MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.

Volume 15, Issue 7
March 31, 2021
Maize Middle School News
Principal's Message


 Good afternoon,

Here we are at the last quarter of the school year! We know this year has brought some highs and lows but hope this last quarter is a positive one for all so we can end on a high note. Thank you for adjusting, adapting, and pivoting throughout this school year. It will be one for the books, that’s for sure. It will come quickly so we look forward to ‘Making the Days Count and not Counting the Days’. When we returned from Spring Break, we reviewed our Eagle Expectations and highlighted some specific expectations so we can finish the last quarter of the school year strong. 

Assessments—We will begin our AimsWeb and State Assessments at the end of April. We will start with our Spring AimsWeb testing on April 19-April 22. Afterward, we will begin State Assessments; the Science Assessment will kick-off state testing, however, this is only for 8th graders. The 8th grade Science Assessment will be administered Wednesday, April 28, and Thursday, April 29. The next round of Assessments will be 6th-8th grade ELA and Math. The testing dates for 6th-8th grade ELA and Math are May 3-6. 

Please note that during the ELA and Math State Assessments, we will have a block schedule. The block scheduling will be alternating A and B days. The A days will be 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th hours. The B days will be 2nd, 4th, 6th and Encor. Each class period will be ninety minutes. Please check your student’s schedule during these testing dates and avoid pulling your student out for appointments so they can be tested on their regularly scheduled day and avoid make-up testing. Please click here to view the MMS testing calendar. 

MMS will be busy with many activities as we finish up the school year. Good luck to everyone in their activity and athletic events. Track and Tennis will have their first competitions next week. They have had their typical spring weather with warm, cold, windy, and everything in between. 
Here’s to a great last quarter of the school year!!





MEF Virtual Spring Breakfast


You are invited to attend the Maize Education Foundation's virtual Spring Breakfast event on April 1 @ 9:00am. Please join them and learn more about the Maize Education Foundation and how they support the students and educators of Mazie USD 266. A cooking demo and discussion with Maize Career Academy Prostart students, an address from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Higgins, and a special presentation to celebrate Deb and Craig Elliot are just a few of the things they have planned.


Attendance is FREE! Share this link with your friends, and join on April 1st!


For more information, please visit www.MaizeEducationFoundation.org or contact Travis Bloom at tbloom@usd266.com with any questions.
Nurse's Corner

We have completed our vision and hearing screenings. If your student failed their screening, you should have received a letter in your mail at the home address listed on Skyward. Please call if you have any questions.

Please remind your student to bring a water bottle with them to school!! The Health Office cannot provide cups for students that do not bring a water bottle to school.

Please check on any immunizations needed for your student for the 2021-2022 school year. START NOW! If you have any questions, please contact me! I will be happy to assist you. Incoming 7th graders require a Meningococcal ACWY vaccine AND a Tdap booster.

As always-please feel free to call if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help your student in any way possible!

Happy Easter!

Shelley Funk BSN, RN
316-350-2308
sfunk@usd266.com




2021 Summer Driver Education
Enrollment Information & Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting

USD 266 Maize Schools will once again offer summer driver education. Any student who turns 14 on or before Saturday, May 1, 2021 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 15 days (May 1st - May 15th) to complete the online coursework. Students will also complete at least five, one hour driving sessions starting no earlier than May 24th (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 Thursday, April 1st, 2021 and will close on Monday, April 12, 2021 or when enrollment capacity has been reached. To register go to https://forms.gle/HD5aRwXqpR9mEoHt5
(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 14, 2021 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 (Please email or call Mr. Klein if you have concerns regarding COVID and the mandatory meeting). 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. Please note that all attendees will be required to wear masks and socially distance in family units. 
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 14, 2021.


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 prior to the start of the class. 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 316-462-8048 or by email at cklein@usd266.com.
Maize Middle Eagle Cheer for 2021-2022

Congratulations to the Eagle Cheer Team for the 2021-2022 school year!

7th -Vanessa Anderson, Anneisha Bearden, Ava Bogdanovecz, Reese Botts, Alexa Davis, Addison Martin, Grace Menglekoch, Ellanore Morgan, Brooklyn Pike & Mckenzie Uffendell

8th - Camryn Alan, Avery Coleman, Taylor Dill, Ava Doyle, Savannah Hess, Ally Hicks, Kyleigh Merz, Kisa Mtawali & Brooklyn Sunderman


MMS Yearbook

To order a 2020-2021 Maize Middle School yearbook, please visit:


The school's code is 17291, and yearbooks cost $30.
Maize Middle PTO News

Spirit Wear

Spring spiritwear is available now! Hurry to www.maizemiddlepto.com/spiritwear and place your order! Ordering closes April 7th.

Appreciating our Teachers

PTO was able to purchase box lunches from Planet Sub for all of our staff on conference day! In February we also offered our classroom teachers a chance to be reimbursed $30 for any extra materials/supplies they have purchased this year.

MMS PTO has been planning monthly appreciation gifts for our staff. We could still use some help to finish the year strong. If you would like to be a part of one of these appreciation teams please sign up here: Appreciation Sign up

If you are not able to help with one of these months, consider dropping a quick note of thanks to a teacher or two. The words of affirmation are extra helpful in the crazy Covid school environment.

Upcoming Spirit Nights

Funds from these spirit nights are what fund what PTO can do for our teachers this year. Mark these down on your calendar!


March 29-April 4 Charlie's Car Wash Week

April 29th - Chick fil A

Metal Eagles signs

Metal Eagles signs are still available for purchase. Head to www.maizemiddlepto.com/spiritwear and follow the directions to place your order.

Thank you for staying connected with us!
Maize Middle PTO Board



SCIENCE OLYMPIAD NEWS!

Congratulations to 8th grader, Alex Le, who made it on the Showdown NATIONAL LEADERBOARD by receiving 11th place on the February Structures Test for Science Olympiad! The National Leaderboard recognizes the top 25 students who receive the best test scores from all over the United States. Thousands of Science Olympiad students participate in these monthly tests, and our very own Maize Middle student received 11th place. Congratulations to Alex Le for all of his hard work and efforts this season. We are SO proud of you. Alex received a Science Olympiad medal and prize for his tremendous achievement.


Michaella Ortiz
Science Olympiad Coach
Washington D C

Washington DC Informational meeting

Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, US Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Holocaust Museum. These are just a few of the sites we will be visiting when we travel to Washington DC next year. 

An informational meeting will be held on Monday, May 17 at 7:00 pm in the Maize South Middle School Library. The trip will be May 31-June 3, 2022 for all 7th and 8th grade students who would like to go. Contact Mr. Slaven (mslaven@usd266.com) for information or questions. Don't miss out on the fun!

World Languages


Finally, everything looks like we will be able to open our eyes again to the world; we will have our traditional trip during summer 2022. This time we will have two different trips, not just one. Yes! You are going to be able to choose between Ireland and Scotland in June 2022 and Japan in July the same summer. Traditionally we have just one destination per year so this is a great opportunity. We have all the information in these two links:



Remember that this is an open invitation for all our MMS community! My email is aprendes@usd266.com



Welcome to Geometrocity!

Mrs. Crawford’s geometry classes have been busy building cities filled with restaurants, parks, businesses, zoos, and much more! Working with 3D shapes learned in class, they put their knowledge and skills to use to create Geometrocity! Their cities are proudly displayed in the library.


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 pandemicparents 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

6th grade Orchestra Concert Date Set


Mrs. Hatfield's 6th grade orchestra class will present a concert on Thursday, May 13th in the MMS commons. Students need to report for tuning at 6:00, and the concert will begin at 7:00. For safety reasons, the audience will be limited according to District guidelines, similar to athletics, and we will follow all current safety protocol (including social distancing and masks). Students are eager to share their music with their families.
Dates For April

Thursday, 4/1
*April Fools' Day
*MEF Virtual Spring Breakfast, 9:00

Friday, 4/2
*Good Friday
*Spring Pictures

Tuesday, 4/6
*Boys Tennis @ Derby North, 3:30

Wednesday, 4/7
*Boys Tennis Invitational @ Ark City, 9:00

Thursday, 4/8
*Boys Tennis @ Goddard, 3:30
*Track Quad @ Eisenhower, 3:30

Friday, 4/9
*Spring Sports Pictures

Tuesday, 4/13
*MMS Spirit Day Barn'rds, 10:30-9:00
*Boys Tennis @ Andover Central, 3:30
*Track Quad @ KT Woodman-MHS, 3:30

Thursday, 4/15
*Boys Tennis vs. MSMS, 3:30
*Track Invitational @ MSMS, 3:30

Monday, 4/19
*Aims Web testing-6th ELA

Tuesday, 4/20
*Aims Web testing-7/8 ELA
*Boys Tennis @ Valley Center, 3:30
*Track Quad @ Valley Center, 3:30

Wednesday, 4/21
*Administrative Professionals Day
*Aims Web testing-7/8 ELA

Thursday, 4/22
*EARTH Day
*Aims Web testing-6/7/8 Math

Friday, 4/23
*No School-Professional Development

Monday, 4/26
*Boys Tennis Invitational, MMS Courts, 9:00
*Track Participation Meet @ Haysville W. 3:30

Tuesday, 4/27
*Boys Tennis vs. Andover, 3:30

Wednesday, 4/28
*8th State Science Assessments

Thursday, 4/29
*8th State Science Assessments
*Boys Tennis vs. Derby, 3:30
*Track Invitational @ Mulvane, 2:45



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:
  • 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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
  • Checks/Cash in envelopes with student name
  • Front office is not responsible for any items left for students

home-keys-globe-sm2.jpg
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 729-2464. 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 either email it to slambert@usd266.com, or fax it to our office at 316-729-2479.

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.


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:

  1. Visit www.dillons.com/communityrewards
  2. Scroll down to find your location and click "Enroll Now"
  3. Sign in to your online account, or create an account.
  4. 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.
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
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.

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
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
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze