USD320 Wamego

November 1, 2025

As we move into the Thanksgiving season, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude. This idea came to mind after reading The Anxious Generation, a book that examines the rise in teen depression and mental health concerns since 2010. The author connects much of this increase to the growing use of smartphones and social media among young people.

Social media often shows only the best moments of people’s lives. When we compare our everyday experiences to these curated highlights, it can leave us feeling inadequate. True gratitude, however, helps us focus on what’s real and meaningful—appreciating who we are and what we already have.

In our school district, we work hard every day to improve. But in that pursuit, it’s important to pause and be thankful for the progress we’ve already made. We strive to get better not because we are failing, but because we know we can achieve even more. We can be both proud of our accomplishments and motivated to keep growing.

Speaking of gratitude, I want to thank Mrs. Sprenkle and Mr. Hornung for their leadership in organizing the Honor Flight program. As someone new to this community, I was deeply moved by my first Honor Flight homecoming celebration. This service-learning experience honors veterans and provides a meaningful way for our students to give back. I also want to thank the staff, student leaders, and the Honor Flight board for their hard work and dedication in making this program a success.

This fall, we received our state assessment results after some adjustments to the Kansas testing system delayed their release. The results were outstanding for USD 320:

• 86.3% of students performed at grade level in math
• 84.4% performed at grade level in English Language Arts (ELA)

While scores across Kansas improved overall, our district’s growth outpaced the state average. These results are a testament to the commitment and skill of our teachers, staff, and students. They reflect the high expectations we hold for learning in USD 320.

Finally, as colder weather approaches, please remember our winter weather procedures. If road conditions make it necessary to delay or cancel school, every effort will be made to decide by 4:30 a.m. When schools are closed, all activities and practices are also canceled or postponed. In some cases, a two-hour delay may be announced if conditions are expected to improve. Please note that there will be no morning preschool or breakfast on delayed-start days.

Information about closures or delays will be shared through ParentSquare. A test message was sent to families recently. If you need help with the ParentSquare system, please reach out to your school office.

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, I hope we all take a moment to reflect on what we’re grateful for—our students, our schools, and this incredible community we share. I’m proud to serve the ONE Wamego community and grateful for the teamwork that makes our schools strong.  As always, if you’d like to visit about any of these topics or have other questions or concerns, I can be reached at 785-456-7643 or at meyerj@usd320.com. 

-Josh Meyer – USD 320 Superintendent