MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.


November 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s): 

In the midst of a strange period in our lives, our MSMS community has a lot to be thankful for as we welcome the month of November. On November 9th, all of our sixth graders will return four days a week. We are working diligently to prepare for of all of them to be together. Safety is paramount so that will continue to be our focus. In light of this change, we will be making some adjustments.

Beginning Term 2, all students (6-8) will be assigned a locker. Students will still be allowed to carry their backpacks to class if they choose. Locker usage will be optional. We hope this opportunity will help alleviate the heavy backpacks that students are toting around all day. Staggered locker times and passing periods will also be in effect. We will amend procedures as necessary.

Current times have created social and emotional hardships for students and families and we recognize the need to provide as much support as possible. Counselors, Steffanie Moore (A-K) and Amy Beckmann (L-Z), continue to meet with and provide support for our students. Additionally, a local mental health partnership has afforded us an opportunity to extend some much needed services.

Maize USD 266 was awarded a Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) grant by the Kansas State Department of Education two years ago. This program provides our school districts partial reimbursement for hiring behavioral health liaisons to work as a “bridge” between school personnel and local mental health agencies. Additionally, these grants allow agencies such as COMCARE of Sedgwick County to employ additional clinical therapists and case managers who also serve on these teams. Our district requested funds for two behavioral health liaison positions so that we may implement a Mental Health Intervention Team in our two middle and three high schools. The goal of the program is to connect eligible students with available community mental health resources in an effort to support their social-emotional well-being while working towards improved attendance and academic achievement while reducing behavior/discipline issues. Jeris Broadbent has been a wonderful addition to our team serving in this capacity. Ms. Broadbent works with students from MSMS and MSHS along with our counseling teams.

Mornings can be stressful and traffic issues often compound frustrations. However, it is incumbent upon all drivers to be mindful of students walking and riding their bikes to school. We have reiterated the responsibilities that our students have as pedestrians to follow proper protocol regarding crosswalks. Please be vigilant of crosswalks and watching for students during the morning hours. As always, we appreciate your support and helping us be #mavstrong!


Thanks for your continued support of your child and MSMS!

Cort Haynes
Principal


Follow MSMS updates by checking the following sites:

MSMS Website - https://www.usd266.com/msms
           
MSMS rSchool Calendar - MSMS RSCHOOL Calendar
 
MSMS Facebook - MSMS Facebook
 
MSMS Twitter - MSMS Twitter 

MSMS Instagram - msms_mavnews
Important Info for this Year

We encourage all students to bring a water bottle as the water fountains will be turned off. Refillable filtered water stations will be available to all students. All bottles must have a lid.

Since we will not assign lockers this year, students will carry backpacks to each class. Students who bring a lunch to school may carry it with them or place it in a cubby in our cafeteria.

We will restrict visitor access to our building as much as possible as a health precaution. We will not be able to accept food deliveries to the school like we have in the past. Please try to limit dropping off items that have been forgotten. If you do need to drop off an item, we have set up a table in the entryway to the office. Please put your students name on the item and leave it on the table, we will call your student down to pick up the item. 

Any non-district employee who enters our building must have their temperature checked and complete a health assessment prior to leaving the office area.
Nurse's Corner

Happy November Mavericks! 

It is that time of year when we see a normal increase in illness. As you know, this year it is even more important to monitor our children (and ourselves) for possible signs and symptoms of illness. 
Every morning before your student leaves for school please check your child’s health.
Ask the following questions every day
Does your child have cold/ flu-like symptoms (sore throat, congestion/ nasal drainage, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, severe headache, chills, loss of taste/ smell, body aches, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting)?
Does your child have a fever? 
Is your child being tested for COVID-19 or awaiting test results?
Has your child been in close contact with someone who has been tested or is being tested for COVID-19? 
Has your child travelled to an area that requires quarantine after returning home? (see bit.ly/KDHEtravel)
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL! Instead, call the school to report your child’s illness or possible exposure. You may call the main office at 316-722-0421 or the School Nurse’s office at 316-350-2508. 

Diligence in identifying illness before students come to school can help decrease the spread. 
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns! You can call the  number listed above or email me at rfriederich@usd266.com

Robyn Friederich, RN, BSN
Maize South Middle School Nurse

 
Tips for Raising Happy, Successful Teens

Parenting can be tough and parenting a teenager can be even more challenging. Please take a moment to read this very helpful resource with quick tips for raising happy, successful teens.

Online Book Fair
Shop the bookfair virtually and help raise money for books for our library! You can access the our Bookfair at the link below:
TALK IT OUT! ONEMA1ZE CARE TEAM

Feeling like you could use some extra support? USD 266 and COMCARE are partnering to bring students additional resources at school (including therapy). For additional information about the OneMa1ze Care Team and your eligibility for these supports, email your schools behavioral health liaison..Jeris Broadbent (MSMS/MSHS), jbroadbent@usd266.com.
To Go Meals for Remote Learning Days

Maize USD 266 is offering hybrid students To Go Meals for remote-learning days at no charge.

School meals are available for student pickup in the cafeteria immediately following end-of-day dismissal. Meals are intended to be taken home, refrigerated, and consumed on the day(s) the student is learning from home. The menu for these meals can be found online or in the Nutrislice app.

Mondays/Tuesdays - pickup meals will contain 2 breakfast meals & 2 lunch meals
Thursdays/Fridays - pickup meals will contain 1 breakfast meal & 1 lunch meal

Students may opt in or out at any time; however an RSVP is highly encouraged to help determine how many To Go Meals to prepare. RSVP for October To Go Meals now.  

We look forward to serving your student!
PTO Masks and Lanyards

PTO has White Maverick Masks and Black Maverick Lanyards for sale in the office. The Lanyards are $5.00 and the masks are $8.00.
Just come see one of the ladies in the office to make a purchase!
KAY Club

As their first socially distanced volunteer opportunity, KAY Club members have been asked to record videos of themselves reading children's books. If a student decides to record a video of themselves reading a book, please email the video to the KAY Club sponsor, Erin Teel (eteel@usd266.com). These videos will be shared with elementary teachers in our district, so they can use them as a resource for reading curriculum. All students are welcome to participate! Thanks! 
MSMS PTO

We have continued to stay busy! We catered in Jason’s Deli for teacher conferences, and you all helped bring in extra snacks which were greatly appreciated by the staff. We also gave out goodie bags on bus driver appreciation day to all the bus drivers.
Barn’rds spirit night is Monday, November 2nd from 10:30 am to 9 pm. Please be sure to tell them you are with Maize South for the spirit night! We will receive 10% of all sales who mention they are there for Maize South.

We can’t do our traditional fundraisers like in the past, so we have been working with a few different local business owners who have partnered with us to bring you some new and exciting Mav items. They are currently all in our online store at www.msmspto.com just go to shop. There are several pre-order items such as yard signs and porch signs which will be delivered by the end of November. We always have apparel inventory in stock. When you order, it usually takes less than 3 days to have it available for you to pick up! As long as you keep placing orders, we keep designing new apparel! So be sure to check out what we have available! We hope to set up at a few basketball games before Christmas, but dates are to be determined.

You can continue to support the PTO by shopping at Dillon’s and linking your Plus Card to our PTO. Here’s how: go to Dillons.com/communityrewards, find your location and click enroll now, find our organization Maize South Middle School PTO #79456, click save. Every purchase you make at Dillon’s helps support the MSMS PTO.

We will keep you up to date with new apparel on our Facebook page. Like us on Facebook at Maize South Middle School PTO or check out our website at www.msmspto.com.
You can also get in touch with us at maizesouthmspto@gmail.com.

Our next meeting will be Monday, November 9th at 6:30pm in the library. Bring your mask and come through the exterior door. Anyone is welcome to join us!! We have a few positions available if you are interested in serving on the board!

MSMS PTO

MSMS Traffic Map & Information

"Crosswalks: If your child walks or rides a bicycle to school, we ask that they utilize the designated crosswalk areas which are outfitted with flashing lights. Dark mornings and high volume traffic create visibility issues. Walkers/Riders must ensure that the lights are flashing before crossing the street. Thank you for addressing this with your student."  
Dillon's Community Rewards  
 
We're giving away $2 MILLION to local organizations!
Where Shopping and Giving Come Together!
Use your Plus Shopper's Card & help us grow!
Supporting our organization has never been easier-just shop at Dillons and scan your Plus Shopper's Card! 
 
Here's how to enroll:
 
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 2019 to credit Maize South Middle School. Sign-in and make your contribution selection using this new 5-digit NPO number, CR632.
Use of Student Information in Media and District Publications 

Information which may be shared with media or used in district publications is limited to: participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, school activities, honors and awards received, grade level and photographs.
Parents/guardians have the right to refuse or permit the designation of any or all of the above information for use in the media or in district publications. Parents/guardians who do not want this information published must file written notification to Lori Buselt, Director of Communications, Maize USD 266, 905 W. Academy, Maize, KS 67101 on or before September 20, 2016.
  
If you do not file a refusal, Maize USD 266 assumes you have no objection to the release of the above information for media or district publication purposes.
  
Click here to access the "Do Not Photograph" form.
Important Reminders

  • Remember to furnish the office with a copy of any legal documentation in regard to custody issues. 
  • If your student is going to be tardy to school, they are allowed three parent excused tardies per semester, not including medical excuses with notes. Please call the school if your student is going to be late for any reason.
  • KS State Law requires notes for medical absences. Please be sure to provide a doctor's note to the front office when your child has seen the doctor, dentist, etc. 
  •  If you need to pick up your child from school during school hours, please remember that we cannot pull your student out of class until you have come into the office to sign them out.
  • Just a reminder that the school district does not provide any type of health or accident insurance for injuries incurred by your child at school. The school district makes insurance available to those who wish to purchase it on a voluntary basis. Forms may be obtained in each school office.
  • Please check your student's lunch account balance in Skyward Family Access regularly to be sure they have enough money for breakfast and/or lunch.

Thanks for your help!
Important Dates


Fall Break November 25th-27th

Winter Break December 23rd-31st


2020-21 MSMS Administration

Principal

 Assistant Principal A-K

Assistant Principal / Athletic Director L-Z

If you would like to speak to an administrator during the school day, you may call 316-722-0421.

2020-21 MSMS Office Staff
 
Shareen Hainke
Accounting Secretary

Sherri Wright
Attendance Secretary 
2020-21 MSMS Counseling
Department

Steffanie Moore 
A-K Counselor

Amy Beckmann
L-Z Counselor

Diane Hewlett
Registrar

If you would like to speak to a counselor during the school day, you may call 316-722-0421.

2020-21 MSMS AthleticDept.

MSMS Athletic/Activities Director

Sara McAsey
MSMS Athletic/Activities Secretary
Maize South Middle School

(316) 722-0421
fax (316) 722-4077
 
3403 N. Tyler Rd.
Wichita, KS 67205
 
Office Hours:
6:30am-3:30pm
 
School Hours:
7:30-2:35 M,T,Th,F
7:30-2:00 Wednesday
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. If you have any questions or feedback, please call us at (316) 722-0421 between 6:30am and 3:30pm or send an email to swright@usd266.com.
 
Sincerely,
Maize South Middle School
Maize South Middle School
.
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze