Excellence at a Glance

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Happy New Year KCKPS Family. Let's continue getting Better Every Day.

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School Board Recognition Month

Listening and Learning with the Board of Education

Hazel Grove Receives National Recognition

Students Spread Holiday Cheer Throughout the District

Employee of the Month

Diploma+ Hosts Career and Technical Education Advisory Meeting

Kindergarten Registration and Kindergarten Kick Off

November Students of the Month

The Spirit of Giving Shines Bright Through the McKinney-Vento Program

Community News

January is School Board Recognition Month! KCKPS would like to thank the past and present board members who dedicated their time to our district. #BetterEveryDay

The KCKPS Board of Education will host a Listening and Learning Session on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at our Central Office building at 2010 N. 59th Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Listening and Learning Sessions provide an opportunity to share feedback directly with our Board of Education. 

Hazel Grove Elementary School was chosen by Special Olympics North America and ESPN as a Top 25 school for their inclusive practices.

Special Olympics Kansas held a special ceremony to celebrate this achievement on Monday, December 18, at 9:30 a.m., at Hazel Grove Elementary School, located at 2401 N. 67th St., in Kansas City, Kansas.



By being named an ESPN Honor Roll Special Olympics Unified Champion School, Hazel Grove joins a select group of educational institutions that have shown exceptional commitment to inclusion and unity. This achievement will not only inspire other schools but also serve as a source of pride for the students, faculty, and staff at Hazel Grove.

The joyful songs of the season echoed throughout the auditoriums, classrooms, and hallways of our school buildings.

Students in the district's Music Program were part of the festivities, caroling at various schools and spreading holiday cheer.

J.C. Harmon High School’s orchestra and jazz band each performed several holiday selections at Central Office on Friday, December 7. Their performance took place in the morning. 

Students in the All-City Choir performed later that same afternoon. The performances at Central Office were one of many stops for these talented students. 

Instructional Music Teacher Cori Simmons says the performances at schools in the district are intentional. “Before we came here today, we played at Argentine Middle School, a feeder school.

We play for all music students, so our goal is retention. It’s great to see that vertical movement for students,” added Simmons. 

Even before the performances took place, students were hard at work. They started working on the music selection and rehearsing back in August. “We go two months without playing because it’s the summer. And just like in any class, we have to reset and restart,” said Simmons. 

The holiday performance tour has been going on for close to ten years. “The planning of it gets easier; you just have to do the work,” said Simmons.



As for the students performing, they love it. “It’s a bonding experience for them. We get to create this group harmony,” added Simmons. 

Teachers at Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, and industry professionals came together to elevate the curriculum in the classrooms.

Leaders of the Diploma+ Program hosted a Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee meeting at Wyandotte High School on Tuesday, December 5.

The meeting brought together teachers from across the district. It gave them a chance to pick the brains of people who work in several private-sector industries. 

The overall goal of the meeting was to align the classroom curriculum taught in KCKPS with what’s happening in the real world. 

After an introductory meeting in the social hall of Wyandotte High School, teachers and industry experts broke up into small groups where they asked one another questions. 

There were a total of nine groups. They included business, construction, engineering, restaurant and event management, graphic design, digital media, and government. 

Highlights Around the District

Kindergarten Registration begins on Monday, January 22; the registration window closes on Wednesday, May 15.

Register for Kindergarten

Kindergarten Kickoff

Kindergarten Kickoff is the in-school registration meeting that takes place at your child's school. This coming year, Kindergarten Kickoff is being held on Wednesday, May 1 at all elementary schools from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Program, the season of giving reached a whole new level for students at Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. 

Leaders of the assistance program played host to a fun-filled holiday gift distribution day at Central Office on Wednesday, December 13.

The event featured holiday gifts, treats, music, crafts, games, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Each family who registered to receive the gift bags was able to stop by and receive a huge assortment of goodies.

The gift bags included hygiene products, a coat, a pair of shoes, a shirt, a pair of pants, socks, underwear, and a toy. Depending on their needs, some families received more than one holiday gift bag. 

This was made possible by the generosity of several local charities, help organizations, and private businesses. One of the biggest contributors was the Kansas City-based law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon. 

Community News

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department is inviting residents and businesses to register their security cameras to the Connect KCK, a community security camera registry. This registry provides a valuable tool for officers and detectives investigating crimes, while also maintaining your personal privacy.

When an incident is reported, police officers will use the registry to see if private security cameras in the area may have captured images/footage that could help solve the crime. Participation is voluntary and easily withdrawn at any time with notification. Learn more.

Tax Rebate Season Starts TODAY

Today, the Unified Government has launched the 2023 Tax Rebate program through April 15, 2024. Eligibility criteria has been expanded and new rebates are now available for residents 65 years or older OR disabled with an annual income of $40,500 or less. We've created a list of documents you'll want to pull together on our website and encourage you to make an appointment at a location most convenient to you.

Learn more about BPU PILOT relief, property tax rebate, the utility tax rebate and the sales tax rebate programs by visiting wycokck.org/taxrebates or calling 3-1-1 to make an appointment today. 

KCKPS Videos to Watch

Board of Education