Feb. 28, 2023 Maize Pulse

The warmer weather we have had at times this month has me wondering if the opportunity to call my very first snow day is slipping by. I truly was looking forward to that surprise and delight, as I know it is something our students treasure. I can’t believe that spring is quickly approaching and our first school year together is absolutely flying by!

If we don’t get a snow day, keep in mind that Spring Break is on the horizon, and it is a great time to reenergize. My plans usually include spending time at home, most likely watching my three boys master their latest recipes. During Winter Break, my kitchen was full of the remnants of DIY Crunch Wraps they made together after watching a TikTok tutorial. I believe their interest in cooking stems from my lack of interest in cooking, so they try to make up for that, which I do appreciate.

As a mom, I believe that gifts of time with my kids, like snow days and Spring Breaks, have been some of the most precious memories. I will keep my eyes peeled for that first snow day opportunity, but if spring rushes in, I wish you a Spring Break full of quality time with your precious children.

• On Twitter: @rockigreer
• Email: rgreer@usd266.com
• Online: www.usd266.com/superintendent

March

• March 10: End term three
• March 13-17: No school, Spring Break
• March 20: Term four begins

April

• April 7: No school
• April 17: No school, Professional Development

The Maize USD 266 2023-24 District Calendar is now available online. Maize Board of Education members approved the calendar during their monthly meeting on Feb. 13. The calendar includes information about the first and last day of school next year, as well as breaks, parent-teacher conferences, no school days, and more.

Maize USD 266's 2023 Legislative Priority, which Maize Board of Education members approved in December, contains one single issue: Fully fund Kansas education, including special education, to best prepare the future workforce of Kansas. The following links provide the Maize USD 266 community with helpful resources that can serve as talking points in conversations with elected lawmakers. Please consider reaching out to elected Kansas legislators to share Maize successes and needs!

The Maize Board of Education on Feb. 13 approved updated boundaries for its three board member districts, which are used for board member elections and are not tied to school attendance boundaries for students.

Kansas law requires the resident population of board member districts to each be within 5 percent of the mean population of the entire district, a balance that must be reexamined with every census. With the help of demographic firm RSP and Associates, board members selected the option that provides the most balance between the three districts in terms of population distribution. The new map redistributes about 2,300 people between all three districts to reach a variance of no more than 2.7 percent between all districts.

Maize USD 266 leaders do not plan to make any major changes to the way Maize USD 266 elementary school students are placed in the district’s five elementary schools for the 2023-24 school year. Demographic firm RSP, which the district hired for an enrollment and boundary analysis, was originally scheduled to present to the board in February. The firm needed more time to conduct its research, so RSP is expected to present its findings later this spring. The district’s primary focus with RSP data will be to discuss long-term planning in relation to growth projections. Click here to read more.

The Maize Board of Education’s next monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 6 in the classrooms at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. Meetings are open to the public. Find a link to meeting agendas and minutes, school board member information, and policies at www.usd266.com/schoolboard. Regular monthly meetings are broadcast live at bit.ly/Maize266YouTube.

Maize South High School educators and students shared information about their school's programs and initiatives during the Feb. 13 Maize Board of Education meeting. From left in the photo above:

• Teacher Joe Jackson and junior Ashlyn Van spoke about his outdoor education class, through which students learn about fishing, camping, and other activities. At Maize South, 76 students are enrolled in the class, which has been the beneficiary of a $3,710 grand from Cabela's for equipment. Through these activities, students learn about teamwork, communication, initiative, perseverance, and more.
• Senior Leah Jamaleddine and teacher Mark Bradshaw spoke about the Community Action Club of Wichita (CACOW) and National Honor Society. Student volunteers support ongoing campaigns related to traffic safety, blood donations, and voter registration.
• Principal Becky Sailor spoke about how these programs support the district's mission to connect, learn, and lead and reinforce skills that help students be ready for college and/or careers after high school graduation.

Congratulations to Maize High School senior Lesly Hernandez, announced recently as a Wichita State University 2023 Gore Scholar! She was among 14 high school seniors from across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma chosen as a finalist out of 483 students who competed in the Wichita State Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, according to the university. WSU reports that the Harry Gore Memorial $64,000 scholarship is among the largest undergraduate awards in the Midwest.

Maize USD 266 programs, partnerships, and professionals offer students support with their academic goals, social-emotional skills, and mental health. Thanks to Seamless Productions and OneMa1ze Media students for producing this video, especially to the following Maize High School student videographers: junior Trey Reisman, senior Peyton Peterman, and sophomore Maurice Frazier.

Here are three reasons to love school breakfast at Maize USD 266:

1. Students who participate in school breakfast show improved attendance, behavior, and academic performance, as well as decreased tardiness.
2. Providing students with breakfast to eat in the classroom is associated with lower tardy rates, fewer disciplinary office referrals, and improved attendance rates.
3. School breakfast has been linked with fewer visits to the school nurse, particularly in the morning.

Learn more from the Food Research and Action Center.

On Feb. 26, 1987, President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613, making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

The first ever all-district talent show, The A-Maizing Talent Show, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatic Center, 1155 W. Academy Ave. in Maize. The event will feature entertainers and artists from all schools in Maize USD 266 and is open to the Maize community. Information on purchasing tickets will be made available soon for pre-purchase.

Maize South Middle School students recently had a drive to collect hygiene products for Giving the Basics Wichita as part of The Great Kindness Challenge 2023.

While Kansas Day has come and gone, many elementary school students have been busy learning about the history of Kansas and participating in class activities focused on the colonial time period. Activities included students listened reenactors and making their own toys.

The robotics course at the Maize Career Academy hosted an in-class tournament, which allowed students to experience engineering in action. For the tournament, students were provided a set of rules, criteria, and constraints and asked to design, build, and program a robot to play the game. On the final day of the tournament, students were brought back together for a large-scale game to see the fruits of their labor.

Across the district, students and teachers recently celebrated the 100th day of school with science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) rotations and centers focused on counting and finding patterns of 100. Some dressed up like they were 100 years old.

Are you a graduate of Maize USD 266? Or do you know someone who is? Please consider completing a survey to help kick off Maize USD 266 alumni engagement. Grads can keep up to date on upcoming games and performances, network with other grads and local businesses, attend alumni events, and more.

Save the date for the fifth annual Spring Breakfast at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center. The event supports the students and educators of all Maize schools. Tickets are $30 and for sale online. Click here for more information.

• Maize USD 266 Food Service has part-time openings. Spend a few hours of day supporting learning through nutrition. Most part-time kitchen assistants are off work early enough to beat the crowds to the grocery store or pick up kids from school. Other than two inservice days a year, Food Service employees only work when students are in school, receive holidays off, and receive both paid sick and personal days each school year. Questions? Email foodservice@usd266.com. Click here to apply for kitchen assistant positions.

• Summer positions on the grounds, custodial, and paint crews are now open, and interested candidates are invited to apply. Summer crew members must be at least 16 years old. Click here to apply.

On Valentine’s Day this year, Paul and Amanda Stoner, who have been married for one year (but together "since forever"), are in their first year as Maize USD 266 school bus drivers, spent part of their day driving students to and from school. This pair of transportation employees takes #MaizeFamily to a new level. While new to Maize, they have a combined 44 years working in transportation for other companies. They like to work together as a team, both on and off the clock, and said they hope they are a positive influence on the students who sit on their buses each day. Read more about their story at usd266.com/paulandamanda, or apply to become a school bus driver at usd266.com/careers!

The week of Feb. 13 was Kindness Week at Vermillion Elementary School, and Monday, Feb. 13 -- the day after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl -- fittingly was "show love for your favorite team" day.