Dr. Greer's Super Note

Isn't the end of the school year such an amazing feeling? It gives us the chance to think about all of our hard work and big accomplishments from the year.

I had the honor of speaking at the graduation ceremonies for our Maize High School Eagles and Maize South High School Mavericks. I told them how proud I am of their achievements. I also said that we will be watching proudly as they move forward with determination, new ideas, and kindness. This year, we have 567 graduates. I love the tradition of them walking through our school hallways so you can congratulate and celebrate them!

As we wrap up the year, I also want to thank the high school members of my Superintendent Student Advisory Team. They give me ideas and feedback to help make Maize USD 266 the best it can be for you. If you will be a freshman next year and would like to join this fun and important team, please let your principal, or me, know you are interested.

No matter what grade you are finishing this year, I am proud of the work you have done. One of the best things about Maize USD 266 is our smart, hard-working, kind, creative, and passionate students. I hope you continue to explore hobbies and subjects you love this summer. And have a little fun, too!

Enjoy your break, and I can't wait to welcome you back to school in August!

Dr. Greer

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.

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. Click here to apply.

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!

Children up to age 18 can access free meals through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) summer meal programs. No registration or application is required. For more information:

• Click here to access the Summer Meals Site Finder find a free meal location near you.
• Text “FOOD” to 304304.
• Call the USDA’s National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-348-6479.

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.

This school year, more than 600 fifth grade students at Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School completed the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, which returned to the district in an effort to teach students how to make healthy choices and good decisions. On Friday, half of those participants graduated from the program and were honored during a ceremony at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center.

Guest speaker and Wichitan Anthony Powell, Kansas Solicitor General, told students about how the celebration was not an end, but rather a beginning of a journey of wise choices. It takes courage, the former state legislator said, to say no when everyone around you, including your culture, wants you to say yes. He said that bravery is contagious and that our students are joining a community of millions of people around the country who also are part of the D.A.R.E. program. You can be a beacon of hope, Powell told students, and you are not alone. He also talked about the lives he saw ruined by drugs and addiction during his time as a judge, including here in Sedgwick County. He encouraged students to make good choices now, set and work for your goals, and be a leader to find satisfaction and joy.

The Kansas Attorney General's Office, where Powell works, funds the D.A.R.E program statewide. Half of the district's D.A.R.E. students celebrated with a ceremony last semester that included guest speaker Sedgwick County District Four Commissioner Ryan Baty.

Maize USD 266 thanks the Maize Police Department for its partnership and other participants this year for support of D.A.R.E. and our students!

Congratulations to all of the students who received grants and scholarships from the Maize Education Foundation this year! Your innovative ideas, leadership skills, and commitment to education shone in your applications. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish! Stay tuned for 2024-2025 application information.

The following students are recipients of grants. Grant winners not pictured are Maize Virtual Preparatory School students Alyson Battista, Joseph Battista, Kimberley Battista, and Lily Stewart.

The following students were awarded with Maize Education Foundation scholarships.

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.

Stay on top of the great things happening at Maize USD 266 on our official social media accounts:

• Maize USD 266 on Facebook
• Maize USD 266 on Twitter