August 2023
View current and past e-Communicators by visiting www.seamanschools.org/eCommunicator.
Important Dates
August 15: Elementary Sneak Peeks 5:30-6:30 pm
August 16: First Day of School (K-10)
August 16: MELC Sneak Peek 5:30-6:30 pm
August 17: First Day of School (MELC & 11-12)
August 21: SHS Open House 5:30 pm
August 21: SMS Picture Day
August 24: EL Kindergarten Parent Night 5:30 pm
August 24: NF Kindergarten Parent Night 6:00 pm
August 25: SHS Back-to-School Dance 8:00 pm
August 28: NF 1st-6th Grade Parent Night 6:00 pm
August 28: EL Site Council 6:00 pm
August 28: EL PTO Meeting 7:00 pm
August 28: SHS Fine Arts Booster Club Meeting 7:00 pm
August 29: NH Parent Night 6:00 pm
August 29: PHLC Back to School Open House 6:00 pm
August 30: Elementary Gifted Parent Night at Elmont 5:00 pm
August 30: EL 1st-3rd Grade Parent Night 5:30 pm
August 30: EL 4th-6th Grade parent Night 6:00 pm
August 31: MELC Parent Information Night 5:30-6:30 pm
Click here to view the SHS athletics calendar and athletics website.
To say that we are excited to welcome all of our students back for the 2023-24 school year would be an understatement. We are thrilled to spend another year partnering with you and sharing in a year of achievement and successes with your family.
If you are new to the district, I can assure you that you have found a special place and an all around great community. Last year at this time, I was introducing myself as the new Superintendent of Seaman Schools and thanking you all for the warm welcome my family and I received. It has been my honor to serve this community and I am so proud of the work we’ve already accomplished together in such a short time.
Together, we combined our different perspectives to establish our
guiding principles, which are now the guideposts for every decision we make in our schools. From there, our Board of Education listened to your feedback and set our focus areas so that teachers, administrators, and support staff can begin to develop their goals and the plans to achieve those goals. We also worked together to create our
graduate profile by determining the essential skills, mindsets, and competencies that our community wants to see in our graduates. Our foundation has been set by our parents, students, staff, and community so thank you for your contribution.
I’m looking forward to keeping families engaged in all aspects of the work we do for kids, their learning, and their futures. This community understands the importance of pulling together to create a positive impact, which is exactly what we need to be successful.
It’s going to be a great year!
Brad Willson
Superintendent
New Parent Portal and Menus and Meal Payment
The Seaman Food and Nutrition Services is excited to introduce you to Titan
LINQConnect, our new online meal payment portal. Parents can create an account in Titan
LINQConnect to submit free and reduced applications, view menus, and pay meal fees.
Titan
LINQConnect is replacing the MySchoolBucks system and all balances have been transferred to LINQConnect.
To make meal payments, please create a new account at
https://www.linqconnect.com. You can also submit a free and reduced application through LINQConnect for the current school year.
Click on “REGISTER” to create a new account.
You will need the following information to successfully link your student(s) to your account:
1. First Name: As registered with the school
2. Last Name: As registered with the school
3. Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY)
For further questions, please call Seaman Unified School District 345’s Food and Nutrition Services at 785-575-8650 or the contact support line for LINQConnect at 916-467-4700 option two.
New Meal Fee Portal & Lunch Menus
Bus Routes
The transportation department has completed their routing of all bus riders who signed up for bussing during online enrollment by August 4. Bus information can be found in PowerSchool. Please check your student's bus number and drop-off/pick-up information by logging into PowerSchool and clicking "Bus Information" on the left navigation bar. If you have any questions, please contact the transportation department at 785-286-8440 or email [email protected].
Pick-up and drop-off times might be a little off schedule for the first couple of days as students and drivers are getting back into the swing of things so please be patient. First day of school pictures at bus stops take a little extra time.
Important Note: Bus routes may continue to change as change requests come in. Please check your route information regularly the first couple of weeks for any updated information.
Transportation Student-Parent Handbook
SMS and SHS Laptops
If you are a high school student and did NOT make it to pick up your laptops during the designated times last week, no worries! Students will check out their laptop when school begins. Check out the latest SHS parent newsletter for more information. Please be sure technology fees have been paid in order to check out laptops.
Seaman Middle School students will be issued their laptops when school begins.
Test of the USD 345 Emergency Notification System
A test of the USD 345 Emergency Notification System, has been scheduled during a non-school day to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families. This test is an essential part of our commitment to providing effective communication during critical situations.
Date: Monday, September 4, 2023
Time: Noon
During this test, you may receive a test message via various communication channels based on your preferences selected during online enrollment, including:
• Text messages to your registered mobile numbers
• Email notifications to your registered email addresses
• A voice call to your registered phone number
Please note that this is only a test, and there is no cause for concern. The purpose of this exercise is to assess the functionality and efficiency of our USD 345 Emergency Notification System in a controlled environment. Please use this opportunity to be sure your contact information is up-to-date in Powerschool. This can be updated through your school office.
In the event of a real emergency, these notification channels will be utilized to provide critical information, instructions, and updates. The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, and we are continuously working to ensure our emergency communication system is reliable and effective.
If you encounter any issues or have feedback regarding the test, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this test. Together, we are better prepared to face any potential emergencies and keep our schools safe.
Teachers of the Year
All of our Teachers of the Year were recognized at our District Convocation last week. Teachers of the Year are voted on by peers with one teacher selected per building. From those building winners, a representative is selected for preschool/elementary and one for secondary. This year, West Indianola Teacher Mary Beck and Seaman High School Teacher Cassie Cowan won this great honor! Mary and Cassie will now be invited to apply for the KSDE Kansas Teacher of the Year program for consideration in the state recognition program. Congratulations to all of our Teachers of the Year!
A huge thank you to Prairie Band Casino and Resort for donating two $200 gift cards to the Cedar & Sage Spa to our winners!
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Work in USD 345 and join a family of dedicated staff members who make a difference in our community every day!
Apply Online: https://seamanschools.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx
Questions: 785-575-8602
See Something, Say Something
Our See Something, Say Something reporting tool is anonymous. This form allows you and others to submit safety concerns to district officials. This reporting tool is continuously monitored by district staff. If you would like to receive follow-up correspondence you may leave your contact information. Reporting observed threats, behaviors, actions, and harassment help maintain a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.
After you provide as much information as you have about a safety or security concern, here are the next steps the district follows:
1. A district official reviews your information and replies to your tip if contact info is provided.
2. Your tip is forwarded to the proper administration to begin investigation.
3. You are contacted (if contact info is provided) to provide any follow-up info, if needed.
4. Administration follows through with the investigation and any action steps necessary.
Crime Stoppers is another reporting tool available to Shawnee County residents. Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming fear and apathy. They assist local law enforcement agencies by gathering information through the use of online and mobile tools and encourage community members to volunteer vital information that could lead to the battle against crime.
Call the Anonymous Tip Line at (785) 234-0007 or submit information through their Mobile Application. Tips that lead to a felony arrest are eligible for a cash reward.
See Something, Say Something
www.seamanschools.org/report
Crime Stoppers
(785) 234-0007
Seaman Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers is a FREE program offered to anyone in the Seaman School District. It is a voluntary program designed for all families with children ages prenatal to Kindergarten entry. Parents as Teachers (PAT) is based on two important concepts: 1.) Parents are their child's first and most influential teachers and 2.) experiences in the first years of a child's life are key to future success in school and life.
Parents as Teachers offers personal visits, group connections, screenings and a resource network. Call Mathes Early Learning Center at 785-286-7103 and leave a message for Angie or Tina. Also check out our Facebook Page, Seaman Parents as Teachers USD 345.
Visit Seaman Parents as Teachers online for more information.
School Board Meetings
Regular board meetings are scheduled on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 pm, with the exception of February, March and April, which will be held on the third Monday. Regular meetings may be adjourned to another time and place when necessary. Special meetings may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Regular meetings typically take place at the Seaman Education Center. When meeting locations change, notice is sent out to the public and made available online. Board agendas go live on the Friday afternoon prior to the regular board meeting.
All regular meetings are streamed live and available on the district's YouTube channel. A recap of the meeting is also made available through the Board Digest.
Both in-person and digital public comment are accepted at regular board meetings. The public comment agenda item may be found in the meeting agenda.
Remaining regular meetings for the 2023-24 school year:
August 14, 2023
September 11, 2023
October 9, 2023
November 13, 2023
December 11, 2023
January 8, 2024
February 19, 2024
March 18, 2024
April 15, 2024
May 13, 2024
June 10, 2024
July 8, 2024
Peachjar Flyers
Stay up-to-date and informed with events and resources available around the community by checking our digital flyerboard. Community organizations can upload their flyers for USD 345 families to receive through email.
Don't forget to check out our collection of school and community flyers. You can view all flyers for the district or search by school. Digital flyers help us keep you informed and saves our community partners in resources.
A Look at District News
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Local Businesses and Organizations Welcome New Teachers
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USD 345 Welcomes All Staff Back to School