|
|
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.
December 2018
|
|
|
Principal's Message
Dear
Fallback,
Panthers it is! Yes, the final decision on our school mascot was determined by the flip of a coin last Thursday and was announced to the students and staff during Friday morning’s announcements. The coin flip was necessary because Panthers was the top vote choice for both MES and PWS. Dr. Higgins flipped the coin with me and Mr. Gabrielson watching and MES was the winner! We’re excited to have established a mascot at MES that will, more than likely, be in place for a very looooong time. I look forward to working with students, staff, PTO, and other parents to build pride in our new mascot. With that said, let me establish the first official hashtag…….. #MESPanthersarePAWsitivelyawesome.
Snowed In is on the way, so be sure to mark your calendars for January 31 and plan to attend with your family. Our staff is working hard to provide a great evening of fresh rotations and fun activities for your students. Teachers are also working on the silent auction baskets for our Snowed In auction, so be looking for those communications to come home if your teacher is entering a basket this year.
A HUGE thank you to all of you who helped your students sell cookie dough last month. We sold over three TONS of cookie dough for a whopping total of over $25,000!! MES will profit over $12,000 from you and your students’ efforts. I can’t thank you enough for helping us reach our goal of continuing to support our 7 Habits of Highly Effective People / Leader In Me program that is now in its second year of development at MES. We hope to continue much needed training and access to resources in the Leader In Me. You are investing in our students and staff through your donations. Be very confident your investment is not going to waste! Just ask your students about the 7 Habits and how they are impacting their daily decisions.
Now it’s time to pick up all that cookie dough on Wednesday, Dec. 12 from 3:30-8:00 in our gym. Remember payment is due by the following Tuesday, Dec. 18. All checks should be made payable to Maize Elementary School. Please give me a call at 722-8230 if you have any questions.
Best wishes for an absolutely wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season! See you next year!!
Mr. White
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MES HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK
December 17-21
Monday, Dec. 17:
MES Shirt with Holiday Accessories
Tuesday, Dec. 18:
Ugly Sweater / Holiday Socks
Wednesday, Dec. 19:
Red and Green Day
Thursday, Dec. 20:
Holiday Book / Movie Character Day
Friday, Dec. 21:
Holiday PJ's
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to Jake Edwards, MES Kitchen Manager
MES Kitchen Manager Jake Edwards received one of the first Celebrating Excellence in Education Awards for Support Staff! Congratulations Jake!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Save The Dates . . .
MES Day at Moxi Junction - Monday, December 17!
Wear your MES shirt and receive 20% off all drinks from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m! If you don't have a MES shirt, just tell them you're with MES!
Snowed In Family Night at MES - Thursday, January 31!
Mark your calendars for this fun yearly tradition! We'll have the return of ice fishing for free books, art rotations, a picture booth, raffle and an optional pizza dinner! It's fun for the whole family!
|
|
|
|
|
|
From The Counselor
For the month of December, our classroom counseling lessons focus on generosity and kindness. Thank you for your generosity by helping in the Caring Hearts Food Drive. The food will be given to families in need from our Maize USD 266 community. Enjoy the long break and encourage your child to show generosity!
Becky Stephens, MES Counselor
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nurse's Notes
Is it a cold or influenza?
When to keep your child home:
Students need to have good attendance for them to learn along with their peers. Practicing good hand washing and getting their vaccinations helps children stay healthy for school.
Children get about 6-8 colds per year. Attending school with the sniffles is okay. Non-stop coughing spreads germs. Symptoms of Influenza (seasonal flu) may include fever over 100 degrees, headache, general aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, chest discomfort, and can last 5-10 days. Treatment with antiviral medication can sometimes be used if started within the first day or two of the illness. For more information about the flu, go to
Flu.gov
.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that
people who are sick with flu-like symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
Fever should be gone without the use of a fever reducing medication (i.e. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen). Help send the message to your children that school is important, but keep them home for fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and continuous coughing.
Nurse Erin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaches Corner
Hello cold! I hope your Thanksgiving was special and I hope everyone is staying warm and healthy.
In November, we finished up our archery unit. Currently, our students have been working on speed stacking, physical fitness and finishing up some physical testing. Speed stacking is a great way to keep your kids active indoors. If you would like to purchase a set, Amazon and
www.speedstacks.com
have reasonably priced sets. They run around $15-$30 depending on the type of cups.
December is a short month for school and we will be working on the volleying skill as well as talking about nutrition until winter break. Grades will be posted near the end of December. Stay warm and enjoy the Holidays.
Coach Horn
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Book Nook
A recent research study conducted by the Early Start Research Institute at the University of Wollongong in South Wales, UK, found that reading to children is important. Daily reading, such as before bedtime, promotes positive bonding, encourages communication and builds language skills.
Here are a few hints for reading to children
:
- Try to use inflections to indicate action and imitate separate characters to draw kids into the story.
- Use a sense of humor when appropriate.
- Share your take on the story. Discuss interesting details and information in the story.
- Get your child’s take on the story.
- Make up a story together or have them make up their own story.
- With older children, you can take turns reading parts of the story.
From the Child Development Institute
---
Marilee Mayo, Maize Elementary Librarian
|
|
|
|
 |
Staff members nominate students each week for Star Student. They are recognized every Friday with a certificate, a gift certificate and a necklace, a group picture and then the best thing - Getting to yell MES ROCKS in the hallway!
|
|
|
|
Fourth and Fifth graders "Danced the Night Away" at their Music programs on November 29. Some of the favorites included At The Hop, the Shake It Off parody, and the Sasha song!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please Send Us Your Box Tops
Thank you for all of the box tops! Please keep them coming! MES participates in the Box Tops for Education program. It's easy to do and can add up to a lot for our school. You simply clip the box tops off of products you probably already buy and have in your kitchen. Then send them to school with your student, and we turn them in for cash to buy things for the school.
|
|
|
|
Important Dates and Information
|
|
|
|
|
5th-Grade Band Concert
December 3, 7 pm
PTO Meeting
December 6, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Chipotle-PTO Spirit Night
December 11, 4 - 8 pm
Cookie Dough Fundraiser Pick-Up
December 12, 3:30 - 8 pm
MES Day at Moxi Junction
December 17, 7 am - 4 pm, 20% off for MES!
|
|
|
|
MES Spirit Week
December 17 - December 21
Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
December 24 - January 4
Return to School
January 7
PTO Jammin' In The Gym New Years Bash
January 10
Snowed In Family Night
January 31, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Start Times & Transportation
Our school day starts at 8:45 am every day. Student drop off begins at 8:35 am.
It is important that students are not dropped off prior to that time. This is a matter of safety as there are no staff members supervising until 8:35 am.
Thank you for your cooperation.
If you need to drop your student off before this time, the YMCA has a latchkey program at MES. For more information, please call the YMCA at 316-264-1610.
Students who arrive after 8:50 am will be counted tardy. If a student is brought late to school, the parent must come into the office and sign them in.
The district dismisses students 40 minutes early every Wednesday to accommodate the Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). The teachers participate in the PLC to discuss curriculum, instructional strategies, data review, technology training, etc.
School is dismissed at 3:20 pm every Wednesday.
Please call the office at 316-722-8230 if your child is going to be absent or if you have a transportation change.
For student safety, please let the office know of a transportation change before 3:00 pm, and before 2:30 pm on Wednesdays.
If your student is riding a different bus home with a friend, a note is required from both sets of parents.
These can be given to the office for Mr. White to sign and can then be given to the bus driver.
|
|
|
|
Deliveries & Invitations
Please be aware that school district policy does not allow us to accept flowers or other deliveries to students at school. Please contact your student's teacher to arrange a time to celebrate a special occasion with treats, etc.
BOE policy does not allow party invitations to be distributed at school. Please refer to the Skyward Family Access Student Directory or your classroom directory for student addresses.
Dillons Community Rewards
Dillons is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Dillons Community Rewards.
Now you can link your Dillons shopper card to Maize Elementary and help us earn funds! Click
here
to learn more! When registering, be sure to use our organization number 12736. Thank you for your support!
|
|
|
|
Food Service
USD 266 uses the Skyward Food Service and RevTrak fee payment systems. Please check your email and phone numbers in Skyward, so you may be alerted when your child only has 2 lunches left. Parents receive an email when your child has $5.00 left in their account. Parents receive a 2nd email after your child has 1 lunch left. When your child doesn't have any money in the account, we have your child go to the office and call you. Please put money into the account that day. You will also receive a 3rd email when your child has a zero balance.
Parents may keep as large a balance as they wish in a child's account. If the student doesn't have enough in his/her lunch account to cover a meal, the account will be charged for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk if the student chooses to take one. No meal charges will be allowed and we are not allowed to go into one child's account to pay for a sibling.
Daily lunches are $2.45 each and extra milk is .40 cents. Feel free to join your student for lunch. Please notify the front office or your child's teacher of the day you are coming. Lunches are $3.60 for adults; please bring exact change as adult lunches cannot be taken from your child's account. Lunch menus can be found online at
usd266.com
.
If you have any questions regarding Skyward and the RevTrak system, please call our school office. We want every child to have a good lunch, every day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
