Buhler USD 313

Thank you to Stutzman's Greenhouse for donating flowers for an art activity at STEAM Camp this week! #BetterTogether

Our first week of STEAM Camp has been full of so much learning and fun! Click the link to watch a highlight video showing just a few of the things we have been up to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y5uK_peoxg&t=1s

Nine Buhler High School Students were recipients of National FFA Foundation Scholarships at the 94th Annual Kansas FFA Convention this past week in Manhattan. "The National Foundation offers approximately $2.7 million, generously donated by numerous sponsors, to FFA members across the nation every year. The awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 to assist with the students’ education at a two-year or four-year institution. Award determination is based on a student’s qualifications including academic achievement, leadership, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), FFA involvement, or financial need." Buhler students who received scholarship awards were: Thomas Compton, Hunter Durham, Maren Lackey, Mace McCabe, Carson Moler, Marissa Orem, Caroline Wagner, Kaden Warner, and Abigail Yutzy Congratulations to these Crusaders and to our FFA Chapter for their continued excellence! See the image for the full press release. #Bexceptional #CommittedtoExcellence

Free summer meals are available this year for kids up to age 18 at a number of Hutchinson sites, courtesy of USD 308 food service. See the attached photo for information.

Yesterday, an unspeakable tragedy occurred at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. As our community is excited to start summer and a rejuvenation period, Uvalde families are living out our worst nightmare. Violence inside our schools is impossible to process. We send our most precious gifts to schools trusting they will be cared for, loved, supported, and safe. When that trust is violated, it leaves all of us to question our own safety and procedures, and to reflect on what more can be done to keep everyone in our buildings protected. Buhler schools have a number of precautionary measures in place. Each building has a secure entryway. Individuals must identify themselves to office personnel before being allowed entry. Each building also has cameras at the entryway and in various locations in the building. Exterior doors are to remain locked during the day, and gates to playgrounds remain locked and secure. With our recent bond issue, all offices have been relocated to the front of the building, and visitors must go through the office before gaining access to the building. Additionally, staff and students do crisis drills to prepare for an active shooter. Reno County Law Enforcement and county superintendents also work together to ensure communication and response procedures are in place with crisis plans and threat assessment procedures. In the next two weeks, our administration will review those plans, reflect on what we learn from Uvalde to improve our response, and adjust accordingly. Unfortunately, safety precautions such as those listed above are simply that...precautions. Our most effective deterrent is being sure each student feels a sense of belonging in our schools, that each student is supported and has a caring adult they can trust. The other most effective precaution is each of you. Each student, staff member, parent, and community member must remain vigilant in listening for and reporting any questionable behavior or comments to authorities. Every one of us has a role to play in keeping our staff and students safe. I am thankful for the support of our community and dedication to our youth. Cindy Couchman Superintendent, Buhler Public Schools

Our Buhler Special Olympics Teams (basketball, track, & bowling) will be holding a fundraiser at Applebee's this coming Tuesday, May 31st from 4-8pm. Eat out at Applebee's on Tuesday and order off of the "Together We Care Tuesday" menu and a percentage of the revenue will go toward funding our team's annual budget. See the attached "Together We Care" menu. #BetterTogether

Congratulations to our girls’ soccer team on their 3rd straight Regional Championship last night! #Bexceptional

Today we recognized our very first class of Ad Astra Virtual Academy graduates! Some students have graduated early prior to this, but this is the group that "walked" for graduation today. Graduates pictured left to right are: Blake Anderson, Matthew Flynn, Charles Cornwell IV, Javon Clemmons, and makya Steinert. Not pictured but graduating today are: Trace Brown, Breya Milleson, and Jacob Sosa Other graduates not pictured: Payton Thiessen, Kaleb Webster, Audrey Bailey, Trevor Cooper, Emilee Fincher, Shelby Fry, Elizabeth Montenegro It has been an incredible first year for Ad Astra Academy and we are excited about further growth and opportunities!

The Kansas State Department of Education is once again partnering with many venues and experiences state-wide to give students the opporutunity to stay engaged through experiential learning this summer. See the flyer below for details or visit sunflowersummer.org

Congratulations to Davian Spies, who won the 4A State Boys Tennis Championship this weekend in Winfield! Davian is a freshman! We look forward to watching Davian defend this title for the rest of his high school career. #Bexceptional

Our seniors revisited their elementary schools today and walked the halls one last time! Seniors, we hope more than anything that you look back on your time in Buhler schools with great fondness for the friends you made, teachers who impacted you, and the experiences you had. Now, go be Positive World Changers!

Yesterday our Cru Leaders from all three elementary schools visited the Kansas State Capitol Building together. They toured the building and got to go to the house floor. Thank you, Jason Probst, Kansas Representative from Hutchinson, for hosting our students! Cru Leaders started just this year and they are already making a positive impact on their school and community.

As part of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, there are many internet providers that have lowered high-speed internet costs, resulting in free or very low cost internet options for qualifying families. Large wireless providers like AT&T and Verizon, as well as fiber internet providers that serve many Buhler families like Cox Communications and Ideatek, are on board. View the White House press release below for details on the program, including who qualifies, and links to participating internet providers. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sharpspring&sslid=Mze3NDc3NrQwsDQ2AAA&sseid=MzIxNrI0MTAwNgEA&jobid=158e5e77-2c1a-41c7-9b61-2f394fb14aeb

BOARD VACANCY NOTICE: MEMBER DISTRICT TO FILL VACANCY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE UNEXPIRED TERM PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 25-2022 of a vacancy in the membership of the Board of Education of Unified School District No. 313, Reno County, Kansas, and that such vacancy will be filled by appointment of the Board of Education not sooner than fifteen (15) days following publication of this notice. The appointed member will serve the remainder of the unexpired term in this position. Such vacancy exists by reasons of the resignation of Robin Swanson, who represented board Member District 3-6, Position 6. Applicants must reside in this member district. By order of the Board of Education, Unified School District No. 313, Reno County, Kansas, this 9 day of May, 2022. Interested applicants must complete the application found at www.usd313.org and return to the Clerk of the Board at 406 W. 7th, Buhler, Kansas 67522. The application deadline is 12:00 noon on Monday, June 6, 2022. View district and board member position boundaries here: https://5il.co/1a9sc View and download the application here: https://5il.co/1acsa

Congratulations to the BHS debate team on their 3rd place finish at the state tournament! #Bexceptional

Congratulations to the 14 Buhler High School students recognized as CTE Scholars this year! Check out the video recognizing each of them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO6_Az7kPm4&t=137s Thomas Compton Abigail Yutzy Bonner Van Bruggen Bradley Neill Carson Moler Hunter Durham Jackson Childs Jaylee Giles Kacey Lehl Kaden Warner Mace McCabe Maren Lackey Marissa Orem Tanner Tustain #Bexceptional #CommittedtoExcellence

Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation week for 2022. We may be a little biased, but our teaching staff is second to none! They work so hard to meet the needs of each and every student. They collaborate with one another to do the most amazing things and provide amazing learning experiences. They are committed to excellence and directors of hope. Our community has always been so supportive, but please help us show our teachers a little extra appreciation in your own way this week. Also, if you are a Buhler alumni feel free to use the comments to shout out a teacher or two you remember that are still on staff!

Today we got to celebrate! We recognized six people for retiring after long careers serving public education, our two Horizon Award Winners, and our two Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees. Retirees Linda Ridge - Food Service at Union Valley (22 years of service) Janet Gulotta-Carlisle - Transportation (12 years of service) Candy Beasley - Buhler Grade Shining Stars (23 years of service) Laura Miller - Buhler High targeted assistance (21 years of service) Susan Blubaugh - Prairie Hills Science (24 years of service) Kevin Abbott - Asst. Principal at BHS (47 years of service) Horizon Award Winners Katelyn Stoss - Music at Plum Creek Elementary Nicole Menard - English at Buhler High School Kansas Teacher of the Year Nominees Shannon Vieyra - 3rd Grade at Plum Creek Courtney Klassen - Prairie Hills Math

See the images below for information from the Reno County Health Department regarding the Kansas Food Assistance Program. Reach out to the entities listed on the flier for information. We are sharing this to help spread the word, but are unaffiliated with the program

Today is Administrative Professional's Day. One day does not seem like enough for all that these amazing individuals do in our offices. Just a few things that they do for us: Organize File Schedule Plan Host Copy (Seriously how do they always fix the copier?!) Coordinate Comfort sick students Comfort adults Answer phones (At least one millennial in the district office is constantly impressed with their phone skills) Smile Thank you to each of these wonderful people for keeping the district running. We are so lucky to have each of them!