Recently, a group of our award-winning teachers gathered to discuss our results from the Emporia State University Teacher Retention Study, which is a state survey investigating perceptions that drive teacher engagement and retention. We talked about why certain ratings scored higher or lower and what the district can do to improve teaching conditions in USD 266. As we celebrate the end of an amazing school year, we can be proud of our key drivers with a high level of satisfaction among teachers, which are areas identified by the survey that support retention. They are as follows:

• Support teachers receive from their principal specific to student discipline
• Level of safety teachers feel at school
• Maize USD 266's reputation
• Teachers' relationships with their school colleagues
• Quality of principals
• Principals' communication and responsiveness to teacher' questions.

We still have work to do, as the survey also indicated drivers with lower satisfaction rates, including:

• Attention and approach to supporting mental health for educators
• Teacher salary growth potential
• Systemic support for challenging student behaviors
• Society’s view of the teaching profession.

Work has already started on the following:

• Budget planning for salary and wage increases
• Improved health benefit planning, including a request for proposals process to rebid health insurance last year, which yielded a slight, 2.3% increase for 2023-24.
• Improved substitute pay rates and training so educators feel comfortable being out of the classroom when needed.
• A comprehensive professional development plan that ensures relevant learning and activities for the various levels, departments, and specialty positions. A new para academy was also implemented this year to bolster training for paraprofessionals.
• Newsletters by Student Support Specialists designed to provide teachers with quick, timely information to support instruction, parent relations, and interventions.
• Teacher mentoring program for both new-to-the-profession teachers and new-to-Maize teachers.

As we reflect on the 2023-24 school year, we have our educators to thank. They built classroom communities, taught our students lessons about curriculum and life, and gave so much of their time, talent, love, and energy to help our students succeed. They are the critical building block for student success, and we want the very best educators in Maize USD 266!

We wish you all a wonderful summer break and look forward to continuing to ensure that Maize USD 266 is a district our students, and teachers, cannot wait to return to in August.

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

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

We would love to hear your feedback as we begin to plan for the 2024-25 school year. We are interested in learning more about how we can best support you and your child(ren) in Maize USD 266. Please click here and take a few minutes to complete a short survey before June 10, 2024. Thank you!

May

• Monday, May 20: Last day of school for the Maize Early Childhood Center
• Tuesday, May 21: Last day of school (half day) and end of Term 4

The Tuesday, May 21 last day of school will be a half day, with dismissal times varying per school as follows and based on normal staggered start times. Lunch will be served, and after-school bus routes will be provided as normal.

• Maize Central Elementary School: noon dismissal
• Maize Elementary School: 12:10 p.m. dismissal
• Maize South Elementary School: 12:15 p.m. dismissal

• Pray-Woodman Elementary School: noon dismissal
  

• Vermillion Elementary School: 12:10 p.m. dismissal
  

• Maize Intermediate School: 11:15 a.m. dismissal
  

• Maize South Intermediate School: 10:50 a.m. dismissal

• Maize Middle School: 10:55 a.m. dismissal
• Maize South Middle School: 11 a.m. dismissal
• Maize High School: 11:05 a.m. dismissal
• Maize South High School: 11:05 a.m. dismissal
• Complete High School Maize: 11:45 a.m. dismissal
• Hope Learning Center: 11:30 a.m. dismissal

For years, an outbuilding at Maize High School has been home to Maslow's Pantry, a students-helping-students program that provides donated food, hygiene items, and clothes to students, their families, and others in our community. That building is located in front of Maize High at one of the 45th Street main entrances and unfortunately causes a visual impairment for drivers and pedestrians.

Thanks to an emerging partnership between Maize USD 266 and the City of Maize, there is a new vision for Maslow's Pantry that will provide more space, additional privacy for those seeking assistance, and the ability to also co-host the city's food pantry.

This new location will be at 123 Academy Ave. in Maize, the spot of a former residence that will be renovated for this purpose. Please watch for more information and for additional ways you can support this initiative.

On April 29, the Maize Board of Education met at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center for the annual joint meeting with the City of Maize. Elected representatives and administrators with both entities, including the Maize Police Department and Maize Recreation Commission, discussed partnerships and upcoming projects related to safety, recreation, growth, and more.

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, June 10 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.

Current Student Registration for all returning Maize USD 266 students is now open through June 2, 2024 for the 2024-25 school year. To complete registration for the upcoming school year, please log in to Skyward Family Access between now and June 2, 2024 and click the “Current Student Registration 2024-25” button on the left navigation bar. You will have the ability to:

• Verify/modify existing information for your child(ren)
• Answer or confirm a series of registration questions
• Incoming grades 7 through 12: complete the Athletic Packet if your child(ren) plans to participate in a sport.

Once you complete the online registration process, you will receive a confirmation email.

You may pay fees for 2024-25 now. You also can add money for school meal accounts at any time, and that money will follow your child(ren) throughout their career at Maize USD 266.

If you miss completing registration during this early window through June 2, you can register your child(ren) when the process reopens in July.

If you have questions, there are two ways you can reach us:

• Send an email to enrollment@usd266.com.
• Call 316-350-2050 for our Enrollment Team.

Alison Klock will be the district's Executive Coordinator of Special Services, a position that supports the effective delivery of special education services. She has served as an assistant principal at Maize South High School since 2016 and worked as a Maize High School math teacher from 2011 to 2016. Prior to that, she was a math and leadership teacher at Ottawa High School. In 2007, she was the winner of the Kansas Horizon Award. The Kansas State Department of Education annual award recognizes outstanding first-year teachers across Kansas. Only 32 educators statewide win this honor each year. In 2020, she was named the Kansas School Nurse’s Organization Administrator of the Year.

Joshua Bargdill will be the new principal of Hope Learning Center, a program of the Maize Special Education Cooperative. Since 2020, he has been the principal at St. Mary Catholic School in Newton. He also has worked as a special education teacher at Tri-City Day School in Haysville and Stucky Middle School in Wichita. He is a graduate of Wichita State University and Newman University. The Hope Learning Center, in Mount Hope, offers a student-centered approach to family care, welfare, safety, and security focusing on developing productive members of society utilizing their unique abilities.

We are hiring for our summer Paint Crew! These seasonal employees must be at least 16 years old, earn $10 per hour, and work full-time Monday through Friday from May 29 to Aug. 2. Help keep our schools looking fresh and clean! Most work will be indoor.

To prepare for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, we are hiring licensed substitute teachers. You can help provide continued education to students when their teacher is away. Substitute teachers are a vital part of the total education process by providing instructional continuity. The job includes great benefits, including the following.

• Earn $130 per day.
• Choose when you work and what assignments you want based on the day, school, grade level, and subject you are comfortable with.

• Only work when school is in session.
• Work part-time or full-time hours.

A valid substitute license is required. Come and connect with our students in a way that works best with your schedule!

At Maize Central Elementary School earlier this month, about 500 students participated in Dominos of Generosity. For this special project led by teacher Diana Meister, students and educators collected 1,487 boxes of cereal, lined them up all across the school in a dominos-style run, and cheered and applauded while they watched the fun chain reaction as the boxes fell.

The project was a lesson in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and students from kindergarten to fourth grade learned about cause and effect, conversions and measurements, energy, momentum, physics, and more.

The project was a lesson in kindness and generosity. Fourteen local food banks and pantries, including Maslow's Pantry, the Kansas Food Bank, and Paxton's Blessing Box, each received more than 100 of the boxes of unopened cereal to share with those in need in our community.

Thanks to everyone who helped support this fun project!

Congratulations to our six students who have been named Kansas Governor's Scholars! This program, in its 41st year, recognizes the top 1 percent of academic achievers among Kansas high school seniors. This year, 525 scholars are chosen from accredited public and private schools across the state.

Maize High School science teacher Stan Bergkamp recently attended the 2024 White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds in Washington, D.C. The summit showcased educational initiatives from across the country and discussed strategies for implementing clean energy and promoting healthy practices in schools. These efforts aim to improve the environmental sustainability, well-being, and academic performance of school facilities and grounds.

Bergkamp met with people across the country and shared with them his experience leading the Maize Solar Initiative and Maize Solar Foundation, which has raised more than $216,000 and brought solar panels to Maize USD 266.

Congratulations to Maize South High School English teacher Brenda Nash, recent winner of the Golden Apple Award! She has been teaching there for five years and was a paraeducator for 18 years before that. She told KAKE that she prioritizes building a rapport with students and parents. Principal Becky Sailor said that Nash is a leader and role model in the school. She was surprised and honored by Davis-Moore and Project Teacher, who delivered school supplies.

Community stakeholders, district leaders, and business representatives gathered at Maize Career Academy on May 2 for Maize Education Foundation’s Spring Breakfast. The fundraising event, presented by Wichita State University and WSU Tech, raised more than $15,000, which will benefit students and educators of Maize USD 266! Guests got to experience a “day in the life of an MCA student” by testing the technical equipment available to Maize students, including virtual welders, news teleprompters, robots, carpentry tools, and more. Funds raised will allow the Maize Education Foundation to build on its existing grant initiatives, creating more opportunities to elevate learning for our students. Please stay tuned, as Challenge Grant recipients will be announced later this month! Breakfast was catered and served by Culinary Arts students. Thanks to all sponsors, attendees, educators, and students who helped make the event a success!

Click here to explore our Summer Camps 2024 special edition e-newsletter, published on April 30, for a wealth of information about 37 different opportunities for Maize USD 266 students this summer. Camps are offered in the following areas.

• Agility/Speed/Strength
• Basketball
• Football
• Multimedia
• Soccer
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Wrestling

Additional opportunities shared with the district on May 1, 2024 or after will be posted on the Online Bulletin Board.

Our partners at Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas (BGCSCK) still have a few spots available for their summertime program, and you are invited to enroll! Please carefully read all the information provided below and refer to their website, accessible by clicking here, for more information.

Memberships available: To attend the BGCSCK summer programs, you must first purchase an SY23-24 membership for $150. To purchase, head to www.bgcsck.org and click the orange "Enroll" button to create an account within their "Parent Portal." After creating an account and logging in, you can purchase a membership under the "Memberships" tab.

Summer registration is open and will close at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17. To register, log in to your BGCSCK Parent Portal and select the "Registrations" tab. You must have a current membership to enroll, and these are available to purchase. Select the Pray-Woodman summer location and follow the steps to complete registration. Please note that there are no refunds, transfers, or credits for any of our programs.

Summer 2024 details

• Location: Pray-Woodman Elementary School (for kindergarten through 6th graders)
• Dates: June 3 through Aug. 2 (closed July 4 and 5)
• Times: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ($1 late fee per minute per child)
• Pricing: $350 per month ($700 total for the entire summer)
• Registration deadline: The June registration deadline is Friday, May 17. The July registration deadline is Friday, June 14.

Required parent orientation sessions: Parents are required to attend one of the upcoming parent orientation sessions to learn more about our summer programs. The orientation sessions will take place at Pray-Woodman Elementary School as follows:

• 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18
• 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 21

If you have any questions, need assistance with the enrollment process, or would like to learn about our financial assistance, please reach out to your unit director or area director. Click here to find their contact information.

Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer will share stories at the annual Super Story Time event, and the community is invited to attend! On July 9, there will be two sessions at MOXI Junction, 319 S. Park Ave. in Maize:

• 10:30 a.m.: preschool story time
• 11 a.m.: elementary story time

Both sessions are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Join district leaders in celebrating Maize School employees represented by the following recent appreciation days:

• National Administrative Professionals Day
  
• Hearing (Audiology) and Speech Therapist Appreciation Month
• School Lunch Hero Day
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• National School Nurses Day
• School Communicators Day

Thanks to Sunflower Summer, Kansas families can access free admission to museums, zoos, historical landmarks, nature centers, and various other attractions throughout the state! The Kansas Tourism program runs May 25 through Aug. 11. Download the Sunflower Summer app on Apple or Android, create an account, and visit venues for free. Access one free admission ticket per child and free tickets for up to two adults per group of children. Participating venues in the Wichita area include Botanica, Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita Wind Surge, art and history museums, and more.

We want to provide information regarding immunization requirements of the state department of health and environment for school enrollment, as many times, health appointments take place during the summer. You can read the Inoculations portion of policy by clicking here and referring to 9.34 Inoculations beginning on page 173. An excerpt is below:

Each school year, every student enrolling or enrolled in any school for the first time, and each child enrolling or enrolled for the first time in a preschool or day care program operated by a school, prior to admission to and attendance at school, shall present proof that the student has received such tests and inoculations as are deemed necessary. Students who have not completed the required inoculations may enroll or remain enrolled while completing the required inoculations if a physician or local health department certifies that the student has received the most recent appropriate inoculations in all required series. Failure to comply will result in exclusion from school on a date set forth by Maize Board of Education policy.

As an alternative to the certification required:

1. An annual written statement signed by a licensed physician stating the physical condition of the child to be such that inoculations would seriously endanger the life or health of the child.

OR

2. A written statement signed by one parent/guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to inoculations.

If one of the above documentation of immunizations is not received, a student may be subject to exclusion from school attendance until such time as the student shall have complied with the requirements. A written notice will be sent to the parent/guardian stating the reason for exclusion.