August 2024 Maize Pulse

As we begin a new school year, I want to highlight an important goal that reflects our district’s commitment to student success. As part of our Lead Forward strategic plan, we have set a focused objective: By 2028, we aim to increase our reading proficiency rate from 73 percent to 80 percent on the Kansas State Assessment. This goal isn’t just a number. It reflects our shared mission to ensure every child in our district becomes a confident and capable reader.

To achieve this, each of our schools will establish a Wildly Important Goal (WIG) related to literacy. WIG is a discipline designed to keep our focus on what matters most. WIG is part of the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) framework, developed by Sean Covey. Our leaders have been studying this approach, which centers on zeroing in on a single high-impact goal and making consistent progress.

Between September and January, each school will present to the Maize Board of Education about this literacy goal and another WIG of their choice that helps support a need in their building. Watch for summaries of those presentations in future issues of Maize Pulse.

We know that reading is foundational to all learning, and by setting these focused goals at each school, we are confident that our students will continue to grow and thrive. We look forward to partnering with you as we work toward this important milestone together.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

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

September

• Sept. 2: No school, Labor Day

October

• Oct. 9: End of Term 1 and Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Oct. 10: No school and Parent-Teacher Conferences, 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
• Oct. 11: No school
• Oct. 14: No school
• Oct. 15: Beginning of Term 2

November

• Nov. 1: No school, Professional Development

We’re excited to welcome families to our athletic events, including home football games, to cheer on our students and teams and to celebrate our school community.

While there are plenty of opportunities for students to participate—like cheer clinics, band performances, and more—it’s important that those attending as spectators are supervised by a parent or guardian and seated in the stands. This ensures everyone can enjoy the game and festivities in a safe environment.

We value and appreciate the involvement of all families, as it’s key to fostering our strong school-community spirit. Spectators not following expected behavior will be asked to leave. Thank you for helping us ensure our events are safe, fun, and focused on celebrating our students, teams, and programs.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing in the excitement of our school events!

The Air Capital High School Football Series has been canceled this year by the Wichita Wing Surge. Therefore, our Maize South High School-Maize High School football game this year will be Oct. 11 at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita. We’re still looking forward to the energy and excitement for this much-anticipated matchup!

Stay tuned this fall for more details on how to gear up and be part of this fun school-community event. Let’s keep the spirit high and show our support!

In July, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) honored Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer as one of 25 Superintendents to Watch for 2023. The organization recognizes superintendents who demonstrate strong communication and leadership and have less than five years of experience as a superintendent. Greer's nomination noted that her leadership has bolstered community engagement, transparency, and trust-building. Congratulations!

We currently have about 20 daytime openings in our Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, a free resource for families with children from birth to age 3, with extended services available for children up to age 5 as needed. The program offers the following to participants.

• Home visits: Certified educators provide home visits with developmental activities for parents and children to do together.
• Screenings: We offer developmental, social-emotional, vision, and hearing screenings to support your child's growth.
• Community connections: We link families to local events and resources to help them stay engaged.
• Groups and events: Weekly adult-child groups and special events create opportunities for learning and connection.

The Parents as Teachers program is free to all families who live in the Maize USD 266 boundaries. Our program has been recognized nationally as a Blue Ribbon affiliate, a prestigious endorsement that indicates the highest level designation. You can direct questions to PAT Coordinator Michelle McAllister by emailing mmcallister@usd266.com.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity—contact us today to secure your spot!

Have you talked with your family about screen time? We have a great chance to dive deeper into that conversation! Join us from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 Academy Ave. in Maize, as we host Kansas City-based nonprofit Screen Sanity. We'll explore the challenges of our screen-heavy world and learn proactive strategies for introducing smartphones and social media, tailored to kids of all ages and stages.

Dinner will be provided, thanks in part to Chick-fil-A, which is donating sandwiches. Chips and drinks will also be served. The event is limited to the first 100 registrants. Others will be added to a waitlist and notified by email. This event is open to anyone with a child enrolled in the Maize School District. Thanks to our Parents as Teachers team for making this valuable event possible!

As the school year continues, we urge everyone to prioritize safety during drop-off and pick-up times. Please consider these important reminders.

• Follow speed limits: Adhere to posted speed limits in school zones.
• Observe designated traffic flows: Help keep traffic safe and efficient.

• Avoid U-turns: Please avoid U-turns near school entrances.
• Heed traffic signs: Pay attention to signs and school employees, including crossing guards, directing traffic.
• Stop for school buses: Remember to stop when a school bus extends its stop sign and activates flashing lights. This ensures students can board and exit safely.
• Maintain distance: Keep a safe distance from buses, and be alert when they’re stopping or starting.
• Use crosswalks: Teach children to use designated crosswalks and look both ways before crossing.
• Stay alert: Focus and avoid distractions while walking, biking, or driving.

Together, we can keep our school community safe. Thank you for your attention to these important safety measures!

Families wishing to receive free or reduced meal benefits (including waived enrollment fees) must apply each year for benefits using the 2024-25 Free and Reduced Application.

• Click here to view instructions to complete the online application in Skyward Family Access.
• A paper application is also available online by clicking here or at any school building.

Maize USD 266 serves breakfast and lunch each school day.

• View menus by clicking here.
• Download the NutriSlice App to quickly access school breakfast and lunch menus, including allergy and nutrition information on your phone. Download our menu app by clicking here.
• “Alexa, what’s on the school menu for breakfast this morning?” Simplify school mornings by enabling the NutriSlice skill on your Amazon Alexa. See instructions here.

• Click here to visit the Food Service web page to view meal prices.
• Use these instructions to make a meal payment and/or set up auto-replenish payments.

You can access Food Service policies in the District Student Handbook in section 12.

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. There also will be a revenue neutral rate hearing at 6:20 p.m. and a budget hearing at 6:25 p.m.

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.

As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our students and to ensure that our families are well-informed, we are informing parents that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issues an annual notice detailing required inoculations and booster shots for the school year. Please click here to access the KDHE Kansas School Kindergarten through Grade 12 Immunization Requirements for the 2024-2025 School Year resource. All students are required to be up-to-date as described.

Please note that the inoculations section of the Maize Board of Education policy is in section 9.34. Ensuring that all students are properly immunized helps protect not only the individual child but also the broader school community. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our schools safe and healthy.

All community members are invited to the Maize High School Extravaganza, 5 p.m. until dark Friday, Aug. 30 at Maize High School, 11600 W. 45th St. North in Maize. The evening features pizza, concessions, law enforcement agencies, Eagle apparel, raffles, games and prizes, dunk tank, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Enjoy sports introductions and scrimmages for Maize Middle School and Maize High School sports, including girls tennis, cross country, girls golf, football, and soccer. Performances will feature the marching band, Flygirls, and cheer.

Check out our Online Bulletin Board for some upcoming opportunities:

• Maize South High School Maverick Cheerleaders present Mini Mavs: The Eras Tour, with a clinic Sept. 5 and performance Sept. 6
• Girls on the Run: The fall season of Girls on the Run starts the week of Sept. 23 and ends with a 5K on Sept. 23.

Maize USD 266 partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas for before- and after-school care and programming in our schools. The organization is currently recruiting for Transition Leaders and invites 15- to 17-year-olds to apply. These youth workers will assist adult employees and provide additional support, allowing the program to accommodate more elementary and intermediate school children in grades kindergarten through 6 in its high-demand before- and after-school care program.

Please click here to access the Transition Leader: Youth Worker - Maize application, and please consider sharing this information with your child or any eligible potential candidate. This is a great opportunity for responsible teens who have experience working with children and are seeking a part-time job that accommodates their school hours.

The position pays $10 an hour, and hours would be after school until 6 p.m. preferably Monday through Friday, but there are opportunities for flexibility to accommodate scheduling issues. Youth workers will implement, supervise, and promote activities and programs for children and youth during out-of-school hours. Training will be provided for CPR/First Aid Certification.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas also is hiring adults for its Maize programs. Please click here to visit the organization’s website for additional information.

Thank you for your help supporting this important program, which many Maize USD 266 families utilize.

It takes a talented team with diverse skills to keep Maize USD 266 running! Please consider applying for one of these open positions!

• HVAC: This is a full-time, 12-month position supporting all of our buildings district-wide. The primary job is to repair and maintain the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation for the school district buildings to ensure efficient and proper operation. Click here to learn more and apply.
• School nurse: This is a full-time position at Maize South Middle School. Our nurse will implement district health services programs to best meet the needs of students, provide health services to students, and promote health and safety education and preventive health practices for students. Click here to learn more and apply.
• Interpreter for deaf/hard of hearing: This position supports the instructional program with specific responsibilities for facilitating communication for hearing impaired students by converting voice to sign and sign to voice; assisting in the instruction or supervision of hearing impaired students; and serving as a resource to other school personnel requiring assistance with hearing impaired persons. Click here to learn more and apply.

Qualified employees enjoy holidays off, paid leave, health benefits, and KPERS retirement. Come and connect, learn, and lead with us!

There is still time to sponsor the 16th Annual Maize Education Foundation Golf Tournament! Money raised at the Golf Tournament supports Maize USD 266 students, employees, and schools via Foundation grants, projects, and more.

We expect more than 130 community leaders, district representatives, and business stakeholders to attend, providing a prime opportunity for your brand to gain visibility among key decision-makers in the area. In fact, a sponsorship of $1,000 or more allows you to set up a tent on the course and interact with players in person. Please check out this year's sponsorship brochure for all available opportunities. Tee off is at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 16 at Reflection Ridge.

Contact Maize Education Foundation Director Emi Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com to reserve your spot. The deadline for sponsorships is 4:30 p.m. Sept. 4.

Congratulations to Maize South Middle School Principal Cort Haynes for being recognized as one of the Wichita Business Journal's Young Professionals in Education!

He shared that his favorite part of the job is greeting the 550 students as they enter the building each day. From engaging with students during class, lunch, or after-school activities to collaborating with colleagues on initiatives, his passion for education shines through. Inspired by his parents, who were educators, and guided by mentors who modeled servant leadership, he is committed to the lasting impact education brings.