I don't know about you, but I sure find it hard to believe that it’s almost the first day of school! We are excited to have teachers back in the buildings on Tuesday, Aug. 19 — and then we get to welcome our students and families on Thursday, Aug. 21!
Families with students at Washington Grade School should also plan to drop by school between 6 and 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18. Don't miss the chance to drop off all the school supplies before the first day and enjoy some ice cream, courtesy of Ellis Alumni! 7th graders will also have an orientation on the 19th from 6-7pm at the Jr/Sr High School to meet teachers, see their schedule and visit classrooms.
Summer has flown by at the district office and around the board table. I want to thank the local people who have requested information about school board openings for the Nov. 4 election. There is still time to be a write-in candidate, so if you or someone you know is interested, please contact me at the district office or talk to any of the current board members to learn more.
Our strategic planning work is now focused on action steps and timelines to help us maximize resources and monitor our progress in the months and years to come. One of the focus areas, Facilities and Infrastructure, includes addressing our district track. The Legacy Committee is looking forward to meeting with Tarkett Sports Construction this month for results of the feasibility and cost studies currently underway. If you’d like to know more about this project or help with the committee, please contact Jesse Vincent, HS principal at 785-726-3151.
Summer break isn’t quite over yet, making this the perfect time for families to ease into the transition that a new year school brings. Here are a few ways to make life a bit less stressful when school routines take over.
· Meals: Talk about breakfast and lunch preferences on school days. Work through the details together, whether it’s loading up your student’s meal account or making a grocery list and a simple system to prepare lunchbox meals.
· Transportation: No matter how old your students are, it's wise to discuss plans and preferences getting to and from school each day. If your child is in high school, revisit any family expectations about who your child is allowed to ride with and/or whether they are allowed to drive with friends in their car.
· Sleep: Moving bedtime and wake-up time a bit earlier between now and the first day tends to be easier than a sudden switch when school starts. Chat with your kids about healthy sleep habits and ask older students how you can help them get enough rest to succeed in academics, sports and other activities.
· Calendars: Multiple commitments can overwhelm families at any stage of life. Work together on a plan to put details in a common place, whether a paper calendar on the pantry door, a shared digital calendar or something else. Be sure to include school attendance dates and other details available on our events calendar at usd388.com.
Before I close, I want to encourage every family with school-age kids to consider submitting a confidential online application for the free and reduced meal program. You can find a link on our website under the enrollment section. If you don’t qualify, nobody will even know you applied. If you do qualify, it will help your child and ease the household budget. And rest assured, the only people who receive information about students with free/reduced meals are a few key office workers who manage payment records. These people are required to keep the information confidential. Your child’s teacher, aide, bus driver or cafeteria worker will not know.
A new school year always brings good memories to mind, as new memories are created. Thank you for your support of our schools — and thank you for all you are already doing to make 2025-2026 a great year of learning, connection and growth!
Janice Wilson
Superintendent