs
-Updated March 11, 2026
SAVE THE DATE! We invite the community to learn, create and connect with us! Enjoy hands-on learning projects and meaningful conversations with your family at every event. You do not need to be affiliated with KUSD to participate—we welcome all members of our community!
- 3/12/26 – Family Forensics Night in collaboration with the Kenosha Police Department
- 3/19/26 – Night at the Planetarium
- April – Cinnamon Roll Model (multiple dates and locations)
- May – Growing Gardeners (multiple dates and locations)
To register, watch for program information in the KUSD Bulletin, on social media, ParentSquare and the Virtual Backpack!
2026 Pilot Hours for Kenosha Public Library
-posted Dec. 16, 2025
Starting January 2026, all Kenosha Public Libraries will have new hours. For detailed information, including each location’s new hours, please visit: Kenosha Public Library New Hours
BridgeWhiz
-posted Dec. 4, 2025
BridgeWhiz is a FREE online course designed to teach students in grades 4 through 12 the essentials of a fascinating game whose benefits, intellectual stimulation, and adventure will last a lifetime.
Learning to play bridge will nurture your child’s competitive spirit, both as a team player and an individual. Build social skills and enhance deductive reasoning and math abilities. In fact, young bridge players outscored their non-playing counterparts on the 2007 Iowa Test of Basic Skills by 39.31% in Science, 24.22% in Math, and 22.74% in Social Science.
Help Me Grow Kenosha
-posted Nov. 4, 2025
Help Me Grow Kenosha connects families with local resources, support, and activities to help every child thrive—from pregnancy through early childhood.
Through the FREE Sparkler app, parents can complete developmental questionnaires, track developmental milestones, find fun learning activities, and get expert tips—all personalized for their child.
Sparkler makes parenting easier while helping you understand and celebrate your child’s growth every step of the way!
Download Sparkler today, search “Sparkler Play for Parenting” in the app store and use code HMGK to get started.
Visit Help Me Grow Kenosha for more information.
Parkside Athletics
-posted Oct. 7, 2025
The Parkside Athletics Education Game provides students with a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of collegiate athletics while gaining valuable insights into the college experience. Students will learn about the importance of teamwork, leadership, and perseverance by watching student-athletes who balance academics and competition at the highest level. Through interactive pregame activities and campus engagement, they’ll explore what it means to be a college student and how education connects to future success. This day is designed to inspire curiosity, encourage goal-setting, and motivate students to dream big—both in the classroom and beyond.
Contact: Stasha Warchock (warchock@uwp.edu) or Elle Nienhuis (nienhuis@uwp.edu)
Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc. (KAFASI)
-posted Sept. 29, 2025
Hispanic/Latino adults, especially second-generation individuals, are invited to connect to mental health and general well-being resources; coping strategies and become more aware of mental health resources and more willing to seek help. This program will be offered in Spanish only.
- Location: KAFASI. 7730 Sheridan Rd, Kenosha, WI 53143
- Date: Every 3rd Monday of the month
- Time: 5 p.m.
- Participants receive a gas card.
- Contact information: Fabiola O. Diaz Negrete – (262)744-2787