RELAY - October '25

The monthly RELAY aims to connect our staff with news and highlights from across our schools and community. It's digital and delivered to your inbox!

We hope you enjoy this brief update. Take a moment to learn something new, celebrate with a colleague or friend, and pause to see the good happening all around you.

In this issue:

• Quick Reads
• BOE Luncheon Meeting Highlights from Great Bend Middle School
• Welcome, Shelby Zuniga - District Accountant
• Arts in Education: Anna Popp Spotlight
• Let's Celebrate - October Birthdays
• School Highlights
• Community Resources & Events
  

• Principal Appreciation Month
• Bully Prevention Month

• Oct. 2 - School Custodian & Maintenance Appreciation Day
• Oct. 5 - Fire Prevention Week
• Oct. 6 - No School, Teacher In-Service
• Oct. 10 - 2:30 pm Dismissal, GBHS Homecoming
• Oct. 16 - End of First Quarter
• Oct. 17 - No School, Grading & Collaboration
• Oct. 19 - National Bus Safety Week
• Oct. 21 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, 5-8 pm
• Oct. 23 - 11:45 am Dismissal, PT Conferences 1-4 pm & 5-8 pm
• Oct. 24 - No School
• Oct. 26 - Red Ribbon Week
• Oct. 27-31 - Power the Pantry Supply Drive

Convenient Flu Vaccination Clinics will be hosted at your school in October thanks to the Barton County Health Department. Please view the schedule below or connect with your school nurse for more information.

• GBHS: October 8, 2025 (8:30-10:30 am), form due Oct. 1

• GBMS: October 14, 2025 (8:30-10:30 am), form due Oct. 3

• Eisenhower: October 22, 2025 (2:30-4:30 pm), form due Oct. 15

• Jefferson: October 14, 2025 (2:00-4:00 pm), form due Oct. 7

• Lincoln: October 22, 2025 (8:30-10:30 am), form due Oct. 15

• Park: October 28, 2025 (2:00-4:00 pm), form due Oct. 21

• Riley: October 07, 2025 (8:30-10:30 am), form due Sept. 30

• Little Panthers: October 16, 2025 (8:30-10:30 am & 2:00-4:00 pm), form due Oct. 9

Click Here to download consent forms.

Personal referrals are the best way to find new employees!

With the launch of the Employee Referral Program, we're giving you a few more reasons to share job openings with your network of friends and family.

Click here to learn more about the $250 referral bonus!

Click Here to view the 2025 Payroll Calendar

• Pay Day is on the 11th and 25th unless it falls on a weekend or holiday, then it is moved up.
• Remember to submit your timesheet by the end of every week!

After 17 years of using Skyward SMS 2.0, USD 428 is preparing for a major system upgrade. Over the next year, the district will begin transitioning both its business and student information systems to Skyward Qmlativ, a more modern and user-friendly platform. This process is referred to as the S2Q Migration.

Migration Timeline

The migration will begin with the business side of Skyward, which supports budgeting, purchasing, and payroll. District office staff are already engaged in training to prepare for this transition. The official changeover to Qmlativ’s business components is scheduled for April 27–May 4, 2026.

The student information system migration will follow in summer 2027, impacting gradebooks, attendance, parent access, health information, and all student-related data. Training, videos, and resources will be provided closer to that time to ensure a smooth transition for staff.

What Staff Need to Know

For now, no action is required. Most staff will not see changes until later in the year. Districts currently using Qmlativ report that the platform is more intuitive, with fewer clicks and easier navigation compared to SMS 2.0. While the shift will take some adjustment, it is expected to be a positive upgrade.

USD 428 staff will receive additional details and training opportunities in the months ahead. In the meantime, those curious about the new system can explore resources on the Gradebook/Teacher Portal and Qmlativ Navigation.

Change can be challenging, but this transition ensures USD 428 continues to use up-to-date systems that best support students, staff, and families.

The USD 428 Board of Education held its September luncheon meeting at Great Bend Middle School on Wednesday, September 24. Principal Myron Ellegood, along with students and staff, provided an engaging building report that highlighted academics, leadership, and positive culture at GBMS.

The presentation began with “Good Things”, shared by student Ava Strong, setting a positive tone for the meeting. Principal Ellegood then introduced Officer Gavin Crawford, GBMS’s new School Resource Officer, who also serves Lincoln, Jefferson, and Eisenhower schools. The Board also welcomed several new certified staff members who joined GBMS this fall.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, students joined Mrs. Daniel to introduce GBMS's involvement with Zero Reasons Why, a teen-led storytelling and community mobilization campaign promoting mental wellness.

Academic highlights showcased GBMS’s wide range of engaging coursework:

• Energy Science – Students Sawyer Zimmerman and Harper Causey from Mrs. Rachel Bosch’s class demonstrated a marble roller coaster project, explaining concepts of potential and kinetic energy.
• Agriculture Science – Brek Stroup and Norah Mazouch, students of Mr. Chansler, shared plants they are growing, including tomatoes, jalapeños, and cilantro, with hopes of making fresh salsa later this semester.
• Forensic Science – Students Sebastian Acosta, Amelia Baskerville, Dalton Gregg, and Callie Ochs, from Mrs. Suss’s class, presented their work with fingerprinting.
• IXL Program – Ms. Haag highlighted the school’s use of IXL to personalize and strengthen student learning in math and reading.
• JAG-K (Jobs for America’s Graduates – Kansas) – Mrs. Thompson introduced student leaders Zaelee Stein, Chloe Torres, and Taylor Gray, who will attend the upcoming Leadership Development Conference in Concordia.

The report concluded with a Launch presented by Emma Hammake and Lillian Grauer, sending the audience off with words of encouragement.

Following the building report, the Board of Education Members held a 15 minute executive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken before the meeting adjourned.

Grants & Contributions - approved

• GBHS Panther Pantry wishes to accept a $100 contribution from the Central Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel.
• Wheatland Electric wishes to contribute $2,000.00 to sponsor the GBHS VTC Electric Car program.

Great Bend Public Schools - USD 428 is pleased to announce the addition of Shelby Zuniga as the district’s new Accountant. A Great Bend native and proud graduate of Great Bend High School, Zuniga brings a wealth of financial expertise and leadership experience to her new role.

Zuniga is a 1998 graduate of GBHS and earned an Associate of Science degree from Barton Community College in 2000. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Fort Hays State University in 2002 and later earned her Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Texas–Permian Basin in 2012. In 2016, she achieved her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Her professional career spans over 20 years of experience in government and nonprofit accounting. Zuniga and her husband, Juan, spent 11 years in Midland, Texas, where she worked for the City of Midland’s Finance Department. The majority of that time, she served as Accounting Manager, overseeing financial operations and leading the annual audit process. In her final year with the City, she worked as the Internal Auditor.

After returning to Great Bend in 2019, Zuniga joined Sunflower Diversified Services, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer. In 2021, she was appointed Interim Executive Director and was later named Executive Director, a position she held until joining USD 428 in September.

“The District Accountant position at USD 428 fits nicely with my skill set and affords me the opportunity to serve the district where I was educated and where my own kids will be educated,” said Zuniga. “I’ve always been proud to be a Great Bend Panther!”

John Popp, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations, welcomed Zuniga to the district team. “Shelby’s expertise in accounting and proven leadership in both government and nonprofit settings make her an excellent fit for USD 428,” Popp said. “Her commitment to accuracy, transparency, and service will benefit our schools, staff, and community.”

Outside of work, Zuniga and her husband, Juan, enjoy an active family life with their twin daughters, Isabella and Sophia, who attend Little Panthers Preschool. The family is involved in First Christian Church, enjoys working on their old cars, spending time outdoors, and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Please join USD 428 in welcoming Shelby Zuniga to her new role as District Accountant.

In-Service Reimagined! Join us for the ALL IN Learning Lab – a conference-style professional development morning designed for educators.

🗓 Monday, Oct. 6

⏰ 7:35 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
📍 Great Bend High School (and various locations)

Explore fresh ideas and practical tools with a variety of sessions to enjoy!

Great Bend Public Schools was proud to celebrate Art in Education Week, held in early September, by spotlighting the work of Anna Popp, a new art teacher at Great Bend High School. A recent graduate of the University of Kansas and an accomplished mural artist, Popp has already brought energy, collaboration, and color to her classroom and the GBHS community.

To start the year, Popp welcomed students with a collaborative activity, creating a mural—an art form she knows well. With nearly 100 students participating, her classes collaborated on a “drip” mural installation. Each student created a unique drip design, and together, they assembled the pieces into a cohesive mural that now decorates her classroom.

“I wanted to start the school year with a fun project that brought everyone together,” Popp shared. “Being a new teacher, some of my walls needed more flair, so this was a perfect way for students to learn about art installation while building collaboration and inclusion. My hope is that students feel a sense of belonging and pride when they see their work displayed as part of something larger.”

Popp has already painted 11 murals across five communities—most of them in Great Bend—and is currently working on her 12th. Her passion for public art and community engagement carries into her new role as sponsor of the GBHS Art Club. Together with students, she plans to lead collaborative art projects throughout the community.

“Art has the power to awaken creativity and inspire collaboration,” said Brock Funke, GBHS principal. “We are excited to welcome Anna to GBHS and can’t wait to see the continued impact she will have in her classroom.”

As her classes transition into ceramics, Popp says the mural project has already helped her students grow closer and feel confident in their ability to create meaningful art together. “Art doesn’t just decorate walls,” she added. “It builds connections.”

Great Bend USD 428 is proud to recognize the creativity and dedication of all its art educators, who inspire students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is enriched by the talents of elementary art teachers Shannon Wedel and Caleb Bartlett, middle school art teacher Pamela Williams, and GBHS art teacher Sergio Ramirez, who is also a mentor teacher for Popp. Together, this team of educators fosters imagination, collaboration, and artistic growth in classrooms across the district.

About Art in Education Week

Art in Education Week is a national observance that celebrates the vital role of arts in schools. From developing creativity and problem-solving to building collaboration and cultural awareness, art education is an essential part of a well-rounded education.

Kyle & Maggie Kriegh welcomed a new addition to the "team" - Myles Allen - on September 27. Maggie is a teacher at Jefferson Elementary, and Kyle is a teacher at Great Bend High School and head boys basketball coach. Congratulations to the Kriegh Family!

ALL IN - In the weekly USD 428 Highlight Reel, we're featuring teacher testimonials and sharing their "why" - add yours using the Padlet Link below!

Be sure to follow Explore Great Bend on Facebook for news and events!

Coat Collection: Donate gently used coats and jackets at Master Cleaners, 4600 10th St Pl or Trinity UMC, 5700 Broadway, now through Oct. 4

Coat Giveaway: Saturday, Oct. 18 from 8am - 1pm at Trinity UMC, 5700 Broadway. Coats available for anyone who needs one. All are welcome.

Join FUEL Barton County (formerly Barton County Young Professionals) and The University of Kansas Health System for a fun-filled evening at Long's Pumpkin Patch!

Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024

Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Location: Long's Pumpkin Patch, 163 NE 30 Road, outside of Great Bend

Get ready for:

Walking Tacos

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Goodie Bags

Fall Trail Mix Bar

Face Painting

Family Photo Booth

...and more! Bring your friends and family for an unforgettable evening of fall fun!

It only takes a few minutes to share the GREAT things happening in your classroom! Email high-resolution photos and a quick caption and we'll share it with the community on social media!

Quick Photo Caption:

"Students are learning _______________, by doing ______________."

Submit News to media@usd428.net.