On Monday, Dec. 11, we had a celebration as we recognized three outgoing Maize Board of Education members who have devoted countless volunteer hours to our Maize Family. Please help me thank Heather Killpatrick-O’Connor, who has served for four years, and Jeff Jarman, who has served for eight years, including as board president.

We also want to say a very special thank you to Bruce Nicholson, who has served the students, employees, and community of Maize USD 266 for an incredible and impressive 39 years! Kansas State Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ben Proctor attended the school board meeting to recognize Bruce, believed to be among the longest-serving school board members in the entire state of Kansas! Bruce also was recognized during a breakfast Wednesday morning for his 31.5 years of service to the Sedgwick County Area Educational Services Interlocal Cooperative No. 618 board, including as board president, and the Maize Special Education Cooperative.

Our district would not be as strong or have the level of excellence we know without these dedicated leaders who volunteer their time to serve in these crucial roles.

Thank you also to the guests who attended, including school board members' family members, former school board members, and current and former district leaders! Maize High School students sang lovely pieces during the monthly board meeting and performed beautiful string music during the reception. Culinary arts students prepared delicious snacks, made possible thanks to the support of event sponsor Peoples Bank and Trust! See more photos from the event below.

This celebration was a great way to wrap up our first semester and acknowledge the huge tasks and great things we can accomplish when we work together!

Have a wonderful Winter Break, and thanks for all you each have contributed to Maize USD 266 in 2023!

Dr. Raquel Greer

Superintendent

Maize USD 266

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

December

• Wednesday, Dec. 20: End of Term 2
• Thursday, Dec. 21: No school, Teacher Work Day
• Friday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Dec. 29: No school, Winter Break

January

• Monday, Jan. 1 through Tuesday, Jan. 2: No school, Winter Break
• Wednesday, Jan. 3: School resumes, start of Term 3
• Monday, Jan. 15: No school, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

February

• Monday, Feb. 12: No school, Professional Development Day
• Thursday, Feb. 22: No school, Parent/Teacher Conferences (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Friday, Feb. 23: No school, Conference Comp Day

Please note that the updated 2023-24 district calendar, approved during the July 10 Maize Board of Education meeting, includes a half day of school on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the last day of school for the school year. Please stay tuned for more information about that day's schedule.

Beginning with students in the graduating class of 2028, who will start their freshman year in 2024-25, high school graduation requirements are changing in compliance with changes on the state level. The changes are as follows. The total number of credit hours required to graduate from Maize USD 266 will remain the same at 28 credit hours.

• Rather than simply one credit of physical education, students must earn one credit that includes one-half physical education and one-half health credit.
• Rather than one credit of business/computer literacy, students must earn one credit that includes one-half financial literacy credit and one-half business/computer literacy.
• Rather than 11.5 credits of electives, students must earn 11.5 credits that include four and a half credits directly related to the student's Individual Plan of Study (IPS) and one credit related to Career and Technical Education (CTE). Most current high school students already meet this requirement based on classes they take in career pathways.
• New, students must complete two or more postsecondary assets from an established list that includes career/real-world and academic assets aligned with the IPS. This may include community service, apprenticeship, or even participation in sports.
• New, students must complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), though families can opt out.

The biggest change involves the financial literacy component, and educators and leaders are working on plans for schedules to help students meet all of these requirements.

On Dec. 11, the Maize Board of Education approved a new policy addressing enrollment for students who do not live within the district's boundaries, as required by Kansas law. A "nonresident student" is a student who attends or wants to attend a school located in a district where he or she does not live. Based on an annual capacity per grade, the policy will determine how many nonresident students the district can enroll at each school. The capacity will be determined based on current classroom student-teacher ratios, project enrollment shifts, and maximum capacity of the classroom and associated learning, activity, and common area spaces. The annual capacity will be determined on or before May 1 and the open seats for the next school year will be posted to the district website on or before June 1.

Note that the new policy does not change how resident students are enrolled, including which schools they attend, and does not change the policy for the children of employees to attend Maize USD 266.

Click here to access the policy.

On Nov. 13, Maize Board of Education members voted unanimously to approve a forward-facing Maverick as an official alternate logo for district and school use at Maize South Intermediate School, Maize South Middle School, and Maize South High School. The logo provides greater flexibility to support the school’s brand identity and an option with a symmetrical shape. Interest emerged from stakeholders to have a version of the Maverick that is facing forward. This does not replace the primary logo, which is still the main Maverick logo.

The Maize Board of Education's next monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 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 January, board members elected during the Nov. 7 General Election will begin their new terms:

• District 1, Position 1: Andrew Johnson
• District 2, Position 2: Todd Dumler
• District 3, Position 3: Michael Russell
• At Large, Position 7: Troy Palmer

Maize USD 266 is actively hiring Food Service kitchen assistants, substitute teachers, and paras. Employees can make an important difference in Maize Schools and the lives of students!

Maize USD 266 is in the process of developing a new district website, which will launch in 2024. Part of that work is to update the district's branding in a way that reflects the continuous improvements to the district's growth and standards of excellence. The next step is for district leaders to engage with stakeholder groups to review concepts for the alternate logo that modernizes the current district logo, specifically for increased digital use, and celebrates the imagery with the letter M for Maize and a star, which has been in use for 14 years.

Historically, Maize USD 266 used a logo with images that conveyed a schoolhouse and satellite to visually highlight the balance of a tight-knit school environment with forward-thinking innovation and technology, as pictured. In 2009, the district's current logo was adopted, and much has changed in the district and in logo usage since that time. That 14-year-old logo has different color variations that the district has used since its adoption, as pictured.

Since that time, the district has grown tremendously, opened multiple schools, and has added official school logos and colors at the Maize Early Childhood Center and all five elementary schools. In 2009, the district was not active on social media or using digital communications to the extent it is now. Logo and branding needs, including those related to flexible use and increased digital quality, have evolved along with the district. Please stay tuned for information about a modernized alternate logo that is in development along with the new district website. We are excited to Lead Forward!

Please keep these reminders in mind:

• Please ensure that you have updated your information for notifications: If you want to receive phone calls and/or text messages from Maize USD 266, please log into Skyward Family Access and click “Skylert” on the left. Skylert enables you to receive notifications concerning your child(ren). Snow day-related notifications and the majority of district-sent parent communications fall into the category of “General.” You can check the boxes under “General” in Skyward to select how you prefer to receive this information. Please also make sure your phone number is accurate. Please click “Save” in the upper-right corner if you make any updates.

• Make sure to opt in to notify your carrier if you want to receive text messages: Those who want to receive the district’s School Messenger text messages also will need to opt in by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. This informs your mobile carrier that you approve of receiving text messages from School Messenger. Those wishing to opt out can do so by sending “Stop.” Please click here for more information. Text recipients will receive automated district messages from the number 67587.

• In the event of school being dismissed or canceled because of inclement weather: The district will send out notifications via phone call, text (SMS), and email to those who have elected to receive them. Phone notifications will go out as early as 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closure. If a decision is made the night before to call off school, calls and texts will go out no later than 10:30 p.m. District officials will update the district’s website (www.usd266.com), official Twitter/X account (@maize266), and official Facebook page as soon as the decision is made to call off school. When in doubt, the district encourages parents and employees to verify school closings by consulting multiple official district sources. Please do not rely on only one form of notification, such as a text message, if you are uncertain.

Thank you for your cooperation in preparing for potential inclement weather this winter.

Congratulations to Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Greer, named recently among one of 25 Superintendents to Watch nationally! The annual award comes from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

Honorees are school district leaders early in their superintendent career who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. They use communication technology in innovative and effective ways to engage and inform their school communities and to expand two-way communication and outreach efforts.

Under her leadership since joining the district in July 2022, she has conducted listening sessions with employees, reengaged with stakeholder groups, participated in school and community events, led the development of the Lead Forward strategic plan, strengthened partnerships with the City of Maize and the Maize Recreation Commission, and led the implementation of new communications strategies.

Congratulations to Maize South High School Boys Soccer Coach Rey Ramirez, selected as a 2022-23 Section 5 Boys Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association. According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA), honorees were selected based on their 2022-23 coaching performance, community involvement, school involvement, and coaching philosophy. Pictured, Coach Ramirez and Maize South High School seniors Kaden Wait and Vitor Geromel recently participated in the annual High School All-American soccer games in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Their West team won 5-2.

Congratulations to Maize South High School Coach Alexis Head, named Coach of the Year for the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division 1, part of the Kansas high school volleyball all-league teams! Several Maverick and Eagle players were named to the first team, second team, and honorable mention. Click here to read the Varsity Kansas story. Maize South High School senior Camdyn Stucky was named Player of the Year.

Congratulations to Maize Central Elementary School teacher Nicki Warzeka, who is a recent winner of the KAKE Golden Apple award! It's her first year as a special education teacher in Maize after teaching in Newton. She teaches her kindergarten and first-grade students letters, numbers, counting, etc., and also works on functional skills, including eating.

Principal David Jennings told KAKE News, "Nicki does an outstanding job working with our students here. I mean, one thing about Nicki, she has a passion for this job ... She just goes above and beyond helping our students here."

She was surprised with the news recently in her classroom and received a trophy and hundreds of dollars in school supplies from Project Teacher.

Maize South Elementary School music teacher Kim Noller was featured earlier this semester by KSN and Good Day Kansas. The story celebrated her recent publication of an album of 10 children's songs, nine of which she wrote for her students and performs and sings with them in class. She also encourages her students to write their own songs and invites them to perform their original works with their classmates at school. Her album is streaming everywhere, but you can check out a behind-the-scenes look by clicking the link below.

Since October, we have been sharing stories highlighting the educators who teach STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) in each of our elementary and intermediate schools. New this school year, the district offers students in kindergarten through sixth grade dedicated teachers and spaces to explore STEAM. All the STEAM teachers were previously grade school teachers in the district. And many of the teachers describe teaching STEAM as their dream job.

Part of Maize USD 266’s 2019 bond issue involved moving all fifth grade classes from elementary schools to the two new intermediate schools, Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School, both of which opened in for the 2021-22 school year. That left a big band room available in each of the district’s five elementary schools to use as something else for kindergarten through fourth grade students — and the plan for a dedicated STEAM space was part of that vision for growth and student opportunity. Community members overwhelmingly supported the plan, with 85.5 percent support from voters.

The Maize Education Foundation provided funding for each of the five elementary school STEAM rooms.

Click the photos to explore features about our educators!

Reserve your table now for the inaugural Birds and Bulls Gala! Enjoy a night of dinner and dancing, a game show, a silent auction, and more. By snagging a ticket, you're not just reserving a seat; you're supporting the Maize Education Foundation in its mission to shower Maize USD 266 students and staff members with grants and scholarships. Let's make a difference together with a night of unforgettable fun!

Own a business? Show your Maize USD 266 support with a Birds and Bulls Gala sponsorship. Sponsorships start at $500 and range up to $6,000. Premiere Red, Gold, and Black sponsorships are still available and include recognition during the event and a table for eight, which is a $750 value. For details, contact Maize Education Foundation director Emi Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com.

Maize USD 266 and the Maize Education Foundation welcome Emi Simmons as the Director of Community Relations and Maize Education Foundation. A Maize South High School grad, Emi is thrilled to return to the district after five years in the radio industry. For any Foundation questions or needs, please contact Emi at esimmons@usd266.com.

Maize USD 266 is reflecting back on 2023 and celebrating the amazing stories of the year in the Top 23 Facebook Posts of 2023 series, which launched Dec. 4 on the district's Facebook page! Revisit some of the top stories already identified, and stay tuned during the last days of the year as we count down and celebrate once again our amazing students, employees, and #MaizeFamily!

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

• School Psychologists Week
  
• National Parents as Teachers Day
• Substitute Educators Day
• Physical Therapist Appreciation Month
• World Audiologist Day