Maize students, can you believe it’s almost Summer Break?

I recently had the privilege of celebrating our Class of 2025 seniors, who have already wrapped up their last day at Maize USD 266. From our youngest learners to our graduating seniors, I am incredibly proud of each of you and everything you’ve accomplished this year.

When I spoke at the Eagle and Maverick graduations, I shared a few impressive stats about this year’s senior class that I want you to hear, too. Our combined Class of 2025 includes:

• One National Merit Scholarship winner
• One back-to-back state champion team
• One four-time state champion
• Four students graduating with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree
• Seven Governor’s Scholars
• 38 Kansas Designated Scholars
• 41 individuals recognized as state or national award winners in their respective areas
• 320 technical certificates earned
• More than 3,700 college credits earned
• $4,116,652 in scholarships!

Congratulations on these amazing accomplishments!

To my Superintendent Student Advisory Team members: Thank you for your time, ideas, and leadership this year. I also invite students interested in serving in this role next year to learn more about the opportunity below.

As you head into summer, don’t forget to keep doing what brings you joy! Whether that’s diving into a great book or into a refreshing pool, joining a summer camp (such as the ones offered across our district starting this month!), spending time with friends and family, or exploring a new hobby, I hope you make the most of every moment.

I can’t wait to see you all again soon and to kick off another amazing school year in August!

Dr. Greer

Super Note is a Maize USD 266 e-newsletter from Superintendent Dr. Greer to students. Please enjoy reading this publication! It is produced about once a quarter and sent via email.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Maize USD 266 Superintendent Student Advisory Team will play an important role in the district. The dedicated group of high school students provides insights that are crucial as the district establishes direction on key issues, giving them a unique opportunity to influence decisions that affect our community. The Superintendent Student Advisory Team consists of students—freshmen through seniors—from across the district, ensuring representation from all grade levels.

They meet regularly and enjoy lunch, work on projects, and give Dr. Greer ideas and feedback to help make Maize USD 266 the best it can be for students. For those interested, there are also opportunities to serve in additional ways, including by helping on the District Site Council or Facility Steering Committee.

If you will be a freshman next year and would like to join this fun and important team, please send an email to Wende Doyle at wdoyle@usd266.com.

Congratulations to the Superintendent Student Advisory Team seniors, who were celebrated during an end-of-the-year event recently at Top Golf!

• Total graduates: 369
• Class of 2025 motto: Memories are what we leave behind, dreams are what we seek.

• Total graduates: 254
• Class of 2025 motto: We can look forward with hopes and look back with cherished memories, looking toward the future while learning form the past.

Looking for a fun and exciting way to spend your summer? There are tons of summer camps just for students like you! Whether you want to try a new sport, build your skills, meet new friends, or just have a blast, there's a camp that fits your vibe. These camps are all about learning, teamwork, and having a great time. Don’t miss out—find a camp that sparks your interest and make this summer one to remember!

Mark your calendar now for one of our favorite annual summer events: Super Story Time! This free event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 12, 2025 at MOXI Junction in Maize. Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer will share children's stories with attendees.

Take a look back at student accomplishments this semester!

Congratulations to the Maize Career Academy VEX Robotics team! Team X, also known as Unhinged, won the state championship in Design Process. Student members are Maize High School seniors Adria Dumler, Easton Grantham, Gage Wiley, and freshman Lincoln Auten.

Maize USD 266 teams Revelation and Genesis also made it to the state finals, and all three teams earned qualification to the VEX Robotics World Championship. Those three teams are among only six teams from Kansas to qualify for Worlds.

Congratulations to Henley Murrey-Brent, a Maize Virtual Preparatory School graduate, who was named a 2025 National Merit Finalist! The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognizes around 15,000 Finalists each year nationwide for their exceptional academic performance. Henley graduated early and is now studying Kinesiology at Kansas State University.

Congratulations to our Kansas Governor's Scholars! The Governor's Scholars program honors the top academic 1 percent of Kansas high school seniors. Scholars are selected from accredited public and private schools in the state. Winners are pictured below and also include Maize Virtual Preparatory School student Lindsay Downing.

Congratulations to Maize High School junior Zachary Rife, who is a 6A state champion in two events in boys swimming. He won the state competition in both 100-meter freestyle and 200-meter freestyle. He set the school record in the 200 with a time of 1:40.02 during prelims, breaking the record he set earlier in the season. The previous record was set in 2015. This year, he also set the school record in the 500 with a 4:41.29. That record had stood since 2011.

Congratulations to our student wrestlers for their outstanding season! Recognitions included Maize High School sophomore Everett Joyce, who maintained a 4.0 grade point average and a wrestling record of 33-1. He was a state runner-up as a freshman. Check out additional notable student wrestling achievements below.

During the May 12, 2025 Maize Board of Education meeting, several students were honored for their recent awards.

Congratulations to Gurshan Hayer, Maize South High School senior, who placed first in College Physics at the Kansas Health Occupations Students of America State Leadership Conference.

Congratulations to Maize Career Academy multimedia students who earned first place honors at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association state contest. See some of their award-winning work below.

• Katelyn Coffey, Maize High School senior, won first place in Sports Action with her underwater photo of Maize High swimmer Kylie Thorn.
• Lance Schafer and Mason Bauman, Maize High School sophomores, won first place in the Video News category with their story on the Maize Robotics team.
• Lance Schafer and Mason Bauman partnered with Ava Doyle and Hailey Blurton, Maize High School juniors, to win first place in the Multimedia Storytelling category with their story about fellow student Josh Panlilio and his DJ career.
• Lance Schafer also won the Kansas Association of Broadcaster’s On-Air Talent of the Year award.
• Katelyn Coffey won the Kansas Scholastic Press Association’s Videographer of the Year.

Photo by Katelyn Coffey

Congratulations to our 5th-grade students at Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School for graduating from the D.A.R.E. program recently! Thank you to our educators and law enforcement partners for supporting students as they build confidence, make safe choices, and become strong leaders.

Maize USD 266 partners with the Maize Police Department for law enforcement presence and engagement in our schools. This includes the D.A.R.E. program, which all 5th grade students participate in.

Fourth-grade students recently competed in Battle of the Books, a fun and friendly competition where teams from each elementary school faced off to show what they’ve learned from the books they read this year. Great job to all our young readers!

Complete High School Maize wrapped up the school year with a cookout to celebrate students and employees and kick off summer. They hosted community members for great food, fun, and time together.

Complete High School Maize is a program designed to support students who may benefit from a more personalized and flexible learning environment. It brings together students from both Maize High School and Maize South High School.

Congratulations to the 2025 Maize Education Foundation Scholarship recipients! The Foundation maintains three funds in support of scholarships for graduating seniors from Maize High School and Maize South High School.

Students are asked to complete an application for each scholarship they wish to be considered for, answering questions about leadership, community service, extracurricular involvement, and academic achievement. A volunteer group of retired educators, Maize USD 266 alumni, and Maize Education Foundation Board members judge applications to help the Foundation select recipients.

Congratulations to the Maize USD 266 students who received Student Enrichment Grant funding this year. Students in grades 7 through 12 may apply for up to $500 in funding toward an independent project, class trip, state or national competition, training or leadership camp, and more. The Maize Education Foundation awards grants in December and May of each year. Stay tuned for 2025-26 application information!

This year’s recipients will (or already have!):

• Start a business
• Compete in robotics tournaments
• Visit Washington, D.C.; England; and Scotland
• Sing at Disney World’s Candlelight Choir Concert
• Attend fine arts camps and festivals
• Participate in leadership seminars
• Explore potential career paths

December 2024 recipients: Carter Askew, Logan Batt, Alejandro Cordova, Rylee Frye, Easton Grantham, Kaleb Soden, Samuel Askew, Reegan Myers, Kate Kelly, Paige Kelly, Lincoln DeBok, and Madeline DeBok

May 2025 recipients: Kimberley Battista, Alyson Battista, Joseph Battista, Adria Dumler, Dale Freund, Jacob Froese, Isaac Fulks, Kaedin Lamas, Rylee Lawrie, Dallen Marshall, Alaina Martinson, Allison Owens, Brooke Reisman, Micah Soto, Addison Wadsworth, Gage Wiley, and Reese Willbanks

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.

• Maize USD 266 on Facebook
• Maize USD 266 on Twitter/X