December 2025 Maize Pulse

The end of 2025 is just around the corner, and I am already looking ahead with optimism and excitement for what 2026 will bring to Maize USD 266. Our district continues to grow stronger because of the people who believe in our mission and work together to support each student.

In January, our Maize Board of Education will welcome newly elected member Melanie Smarsh, who will join our team of thoughtful and committed volunteer leaders. Their dedication to our students and schools anchors the important decisions we make as a district. This month also marks the end of board member Jessica Pereira’s four-year term. I am grateful for her care for our community and the time she has devoted to helping Maize USD 266 thrive.

In January, our Facilities Steering Committee will present a set of recommended priority projects to the school board, an important milestone in our Build for the Future strategic plan work, part of Lead Forward. During the past year, committee members have toured buildings, reviewed long-range options, studied financial considerations, and engaged in meaningful conversations about how to best support our students and staff members for years to come. I appreciate their commitment and look forward to sharing upcoming opportunities for our #MaizeFamily to offer feedback. In 2026, we will invite you to participate in a districtwide survey to ensure our planning reflects the needs and values of our community. Our goal is to finalize the project list for a school board presentation in May.

The new year will also bring additional support for school security. We are actively hiring a team of security officers who will join our high schools and strengthen the systems and procedures already in place. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to creating secure, welcoming environments where students can learn and grow with confidence.

These efforts, and so many others taking place daily in our classrooms, hallways, and programs, are guiding us forward with purpose.

During Winter Break, I hope you find time to rest, restore, and enjoy the season with those you love. Thank you for your partnership and trust. I am grateful to serve this community and excited for all we will accomplish together in 2026.

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

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

December

• Dec. 19: End of Term 2
• Dec. 22-31: No school, Winter Break

January

• Jan. 1: No school, Winter Break
• Jan. 2: No school, Teacher Work Day
• Jan. 5: No school, Professional Development
• Jan. 6: Start of Term 3
• Jan. 19: No school, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February

• Feb. 11: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 7th through 12th grades

• Feb. 12: No school, Parent-Teacher Conferences 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for kindergarten through 6th grades and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for 7th through 12th grades
• Feb. 13: No school

Do you have a child who turned or will turn three between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31? Our Maize Early Childhood Center Mini Starlets class begins mid-January, offering a special opportunity for parents and children to learn and grow together!

Mini Starlets includes:

• Weekly sessions with a licensed teacher
• Early literacy and math activities to build strong kindergarten foundations
• Group learning with calendar, weather, numbers, and early literacy concepts
• Hands-on center activities for parents and children to enjoy together
• Story time and music to end each class.

The cost is just $20 for the semester, and enrollment forms are available in the front office of the Maize Early Childhood Center, 9405 W. 37th St. North in Wichita. To learn more, call 316-722-3105.

Also, Starlets enrollment for the 2026-27 school year opens March 2 and will cost only $30 for a full year of adult-child preschool learning and fun for children ages 3 to 5! Click here to learn more.

Join us in brightening the season for our Maize USD 266 students in need. Support qualifying Maize students and their siblings by purchasing an item from their wish lists. Simply click the red button below to explore and shop—it’s quick, easy, and a meaningful way to give back! Your kindness makes all the difference. Thank you for helping make Maize Caring Hearts a success!

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.

Maize USD 266 drivers education is open to students ages 14 and older. Students interested in participating in the third term session must attend a mandatory enrollment meeting with their parents at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita. Enrollment is open to the first 30 students. Click here to learn more.

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 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.

Thank you to Maize Board of Education member Jessica Pereira, who is completing her four-year school board term this month. Elected to represent District 1, Jessica has been a hands-on and dedicated member of our board. Please join us in thanking her for guiding, supporting, and championing our district. We truly appreciate her time, care, and leadership! She was honored during Monday's school board meeting.

Congratulations to Haley Miller, Maize South Elementary School kindergarten teacher, recent recipient of a KAKE Golden Apple! The award celebrates local educators for their creative ways they support, motivate, and encourage lifelong learning in and out of the classroom.

Thanks to KAKE and Davis-Moore for recognizing her and to Project Teacher for providing her with hundreds of dollars in school supplies and gift cards!

To relive and celebrate some of our best moments and memories from the calendar year, we've launched a Top Stories of 2025 countdown to Winter Break on our district Facebook page. Click to check out some of the stories we have shared this week, and join us as we continue the countdown!

Help your senior take the next step toward their future! The Maize Education Foundation is proud to invest in the success of Maize USD 266 graduates by awarding scholarships that open doors to new opportunities. Thanks to the generosity of private donors and community partners, we offer scholarships to help students move forward with confidence and support.

Each year, we award:

• Two Maize Education Foundation Legacy Scholarships
• Two Shelley Woodard Poynter Memorial Scholarships
• One Kyle Thornburg Memorial Soccer Scholarship
• One Kyle Thornburg Memorial Art and Design Scholarship

The applications include essay questions, so we encourage you to work with your child(ren) to formulate thoughtful responses. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Community Relations and Maize Education Foundation Emi Kniffin Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com or 316-350-2029.

Applications are open and are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026.

Maize Education Foundation will kick off its 2026 event lineup with the annual Partnerships & Pathways Breakfast at Maize Career Academy on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Formerly called Spring Breakfast, this event gives guests the opportunity to explore Maize USD 266’s innovative career pathway programs while connecting with community members, educators, and local business leaders.

This year, attendees will hear from Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer, who will share an update on the district’s Lead Forward strategic plan and look ahead at what is next for the Maize Career Academy.

Ticket sales and sponsorships from the event directly support the Maize Education Foundation, helping fund grants, scholarships, and programs that enrich the educational experience for students and educators across the district. We hope you will join us for a morning of innovation and community connection that celebrates the future of education in Maize.

Maize USD 266 is hiring paraeducators, who work closely with teachers to provide extra support for students and help them succeed. As a paraeducator, you’ll enjoy meaningful work, a family-friendly schedule, and the chance to positively impact students every day. Pay starts at $14 an hour. Apply now at usd266.com/careers.

Santa made a special stop at our Maize Early Childhood Center earlier this month, and each student received a plushie to take home. The visit filled the halls with excitement and holiday cheer. It was a fun, festive moment for our youngest learners.

If you have a live Christmas tree to get rid of after the holidays, you can drop it off for free at our Maize USD 266 Enrollment Center, 201 S. Park in Maize, as part of Sedgwick County’s annual tree recycling program. Your tree will be turned into mulch to help our community and reduce waste.

Please toss your tree into the dumpster that will be placed in the parking lot southwest of the Enrollment Center near Victory Street between Khedive Street and Park Avenue. Make sure your tree is free of all tinsel, lights, decorations, wire, and the stand. Wreaths and garland cannot be accepted.

Drop-offs are accepted Dec. 22 through Jan. 23, and you’re welcome to take home free mulch.

Questions? Call Sedgwick County at 316-660-7200 or click here for more details.