HILLSBORO, Mo. — October is National Liver Awareness Month, and the Hillsboro R-3 School District is honoring one of its youngest students, Nola Faye Brown, who has shown extraordinary courage in the face of a rare and life-threatening disease.
Nola was diagnosed at just two months old with Biliary Atresia, a condition in which bile ducts in the liver are blocked or damaged, preventing the proper flow of bile. This condition can cause cirrhosis and eventual liver failure. At the time of her diagnosis, Nola had already suffered 54 percent permanent liver damage and was placed on a transplant list while undergoing frequent treatments and specialist visits.
In October 2022, at only one year old, Nola was hospitalized after her mother noticed a yellow discoloration to her skin. Physicians at that time warned that she would not live beyond the age of 2.
Now three years old, Nola has far surpassed those expectations. She has been released from near-daily medical visits to only requiring annual appointments, defying all odds and inspiring everyone around her.
To celebrate Nola’s strength and perseverance, the Hillsboro R-3 School District is inviting students, staff, families and community members to wear green on Friday, Oct. 6 in recognition of National Liver Awareness Month and in honor of Nola’s journey.
“Nola is a true picture of perseverance and strength,” said district officials. “We are so proud of her and invite everyone to join us in celebrating her resilience.”
About Hillsboro R-3 School District
The Hillsboro R-3 School District serves the families of Hillsboro, Mo., and is known as a Destination School District.

Click HERE: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1e295a6a1c724a5d89ca933a0d64c348?Region=Jefferson&Region2=Jefferson&Region3=Jefferson&Region4=Jefferson&Region5=Jefferson&fbclid=IwY2xjawNHkGxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFianhGTThpQ2tLZndxUHVnAR4DN8B8h5kxBbtn7zewmMe8cGFZVQCaRaWS9r5RcqIrEA2izmCZF1uJO0Np0w_aem_ZwNUorvCQzQuX3gnyRbzzQ
All Medicaid plans are accepted. Most private insurance will be accepted and there will also be a sliding scale available so students can get treated by dentists.
The upcoming visit happens October 21st-October 31st.
Register by October 6th.
Questions? Call 636-267-1501

The Hillsboro R-3 School District is once again, very excited to get rolling with the tradition of a parade through Hillsboro and all of the events leading up to the Homecoming football game (10/3) and dance at the high school (10/4). There are several things to keep in mind as we get ready for the event. You will see in the picture provides in this post, the Parade Route begins at Hillsboro High School. Lineup for the parade begins at 1:30 at the Hillsboro High School side lot. The parade will start at 2pm. Please note that there will not be any candy thrown from any vehicles. NOTE: Walkers will hand out candy this year. Beads, streamers, and balloons will be allowed on floats. It's important to keep things safe and the area around the parade route clean.
If you have questions about the parade route or would like to take part as a private driver, please email Christy Schacht - schacht_christy@hsdr3.org

HILLSBORO, Mo.-- The Hillsboro R-3 School District is asking the community to wear orange and blue on Monday, Sept. 15, to support Summer Beranek, a 4-year-old student at the district’s Early Childhood Center who is living with Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome (WSS), a rare genetic condition that affects 1 in 40,000 children worldwide.
Summer has endured six major surgeries, including open-heart surgery at just 3 months old, and has already spent 164 days in Children’s Hospital. She was also the youngest child ever diagnosed with WSS at just 10 days old.
Fun Facts About Summer:
She is the youngest child ever diagnosed with WSS, at only 10 days old.
She is one of just two children worldwide with WSS who was born with micrognathia (a recessed jaw and cleft palate), a 1 in 4 million chance.
She has undergone six major surgeries, including heart surgery, and has become a proud “heart warrior.”
About Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome (WSS):
WSS is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the MLL (also known as KMT2A) gene on chromosome 11. Clinically described in 1989 and genetically identified in 2012, WSS can lead to global developmental delays, feeding and digestion complexities, sleep challenges, unusual facial features, short stature, and other medical concerns. The condition is autosomal dominant, meaning only one abnormal copy of the gene is needed for a child to be affected.
The Hillsboro R-3 School District encourages parents, students, and community members to wear orange and blue on Sept. 15 as a visible sign of support for Summer and to help raise awareness about this rare syndrome.
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Parents,
Beginning tomorrow, September 9, our Transportation Department will roll out an upgrade to our bus routing system. 🚌 Each student will receive a school ID card with a lanyard or backpack tag on Tuesday, September 9th during the PM routes.
These IDs are equipped with RFID technology to scan when students board and exit the bus. We will also provide a small instruction handout with the student ID. We ask that all bus riders use these ID cards to scan on and off the buses. 📲 There is an attachment with further details and instructions for My Ride K-12.
Our drivers and Transportation Department have undergone extensive training to prepare for this new system. ✅ While we hope for a smooth start, we want to be transparent that this is a new process and it may take some time to work out all the details. We kindly ask for your patience as we transition. 🙏
🚫 Lastly, this school year our district has seen an increase in requests for students to ride a bus to a friend’s house instead of their assigned pick-up and drop-off. As a district, we will continue our current practice of not allowing bus changes for after-school visits or alternate drop-off requests.
This practice is in place to ensure:
📢 Clear communication with drivers
🪑 Accurate seating and capacity on buses
🛡️ Safe, organized, and consistent transportation for all students
We kindly ask for your understanding and support as we uphold this procedure. 💙💛
Thank you for your partnership in supporting our drivers and Transportation Department. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Dr. Clay LaRue
Assistant Superintendent – District Operations
Hillsboro R-3 School District – hsdr3.org
9661 Old Hwy 21 | Hillsboro, MO 63050
📞 (636) 789-0062 ext. 6011 | 📠 (636) 789-0080

Order shirts for $15 by September 29th to be picked up at the dance. Shirts are ONLY AVAILABLE through pre-order and will not be for sale at the dance. Scan the QR Code with your phone's camera to order shirts. Photos at the dance will be available for $5.


The dogs are helping students in literacy, music and physical education. Reading aloud to a therapy dog gives children a judgment-free listener that builds fluency and self-esteem. In music class, the dogs provide a calm and nonjudgmental audience, helping students overcome stage fright and experiment with sound and creativity. During physical education, their playful presence encourages reluctant students to join activities like running, playing fetch or guiding a dog through an obstacle course.
“All dogs are therapy dogs. We are fortunate enough to have three on hand daily to support our littles through their big emotions,” said Shannon Murray, Hillsboro Primary School principal.
With their gentle personalities and wagging tails, Marnie, Sugar and Oakley are creating a supportive school culture where students feel more confident, engaged and ready to learn.

Join us for Open House!
Kindergarten & First Grade Open House is August 13th 5:00-7:00 pm & Early Childhood Open House is August 14th 5:00-7:00 pm.












