Prairie Hills Middle School

Looking to work in Buhler Schools as a paraeducator? Reno County Education Cooperative (RCEC) services students in our building. When you work for RCEC in Buhler Schools you are a Crusader! RCEC has a half time certified position available at Prairie Hills Middle School and paraeducator openings at all buildings, with a high need at Buhler Grade School, Union Valley, and Prairie Hills. See open positions and apply here: https://rcec610.freshteam.com/jobs At RCEC Paraeducators are a critical team member providing assistance in instruction and other direct services to students to help ensure a positive, safe, and supportive learning community. Our success as an organization, and student's success as they prepare for life after high school, is highly influenced by paraprofessionals. An RCEC Paraeducator generally assists the assigned students under the supervision and guidance of the teacher with: • Implementing modifications and supports defined in the student's Individual Education Program (IEP). • Instructional support. • Group and individual activities and projects. • Planning and organizing learning experiences. • Monitoring behavior, health, or physical needs of students. • Data collection and record-keeping. • Personal care and sanitary needs. • Timely and consistent communication and mobility assistance.

A reminder that anyone can contact one of our attendance centers or the central office for at-home COVID tests. Please call ahead and send a healthy individual in to pick them up! We are pleased to offer this service to all of our community members and families.

Make note of our upcoming school-based vaccine clinics. See the image below for details. Forms can be found here: https://www.usd313.org/documents/services/health-services/school-based-vaccine-clinic-forms/223331

Yesterday we had the privilege of notifying two teachers that they have been nominated for the Kansas Horizon Award. Each year the Kansas State Department of Education recognizes exceptional first years of teaching through this award. To be eligible for the award, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching the year prior and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding. Nominees for Buhler this year are Mrs. Alexis Comley, 6th-8th grade vocal music and choir teacher at Prairie Hills Middle School, and Ms. Ashley Sides, 6th grade science and STEAM teacher at Prairie Hills Middle School. Both are extremely deserving of this nomination and now will complete the application and essays required to be considered one of the top 32 2nd year teachers in the state. 8 winners from 4 Kansas regions will be announced later this school year. Congratulations and good luck Mrs. Comley and Ms. Sides! #Bexceptional #CommittedtoExcellence

With COVID numbers rising in our community, it is a good time to share USD #313 COVID Protocols. Please see the attached pdf for information. As part of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, USD #313 is pleased to offer free over the counter COVID tests. These tests are to be completed at home. You may pick up tests at any of our school buildings or central office. Please call ahead and verify they have one on hand and only come in our buildings if you are healthy!

Buhler Families,  The district received word today that the traffic signal that is installed at 30th and Lucille is being removed. I have reached out to City Manager, Gary Meagher, regarding concerns surrounding safety and traffic flow during arrival and dismissal times at Prairie Hills Middle School. He shared that the completed traffic studies were conducted when school was in session. The results do not meet current requirements to have a stoplight at the intersection.  We are working together to find alternative solutions. I am appreciative of the partnership we have with Gary Meagher and the City of Hutchinson. We both want the same outcome-- efficiency of traffic flow and safety of our community.   In the meantime, please be aware of the changes to the intersection starting MONDAY, AUGUST 22nd: *New stop signs will be installed on Lucille at the the intersection of Lucille and 30th. *The traffic light on Lucille will be placed on flashing red. *The traffic light on 30th will be placed on flashing yellow.  *The flashing traffic signals will stay on until Tuesday, August 30th, at which time the lights will be removed.  Please talk to your younger drivers about this change.   For guardians during pick up at PHMS, it is IMPERATIVE that cars do not block the south parking lot exit as buses exit the lot. Please give buses the right of way. We appreciate your patience as we work through new traffic patterns. Cindy Couchman, Superintendent Buhler Schools

Buhler families, Since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, the federal government has supported schools and families with funds to pay for breakfast and lunch for all students. That program has now ended. Meal pricing information is attached. My School Bucks is currently down, but you may add funds to your child's account once it is available, or send money with your child to add to their account. Thank you!

Online enrollment will CLOSE on Monday, August 8th at NOON. Please make sure you have located the email and snap code for each of your students and are able to enroll by that time. If you have questions please call the district office and ask for Charlene Cooper #BetterTogether

In-person enrollment for new students is tomorrow 7:30 - 5:30 in the school buildings. We are excited to meet you! Find links to paperwork needed and a map of our school boundaries here: https://www.usd313.org/page/enrollment-information-forms Online enrollment for returning students will close on Monday, August 8th at noon.

Online enrollment is now LIVE for returning students and preschool students who registered in the spring. Families, please check your email for your enrollment link containing all of the necessary information. Contact the district office if you have questions.

For changes to meal pricing and FAQ's for the 2022-2023 school year, please see the attachments below. Online enrollment for returning students will open July 25. For new students, in person enrollment will be August 2nd in our buildings.

School supply lists are available! Stores are stocked and sales have begun! Click here for a folder containing supply lists for each school: https://www.usd313.org/documents/parents%2Fstudents/supply-lists/223574 They now include suggested donations for preschool classes.

Prairie Hills Middle School is looking for a main dish cook. Click to apply online! https://www.applitrack.com/buhlerschools/OnlineApp/JobPostings/View.asp?AppliTrackJobId=1086 There are other food service positions available online as well. View them here: https://www.applitrack.com/buhlerschools/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Food+Service

Buhler families, our transportation department is working hard to plan bus routes for the upcoming school year. To help them do this we need your help responding to the form linked below telling us EACH of your student's bussing needs this year. Please complete the form for each student as soon as possible. Click here to complete the form. https://forms.gle/t9Hv7zKgEU7Ga1828 We continue to experience a severe shortage of qualified drivers. If you or someone you know is at all interested in helping ease this shortage contact the Transportation Department at 620-543-6829 or the Burkholder Administrative Center at 620-543-2258. Please note: This same information will be requested at enrollment so that it is associated with your student in Power School, but completing this form is needed for planning purposes prior to enrollment. Thank you for your help

STEAM Camp wrapped up today! What an exciting two weeks of coding, building, creating, and collaborating we had! See our highlight video for week two below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaTZzP1DAhM

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

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

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