April 14, 2023 Maize Pulse

Spring is here! I have always loved the flowers, colors, and sunshine of spring. When new growth is all around, it reminds me that summer fun is quickly approaching -- and winter is behind us.

Savvy spring gardeners will caution you: Before you plant something and expect growth, you need to do your homework first. Get to know the crop and its needs. Observe the environment and consider rainfall, sunlight exposure, and temperature, as these patterns, cycles, and conditions influence the expected results.

During my first year here as superintendent, I have worked diligently to learn all I can about Maize -- and the patterns, cycles, and conditions here that influence our results. I have been busy getting to know our students, educators, employees, parents, and community partners. I have visited schools, hosted community meet-and-greet events, completed a Superintendent Employee Listening Tour, and met with advisory teams of educators, parents, and, most importantly, students. I have offered hands-on support in classrooms, cafeterias, and crossing lanes. And, I spent a few fun moments reading to kids and brainstorming with advisory team teachers. My goal was to dig in, spread some roots, and study what this community needs from USD 266 to keep growing stronger.

Our district is growing with residential construction in the works, city improvements, and the continued expansion of Wichita-area businesses. Our student enrollment continues to increase as well, with many families seeking out our community as a place to call home and raise a family. Our students, parents, and patrons are proud of our schools, as students often are honored with state championships, national awards, and high post-secondary honors. Our families are supportive, involved, and expect results. These aspects are all important to consider when identifying a strategic plan for future growth in Maize USD 266.

We will continue to study the feedback collected. I am excited for the strategic plan to continue to take shape and want to share that four major goal areas are emerging. We will make final edits according to our site council feedback, and I will share more information in the near future. With new seasons come new opportunities for growing together, and I am looking forward to the work we can begin next school year. Enjoy these final weeks of school!

Dr. Raquel Greer

Superintendent of Schools

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

April

• April 17: No school, Professional Development
  

May

• May 5: No school, Professional Development
• May 17: Last day of school for seniors
• May 24: Last day of school

Amanda Kingrey will officially join Maize USD 266 on July 1 as Associate Superintendent, Teaching & Learning 7-12. She will develop administrators, teachers, and staff members for instructional programs and assessments and will lead in areas including professional development, curriculum, and secondary education.

Since 1997, Kingrey has worked for Wichita Public Schools, where she currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, supporting 32 schools and about 25,000 students. Her experience there also includes working as Executive Director of Secondary Schools, principal, instructional coach, and classroom teacher. She has experience teaching or leading at all levels, from elementary through high school. She is a graduate of Goddard High School, Friends University, and Wichita State University.

Kingrey is passionate about growing principals so they can support teachers to ensure students learn at the highest levels. Under her leadership at USD 259, she worked with a team to help increase the USD 259 graduation rate by 6.4 percent, a considerable achievement in an urban district.

She is a patron of Maize USD 266, having lived here in our community for the past 15 years. Her children, Addison and Ethan, are Maize High graduates from the Class of 2015 and the Class of 2018. We are happy to welcome Amanda home!

Kevin Roulhac will return to Maize USD 266 as the Maize Intermediate School Principal for the upcoming school year. He previously worked as Maize Middle School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director and as a Maize High School social studies teacher, where he won the Kansas State Department of Education's Kansas Horizon Award in 2014. The prestigious award recognizes excellent teachers across the state. He is a graduate of Hesston High School, Emporia State University, and Fort Hays State University. His children Jonah, Avery, Elliot, and Bristyl are students in the district. We are happy to welcome Kevin back to Maize USD 266!

Maize USD 266 is also pleased to announce that current Maize Intermediate School Principal Jenifer Smith will stay in the district and lead as the new Executive Director of Tiered Supports.

Just like school drills for fires and tornadoes, students and employees in Maize USD 266, working with Maize Police Department officers/school resource officers, experience crisis drills to practice and be better prepared in the case of lockdowns.

In April 2020, the Maize Board of Education approved the installation of SafeDefend for school security and as a safety tool for all schools throughout the school district. The Capital Outlay project provided fingerprint-coded boxes for staff members that houses tools needed in a crisis and also alerts school contacts and first responders to the location of an emergency. Once activated, the SafeDefend system activates sirens and strobes within the building, calls 911, and notifies employees and first responders.

Maize USD 266 continues to provide staff members training on the system. During Spring Break, the SafeDefend boxes were inventoried and, when needed, repaired to make sure equipment is operationally functional and contents, including batteries and gauze pads, are usable.

As a reminder, Maize USD 266 defines a lockdown as when staff members and students go to a protective place and position within the building. A modified lockdown is when staff members and students remain in their assigned classrooms, and exterior doors are locked. Classes continue as planned. Passing periods are restricted.

Kansas law requires school districts to conduct nine drills each school year. The Kansas Fire Marshal’s office is charged with overseeing the required drills: three crisis drills, two severe weather drills, and four fire drills per school year.

The district prioritizes safety and appreciates support for this practice and others related to providing a secure environment for teaching and learning.

Each Maize USD 266 parent has the ability to select how they would like to receive messages from the district and schools concerning their child(ren). Recipients can turn on and off general and Food Service message notifications and control what notifications to receive and how to receive them.

Here's how:

1. Login in to your Skyward Family Access account.
2. Click Skylert on the left-side navigation menu.
3. Click the selector buttons to turn on and off messaging. Please note that any grayed out feature cannot be turned on and off. Click the save button in the top right corner.
4. Please add additional phone numbers and text message numbers in the bottom section of the form.

During their March 6 monthly meeting, Maize Board of Education members unanimously approved Explorers as the official mascot of the Maize Early Childhood Center. The mascot is a poignant representation of the district’s littlest learners and their exploration of their education, world, and future. Learn more about the Maize Early Childhood Center at www.usd266.com/pre-k. Enrollment for the 2023-24 school year for new students at the school is open until May 12 or spots are filled.

Joint city-school meeting: The Maize Board of Education will have a joint meeting with the City of Maize at 6 p.m. Monday, May 1 in the classrooms at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. The meeting will be open to the public. Agenda items are expected to include the following.

• Leaders will discuss safety and growth and how the school and city can work together for the best of the community.
  
• City and school administrators will talk about pending and planned projects, including sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Information will be reviewed about how the Maize Police Department can continue to work with and support Maize Schools.
• A presentation will include school transportation plans.

School board monthly meeting: The board's next monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8 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.

In addition to Maize High School wrestling winning the state championship this year, two students also placed as individual state winners! Congratulations to Ayden Flores, junior, who won the 215-pound classification, and to senior Connor Padgett, who placed first in the 175-pound division, winning state for his second time and earning his 150th win! Senior Camden Padgett earned his 100th win. Most team members placed in the top three positions. The wrestlers, coaches, and team managers were recognized during the April 10 Maize Board of Education meeting.

Through their Maize Career Academy Robotics Team 67101C, Centrifuge, Maize High School students senior Evan Rogerson and sophomore Adria Dumler have had tremendous success. Just consider the 23 major awards they have won at robotics competitions this school year alone! Their additional notable achievements also include the following.

• In October in Tennessee, the team became the first Kansas team to win an award at a signature event. They competed against the top teams in the country, where they also posted the eighth highest skills score in the world at the time.
• They won Tournament Champion, Excellence, and Skills Champion in Omaha, Nebraska, against top teams in the Midwest.
• They won Tournament Champion, Skills Champion, and Excellence Award at the state tournament and are currently ranked 40th in the world out of 10,000 teams.

Congratulations on your impressive achievement!

From left, Maize Career Academy Engineering Teacher and Assistant Robotics Coach Jim Pugh, Maize Career Academy Robotics and Engineering teacher and coach Zack Helgesen, Maize High School sophomore Adria Dumler, and Maize High School senior Evan Rogerson.

Congratulations to Maize South High School senior Regan Richardson, who won his second consecutive 100-meter freestyle state championship! He was recognized during the March Maize Board of Education meeting.

Maize South High School senior Sidney Sheern has been named a 2023 Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholar in health and biosciences. She is among 261 Kansas high school seniors to earn the honor, given by the Kansas State Department of Education to well-rounded, outstanding CTE students. The scholars must earn at least three CTE credits, including at least two credits above introductory the level and have a grade point average of 3.5 or better in CTE coursework. They also must be involved in civic engagement leadership, have work-place learning experience, and write a career vision summary statement. At the Maize Career Academy, Sidney has taken Health Research and Clinical Skills, Anatomy and Physiology, Certified Nurse Aid, Care of Athletes, and Healthcare Work Experience.

Maggie Hatesohl, Maize Intermediate School science teacher, has been accepted into the National Air and Space Museum's Teacher Innovator Institute. She will travel to Washington, D.C. this and next summer for the program, designed for middle school STEAM educators who have a passion to expand their teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Up to 30 educators nationwide are invited to participate this summer.

Among other activities, participants will design challenges, experience object-based learning, learn about Guided Inquiry Design, and create professional development plans. They will use aerospace science, history, and technology as they learn education techniques to bring back to their schools and classrooms. Maggie will be sharing what she learns with Maize USD 266 STEAM teachers as the district continues to enhance its education for all elementary school students in kindergarten through 4th grade.

Congratulations to Maize Elementary School teacher Katie Todd and Maize Career Academy teacher Zack Helgesen, Maize USD 266's 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) nominees! They were celebrated during the March 25 Kansas Teacher of the Year Region 4 Awards Banquet in Wichita. This year, 124 Kansas educators across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, according to the Kansas State Department of Education.

From left: Elizabeth Parker, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Grades 7-12; Dr. Raquel Greer, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Lindsay King, Director of College and Career Readiness; Maize Career Academy teacher and KTOY nominee Zack Helgesen; Maize Elementary School teacher and KTOY nominee Katie Todd; Maize Elementary School Assistant Principal Lindsey Vincent; Maize High School teacher and National Education Association Director for Kansas Amy Jensen; and Maize Elementary School Principal Kyle White.

Congratulations to Maize Career Academy teacher and publications adviser Spencer O’Daniel, recently named the winner of the 2023 Jackie Engel Award. The award recognizes top Kansas secondary school educators who demonstrate excellence in publications advising. Kansas Collegiate Media reported that his passion, compassion, and innovation set him apart. He teaches students from Maize High School and Maize South High School and supports their award-winning journalism learning and projects. Click to read more from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and Kansas Collegiate Media.

From left, Dr. Lindsay King, Director of College and Career Readiness; Maize Career Academy teacher and publications adviser Spencer O’Daniel; and Amy DeVault, Kansas Collegiate Media President.

Instructor Tom Szambecki leads Maize USD 266's Project SEARCH program at Ascension Via Christi, and he spoke about the program during a recent Medical Moment segment on KAKE News. Project Search prepares students for future jobs by placing them in a series of three 10-week internships in one year.

"It's extraordinary," he said of the program and how it feels to be involved. "I cannot describe having a job that could be any better than what I have."

March was National Disabilities Awareness Month. Learn more about Project Search at projectsearch.us. Click here to learn more about the Maize Special Education Cooperative.

The Maize Education Foundation is excited to kick off a new program supporting student group activities, clubs, and organizations. Thanks to proceeds from The A-Maizing Talent Show in partnership with OneMaize Media, grants have recently been awarded to the Maize South Middle School Drama Club and Maize Eagle Bands. Help fund more opportunities like this by clicking here.

Pictured: Maize South High School freshman Aaron Johnson. Photo by Maize South High School freshman Nancy Geoghegan.

Thank you to everyone who supported this year's Spring Breakfast, which raised more than $19,000 in support of Maize students and educators. Maize culinary and industrial design students designed and curated unique food experiences, which attendees gobbled up. Sign up for our mailing list for a full event recap.

Photo by Maize High School senior Kinsley Morrison.

The first A-Maizing Talent Show recently was a huge success! Maize High School 2007 graduate Shane Konicki and Maize South High School 2013 graduate Dalton Glasscock were emcees. Students from across the district and in different grades performed musical and dance numbers, a comedy routine, and more. Thank you to OneMaize Media and the Maize Education Foundation for putting on a great show.

Big Truck Night -- Gearing up for Kids was a huge success. The late March event brought in more than 350 families who were able to look at trucks; pet goats, horses, and dogs; explore a vendor fair with more than 25 booths; watch performances; and grab a treat from the local food trucks. Thank you to the Maize Early Childhood Center and everyone who helped make this happen!

Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer visited Maize Intermediate School recently to show students who want to be a principal one day what the job entails alongside Principal Jenifer Smith. Dr. Greer led her group through classroom walkthroughs while Mrs. Smith's group got to call students to the office to receive a positive affirmation and sit at her desk.

Complete High School Maize hosted an Adulting Day recently for students. Businesses and community members came to the school to provide information on 14 different sessions and topics, including taxes, cybersecurity, autobody, and first aid. Thank you to everyone involved!

Maize USD 266 will be publishing a special edition e-newsletter this spring highlighting summer camp opportunities for students. Stay tuned, and watch for that to land in your email inbox! In the meantime, please visit Maize USD 266's digital Online Bulletin Board to find out about camps, clinics, community resources, events, and more!