Thursday, October 1 2026
Action Items
|
Schools/Department |
Description |
|
Principals and Building Administrators |
|
| High School and Eisenhower Middle School Principals | |
| Elementary School Principals |
Informational Items
| Schools/Departments | Description |
| All Administrators | |
| Principals and Building Administrators | |
| High School Principals |
Action Items
Principals and Building Administrators
Fall Tour of Schools for Student Teachers — Call for Participation
Contact: Dr. Marica Rhone
We are excited to announce an upcoming Fall 2026 Tour of Schools designed to introduce student teachers to the unique strengths, culture, and opportunities within our district. This event is planned for Tuesday, October 27 2026. We are seeking principals who are interested in having their school included as a tour stop.
Participating schools will be asked to:
- Provide student ambassadors and/or staff to lead a guided tour.
- Highlight unique aspects of the school community, programs, or initiatives.
- Allow for brief classroom visits (5-10 minutes) so student teachers can observe instruction.
- Ensure a clean, clutter-free, and welcoming environment that showcases the school and district positively.
Additionally, the mid-day tour stop will serve as the host location for a boxed lunch for student teachers. Schools interested in being the mid-day site should ensure they have adequate space to comfortably accommodate the group (up to 20 participants).
This tour is a great opportunity to introduce your building to student teachers who may not currently be placed in your school but are preparing to make decisions about their first teaching positions.
If your school is interested in participating, please complete this brief survey.
Title I Action Plans were due by 9/29/26
Contact: Lisa Walker
If you’ve not already done so
- Each Principal is required to Submit Title I Action Plan in KansaSTAR to Lisa for review, feedback, and/or approval on or before 9/29/26
Approve Principal’s Building Report by 10/7
Contact: Dr. Angela Grant
Thank you for all the work you have done reviewing your ENRL data over the last week! The DERA team is now working hard to get those squeaky-clean records submitted so they can populate your Principal’s Building Report (PBR). Please set aside time early next week to review and approve your report. We are asking that all PBRs are approved by 10/7 so that we can submit the district-level S066 report by the deadline on 10/9. If you review your report and have questions, please contact Dr. Grant.
To access your PBR, go to the KSDE Authenticated Applications website and log in, then choose Principal’s Building Report. Additional step by step instructions are available here. You can also click this link to access the KSDE user guide.
Get ready for the Learning Summit next week!
Contact: Tiffany Judkins
ACTION ITEM: Please share the following information with your staff.
The Learning Summit launches next Friday, October 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Locations are now available in the Catalog and the Locations at a Glance.
Check the Learning Summit Participant Registration Update to confirm your session.
Important Notes:
- Registration: Walk-ins are not allowed; pre-registration is required.
- Preparation: Review the Participant Guidance in the Catalog prior to the session. Bring your district device and writing materials unless otherwise directed by your facilitator.
- Elevator Access: Participants needing to use the building elevator are advised to request assistance from the building secretary or a staff member with an “ELEVATOR ACCESS” lanyard.
Teacher Access to Campfire
Contact: Dr. Angela Grant
The Campfire app will be available in Classlink to teachers this Friday, October 2nd. Note that Campfire does not support building level access at this time, so building administrators will not be able to see all the classes in their building.
If a teacher is prompted to register when they try to log in to Campfire via Classlink, please submit a ticket to DERA and Mr. Harris will provide the workspace ID. If more than one teacher in your building encounters that issue, please have your building test coordinator submit one ticket for the building with a list of all the affected staff.
When teachers log in, they will be able to see what tests (assignments) are available to their students and whether the student has started or submitted the test.
Practice tests have been pushed to all classrooms. These are secure tests that will trigger the lockdown browser so that students can preview the full experience. Please do not administer the practice tests yet. DERA will work with Building Test Coordinators to establish a practice testing window for each building. Staggering practice testing across buildings will help prevent system bottlenecks and allow DERA to provide support as needed.
Like last year, students will need to enter a code to access the Q1 assessment. The code is available to teachers on the assignment screen in Campfire (in the circled area of this screenshot). Each section will have its own code.
In the meantime, please encourage teachers to log in to Campfire and become familiar with the platform, but wait until your building's scheduled window before having students launch the practice test.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Angela Grant or Mr. Nathan Harris
District Benchmark Parent handout now available
Contact: Dr. Angela Grant
Please use the linked handout to communicate with your families regarding changes to the state assessment. We are working on translated copies as well and will send out a message via ParentSquare to all families when we have those available.
High School and Eisenhower Middle School Principals
October 5 and 6- Carnegie Learning Building Support and Walkthroughs
Contact: Jenny Kramer
Carnegie Learning Curriculum Partners will be in our buildings on October 5 and 6 to continue supporting implementation of our high school math curriculum.
Feedback from last year’s visits highlighted the value of providing multiple types of support during our time with Curriculum Partners. In response, this year’s visits will use a blended support model that includes:
- PLC Collaboration: Curriculum Partners will work alongside teachers during professional learning communities to deepen understanding of the curriculum and support implementation.
- Classroom Walkthroughs: Curriculum Partners will visit classrooms to observe implementation, celebrate progress, and identify opportunities for continued learning and support.
Because the visits will include both PLC collaboration and classroom walkthroughs, Curriculum Partners may not be able to visit every classroom or meet with every PLC team during this visit. The goal is to create meaningful opportunities for learning while also developing a broader understanding of implementation across our schools.
Our Carnegie Learning partners are excited to return and see the progress our teachers and students have made over the past year. Principal participation is an important part of this learning. Please plan to join Curriculum Partners and your teachers when possible so that the learning from these visits can inform continued implementation and support within your building.
Preparing for Your Visit
- Review the visit schedule and send any needed changes or additions to Jenny Kramer.
- Share the schedule and purpose of the visit with teachers so they know when Curriculum Partners will be in the building.
- Prepare teachers for the blended support model, including the possibility of Curriculum Partners participating in their PLC and/or visiting their classroom.
Thank you for helping make these visits an opportunity to celebrate our progress, learn from implementation, and identify next steps for continued growth.
Action Needed: Check the schedule and send any updates to Jenny Kramer. Mark your calendars to join in the learning with Carnegie Learning.
Elementary School Principals
Elementary Social Studies Cadre: Seeking Teacher Representatives
Contact: Alli Rice
As part of our continued work to strengthen the elementary Social Studies curriculum, we are seeking 18 elementary teacher representatives (3 per grade level, K–5) to participate in a Social Studies Cadre during the 2026–2027 school year.
The cadre will collaborate to review and refine the elementary Social Studies GVC and curriculum, with a focus on strengthening alignment, coherence, and meaningful learning experiences for students across the district. This work supports our District Strategic Plan, Focus Area One: Student Learning & Pathways, by strengthening the coherent and consistent implementation of district-adopted curriculum across schools.
Meeting dates: October 28, November 18, December 2, December 9, December 16, January 13, January 20, March 10, and March 31
All meetings will take place during the early-release school day at Central Office.
Support from Principals
If you are interested in having staff members from your building participate in the cadre, please complete this quick form by Wednesday, October 7th. Alli Rice will follow up directly with administrators who expressed interest.
Information Items
All Administrators
Parent Guidance
Contact: Carrie Carpenter
FREE support for our families
Through our district's partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection, families have access to parentguidance at no cost.
There's a LOT here! Families can find:
ON-DEMAND COURSES on grief, anxiety, suicide prevention, addictions, eating disorders and more
MENTAL HEALTH WEBINARS with a licensed therapist, including recorded sessions
ASK A THERAPIST — 300+ real questions covering everything from bullying and body image to vaping and helping children regulate
ASK A THERAPIST LIVE — Listen to experts talk about important topics and even ask your own questions. This webinar is an opportunity to ask a licensed clinical therapist questions about parenting, your child’s well-being, or anything that’s been on your mind. Participation is anonymous and free.
Ask a Therapist Live resources are now available for the rest of 2026!
- October 27, 2026:
- November 17, 2026:
- December 15, 2026:
Keep this one in your back pocket. When a family shares that they're struggling or asks, “Do you know of anything that could help?” this may be a wonderful resource to share.
Staff Guidance
Contact: Carrie Carpenter
The Cook Center also provides district staff with free access to StaffGuidance
You'll find:
PERSONAL COACHING — Connect one-on-one with a coach to identify what matters, set achievable goals and receive ongoing support.
AI-POWERED GUIDE — A chat-based resource developed using clinical insight to help you explore questions and find guidance.
10-MINUTE LEARNING — Short, video-based courses you can complete when it works for you—designed to help you reset, gain clarity and build helpful habits.
Sometimes the person doing all the supporting needs support, too.
Do You Know About HELPme?
Contact: Carrie Carpenter
HELPme is a 24/7 support system for KCKPS students, families, and school employees.
HELPme empowers every member of our school community to seek assistance whenever they need it, while remaining completely anonymous!
Whether it's a student battling bullying, a family in need of food or shelter, a school employee feeling overwhelmed, or anyone facing a personal challenge – HELPme is here to support us.
HELPme provides three ways for our school community to ask for and receive help:
- GET RESOURCES is a safe space for users to explore essential needs and wellness resources at their own pace. It provides a confidential way to connect with local resources, ensuring privacy and dignity for those seeking assistance.
- CRISIS TEXT LINE provides users with immediate mental health support. With a network of 27,000+ trained crisis counselors, users can text with a counselor (day or night), making sure no one feels isolated in their time of need. Counselors are available 24/7, 365 days of the year.
- ASK FOR HELP is an anonymous communication channel between users and designated school personnel. It allows users to request help directly from their school without the pressure of disclosing their identity. Users may also request help for a friend or family member.
We kindly urge all KCKPS employees, students, parents and guardians to download the app. HELPme is not only a support system for your children, but also for you.
Getting Started with the HELPme app:
- Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Select your school from the dropdown menu or enter the code provided by the school.
- Accept the Terms & Conditions.
Use HELPme on the web:
- Click HERE to visit the HELPme landing page.
- The KCKPS Access Code (kckps2010) is already in the form so click next.
- Select your school from the dropdown.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions, and select "Get Started."
UPDATES: Replacement System for Old Employee Online (SEDS) Extra Duty Time Sheet System
Contact:Lisa Walker
Within the next week, the District will transition to a new workflow platform for completing and submitting extra duty timesheets, replacing the expiring Old Employee Online (SEDS) system.
Staff will continue to access the system through the Old Employee Online link on the Staff Links page. Once the transition occurs, the new platform will open after you enter your login credentials.
We expect the transition to be straightforward, as the new platform’s appearance, functionality, and approval process closely align with the current system. This similarity was a key factor in its selection. A short user guide with step-by-step instructions is included to help staff navigate the transition.
Principals and Building Administrators
Audio Enhancement: Supporting Consistent Use
Contact: Dr. Danira Fernandez-Flores
Principals, if you find inconsistent use of audio enhancement systems in classrooms, the resources below can support you in training or retraining staff. These systems are essential tools for access to learning for all students and classroom safety, and consistent use helps ensure students receive the intended benefit.
Training Slides - Audio Enhancement, SAFE System, and CLEAR Connect 2026-27
Test Security and Ethics Reminder
Contact: Nathan Harris
Test Security and Ethics training for Building Test Coordinators is tomorrow, Oct 2, 2026 in the Central Office Board Room from 9:30am-11:30am.
BTCs will then lead trainings for their buildings on Oct 14, 2026.
Language Support for October FA
Contact: Dasiel Suarez
Language support is available to schools during Family Advocacy Days. Teachers will have access to unlimited, on-demand services through Propio throughout the entire FA Week (October 19-22).
Please note:
- There are FA-specific Propio credentials (phone number and live video access code) that are only active during FA Week, October 19–22.
- Encourage staff to use the FA-specific Propio credentials during FA Week so we can accurately track usage and expenses and continue providing the highest-quality interpretation services.
- Do not use the FA-specific Propio credentials (phone number or access code) before or after FA Week, as they will be deactivated.
- Staff members can now pre-schedule calls through Propio-One (live video option). This is particularly helpful for minority languages for which on-demand connection times may be longer.
Onsite Interpreter:
If your building requires an in-person interpreter to support meetings that are difficult to handle through Propio, please ensure that the request is submitted through the Onsite Interpreter Request Form on the Language Support page.
If parent meetings can be supported through Propio, please ensure that your staff uses the FA-specific Propio credentials.
Helpful Tips:
- Identify specific meeting times when requesting in-person interpreters; this will help us assign interpreters more efficiently.
- Bilingual staff can provide language support during FA based on their designated roles and the three tiers of language support. For more information, please refer to the Language Support page
- Do not request an interpreter for an entire FA Day if they will not be needed all day.
Help us support our families by identifying meeting times and submitting in-person interpreter requests for those specific times.
For more information, email language.support@kckps.org
High School Principals
AFA Referral Reminder
Contact: Michael Knight
I wanted to share a few numbers from our Fall 2026 AFA referral window.
AFA Fall 2026 Referrals:
- 44 referred
I also wanted to highlight a few important deadlines and updates: - 36 offered a spot
- 17 accepted
- 8 out of district
- 11 home building
I also wanted to highlight a few important deadlines and updates:
- October 2 – Priority deadline for AFA consideration.
- October 16 – Last day students can enter AFA for the first semester. After this date, the next opportunity for entry will be the second semester.
- 10–15 students for Second Quarter – AFA is looking to accept approximately 10–15 students for the second quarter, based on available capacity and student needs.
I am also working with the DERA team to develop a list of students in your buildings who meet, or come very close to meeting, the guidelines for an AFA referral. My hope is that this list can serve as an additional resource for your teams when identifying students who may be excellent candidates for consideration.
The AFA team is also looking to get parent meetings underway. If you have a student who has been referred and you or a team member would like an update on their status, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us identify students who may benefit from the opportunities AFA provides.