Wow, we have amazing students, and that includes you! When I first started as the Maize USD 266 Superintendent in July 2022, I had a plan to recognize students who won state athletic and academic titles at our Maize Board of Education meetings. I thought it would happen every now and again, but you have blown me away with your tremendous achievement! We have honored students in soccer, golf, wrestling, swimming, robotics, band, various academic awards, and more! This semester has been no exception to that, and you can read more below.

You shine in other ways, too, and we will be bragging about you to our state elected officials in Topeka with a publication we are sharing this legislative session. Check out these amazing statistics about Maize USD 266 students!

• 9.5 in 10 students graduate from high school. A diploma opens doors for young people with better opportunities for college, career, and lifetime earnings.
• Maize graduates are career-ready. In 2022-23 while in high school, Maize students earned an impressive 275 professional certifications and 5,931 college credits!
• Maize students shine on our Kansas report card. Maize USD 266 students outperform the state average on state assessments, including math, reading, and science; ACT scores; graduation rate; and post-secondary success rate.

This comes with a lot of work on the part of you, our students, and I just want to say thank you for all you do! Best wishes as you finish up this term and semester, and I hope you enjoy your upcoming Winter Break. I look forward to 2024 and to celebrating more of your success stories!

Dr. Greer

Attention seniors! The Maize Education Foundation is now accepting applications for 2024 scholarships. There are four scholarships available:

• Shelley Woodard Poynter Scholarship
• Kyle Thornburg Soccer Scholarship
• Kyle Thornburg Art and Design Scholarship
• Maize Education Foundation Legacy Scholarship

All applications are online and must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 8. Contact Emi Simmons, Maize USD 266 Director of Community Relations and Maize Education Foundation, at esimmons@usd266.com with any questions. Good luck!

Maize USD 266 students ages 14 and older and their parents are invited to attend a mandatory enrollment meeting for third term online driver education. The course is open to the first 30 students. All classwork is completed online, and each student must complete four hours of drive time with an instructor. The meeting is at 6 p.m. Jan. 4 in the Commons at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita.

Find out about upcoming camps, clinics, and opportunities on the district's Online Bulletin Board! You can find flyers and additional information about these opportunities:

• 2024 Mini Mavs Dance clinic
  
• Greater Wichita YMCA 2023-24 Winter Break Club

Congratulations to our Maize South High School 2024 National Merit Semifinalists Micah Albert and Allison Kovach! They are among more than 16,000 high school seniors nationwide who earned the honor. Nationwide, the Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and are the highest-scoring entrants in their respective state, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. More than 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools compete.

Congratulations to Maize High School junior Kinslea Jones, who has won the girls state golf championship as an individual golfer during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years! For the past two years, Kinslea competed in Class 5A. This year, she competed in Class 6A. In the state tournament, Kinslea finished with a 3-stroke lead over her closest competitor. Last year, she finished with the lowest scoring average across all classifications in the entire state of Kansas. During her freshman year, she played a perfect season and broke every individual record in Maize High School Girls Golf history.

Congratulations to Maize South High School boys soccer, winner of the 5A state championship for the second year in a row! Maize South defeated Blue Valley Southwest 2-1 in Spring Hill for the win. The Mavericks have amassed an impressive 41-1 record from the last two seasons.

Congratulations to Maize South Intermediate School fifth grade student Isaiah Bruce, recipient of the Kansas Infinitec Coalition 2023 Outstanding Student Technology Awards! His journey is a wonderful example of how the power of technology can be used to increase inclusive opportunities in the classroom. He was recognized at the annual Kansas Infinitec Coalition Conference in November and again during the December school board meeting, where he was joined by Maize USD 266 educators and employees who support his learning!

Each year, Vermillion Elementary School second grade teacher Hannah Maddy gives each of her students $1. The students must find something they can do with their $1 that will make a difference for someone else. They can donate the $1, or they can think on a larger scale and use that $1 as a starting point for something greater.

They must work together with their families to complete the project, then they have to make a poster on a piece of construction paper that includes a brief written reflection of what they did with their $1, how they think it made a difference, and how they felt after they did it. The assignment must include photographs or drawings that show what they did.

One student used the $1 to buy baking materials, then sold cookies to friends and neighbors to raise more money. Another student 3D-printed ornaments to sell, then used the money to buy gifts from the Angel Tree. Another student raised more than $800 by making a "pay-the-day" calendar, where people donated money based on what day they picked (first day of the month was a $1 donation, 15th day of the month was a $15 donation). That money was then used to buy clothing for St. Teresa Hospital's Discharge With Dignity clothing closet.

This year, the students donated $2,315 to 12 organizations. Those organizations included the Red Cross, Paxton's Blessing Box, the Angel Tree, ICT Community Fridge, St. Teresa Hospital, VA Hospital, and the Kansas Humane Society, along with others.

This is the fifth year for the project and the most money a class has ever raised. The students celebrated with a presentation with their parents present.

A group of Maize High School students had a big surprise for Principal Dr. Chris Botts on Nov. 27, and it was unveiled during a school assembly: Thanks to the support of the City of Maize, 45th Street in Maize between Maize Road and 119th Street has temporarily been renamed Botts Boulevard, complete with new street signs recently installed.

The students pursued this as a way to thank Dr. Botts for all he does for his students. They wanted to return that inspiration in a show of support as Dr. Botts continues to fight a rare neuroendocrine cancer. The students who spearheaded the effort presented Dr. Botts with a Botts Boulevard street sign that they had signed. Students also showed special purple swim caps that swim team members will be wearing as part of a fundraiser and a further show of support for Dr. Botts and his family.

Dr. Botts said during an interview after the presentation that it means everything to him that his students would care so much and honor him in this way. As an educator and a principal, connecting with kids is what it's all about, he said.

Ten years ago, a group of Vermillion Elementary School second-grade students wanted to make their school a better place. Fueled by the desire to combat bullying and foster friendship, the students created the Buddy Club. A decade later and on a recent December afternoon, its seven founders – now all 13-year seniors at Maize High School and Maize South High School – reunited to remember how it all started. They also learned how their award-winning legacy continues to benefit Vermillion’s current students.

The seniors also recreated their childhood Buddy Club photo, taken to celebrate the elementary school students' achievements.

The new photo helps demonstrate the lasting ripples of friendship.

Thanks to vocal and instrumental music students who sang and played during the Dec. 11 Maize Board of Education meeting and reception honoring outgoing school board members! Enjoy these photos from the event.

Did you know that students are a HUGE help to keeping schools safe? Help us keep you safe by providing anonymous tips. If you see something, please say something!

There are three ways to submit an anonymous tip:

1. Click here to be taken directly to a secure tip reporting website.
2. On your smartphone, download the free P3 Tips app from the App Store or Google Play. Then, follow the onscreen prompts to submit your tip.
3. Call 316-267-2111.

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