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MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.

May 2019
VERMILLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

501 South James
Maize, KS 67101
(316) 722-0266


Principal

Assistant Principal
MAIZE WAY CHARACTER TRAIT
May is PERSEVERANCE
Never giving up....striving to reach a goal....working hard to overcome difficult situations.
NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear VES Families,
We've had an outstanding year at Vermillion Elementary. Our students have done a wonderful job handling our expectations and demonstrating positive character traits throughout the year. The staff has worked extremely hard meeting the academic and emotional needs of each student. I am very fortunate to work with such a caring and supportive staff!
I am excited about our VES One Book One School initiative. Thank you to the VES PTO and Mrs. Slief for all their help and support in the implementation of this initiative.

I also want to thank our Vermillion families! We couldn't do the things we do at VES without your support. We truly appreciate everything you do to help make VES such an outstanding place! Good luck to our 2018-19 fifth graders. We will miss you!

The end of the school year brings about changes for the next year. Below is a partial list of the changes and new staff members for the upcoming 2019-20 school year. Marney Hay, our assistant principal, is moving to a student support position in our district. We appreciate all Mrs. Hay has done for our school the past four years.

Farewells :
  • Kelly Burkholder (4th Grade)
  • Maney Hay (Assistant Principal)
  • Rachel Houston (4th Grade)
  • Kelli Omo (Nurse)
Changes :
  • Kelley Christensen (1st Grade) will be teaching 3rd grade
  • Jolene Chapin (Support Teacher) will be our new second counselor
  • Dawn Longbine (1st Grade) will be teaching 4th grade
New Staff :
  • Dana Doerflinger will replace Dawn Longbine. Dana is a Vermillion parent, and was a former teacher in Wichita.
  • Brooke Jakubov will fill our 5th section of 1st grade. Brooke has been teaching in Minnesota for the past four years. She had experience teaching in the Kansas City area before moving to Minnesota.
  • Yesenia Zamora will replace Kelley Christensen. Yesenia has been teaching in Florida the past eight years.
  • Holly Miles will fill our 5th section of 4th grade. Holly recently graduated from Emporia State and completed part of her student teaching at VES.
Have a fun and relaxing summer with family and friends. We'll look forward to seeing you in August!
Sincerely,
Michael Dome
VES Principal
June
  • 4: Final PTO Meeting (6:30-7:30pm @VES Library)
(This is the last PTO meeting for the school year and we will discuss making final decisions on end of year budget expenditures. We moved the meeting after the Maize Education Foundation announced their grant winners in order not to double fund grant requests. The meeting is open to all parents who wish to attend.)

NOTE FROM MRS. HAY
WOW! We have come to the end of another school year. I am completing my 4th year at VES as the assistant principal and I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it.

Four years ago you welcomed me with open arms and I have cherished the relationships with students and parents that have been able to grow over these past few years.

As we draw to a close on this school year, I wanted to let everyone know that I have accepted a new position within the Maize school district and will not be returning next year as the assistant principal. My new role will allow me to be in many different buildings next year, including VES, so I will still be able to see students and families from time to time.

I am truly honored to have served the VES community as the assistant principal and want to thank all of you for your support and trust over these past 4 years.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!
Mrs. Hay
QUICK LINKS






Don't forget to check Lost & Found
COUNSELOR's CORNER
If you plan on moving out of the district this summer or your child will be attending a different school, please contact me or the main office at 722-0266 so we can make the most accurate class lists for next year.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My email is ashipman@usd266.com or feel free to call me direct at 350-2841.

Have a wonderful summer and enjoy family time!
Andi Shipman
VES Counselor 
REMINDER FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE
If you have moved or are moving to a new address, please contact Renee Frisk in the school office or email Renee at rfrisk@usd266.com as soon as possible. Per our District Policy an acceptable Proof of Residency includes a copy of your mortgage/lease agreement, including signature page or a current copy of your gas, electric, water or trash bill.

WATCH D.O.G.S.
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative father involvement, educational initiative of the National Center for Fathering. WatchDOGS are fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school. 

Watch for more information about the WatchDog program for the upcoming school year.

Signing up to be a WatchDOG is easy! 
  • Simply view the WatchDOG monthly calendars located on the VES website at https://www.usd266.com/VES under ‘Programs’ then select ‘WatchDOGS’ to see what dates are available and email jdavis@usd266.com - include your name, phone number, student(s) and their teacher's name. (only two WatchDOGS per day please.)

  • You MUST complete a volunteer background check PRIOR to your first scheduled WatchDOG date. The background check can be completed online thru the VES website at https://www.usd266.com/VES under ‘Programs’ then select ‘Volunteer Background Check’. (a volunteer background check will need to be completed each year)

UPDATE FROM COACH
Thank you for a great year in Physical Education at VES. We have enjoyed having each and every one of your children in our classes. We hope you have a fun filled and relaxing summer.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility since we had to change to indoor field day and some classroom times. Mother Nature definitely ruled the day!
To our fifth graders, best wishes in middle school and be sure and stop by and say 'Hi' from time to time.
Coach Trail
Ph: 722-0266 x2844
Coach Peck

LIBRARY NEWS

I hope you will join our One Book One School event this summer! Watch your email for details.
Steph Hills
Media Specialist
MUSIC MATTERS

We are so proud of our Kindergarten students' music performance this year! Thank you to all of our parents for helping make this such a successful experience for them!
QUAVER MUSIC :
Make Quaver Music a part of your child's summer fun! Students can access their Quaver accounts over the summer! There are tons of free music games and activities to explore! The Avatar feature only works with 'Flash' enabled at this time. You can also stay up-to-date with Quaver by going to their blog at http://www.quavermusicblog.com .

The Quaver Code for MAY is : YouNique
Login information :
Computers & Mobile devices : Go to  www.quavermusic.com  and login using a Username & Password. 
  • Username (a/k/a Quaver name): is the same as your child's Maize Student ID #
  • Passwordmusic1
You will have the option to choose "with Flash" or "without Flash". "With Flash" will have the most content.

The code listed above will give your student 100 Quaver credits that can be used to purchase items for their Quaver Avatar. The Avatar feature only works with Flash enabled at this time.

You can also stay up to date with Quaver by going to their blog, www.quavermusicblog.com

Doreen Merkel
COMMUNITY HELPER DAY
We had a very successful Community Helper Day. Thank you to all of our volunteers who presented!

Mrs. Nash
NURSE KELLI's COLUMN
I just wanted to let you know that after 7 years at VES, I won't be returning next year. I'm going to take this time to spend with my mom and father-in-law whose health is failing. I'm also going to watch my granddaughter while my daughter attends nursing school.

In January, we are also expecting a new grandchild! I think I would regret it if I didn't take this time to be with my family.
Thank you so much for sharing your kids with me. I will miss them!
Nurse Kelli Omo
Email:  komo@usd266.com
 Direct Phone: 350-2810 / School Office Phone: 722-0266 / School Fax: 722-5020
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Twenty-one third, fourth, and fifth grade girls completed the Girls on the Run program this spring at Vermillion. They ended the program by running a 5k at the Wichita Riverwalk on Saturday, May 11th. The girls all worked very hard and did a great job!
PTO NEWS


Become a PTO volunteer! If you are interested in supporting our students and staff, please complete the PTO Volunteer Registration Form and return it to school. Please note there are three (3) different membership options, and membership is FREE!
Here are a few of the highlights from this year:
  • Held our fifth annual Walk-A-Thon to raise money for library enhancements. We were able to purchase $11,600 worth of books and flexible seating for the library
  • Sponsored Fun Days: PJ Days and Popcorn Days
  • Sponsored Hat Day for the Kansas Honor Flight
  • Held our second annual FREE Family Bingo Night
  • Gave VES staff monthly small tokens of appreciation
  • Provided a treat each week during Stat Testing to each of the staff members involved in test administration
  • Organized 4 food and snack days throughout the year for the entire staff
  • Gave all staff a small gift each day during Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Donated $200 towards the fifth grade leavers party
  • Approved and paid out Teacher Mini-Grants in the amount of nearly $600 for various classroom supplies
  • Funded $500 for Body Ventures to come and host a day of learning for students
  • Funded $3,000 for a Greg Tang day of teacher in-servicing followed by a family night of learning fun math games
  • Approved and paid out Staff Grants in the amount of nearly $5,000 for classroom learning enhancements
  • Provided supplies and grade level funding for STEAM room initiatives
  • Worked to organize STEAM room and prepare STEAM room Task cards
  • Helped decorate the school over the summer
  • Assembled picnic tables for the courtyard
We are working to approve next year's Walk-A-Thon cause and finalize our spending for the year. We will have our last PTO meeting on Tuesday, June 4th (6:00-7:30pm) in the VES Library to approve the final spending of our excess funds for the year and approve our Walk-A-Thon cause.

Watch for new Spirit wear featuring our new mascot, the Vermillion Chameleons, this fall!
June
  • 4: Final PTO Meeting (6:30-7:30pm @VES Library)
( This is the last PTO meeting for the school year and we will discuss making final decisions on end of year budget expenditures. We moved the meeting after the Maize Education Foundation announced their grant winners in order not to double fund grant requests. The meeting is open to all parents who wish to attend. )
PTO is offering School Supply Kits again for the 2019-20 school year. These kits save you time running from store to store to purchase everything you need on the school supply list and you save money as well.
For each purchase PTO will receive $5 per supply box to help support classroom and staff grants as well as school improvement initiatives .

Use the below link to order your kits online before Saturday, June 15th .

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the PTO at  vermillionpto@hotmail.com .
Don't forget to collect BoxTops! We collect BoxTops throughout the year.

You can view the participating products that contain BoxTops by selecting www.usd266.com/VES
PTO can be reached at:
Facebook: Vermillion Elementary PTO

Be sure to tag all the fun you are having at VES this year with #VES Spirit.
BUS DRIVERS NEEDED


We are hiring school bus drivers!
(Apply at    www.usd266.com )


Three reasons to take the wheel with Maize USD 266:
1.  BONUSES :
In addition to competitive pay, our drivers receive a  monthly $50 bonus  for perfect attendance.
2.  FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE :
Our typical bus driver schedule is 6:00am to 9:00am and 2:00pm to 5:00pm on school days. Convenient for small business owners, college students, and those who want to be off when Maize USD 266 are off. No evenings, weekends, or holidays. Fall, Winter & Spring breaks off.
3.  BENEFITS :
Retirement earnings through KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System). Nine paid sick days a year, and  $250 each month  paid toward your health insurance.
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze