As we wrap up our 2022-23 school year and my first year as Maize USD 266 Superintendent, I want to thank you, students, for making it a great experience!

I have made lifelong memories in the past few months, including working with my Superintendent Student Advisory Team members, celebrating state champions in academics and athletics, and cheering you on in all kinds of endeavors inside and outside of the classroom. It's official that I'm a huge fan of the Explorers, Chameleons, Pride, Wolves, Mustangs, Panthers, Wolf Pack, Mavericks, and Eagles! You make me so proud.

I want to say a special congratulations to our graduating seniors! The Class of 2023 is a special one for me, in part because I have one son graduating from college this month and another graduating from high school. I have seen as a mom and a superintendent all the work, passion, time, energy, and care that it takes to reach this important milestone in your academic and personal life.

Students, I wish each of you the very best as you finish this school year and head into summer. I hope you take a minute to think about your best accomplishments and your most important lessons from this year. I hope you cherish the relationships you have made with your peers and your teachers, coaches, and mentors in your life. Then, I hope you find something you love to do this summer and enjoy it fully, whether it's a good book, a splash in the pool, or a hobby.

Seniors, I am excited to see what adventures and successes you have next year. Please keep in touch and share them with me! Returning students, we will accomplish great things during 2023-24!

Dr. Greer

Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to Maize USD 266 students who have been named as Governor's Scholars! The program honors the top academic 1 percent of Kansas high school seniors. Scholars are selected from accredited public and private schools in the state. Maize students were honored in Topeka at the recent Governor's Award Luncheon.

Maize South High School senior Ryan Woodruff was recognized during the May Maize Board of Education meeting for his selection for and participation in the National Honor Band of America in Indianapolis on March 30 through April 1. He was the only student from Kansas to be accepted into the band. He plans to attend Kansas State University in the fall to major in music education. This summer, he plans to march with the Colt Cadets, an open class drum corps with the Drum Corp International.

Maize South High School senior Sidney Sheern was named a 2023 Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholar in health and biosciences.

She was among 261 Kansas high school seniors to earn the honor, given by the Kansas State Department of Education to well-rounded, outstanding CTE students. The scholars must earn at least three CTE credits, including at least two credits above the introductory level, and have a grade point average of 3.5 or better in CTE coursework. They also must be involved in civic engagement leadership, have workplace learning experience, and write a career vision summary statement.

At the Maize Career Academy, Sidney has taken Health Research and Clinical Skills, Anatomy and Physiology, Certified Nurse Aid, Care of Athletes, and Healthcare Work Experience.

Congratulations to Maize High School senior Carter Smith, who won the national championship in Fundamentals of Desktop Publishing recently at Business Professionals of America Nationals in Anaheim, California! He placed first out of 57 competitors.

Congrats also to Maize High School sophomore Ainsley Cramer, who placed eighth out of 59 competitors in Basic Office Systems.

The school had nine students compete among nearly 7,000 students from across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and China.

Three Maverick Science Olympiad teams placed first at state recently and advance to the National Tournament at Wichita State University. Congratulations!

Maize South Middle School: First-place team Write It Do It, Meena Ghosh and Maverick Buckingham

Maize South High School:

• First-place team Write It Do It, Graham Stiles and Jonathan Ayotte
• First-place team Remote Sensing, Micah Albert and Colin Buteyn

Seven Maverick students have earned recognition from the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and InnerView Technologies in the sixth annual Community Service Awards. The program connects student community service activities and skill development to make the world a better place. The three-tier award program recognizes a range of student achievement, including Merit for 25 hours of community service and Honor for 40 hours of community service. In addition, the Kroger Co. presented the fourth annual Zero Hero Awards to students for taking action to help create communities free of hunger and waste. Congratulations to these students for their respective awards! Program leaders estimate that 142 Maize South High School provided the community with more than 1,699 volunteer hours this school year.

Congratulations to Maize South High School sophomore Sophie Stockam, recently featured in a story by KWCH, Channel 12 and Catch It Kansas for her role helping the Maverick softball team end the perfect seasons of two of its opponents this season!

Recently, students at Maize USD 266 middle schools and high schools heard from a panel of individuals with an extremely important message about the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl and how people can keep themselves safe.

The assemblies were the brainchild of Superintendent Student Advisory Team members. Its student leaders urged Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer to help host an event to educate their peers about the dangers of fentanyl.

Thank you to everyone who made the assemblies a success! One assembly was covered by multiple news outlets.

Maize USD 266 students of all skill levels can learn the basics of sports from school coaches, improve athleticism, make new friends, learn about science and multimedia, further develop sportsmanship, and have fun at caps this summer! Click here for details and registration information about summer camp opportunities in the following categories.

• Agility/speed/strength
  
• Basketball
  
• Football
  
• Multimedia
  
• Soccer
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Bigger venue. More fans. Historic event.

Save the date: 266 Football at downtown Wichita’s Riverfront Stadium, home of the Wichita Wind Surge.

Join the #MaizeFamily while we cheer on the Maize South Mavericks versus the Maize High Eagles on the evening of Friday, Sept. 29, 2023!

Watch for additional information to come.

Did you know that students are a HUGE help to keeping schools safe? Help us keep you safe by providing anonymous tips. If you see something, please say something!

There are three ways to submit an anonymous tip:

1. Click here to be taken directly to a secure tip reporting website.
2. On your smartphone, download the free P3 Tips app from the App Store or Google Play. Then, follow the onscreen prompts to submit your tip.
3. Call 316-267-2111.

Congratulations to our Maize USD 266 seniors for all of your achievements, especially for working so hard to reach your graduation. We're excited for each and every one of you to start your unique journey beyond high school.

We invite you to click on this link so you can stay in touch and share your journeys with us. And, we can let you know about lots of things going on in Maize.

Best of luck in all you do!

Stay on top of the great things happening at Maize USD 266 on our official social media accounts:

• Maize USD 266 on Facebook
• Maize USD 266 on Twitter