District Newsletter

October 2025

www.usd450.net

Election Day is just around the corner on Tuesday, November 4. This is an important opportunity for our community to have a voice in the future of Shawnee Heights. On the ballot this year, voters will decide on the proposed USD 450 bond and three Board of Education positions. Your vote truly matters, and I hope each of you will take some time to participate and help shape the future of our schools.

If you would like to learn more about the bond, please see the section directly below. Additionally, we invite you to join us for our final Town Hall Meeting on Monday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the Shawnee Heights Elementary cafeteria. This is a great chance to ask questions and learn more before heading to the polls.

Thank you for your support of the Shawnee Heights Public Schools!

Sheila Meggers
Superintendent

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Voters will decide on three Board of Education positions and the proposed USD 450 Bond.

Find more information and resources below:

Shawnee Heights Middle School Proposed Bond Highlights

Berryton Elementary School Proposed Bond Highlights

Shawnee Heights Elementary School Proposed Bond Highlights

Tecumseh North Elementary School Proposed Bond Highlights

Tecumseh South Elementary School Proposed Bond Highlights

Coming soon! Check back on Wednesday to find a short video on the Shawnee Heights High School bond proposal highlights.

We’re excited to introduce a new way for families to stay informed and connected through T-Bird Talks! Our first session will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle School library, and will focus on school safety. Our School Resource Officers will share how we approach safety throughout the district and will be available to answer questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the steps we take every day to keep our schools safe and welcoming for our students.

Each semester, T-Bird Talks will highlight topics that matter most to our school community. These evenings are designed to help families learn more about district initiatives, engage in meaningful conversations, and strengthen the partnerships that support student success. Future sessions will feature topics such as academic programs, early childhood learning, and other programs that help our students thrive.

We hope to see you at T-Bird Talks: School Safety!

Too many apps? Too many messages? We agree, and we're fixing that with something better! This fall, we're introducing a new way to make school communication easier and more organized by rolling out ParentSquare. ParentSquare will replace the multiple communication apps such as Remind and Band, helping reduce confusion and ensure families get the information they need, when they need it, and how they prefer to receive it.

Why We Chose ParentSquare

Last school year, we asked for feedback from both staff and families through a communication survey. While we didn't expect to use the survey's data to change communication tools, it was helpful when we learned that Remind is discontinuing its service. Your responses helped guide the selection of a platform that would best meet our needs. We needed something user-friendly, flexible, and inclusive, and ParentSquare checked all the boxes.

What Makes ParentSquare Great for Families

Like Remind, ParentSquare allows families to control how and when they receive messages. You can choose to receive updates by text, email, or push notification through the app. An additional feature with ParentSquare is that parents can select whether they would like to receive messages instantly as they are sent, or in a daily digest, a single, end-of-day summary of all communication.

Adding events to your calendar, signing permission forms, signing up for items, and volunteering are a few other capabilities that make ParentSquare a one-stop shop for communication. The flexibility of this tool allows you to stay informed without being overwhelmed. The goal is for families to know exactly where to go to find and easily engage in communication.

What's Happening Now

Onboarding and becoming proficient with the tool will take a little time. Our district staff is currently going through training to ensure we're prepared before launching ParentSquare to families. We know that there will be a lot of learning as we go, but our goal is to make it as smooth and easy as possible. We are rolling out ParentSquare to small groups now with the final classroom launch on December 1st.

What You Need To Do

An account is automatically created for each parent or guardian using the contact information in our student information system (PowerSchool). An invite email will be sent to parent/guardian contacts between now and December 1, 2025. We encourage you to activate your account to download the free mobile app, set your language preferences, and choose how and when you’d like to receive messages.

Parent Square Parent Resources

Getting Started with ParentSquare for Parents and Guardians (English) (Spanish)

Parent/Guardian 101: Support Your Student with ParentSquare

ParentSquare Overview and Help Articles

Thank you for your continued support as we work to improve communication across our district. We can't wait to welcome you to the Square!

The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation kicked off October with its annual Prize Parade, surprising teachers across the district with Foundation grant awards. From new classroom tools to hands-on learning experiences, these grants showcased how community support directly enhances student learning and creativity.

The celebration continued the following week at the Foundation Breakfast, where sponsors, educators, and community members gathered to see the impact of last year's grants come to life. Guests enjoyed performances from the Shawnee Heights Choraliers and Orchestra and heard directly from teachers and students about how Foundation grants have enriched their classrooms. These stories showed the lasting impact of sponsor donations on our schools and students.

The Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation extends its gratitude to all sponsors for their continued investment in students and staff. Your generosity makes these opportunities possible and helps elevate education throughout Shawnee Heights.

We are proud to recognize three outstanding educators who represent the heart of Shawnee Heights USD 450!

Rachael Havens – Horizon Award Winner

Rachael is an exceptional early-childhood educator who teaches to the whole child, balancing academics with social-emotional learning. Through Conscious Discipline and creative, themed units, she ensures her students feel safe, connected, and excited to learn each day. Her commitment to family engagement and professional growth shines through in everything she does.

Rachael will represent our district in the Kansas State Department of Education's Horizon Award Program, which honors exemplary first- and second-year teachers across the state.

LesLee Nelson – Elementary Teacher of the Year

LesLee, a teacher at Tecumseh South Elementary, creates what she calls a "homecourt advantage" in her classroom, a place where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Her students consistently show tremendous growth and leave her classroom believing in themselves. Students, families, and colleagues admire her for her compassion, skill, and leadership.

Mitchell Spade – Secondary Teacher of the Year

Mitchell, a physics teacher at Shawnee Heights High School, brings enthusiasm and energy to his classroom and beyond. He's one of the first faces our freshmen meet as he leads the Link Crew opening assembly, setting a welcoming tone that helps new students feel part of the T-Bird family. He also coaches girls' JV soccer, supports the Renaissance Club, and volunteers at soccer camps, showing his dedication to building community and inspiring students.

Mitch and LesLee are our district's Teacher of the Year Winners and will represent Shawnee Heights in the Kansas Teacher of the Year Program.

Please join us in congratulating Rachael, Mitchell, and LesLee for their commitment to excellence and the incredible impact they make each day in the lives of our students.

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Sheila Meggers, Superintendent

Matt Hirsch, Associate Superintendent

Board of Education

Erica Price - President

Sarah Sanders - Vice President

Rocky Busenitz

Rosa Cavazos

Christina Flaming

Lauren Tice Miller

Kristy VanMetre