September eCommunicator

We are off to a great start! New programs and opportunities are already underway, we have had some wonderful celebrations recognizing our outstanding people, and there are plenty of fun community events ahead for all of us to enjoy.

We are committed to making this a great school year but we also know that it takes all of us working together to make that happen. Parents and families play an incredibly important role in the success of our schools. We encourage you to be engaged, ask questions, attend school and community events, connect with your child’s teacher and classroom, and stay connected to what is happening at your child’s school, in the district, and in our Seaman community.

When families and schools work together, our students benefit. Your involvement helps create the strong sense of community that makes Seaman such a special place.

We are excited about what is ahead and look forward to making this a great year, together!

Sept 2: Instructional Collaboration Morning (1-hour late start)

Sept 3: NF Parent Night 1st, 3rd, 5th grade at 6:00 pm & 2nd, 4th, 6th grade 6:30 pm

Sept 3: MELC Parent Night 5:30-7:00 pm

Sept 4: No Preschool - Screening Day

Sept 7: No School - Labor Day

Sept 9: Instructional Collaboration Morning (1-hour late start)

Sept 9: SABC Meeting 6:30 pm

Sept 10: NH Grandparents Breakfast 8:00-9:00 am (last names A-M)

Sept 1: NF PTO/Site Council 5:30 pm

Sept 11: NH Grandparents Breakfast 8:00-9:00 am (last names L-Z)

Sept 14: FY27 RNR Hearing 5:50pm; FY27 Budget Hearing 5:55 pm

Sept 14: Regular Board Meeting 6:00 pm

Sept 15: NH PTO Meeting 6:00 pm

Sept 16: Instructional Collaboration Morning (1-hour late start)

Sept 17: WI Family Night

Sept 22: NF Grandparents Breakfast

Sept 23: Instructional Collaboration Morning (1-hour late start)

Sept 24: NF Book Fair/Family Fun Night 5:30-7:00 pm

Sept 24: Band Booster Club Meeting 7:00 pm

Sept 29: Elementary Soccer Night @ SHS

Sept 30: Instructional Collaboration Morning (1-hour late start)

Sept 30: District Wellness Night 6:00 pm @ SHS

We are updating the language we use for school security alerts to make our communication clearer and more consistent for students, staff, and families.

We will no longer use the terms “lockdown” or “soft lockdown.” Instead, we will use “crisis alert” and “hold in place.” These terms more clearly describe what is happening during an incident and will help reduce confusion between similar types of alerts.

Our Centegix emergency alert system has already been updated to use this terminology, helping ensure our language is consistent across the district.

What does this means for Parents?

Parents and families may see these updated terms in district communications. You will no longer receive notifications referring to a “lockdown” or “soft lockdown.” Instead, notifications will use “crisis alert” or “hold in place,” depending on the situation.

This is a change in terminology, not a change in our commitment to keeping students and staff safe. Our goal is simply to make our communication easier to understand when families receive an alert.

Thank you for helping us create clearer, more consistent communication across Seaman School District.

We want to make our families aware that a new technology has been added as an additional layer of security across our district, with the full cost covered by a grant.

The district now uses software to monitor our existing camera systems for potential weapons. If the system detects something that may be a weapon, the alert is reviewed by trained human analysts for verification before it is communicated to the appropriate response team.

This technology is woven into our existing security measures and emergency response protocols. It does not replace the people, procedures, and safeguards we already have in place but it does provide another tool to help us identify potential threats more quickly and support a coordinated response. Our added technology and team works in partnership with our local law enforcement agencies, helping provide another layer of information and support when a verified threat is identified.

We thank you for your partnership in helping us keep our schools safe.

School districts across Kansas continue to face teacher shortages but Seaman School District is taking a proactive approach to developing its own future educators through a new Teaching Apprenticeship Program.

SHS College and Career Internship Coordinator Tatiana Dowling is giving high school students who are interested in education an opportunity to receive paid teaching experience while earning college credit. “Rather than simply waiting for college graduates to enter the workforce, the apprenticeship program is designed to help Seaman ‘grow its own’ teachers.” Dowling said, “We're in a huge teacher shortage.” Dowling noted that the need exists at the high school, middle school and elementary levels. “The colleges just aren't supplying as many teachers as a lot of the schools need.”

The SHS Teacher Apprenticeship Program combines high school coursework with hands-on experience in Seaman classrooms. Apprentices remain enrolled as high school students while spending part of their school day working in an elementary classroom. For the pilot group of six seniors this year, they will be spending a significant amount of time each day in the schools where they are placed. The apprentices will work alongside experienced teachers, participate in classroom instruction and gradually take on more responsibility.

SHS students and their mentor teachers will use a weekly checklist developed in collaboration with Washburn University to guide their experiences. The checklist incorporates elements of Seaman's existing mentoring process as well as components of college-level student teaching. Apprentices will also be evaluated using a competency-based rubric covering areas such as instruction, working with students and professional job skills. Students will complete their own self-reflection as part of the process, allowing them to compare their perceptions with feedback from their mentors.

One of the most significant benefits of the program is the opportunity for students to get a head start on their college education. The district has expanded its offerings to include two additional education-focused CEP courses taught by Seaman educators with advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction. The goal is to allow students in the teaching pathway to complete college coursework earlier, potentially shortening the amount of time between high school graduation and entering the teaching profession. Registered youth apprentices are also eligible for a $2,750 annual state A2E Grant to be used towards college coursework and other college expenses, renewable for up to 4 years. When combined with college credits earned while in high school, the financial benefit could make a significant difference for students pursuing education degrees.

The district hopes to eventually provide an early offer of employment, contingent upon completing a college degree, passing required assessments and meeting other certification requirements. “This is a long-term recruitment strategy for us too,” Dowling said. “We receive highly qualified teachers that we've trained ourselves that want to come back here.”

The program also creates benefits for the teachers serving as mentors. In addition to helping develop future educators and bringing new ideas and energy into their classrooms, mentors can earn professional development points that contribute toward advancement on the district's salary schedule.

Dowling met with eighth-grade students last year to introduce the teaching pathway and start growing the program. The classroom apprenticeship component begins during junior and senior year, but students can begin exploring education and gaining classroom experience earlier through other education courses. The hope is that students will eventually be able to enter a clearly defined pathway as early as their freshman year, knowing what courses and experiences can prepare them for a career in education.

The program is another example of Seaman's effort to connect students with meaningful, real-world experiences while addressing workforce needs in the district and across the state. By giving students the opportunity to earn college credit, receive financial assistance, get paid classroom experience and learn alongside Seaman educators, the SHS Teaching Apprenticeship Program is a win-win for everyone involved!

Some people make an impact the moment they walk into a room. They don't seek the spotlight, but students look for them, families trust them, and teachers rely on them. Northern Hills ELL Paraprofessional Angela Rafael Hernandez is one of those people.

Angela began her career supporting students with autism as a paraprofessional in our STAR program, where her warmth and ability to build genuine relationships quickly stood out. She later found her calling in the English Language Learner program, where she has become an invaluable bridge between our schools and Spanish-speaking families.

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Angela does much more than translate. She helps families navigate the school system, advocates for students, supports teachers, and makes sure every family feels heard and welcomed.

Most importantly, Angela has a gift for making students feel seen, valued, and cared for. Her compassion, high expectations, and own journey learning English inspire students to believe in themselves and persevere.

We are proud to recognize Angela Rafael Hernandez as Seaman School District's 2026 Support Staff of the Year! Her kindness, dedication, and commitment to our students and families make a lasting difference in our school community.

This year, the Seaman Education Association (SEA) announced an exciting partnership with the Seaman Education Advantage (SEAF) Foundation for the Teacher of the Year program. While SEA's selection process remained the same, SEAF is enhancing the celebration by awarding $100 to each building winner. In addition, our PreK/Elementary Teacher of the Year and our Secondary Teacher of the Year will each receive an additional $345 to use in their classrooms.

The Seaman Education Advantage Foundation was proud to support our teachers and excited to join in the USD 345 Teacher of the Year celebration. Congratulations to PreK/Elementary Teacher of the Year Angie Loy and Secondary Teacher of the Year Jill Becker!

Angie Loy – Elementary Teacher of the Year

Angie Loy is a dedicated second-grade teacher at West Indianola Elementary who has spent 14 years serving students in Seaman USD 345. Throughout her career, she has taught both first and second grade and has remained passionate about creating classrooms where every child feels safe, valued, supported, and excited to learn. At the heart of Angie’s teaching is her belief that every student is capable of learning and thriving. She prioritizes strong relationships, hands-on learning, student choice, and memorable experiences that allow students to have fun, take risks, build confidence, and develop a genuine love of learning. Angie’s impact extends far beyond her own classroom. She serves on building and district leadership teams, including the Guided Coalition/Building Leadership Team, Math Team, TASN MTSS Team, and District Standards Alignment Team. She is also committed to growing the next generation of educators through mentoring practicum students, student teachers, and new teachers. Angie has earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and continues to grow professionally through training in evidence-based instructional practices. Her colleagues describe her as a caring, energetic educator whose relationships, leadership, and commitment leave a lasting impact on students, families, and the entire school community.

Jill Becker – Secondary Teacher of the Year

Jill Becker is a dedicated special education teacher at Seaman Middle School with more than 20 years of experience in education. She has served at Seaman Middle School since 2007 and is also an adjunct psychology instructor at Highland Community College.

Jill is passionate about building strong relationships with students while maintaining high expectations and preparing them for success beyond the classroom. She founded Seaman Middle School’s Vocational and Life Skills Program, creating real-world opportunities for students with disabilities to develop employment, independent living, community access, and self-advocacy skills.

Beyond the classroom, Jill is a leader, mentor, advocate, and active member of the Seaman Middle School community. She serves in building leadership, supports special education staff with IEP development and compliance, and sponsors Honor Society, Student Council, and Spirit Club. At the heart of Jill’s work is a simple belief: every student deserves to feel safe, respected, valued, and understood—and every student deserves opportunities to grow in confidence and independence.

Looking for a fun way to get active as a family? The Seaman Education Foundation (SEAF) is adding a 5K run/walk to its annual events!

Whether you’re an experienced runner, a casual walker, or just looking for a fun family activity, we’d love for you to join us. Bring your friends, your family, and your running buddies and help us make this new SEAF tradition a great one!

We’re also inviting our elementary running clubs to participate as we bring the Seaman community together for a fun day of fitness, family and supporting our schools.

Step 1: Register Here

Step 2: Pay Here

Step 3: Meet up at the track on Oct 17!

Kansas Families and Schools Together, Inc., KFAST, a non-profit agency was established in 2006. The Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) is a project of KFAST. Currently KPIRC is providing family engagement support to districts through a contract awarded by the Kansas State Department Education Special Education and Title Services as part of TASN.

KPIRC supports Kansas families by:

• Developing resources for families to support their children’s learning at home
• Building the capacity of parents to become involved in their children’s education
• Developing parent advocacy and leadership skills
• Ensuring that families receive literacy training and resources to support their children’s academic achievement

• Jointly plan high-quality lessons
• Align curriculum across grade levels and courses
• Analyze student data to adjust instruction
• Share effective teaching strategies
• Solve instructional challenges together
• Support ongoing professional growth

Boys and Girls Club of Topeka is partnering with USD 345 to provide a Wednesday only option for our families in addition to their other programing to help those who need a one-day-only model for Instructional Collaboration Mornings.

https://www.bgctopeka.org/joinaclub

Note: The 2026-27 Calendar includes a one-hour late start for Instructional Collaboration Mornings every Wednesday and an added five minutes to the beginning of each day.

Footballs, soccer balls, tennis balls, and any other sports equipment are not permitted past the entry gates into the football stadium and grounds, in order to create a safer and more enjoyable experience for all attendees.

We are excited to have everyone out to watch some Viking football this season! Go Vikings!

Parents can create an account in Titan LINQConnect to submit free and reduced applications, view menus, and pay meal fees. To make meal payments, please create a new account at https://www.linqconnect.com. You can also submit a free and reduced application through LINQConnect for the current school year.

Click on “REGISTER” to create a new account.

You will need the following information to successfully link your student(s) to your account:

1. First Name: As registered with the school

2. Last Name: As registered with the school

3. Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

For further questions, please call Seaman Unified School District 345’s Food and Nutrition Services at 785-575-8650 or the contact support line for LINQConnect at 916-467-4700 option two.

Free or Reduced Price Meals

Parents or guardians of students attending Seaman schools participating in federal school meal programs must be informed of the availability of reimbursable school meals and provided with information about eligibility and the process for applying for free or reduced price meals on or before the start of school each year. Parents or guardians are financially responsible for any charges incurred before an application is received and approved by the Food Service Procedures for the administration of the free and reduced price meal program of the Seaman School District will be the same as those prescribed in current state and federal laws and regulations.

Unpaid Meal Charges

A charge account for students paying full or reduced price meals may be established with the district. Students may charge no more than $25 at any grade level for the purchase of meals to this account without initiating the district’s debt collection proceedings as outlined in this policy and board policy DP (Collections Procedures). Charging of à la carte or extra items, with the exception of one milk per meal, to this account will not be permitted.

Parents and guardians of students with negative account balances will be notified electronically at least weekly of the negative balance in their student’s account. When an account reaches -$25 or more, the food service office will send a first notice of delinquency. If payment is not received within 10 business days, a second notice of delinquency will be sent. If payment is not received within 10 business days of the second notice, a third and final notice of delinquency will be sent from the food service office. If no payment is received to the food service office after 10 days of the third and final food service notice the account becomes bad debt and will be turned over to the Seaman Business Office to proceed with Debt Collection Proceedings. The district must transfer funds for bad debt to the Food Service from non-federal sources.

When the charge level identified in this policy has been met, a student’s meal account becomes delinquent. Students who have delinquent accounts and cannot pay out of pocket for a meal will be provided a regular, reimbursable meal from the cafeteria menu, which shall be charged to the student’s account while the district proceeds with attempts to resolve the delinquent debt with the student’s parent or guardian. If attempts to receive payment for charged meals do not result in full payment of the debt in the timelines provided herein, debt collection proceedings will begin in accordance with board policy DP.

The food service office or the district is not responsible for cash sent with students to school. All meal account balances at the end of the school year will carry over to the next school year. Any negative balances must be paid prior to the start of the following year.

Families with children prenatal through age five are invited to join this free program. Parents as Teachers (PAT) provides monthly visits, screenings, playgroups, group connections, family events, and valuable resources. Their mission is to support parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, helping you strengthen connections, understand development, and navigate parenting with confidence.

This program is funded by Seaman School District, so families can participate at no cost. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Regular board meetings are scheduled on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 pm. Regular meetings may be adjourned to another time and place when necessary. Special meetings may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis.

Regular meetings typically take place at the Seaman Education Center. When meeting locations change, notice is sent out to the public and made available online. Board agendas go live on the Friday afternoon prior to the regular board meeting.

Regular meetings for the 2026-27 school year:

September 14, 2026

October 12, 2026

November 9, 2026

December 14, 2026

January 11, 2027

February 8, 2027

March 8, 2027

April 12, 2027

May 10, 2027

June 14, 2027

July 12, 2027

Seaman USD 345 has policies and procedures in effect to ensure that all children with exceptionalities (those who have disabilities and those who are gifted) and who are in need of special education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated. This includes children who attend public or private schools, are home schooled, are highly mobile, including migrant and homeless, or are wards of the State. Children in need of special education services are identified as early as possible, and as soon as possible after the concern is noted. Child Find is accomplished for children younger than five years of age through a screening process through Seaman’s early childhood special services program; or by conducting general education interventions (GEI) through a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) approach. Child Find for K-12 is conducted through a multi-tiered system of support. If you suspect your child may have a disability, please contact your building principal. If you’re child is birth to age 5, please contact Mathes Early Learning Center.