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CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.
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Connections
Maize USD 266 Parent Newsletter - Back to School 2019
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New school year brings continued focus
on Maize USD 266 student needs, not wants
BY DR. CHAD HIGGINS
Greetings!
Despite still-warm summer temperatures, pool towels and goggles have been replaced with crayons and notebook paper in key locations of local stores. This means two things: the first day of school is approaching, and it is time for parents and their children to have that quintessential needs-versus-wants conversation. As a father, I remember having that back-to-school conversation with my own two children: The box of 24 crayons was a need. The box of 64 was a want.
At Maize Schools, we have needs-versus-wants conversations about our growing school district. Like you, we want Maize USD 266 to be the best school district in the state of Kansas and beyond. We balance this vision with the needs of our students and employees. We are in the midst of two initiatives to address these needs:
OneMa1ze, OneVision:
We will venture into the second year of our
ongoing strategic plan
. We will
continue this important work, developed thanks to community feedback last year and focused on the following four areas.
- World-Class Academic Preparation
- Professional, Civic, and Social Development of Students
- High-Quality Employees
- Responsible Operations
Our students will benefit this school year from strategic planning work. Maize USD 266 will employ three new Student Support Specialists, who will serve in a coaching role for teachers. Just as high-performing professional athletes benefit from continual coaching on their craft, we believe our highly skilled classroom teachers will benefit from the support of instructional coaches. Among other goals, these coaches will assist teachers in using student data to drive instruction and support teachers in delivering high quality teaching strategies.
We determined that better support in the classroom and with curriculum was something our district and our students need. We are excited to see what other new and improved programs and practices emerge from this work.
Aug. 27 bond issue:
The $108.2 million bond issue, which would not raise the local bond and interest tax levy, would address the following three key needs.
- Growth: Maize USD 266 is running out of room in its five elementary and two middle schools and needs more space. Student enrollment has jumped 9 percent (600 students) in just five years with indications that the trend will continue.
- Safety: Maize Schools must address safety concerns, including an outdated building access system, a storm shelter for Complete High School Maize, updated security cameras, and the ability to better secure classroom doors.
- Opportunity: A bond issue would provide new opportunities for students, including safer playgrounds; labs to teach science, art, and technology in elementary schools; a district indoor pool; and a new auditorium for fine arts.
We look forward to welcoming our students back for another year of learning and success stories. We will continue to focus on what our students need to guarantee their best futures. We appreciate your ongoing support in making that happen.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools
chiggins@usd266.com
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Voters have four options for casting a ballot in the Maize USD 266 bond election on Aug. 27.
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Choose which voting format you will use
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Which of these four ways will you use to cast your ballot?
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Request an Advance Voting Application by Aug. 20 to vote early by mail.
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Vote early at the Sedgwick County Election Office, Aug. 12 through Aug. 26.
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Vote early in person at satellite location Maize City Hall, Aug. 22 through 24.
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Vote at my poll on Election Day, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 27.
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Please note that Maize USD 266 will have a staggered back-to-school schedule as follows:
- Aug. 13: First day of school for kindergarten students with last names beginning with letters A through M only and all students in grades 1 through 5, 6, and 9.
- Aug. 14: First day of school for kindergarten students with last names beginning with letters N through Z (students with last names beginning with letters A through M do not attend this day). All students in grades 1 through 12 attend.
- Aug. 15: All students attend.
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Maize Board of Education Update
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The
Maize Board of Education meets next for its budget hearing at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 12. Its regular monthly meeting follows at 7 p.m. at the Maize Educational Support Center, 905 W. Academy Ave. The meetings are open to the public.
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Thank you for supporting Maize USD 266 students at Fill the Bus event!
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On Aug. 9, Maize USD 266 joined Chick-fil-A at 21st Street and Maize Road for its 7th-annual school supply drive. The event helps our students in need be prepared for the new school year. Thank you, OneMa1ze community, for your support!
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KAKE meteorologist test-drives Maize school bus, reminds drivers of school bus safety
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Last week, KAKE-TV Meteorologist Frank Waugh test-drove a Maize USD 266 school bus and helped get the message out to the OneMa1ze community of the importance of school bus safety. We have precious cargo to protect!
Thank you in advance for watching for school bus stop signs, school bus passengers, and the buses on the road this school year.
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Limited spots still available for Parents as Teachers program
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The Maize USD 266 Parents as Teachers program is free to all families who live in the school district boundaries and have children ages birth to three years old. Home visits are available, and families also may opt to participate in play groups and/or music classes at the
Maize Early Childhood Center
, as well as special events. Learn more at
bit.ly/Maize266PAT
. Enroll today! Limited spots still available for the 2019-20 school year.
Parents as Teachers has a parent-child class for 3- to 5-year-olds, as well. It meets once a week for an hour and 15 minutes and starts after Labor Day and costs only $35 per year. Learn more at
bit.ly/266Starlets
.
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OneMa1ze Community Events
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Please join us from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 for the
Maize South High School
Back To School Carnival and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 for the
Maize High School
Fall Sports Extravaganza.
These are the largest annual Maize School District community celebrations and feature a range of family-friendly events and activities, including inflatables, food, games, prizes, fireworks, sports scrimmages, performances, and more. The events support district athletics, and everyone is welcome.
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Helpful Back-to-School Links
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Check out these Maize USD 266 resources to help you this 2019-20 school year!
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Fee payment-related links:
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New! Improved salaries and benefits
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Interested in joining our Maize Schools team? Many openings are part-time jobs with full-time benefits, including:
- Group health insurance
- Summers off
- Fall, Winter, and Spring break off
- No evenings or weekends
- Bonuses
Come and work in our OneMa1ze community, supported by parents, graduates, and Maize and Northwest Wichita. This would be a great opportunity to participate in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
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The mission of the Maize School District
is to inspire students to discover their potential through
connecting, learning, and leading.
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