The Hickman Mills School District’s drive to become a high-performing district is preparing for launch.

The mission’s theme — “Together Towards Tomorrow” — will guide its year-opening festivities, welcoming families for enrollment to its schools and its LINC before- and after-school programs, and celebrating with a community rally.

The district’s centralized enrollment will be available one more day — Saturday, Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ruskin High School, 7000 E 111 St., in Kansas City. All families still needing to complete registration are strongly encouraged to attend.

Families can save time by first completing an online registration, then finishing enrollment at Centralized Registration. Go to www.hickmanmills.org/registration.

LINC is also offering online pre-enrollment to help families save time ahead of their required visit at their LINC site. Go to www.kclinc.org/enrollment.

The Hickman Mills community will rally together Saturday, Aug. 10.

Everyone is invited to the celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Optimist Hall, 11154 Blue Ridge Blvd. It will feature student performances, an introduction of fall sports, music with DJ Joe, bounce houses, face painters, haircuts, local vendors, $1 hot dog/chips, plus food trucks.

Newly sworn Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas will highlight a pre-rally town hall along with South Patrol Kansas City police officers at the Optimist Hall.

The Coffee with a Cop begins at 8:30 a.m., and they will be joined by Lucas and other local leaders, including South Patrol Commander Daniel Gates and Superintendent Yolanda Cargile for a panel discussion at 9 a.m.

The first day of school for Hickman Mills is Aug. 14.