Dear Parents, Patrons and Staff;
It has been an exciting and busy week in USD 434. All staff reported for work this past Monday. They were hard at work for the first three days learning, planning and preparing for students to report on Thursday. The first two day of school have gone well and the 22-23 school year is off to a great start. Thanks to our entire staff for their outstanding efforts to get everything ready for students on Thursday!
Dr. Randy Watson, the Kansas State Commissioner of Education, was our guest speaker on Monday morning. Dr. Watson reminded us that it takes everyone, no matter your role or responsibility, working together to truly help all of our students be successful. We have approximately 1000 students in our district who walked in our doors on Thursday morning, each with their own hopes and dreams and their individual vision of success. Inspiring and Empowering Every Charger, Every Day is much more than a vision statement that we write on the wall, it must be the action step we take every single day with every student. Together we can help every student find the success they hope for!!!!!!
Parents, as school gets under way we know you may have questions regarding a variety of things that are happening in your student’s classroom or school, sport, activity or on the bus they ride. We encourage you to contact the person closest to the issue. Your student’s teacher, coach, sponsor or the director of transportation has immediate answers. If it is a school wide question contact your building principal or athletic director. If your question is in regard to district wide policy or procedure please contact the district office. We are all hear to help but by starting at the level of the issue your question can be answered much more rapidly and correctly. Board of Education members are always willing to listen but in most cases they will not have answers to specific questions. They will refer you back to the person who can most effectively answer your question.
Grandparents, The East Central Kansas Area on Aging has reached out to our district to share information about a program called Two Feet Forward. The program is for Grandparents who are raising their Grandchildren. You are eligible to get a free pair of shoes for the school year for each Grandchild you are raising. Please reach out to your school counselor or the district social worker about the simple way you apply for this resource. Application forms will also be left at the front desk of each building.
Affordable Internet. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new federal program that helps low income families afford the cost of having internet service at home. For more information click on this link: ACP-Flyer.pdf
School social workers play a vital role in today’s educational system. School social
workers are advocates for students and families, they serve as helpful third parties
linking homes, schools, and their communities together. They also serve as a link to
resources a family or student might need. This is my second year serving USD 434 as
the district School Social Worker. Referrals for my services typically come from the
school counselor, Principal or teacher. However, parents/guardians can also refer their
student for my services. Please reach out if your student or your family could benefit
from additional support. I look forward to partnering with families and students for a
great and safe school year!
Maggie Mead, LMSW
mmead@usd434.us
1-800-836-9525 X 5006
Shout Outs and Congratulations:
Shout out to Jodi, Regan, Chelsie, and Shelley! Each of them stepped up huge in different ways and were able to pick up the slack that was left behind while I was away for our families’ adoption. I'm thankful to be a part of an incredible TEAM!
-Austin Hershberger
I would like to thank Tim Laubach for stepping up and getting all the School Buses ready for inspection, he did a great job.
I want to thank every one of our bus drivers for working so hard the last few weeks getting bus routes figured out and making my job easier! Thank you guys for greeting each and every bus rider with a smile on your face, you guy make a difference!
A big shout out to SRO Jackie, Kaitlyn Ball and Reba for helping me with our shuttle bus lists and working so hard to make sure each student makes it to the right bus! This operation would not run as smooth as it does without your help! Thank you so much!
Thank you to Tosha Smith for taking time out of her busy schedule to make the color magnets for the side of the buses! You are awesome!
-Chad Schmale
We had a wonderful turn out for back to school night and our back to school bash! It was amazing to see all our students, families, and their smiling faces!
Thank you to all the volunteers that ran a station for the back to school bash! We couldn't have done it without you!
The SFTHS NHS students were so helpful on our teacher preparation day! They ran copies, painted, moved materials and prepped artwork for us! Thank you so much!
-Lorle Bolt
A giant Welcome Back to all USD 434 and TLEC employees that support the students of Santa Fe Trail. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year. Thanks for all you do for our schools.
Shout out to all summer staff for getting the buildings, tech systems, enrollment, and summer projects completed and ready for students' return. School is truly a year-round business. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.
Shout out to the Preschool Dream Team. What a wonderful place to start your first years of school as a CHARGER!! Have a great first week of school!
-Faith Flory
Elementary Teachers spent a professional development day before students arrived receiving training in both Bridges Mathematics and EnVision Mathematics to begin our math pilot. The curriculum companies provided an overview and getting started guide. The teachers left excited about the opportunity and excited to dive into the curriculum to see all that it has to offer for our students! Secondary and early childhood teachers spent time with a FastBridge trainer for an introduction to the computer driven assessment. FastBridge is a screener test that will be given to all students, Pre-K through grade 12. The teachers spent the day learning how to give the assessment and most importantly, look at the data that the assessment provides to guide their instruction in the classroom. SFT teachers are off to a wonderful start for an exciting year ahead!!
Carrie Mugridge
1. The HS custodians have been fantastic this summer. We have been super short-staffed and they worked really hard to prepare the building for the school year. Thank you for the hard work.
2. Thank you to Jacee Kramer, Nick Fawcett, and Andrew Sprague for running the summer weights/condition program over the summer.
3. Thank you to the office staff for making this start of the school year amazing for our students and staff.
4. Thank you to Sean Nelson and her technology staff. They have us up and running to begin the school year.
-Patrick Graham and Regan Erickson
Quote for the Week:
“The most important opinion is the one you have of yourself. You are wonderfully made, on purpose for a purpose. Stop letting the fear of what others might think hold you back from becoming all you were created to be.”
- Jon Gordon | @jongordon11
Have a Great Week
Jim Lentz
Superintendent
Original source can be found here
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