USD 312 District Newsletter
August/September
Superintendent's Message
There’s a page in Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse that stuck out to me the first time reading it and recently came across my timeline as he releases his new book:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks the mole.
“Kind,” the boy says.
We ask kids all the time what job they want someday and we get a wide variety of answers. Those answers are important, but this quote reminds us that who they become as people matters just as much.
Kindness isn’t soft. It takes real strength. It takes patience. It shows up in the way we treat one another when things are busy, stressful, or frustrating. And it’s a big part of what makes a school or a community feel safe.
And it starts with us: the adults.
Kids watch everything. How we talk to each other. How we act in the stands. What we post and comment online. How we handle disagreements. They learn from what we do long before they listen to what we say. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, teachers, fans, community members, how we show up sets the tone.
We see kindness every day in our district:
a teacher helping a student who’s struggling,
a bus driver giving a warm “good morning,”
a parent and fans supporting those playing the right way,
someone in the community showing up for a family who needs help,
When adults lead with kindness, kids follow.
So as we move through the year, let’s keep pushing for the answer the boy gave and let’s live it out in our homes, online, in the stands, and all across our communities.
Wanting to be kind is a simple answer, and it’s a pretty good goal for all of us.
I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Proud to be a Wildcat,
Craig
Prek students are collecting food items for the Reno County food bank.
Our Little Learners got into the Halloween spirit!
We have enjoyed extra time outside and the beautiful fall weather!
Our 1st–3rd graders delivered a fantastic music concert—huge shout-out to Ms. Kisner and Mr. Logan for inspiring and preparing our young musicians!
Celebrating our Wildcats nominated for November’s character trait: Gratitude. Thank you for leading with kindness and appreciation!
Exciting news! Our kindergarten team was awarded a PBL (Project-Based Learning) grant to study the life cycle of a chicken!
Congratulations to Mrs. Peterson for being selected for the USD 312 Education Foundation 1st quarter Impact Award!
HMS basketball is off to a great start this season. All of our teams are very competitive and the 8th grade boys are currently undefeated!
Mr. Krol’s wood shop students love getting dusty while they sand their projects! Wood Shop is very popular and students learn life long skills.
Winter sports practices started at HHS on 11/17/25. We are excited for the upcoming season and looking forward to the success our teams will find!
On Thursday, November 13th, 2025, Haven High School students Ben Nisly, Wyatt Bontrager, Jadyen Idacavage, Kya Hale, Aubree Nikkel, Caeli Hunninghake, Abby Thalmann, Trey Jones, Aaron Logan, and Sorrel Defrain competed in the Fort Hays State University Math Relays with a total of 650 other students from area public and private schools.
Haven High School placed 9th overall in the 2A/3A division.
We had nearly twenty five of our sophomore students receive a “Rising Star Early Scholar Award” for being in the top 35% of students who took the PreACT in the 2024-2025 school year. Two of our students- Devon Rose and Jayden Idacavage- received the “Distinguished Scholar” award for scoring in the top 5%. Great job Wildcats!
Stay Connected with the USD 312 App
While our USD 312 Haven, KS app has been available for some time, a survey in our August newsletter showed that 68% of those that filled out the question, didn’t know we had one. This told us we still need to spread the word, perfect timing as we roll into Rooms, our official two-way communication tool for the district.
The app is designed to help students, parents, and community members stay informed about what’s happening on campus, right from their smartphones. On the app, you can:
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Stay up-to-date with district and school announcements
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Learn about upcoming events
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Access staff contact information quickly
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Find important documents and resources
As Rooms continues to roll out, with full implemntation at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the app will become the place where teachers, coaches, sponsors, and families exchange messages, share class or activity information, and stay connected.
We encourage everyone to download the USD 312 Haven, KS app today and explore its features. If you notice something that could be improved, please send us your feedback, your input helps make the app more useful for everyone.
The app is available for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
USD 312 Education Foundation Impact Award Winner-1st Quarter
USD 312 Education Foundation Impact Award Winner-1st Quarter
Mrs. Erin Peterson
Mrs. Peterson is dependable, dedicated, a true collaborator, and highly competent in everything she does. She works tirelessly to plan lessons that engage students and make learning exciting, using a variety of strategies in her classroom. Always willing to help out, Mrs. Peterson takes on extra tasks to keep our building running smoothly. She greets every student with a smile and approaches her work with a positive attitude, no matter the challenge.
Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Peterson is actively involved in DLT, serves as our MTSS Coordinator, servies on the Education Foundation Board, and helps plan the middle school reward trips. Her impact on students, staff, and our school district is clear.
The USD 312 Education Foundation is proud to recognize Mrs. Erin Peterson with the 1st Quarter Impact Award!