District    Families    Students    Programs    Departments    Community    Join Our Team
MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.


November 2018
Maize Elementary School
Principal's Message

Dear Fallback,

Greetings MES Family! I hope ‘falling back’ with Daylight Savings was productive in some way, whether it was an hour more of sleep or it gave you an opportunity to catch-up, if even a little bit. This is the time of year that teachers can sure use an adjustment of time in their favor. Ha!

Thank you to those of you who were able to make the PTO Family Movie Night fit into your schedules. It was a great time of just enjoying and visiting with and being around our MES Family members. It’s unfortunate that the weather didn’t cooperate since sound may have been a little better outside than it was in the gym. Thank you to our PTO for organizing fun events for our families!

It’s officially COOKIE DOUGH SEASON! With The Holidays fast approaching, our annual cookie dough fundraiser kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6! Our kids will come home with order packets that include all you will need to gather orders. The tubs are a full 3 pounds this year! The $20 price point is a little higher this year, but we do receive $8 per tub of cookie dough we sell.  You will also have access to a large online store as well, so be sure to take a look at that when your packet arrives. Items from the online store will actually be shipped directly to homes and payment is done online as well, with MES still receiving 40% profit.

Students are collecting orders Tuesday, November 6 through Wednesday, November 14. We collect payment once the product arrives on Wednesday, December 12. Be sure to mark your calendars for the big cookie dough pick-up event the evening of December 12. Thank you in advance for supporting MES in this manner. We are hoping to raise enough money to take our next steps in training teachers in The Leader In Me program. Past fundraisers have helped us gain access to LIM resources and to officially become a Leader In Me School this year. Your investment in MES and our LIM journey will not come up void. Our kids are benefiting from your investment. Thank you!

Speaking of investments…thank you to all of you who have invested time in volunteering to be a Watchdog at MES. This program has become very popular with our kids and I hear about their disappointment when we don’t have a Watchdog. If you’re interested in helping our kids feel more secure at school and you’re interested in helping give kids another reason to like coming to school this is the program for you. Just go to our school website and click on the Watchdogs icon. We are running short on volunteers, and we would love to have YOU volunteer as soon as you can. Remember, we want any adults willing to help us with this endeavor, so please consider it. Let me know if you have any questions!

Now for the news you may or may not have been waiting for . . . . our finalists for the MES mascot! We are being given a great opportunity as the final choice will be the MES mascot for the foreseeable future. We have arrived at 5 finalists through a process that involved parents, students and staff giving suggestions, so thank you to all who took time to help us arrive at the top 5. Drum roll please . . . . The 5 finalist are Panthers, Arrow, Rockets, Sharks and Cheetahs (in no particular order). I will take that list to the elementary principals’ meeting tomorrow to ensure there aren’t any overlaps with other schools. We will then have a school-wide vote this Friday to determine the top choice and I will then share the results with everyone over the intercom during Monday morning’s announcements. It should be a lot of fun!

Have a fantastic November. I am so very thankful for you and your students! 

Mr. White

Musical Notes

YOU ARE INVITED TO MAIZE ELEMENTARY’S

4th and 5th GRADE VOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS

“Dancin’ the Night Away!”

4th Grade : Thursday, November 29th, 2018
at 6:30 p.m. at Maize South High School

5th Grade : Thursday, November 29th, 2018
at 7:45 p.m. at Maize South High School

Join us as we sing and dance to popular songs from “back in the day” and right now!

Students should wear a solid colored shirt , blouse, button down, or sweater (any top without graphics or writing) that is a Fall Color with either leggings, jeans, or a dark pair of pants. No shorts or short skirts and no high heels please.

Please note that each child should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the performance.

There will be signs posted to assist the children
in finding their way to the warm-up area
in the Maize South High School Choir Room.

The concert will be held
in the Maize South High School Auditorium.
3701 N Tyler Rd, Wichita, KS 67205

We look forward to seeing you!!!!
WatchD.O.G. Volunteer Program

The WatchDOG program at MES has gotten off to a great start. Not only have our WatchDOGs had a great time, but the kids have enjoyed having them in the building. Anyone with a connection to a MES student is welcome to volunteer for our program. We have several openings between now and Christmas break that need to be filled.

If you are interested, please visit our Maize Elementary page on the USD266.com website. The link to register and to do a background check can both be found there! You must do both in order to be a WatchDOG.
From The Counselor

We had a good time celebrating RESPECT in October. Students and staff wore Blue in honor of Anti-Bullying and students submitted drawings of what Respect means to them. 
The winners of the drawing were:

  • Terry - Maddy Wright
  • Charles - Hattie Horsch
  • Rodriguez - Maya Young
  • Smith - Isaac Wilcoxson
  • Fulghum - Grady Wilson
  • Gibson - Jack Wilson
  • Holguin - Henry Jaso
  • Luty - Ella Kellogg
  • DeNayer - Ellianna Jost
  • Farrell - Morley Coleman
  • Slusser - Mason Nicholson-Saville
  • O'Grady - Jett Armstrong
  • McDowell - Madison Nickel
  • Peters - Albert Madsen
  • Buchanan - Gabriel Luna
  • Ramey - Emery Atchison
  • Winger - Audrey Kendall
  • Nietfeld - Carter Harper
  • Harrison - Kyleigh Malcom
  • Henderson - Alex Benage
  • Johnson - Mackinly Rodell

For the month of November, my lessons are about safety and responsibility. And, we are once again getting ready for our annual Caring Hearts Food Drive. Caring Hearts is an organization that assists USD 266 families that are experiencing various needs during the holiday season.  The Caring Hearts food drive will be November 12-16. If you'd like to help, please send canned, boxed, and nonperishable food items with your child to school.  Thank you for your generosity!  

Becky Stephens, MES Counselor
350-2913
bstephens@usd266.com
Nurse's Notes

 TIS the Season-Influenza Facts: 
Studies show that 4.0% of students aged 5-11 have missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months due to illness. Remember a healthy student is a better learner. Nearly 22 million school days are lost each year due to colds alone and 38 million school days are lost each year due to the influenza virus (Infection Prevention eNews). 

January is one of the peak "flu season" months. Cases of seasonal influenza are already being reported in Sedgwick County. The peak of flu season is around the corner. It is not too late to get vaccinated.  

Respiratory illnesses, in addition to seasonal influenza, are common this time of year. Click  here for the differences between a cold and Influenza. 

Remember to be diligent about hand washing, coughing into your sleeve, and contacting your health care provider within 48 hours if signs of Influenza develop. Teach your child to keep his/her hands away from their face unless they are clean as respiratory and gastrointestinal germs enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. 

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/Advil)). Help send the message to your children that school is important, but keep them home for fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and continuous coughing.  

Thanks,
Nurse Erin 
Coaches Corner

Students have done a great job during the first 9 weeks of school!

We are starting up an archery unit, with bows and arrows provided by the PTO. The kids will thoroughly enjoy shooting arrows and learning these new skills. 

Coming up in November, kindergartners will be learning about healthy habits. The first and second graders will be learning an additional four bones of the body. Third through fifth grade will be learning additional muscles. We are then moving into a speed stacking (cup stacking) unit and just finishing up some cooperative games.

After that we will be doing some fitness kickboxing routines, and exercises with the Xbox Kinect. Remember to eat healthy and find ways to get a great workout during the winter cold!

Coach Horn

The Book Nook

MES is excited to announce our subscription to the Accelerated Reader program as a reading incentive for our students. Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children's independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at his/her own level and reads it at his/her own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) Accelerated Reader gives both children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set targets and direct ongoing reading practice.

SRC (Scholastic Reading Counts) will no longer be used at MES after October 31 st . Staff and students will be trained on the proper use of Accelerated Reader by Mrs. Mayo and Renaissance Learning, the company which supports AR, in the upcoming weeks. More information will be shared later in November. Thank you for your support! 

--- Marilee Mayo, Maize Elementary Librarian
MES Moments
Staff decorated pumpkins to look like their favorite book character and students got to vote. Christie Grisham's Harry Potter Pumpkin was the winner!
Fourth and Fifth graders meet every Friday morning at 7:30 am to stretch their minds and skills at the game of Chess. If you have a fourth or fifth grader that hasn't participated yet, but would like to, reach out to Mr. White.
Thank you to our incredible PTO and everyone that helped with the Outdoor (Indoor!) Movie Night. Over $100 was raised for STEM activities for our Library, with 1st grade filling their pumpkin with the most in donations!
MES Marathon Thank You

Special thanks to Kelli Scott for coordinating the MES Marathon and to each of our grade-level coordinators! Without you this awesome event would not be possible. We appreciate your time, talents and commitment to the students at MES!
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
Jason's Deli - PTO Spirit Night
November 6, 5:00-9:00 pm

Fall Picture Retakes
November 8, 8:45 am

NO SCHOOL - Fall Break
November 19-23




Carousel Skate Center - PTO Spirit Night
November 27, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

4th Grade Vocal Music Program
November 29, 6:30 pm, MSHS Auditorium

5th Grade Vocal Music Program
November 29, 7:45 pm, MSHS Auditorium
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!
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze