Jayhawk Staff Weekly Update

September 13, 2024

Message from Dr. Samuels

Assembly

Becky Savage is a devoted mother, acclaimed author, and dynamic motivational speaker who founded the 525 Foundation in 2017 with a deeply personal mission. As a registered nurse with a master's degree in education and a certified prevention specialist, Becky transformed her grief into a powerful force for change after the heartbreaking loss of her two sons, Nick and Jack, to prescription medication misuse. She is dedicated to preventing similar tragedies by raising awareness and educating youth, parents, and communities about the risks of misusing prescription drugs, alcohol, and other illicit substance. She will be speaking to the 7-12th grade students on 9/17/24 at 11:00AM. There will also be an open community event at 6:00pm for parents and citizens to hear her presentation at the Prairie View Performing Arts Center if anyone is interested.

An SRO will be speaking briefly prior to Becky during the student session and James Akes will be speaking at the Community event.

School Safety

We will hold a brief staff meeting on Tuesday, September 17, at 7:40 a.m. in the auditorium. Since this is before contract time, you will have the option to leave early after school. The meeting will focus on important safety issues.

Meetings During Hawk Time

Please be sure to check with Mr. Beckham before scheduling any meetings during Hawk Time.

Big Thanks

Thank you for making connections with your students and families. Your ongoing commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for our students shines through in everything you do. We appreciate all of your efforts.

Julie

Teacher of the Year

USD 346 Teacher of the Year Nomination Process

USD 346 is extremely excited about participating in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Being nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year award within our district is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the dedication and passion you bring to your students every day. This prestigious recognition highlights not only your commitment to excellence in the classroom but also your impact on the school community. Those selected as USD 346 Teacher of the Year will receive district support to participate in the state-level process, showcasing their achievements while representing the best of our district. It’s a chance to inspire others and be celebrated for the lasting difference you make in education.

Nominations for the USD 346 Teacher of the Year are now open, and each building principal will be accepting nominations until September 27, 2024. Each principal will review all nominations and may select up to two teachers from Jayhawk Elementary and two from Jayhawk Linn Jr/Sr High School to move forward. Principals may also choose not to submit any names. Once nominated, selected teachers will complete an application form to be reviewed by the principal and forwarded to the Superintendent.

The Superintendent will gather a district selection committee, including administrators, the Student Improvement Services Director, and site council members. This committee will evaluate the applications and select one elementary and one secondary teacher as the USD 346 Teacher of the Year. In future years, previous winners will join the selection committee to help choose the next honorees.

Selected teachers will receive district support as they prepare for the Kansas Teacher of the Year process. This includes help with paperwork, a substitute teacher for a day, and assistance with required photos. These teachers will also be recognized at various ceremonies within the school, district, and community for their outstanding contributions.

Employer of the Year

The nominations for the USD 346 Employee of the Year shall be submitted to each building principal by December 6, 2024. The building principal will review al nominees and has the authority to make the decision as to the number of employees to submit for consideration. The principal shall have the option to not submit any names for consideration.

Once the building principal has determined the nominees from their respective building, they wil submit requests for letters of support and/or other documentation. Once this si completed, the nominations and supporting documentation will be submitted to the building leadership team. Building leadership teams will use the nomination forms and supporting documentation to select up to two winners in each building.

We are excited to announce that USD 346 is partnering with F&M Bank and My Power of One to recognize students throughout the school year through our Kindness Initiative.

This program will run for 30 weeks and will highlight one student each week from Jayhawk Elementary, Jayhawk Junior High, and Jayhawk High School who has demonstrated an act of kindness. Teachers and staff will have the opportunity to nominate students by submitting a form describing the student's random act of kindness.

We will select a student each Friday. Please take a moment to nominate a student.