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CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.
Volume 16, Issue 5
January 31, 2022
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Principal's Message
Good afternoon,
I hope all is well now that we have settled in for the 2nd semester. The month of January has gone fast and we have had a roller coaster of weather. We remind students to dress for the weather as we head out to fresh-air each day at lunch time.
Coming up this February we will have our student led conferences. Today, your student will be bringing home a yellow student-led conference information sheet. It explains the set-up of our conferences and the times available to choose for your own conference. Please take a look at the times available and mark your first, second, and third choices for your conference and return to your student’s EnCor teacher by Friday, February 11. We will do our best to accommodate your choices. The letter that is being sent home is linked here for your convenience.
Conference times are February 24th 8:00am-8:00pm. This is a great opportunity for our students to show responsibility by sharing their progress with you. The students will soon be preparing portfolios that they will present to you during conferences. By preparing and presenting at the conference, students learn something important that goes beyond curriculum in the classroom. They learn many life skills as a result. As part of our emphasis on career preparation for the real world, we want our students to be able to facilitate a conference regarding their strengths and weaknesses. After the student-led portion of conferences, you are free to visit any teacher you would like. All teachers will be in their rooms for conferences. We look forward to seeing you!
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me.
Have a great day!
Brian
Make Today Matter
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Maize Counselors and Cops have teamed up to help educate families on Parenting in Today's Digital World. While our first event is December 10, we are looking ahead to future events during 2nd semester. We are so grateful to have received financial support and partnership with Heartland Credit Union! Thank you, Tyler Harrison and the team at HCU for your support!
"Heartland sees that it is vital for our community to feel supported by us in all facets of education. Parenting, teaching, coaching, mentoring, etc. is extremely tough these days and the Maize community [can benefit from the] support." -- Tyler Harrison
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Nurse's Corner
Hello Maize Families-
The Health Office needs your help!
The BEST way to help with the spread of illness is to keep your student home if he/she is experiencing any symptoms! There is a lot of illness out there, not just Covid! Please help your fellow Maize families and teachers and follow this one simple request. The second request is to be kind! Your teachers, and office staff and administrators and nurses and paras are all working hard to keep up with all of the demands that Covid has placed on everyone. Please help us by being patient and kind. It goes a long way!!! We appreciate all of our Maize families and want the best for all of you!
Shelley Funk, BSN, RN
School Nurse
Maize Middle School
Phone: 316-350-2308
Fax: 729-2479
Email: sfunk@usd266.com
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Maize Middle PTO News
December 2021
Teacher Grants
At the October staff meeting, PTO announced to teachers and staff that this year we would be offering grants to support teachers. Through an application process, teachers may request up to $250 in funding for specific items/programs which would benefit students. PTO has received some grant requests already, and has been able to start fulfilling them! Last month PTO was excited to provide the health office with a counter top ice maker, mints, new clothing (for students), and water bottles.
PTO is happy to support our teachers and students by fulfilling needs like these. PTO continues to make a difference thanks to your support through fundraisers, Spirit Nights, and Spirit Wear sales!
Spirit Wear
We just completed deliveries for our successful Fall/Winter Spirit Wear store. Watch for a spring store with more Eagles gear coming in March!
A few extra styles/sizes for sale are posted on our website with instructions for purchase.
Appreciating our Teachers
PTO likes to show appreciation to our Eagle staff and teachers throughout the school year with a monthly treat. December’s treat was a Hot Cocoa Bar set up with plenty of snacks and cocoa!
We love for parents to help take charge of this monthly token of appreciation. Sign up to provide a small treat for our staff one time this school year! We need a coordinator and volunteers for the months of March and April. PTO will reimburse up to $50 of the cost each time. Head to http://www.maizemiddlepto.com/parents for more details.
Upcoming Spirit Night
February 22 – 3-10pm Chick-fil-A
Be sure to check out our website for more information! Watch for details on a General PTO Meeting in January!
Thank you for staying connected with us!
Maize Middle PTO Board
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Spelling Bee
Congratulations to seventh graders Lyla Lansdown and Josiah Johnson for placing in the top three at the Wichita League Spelling Bee hosted at MMS on January 11th. Students from nine local schools competed in the bee. Josiah came in third place, and after several rounds of competition, Lyla came in second place. Also competing in the spelling bee were seventh graders Silas Bell, Isaac Fulks, Ryan Tran, and eighth graders Brooke Reisman, Molly Wallace, and Valerie Wilson. Congratulations to all our participants for representing MMS at the Wichita League Spelling Bee!
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Scholars Bowl
Scholars' Bowl is finishing up their season with the League meet on February 1. We have seen a solid positive improvement and recently, 8th grade place 2nd in Haysville West and 7th placed 1st at Maize South. It's been a fun season and we hope to build on the success for next year with a solid core of students. Our team is Gavin Aramburu, Josiah Johnson, Nathan Nelson, Wyatt Thomas, Nicole Aubuchon, Bethany Froese, Teague Heuer, and Kylie Thorn.
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad will have our Regional Competition in Andover on February 12. The students are working hard on final preparations and hoping for a really great showing. Science Olympiad has events where students are tested on core knowledge in various scientific topics, demonstrate their skills in the lab, and build various apparatuses to complete tasks. Winning individuals and the winning team will move on to the State competition. Wishing luck to all the participants!
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KAY Club
January has been a busy month for KAY Club. On January 19th we attended the annual KAY Unit Conference at Eldorado High School. Mrs. Celina Soukup (sponsor) and eight KAY Club members attended the conference. The morning was consumed with meetings, service projects, and group discussions. Members then had the opportunity to work together and make Valentine’s Day cards for a local children’s home. After the conference, the group indulge in some Freddy’s for lunch and continued making Valentine’s when they returned to MMS. Needless to say, it was a fun-filled day.
On Friday, January 28th KAY Club hosted a charity hat day. All proceeds went to a Maize Middle School family to help them purchase a new vehicle. Their vehicle was totaled when it unexpectedly started smoking which resulted in the car being engulfed in flames. If you are interested in making a donation please deliver it to the MMS office by Friday, February 4th. We greatly appreciate the support and generosity.
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it. KAY Club hopes to sell Valentine cards and soda during A and B lunches. Students are invited to treat their friends, staff members, or themselves on Valentine’s Day. The cost for a card or a soda is $1.00.
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2022 SUMMER DRIVER EDUCATION
Enrollment Information and Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting
USD 266 Maize Schools will once again offer summer driver education. Any student who turns 14 on or before Sunday, May 1, 2022 and has or will graduate 8th grade by June 1st will be eligible to enroll in summer driver education.
Instead of meeting with students face to face for the classroom portion this year, students will complete the coursework online through Google Classroom. Students will have 31 days (April 13th - May 13th) to complete the online coursework. Students will also complete at least five, one hour driving sessions starting no earlier than May 30th (schedule to be determined after class begins). We prefer that students get an instructional permit at the DMV in advance of the class and spend as much time as possible driving in safe locations with their parents. Practicing with parents before class starts is a plus considering that driver education is only five hours of driving.
Enrollment will be offered on a first come, first serve basis with enrollment limited to the first 200 students to register. Enrollment registration will open at 8:00 AM on Friday, April 1st, 2022 and will close on Monday, April 11, 2022 or when enrollment capacity has been reached. To register go to https://forms.gle/KSyVYSH93DvjSSo78 (form not accessible until April 1st).
Mandatory Enrollment Meeting
The first 200 students to register will receive a Google invite to attend the mandatory enrollment meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:00 PM in the Maize South High School Auditorium. A parent or guardian and the student MUST commit to attending this meeting. Failure to attend the meeting will result in the student being dropped from the class. At the meeting, we will discuss the driving schedule, the Kansas Driver's Handbook Test, online class expectations, answer questions regarding the online enrollment form, collect the $200 enrollment fee, administer eye tests (please bring corrective eyewear if needed), and have you sign the enrollment forms. Students will need to bring any type of license or permit they might already have to the meeting.
The cost of summer driver education is $200 with payment due in full on the date of the meeting. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunches may apply for waived fees during the enrollment process. No registrations or late payments will be accepted after the mandatory enrollment meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
Kansas Driver Handbook Test
Students who don’t have a valid instruction permit or who have an instruction permit that will expire prior to the end of the summer drivers education will be required to take the Kansas Driver Handbook Test. This test will be administered in person at a location to be determined the week after the enrollment meeting. Students who are required to take the test must pass the Kansas Handbook Test at a minimum Mastery Level of 80% in order to complete the course. The student will be given three proctored opportunities to successfully complete this test. For a digital copy of the Kansas Driver Handbook, please click the link below. Print copies of the handbook may be purchased at any local Drivers License Exam Station.
Students and parents with questions are encouraged to contact Curtis Klein at 316-462-8012 or by email at cklein@usd266.com.
Curtis Klein
USD 266 Driving Instructor
Maize South High School
3701 N. Tyler Rd
Wichita KS 67205
316.462.8012
cklein@usd266.com
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Attendance/Tardies
Attendance Counts:
Regular attendance is necessary to fully realize the benefits of educational opportunities. Students are expected to be present and punctual for all classes throughout the year. The responsibility of school attendance is with the student and his/her parents. Parents/guardians should notify the school via our attendance line in the event the student will be absent. Excused absences include illness verified by a doctor, appointments with a doctors note, school sponsored activities, funerals or administrative approved absences. Due to the pandemic, parents are encouraged to provide a doctors note for appointments and illnesses.
When your student is absent:
- Please call 729-2464 and leave a message with the student's name (and spelling)
- Provide a reason for the absence (ill, out of town, appointment, etc.)
- If you plan to have your student out of school for 3 or more days, stop by the MMS office to pick up an administrative approval form
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Middle School Color Guard Camp
All 8th graders are welcome to join us in the Maize Middle School band room on Saturday, February 12th from 11-4 pm for our Middle School Color Guard camp! Color guard is a team of performers who perform choreographed dance, flag, and equipment routines with the marching band. No prior dance experience is required and you do not currently need to be enrolled in band to attend the camp. Color guard is only available in high school since there is no marching band at the middle school level. Parents are welcome to attend the camp, however, informational material will be sent home with all students. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the MHS Color Guard Coach Ashley Arnold at aarnold@usd266.com.
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Dates For February
Tuesday, 2/1
*Wichita Suburban League Scholars Bowl @ Derby North, 3:30
Wednesday, 2/2
*Ground Hog Day
Thursday, 2/3
*7/8 Boys Basketball vs. MSMS, 5:00/6:15
Saturday, 2/5
*Math Counts Contest @ Collegiate, 8:30
Monday, 2/7
*7/8 Boys Basketball @ Derby, 5:00/6:15
Thursday, 2/10
*7/8 Boys Basketball vs. Derby N., 5:00/6:15
Saturday, 2/12
*Science Olympiad
Monday, 2/14
*Valentine's Day
*7/8 Boys Basketball @ Eisenhower, 5:00/6:15
Thursday, 2/17
*7/8 Boys Basketball vs Goddard, 5:00/6:15
Saturday, 2/19
*Wichita Suburban League Basketball Tournament @ Eisenhower, TBD
Monday, 2/21
*Wichita Suburban League Basketball Tournament @ Eisenhower, TBD
*7/8 Band Concert @ MHS, 7:00
Tuesday, 2/22
*PTO Spirit Night @ Chick-fil-A, 3:00-10:00
*7/8 Choir Concert, 6:00
*7/8 Orchestra Pre contest concert for solos & small ensembles, 7:00
Thursday, 2/24
*NO SCHOOL
*Parent/Teacher Conferences, 8:00-8:00
*Wichita Suburban League Basketball Tournament @ Eisenhower, TBD
Friday, 2/25
*NO SCHOOL
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From the MMS Front Office
To help the Front Office of MMS run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, please be aware and reminded of the following:
Front Office Hours:
When your student is absent:
- Please call 729-2464 and leave a message with the student's name (and spelling)
- Provide a reason for the absence (ill, out of town, appointment, etc.)
- If you plan to have your student out of school for 3 or more days, stop by the MMS office to pick up an administrative approval form
When dropping off something for a student:
- Please have it labeled with their first/last name and leave in the office airlock
- Checks/Cash in envelopes with student name
- Front office is not responsible for any items left for students
Picking up a student during school hours:
- The office will not call a student out of class until a parent/guardian is on school property.
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Are You Moving?
If you are moving out of district, please contact Shelley Lambert, MMS Registrar/Data Secretary, at slambert@usd266.com or by phone at 350-2050. Please include the new school, city and state you will be transferring to so we can prepare your student's records for transfer.
If you have moved or will be moving, but are still in district, please send a Proof of Residency to the MMS office as soon as possible. You can email it to slambert@usd266.com.
A utility bill is preferred, but a mortgage/lease agreement can be temporarily accepted. If you have any questions regarding Proof of Residence, please don't hesitate to call the MMS office.
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Dillon's Community Rewards
Dillons is giving away $2 MILLION to local organizations!
Where Shopping and Giving Come Together!
Use your Plus Shopper's Card & them grow!
Supporting their organization has never been easier-just shop at
Dillons and scan your Plus Shopper's Card!
Here's how to enroll:
- Visit www.dillons.com/communityrewards
- Scroll down to find your location and click "Enroll Now"
- Sign in to your online account, or create an account.
- Find and select our organization, and click "Save"
You'll start earning rewards for our organization right away on qualifying purchases made using your Plus Shopper's Card!
Everyone must enroll in the Reward Program. This is necessary in order for purchases throughout the year to credit Maize Middle School. Sign-in and make your contribution selection using this new 5 digit NPO number, NI311.
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One Ma1ze Care
Are you feeling like you could use some extra support? USD266 and Comcare are partnering to bring additional resources at school (including therapy). For additional information about the OneMa1ze Care Team and your eligibility for these supports, email your schools behavior health liaison, Chris McKinney. cmckinney@usd266.com
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Box Tops
MMS rocks the Box Tops! Thank you to everyone who sends in Box Tops............ and keep clipping! It's an easy way to benefit our school and PTO.
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MMS MISSION STATEMENT
EXPECT EXCELLENCE*****DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY and
CHARACTER*****PRODUCE RESULTS and
ACHIEVEMENT*****PROGRESS
Principal
Brian Thompson
bthompson@usd266.com
Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Kevin Roulhac
kroulhac@usd266.com
Assistant Principal
Paige Hill
phill@usd266.com
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Thank you to taking the time to read our newsletter. If you have any feedback or questions, please call us at (316) 729-2464 or send an email to jgeorge@usd266.com.
Sincerely,
Maize Middle School
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