Maize South Intermediate School



January 2021
Mavs Run Together!
Happy New Year Mavericks!
Welcome back! We hope everyone enjoyed a much needed break and is ready to conquer the new year ahead! We have so many exciting things planned for the new semester. Let’s take a peek at a few:

New Social Studies and Science classes
New Maverick Time Electives
Project Lead the Way Robotics classes
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Jr. Production (May)
Caught KEEPin’ It Fresh Positive Behavior Recognition
Spring 5th & 6th Grade Music Concerts 
Spring Band/ Orchestra Concerts
MSIS Carousel Skate Night (Jan. 26)
Spring Conferences (Feb. 24)
MSIS Color Run (April)
Spring Field Day (TBD)
PTO Spirit Nights ( I heard we might be bringing Food Trucks to MSIS! )
And more…

So, let's keep looking forward to these positive experiences to help us through this Covid Bubble once again. 
We've got this! Mavs Run Together!
Best regards,
Karen LaMunyon
Principal, Maize South Intermediate School
Updated Maize BOE COVID Mitigation Reminders
The Maize Board of Education during the regular January meeting Monday unanimously approved updates to the district’s COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. The update relates specifically to when students and employees who have tested positive for COVID can end their isolation at home and return to school and work. Students and employees in K-12 schools now fall under the new isolation and quarantine guidance for the general public.

  • Isolation
  1. Remain at home for 5 full days (symptom onset day 0)
  2. If after 5 days the person is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications AND they have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving, they can return to work or school but must wear a well-fitting mask at all times for an additional 5 days. They cannot take their mask off while at school, so they cannot participate in activities where a mask cannot be worn and would need to be separated from other students to eat meals. This includes employees.
  • If their symptoms are not resolving or they still have a fever after 5 days, they would remain at home in isolation until their symptoms were resolving and they were fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
  • Those with proof of a current negative test on any day during their abbreviated isolation period may remove their face mask at work/school. Tests must be clinical and not home tests.
  • Please continue to keep your child home if they are sick. We need everyone working together to keep us moving forward. 
  • If your child is being tested for Covid, please keep them home until results are in.
  • If your child has been exposed to Covid, please monitor your child closely for symptoms.
  • Be patient and kind with our staff. We realize this is difficult for everyone and want to work together through this difficult time.
Inclement Weather Reminders
Due to the safety of our employees, on inclement weather days, we will not have a staff member stopping traffic on 37th street when parents are exiting the parent drop off lane. Please be patient and cautious as you exit onto 37th street. 

If we have inclement weather (excessive rain, temperature below feels like 19 degrees, etc.), we will make a few tweaks to our morning duty coverage plan. 

There will not be a crossing guard for bikers and walkers along 37th street. Please be sure your child has reflectors, blinkers, etc. so they can be seen in the dark. Remind them to be extra careful and mindful of traffic as they make their morning commute to school. 
We will have one person present at the stoplight on 37th street. 
We won’t have staff members stopping traffic at parent drop off. Rather, they will greet your child at the cafeteria entrance and supervise them in the cafeteria until students are released to class at 7:10am. 

Also, here are a few reminders for our afternoon dismissal plan for inclement weather days:

As you pull up, a staff member will ask you for your child’s name. They’ll radio inside so that the child can come meet you outside. 
If your child has a cell phone, please call or text your child as you are getting close to the windows where they could see your car. Once they see you, they can exit the building immediately. 
We will be sending your child down the far sidewalk to meet you at your vehicle. This is our effort in closing the gap between cars so cars aren’t stuck on 37th street. Please continue to be mindful about pulling all the way forward. 
Please make sure your child is dressing appropriately for the frigid temperatures. Please contact our counselors, chamilton@usd266.com or tslattery@usd266.com if your child needs a coat or any winter gear. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gould (tgould@usd266.com). Also, if you or anyone you know is interested in being a crossing guard or helping with morning and/or afternoon traffic duties, please let Mrs. Gould know.
Join Site Council!
MSIS is in need of parents to join our Site Council! The MSIS Site Council is a committee of parents, staff, and administration working together to make our school the best it can be. The purpose of the school site council is to work together to develop and monitor a school's improvement plan. The site council also plays an advocacy role for others. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm at MSIS. If you have an interest in joining, please contact Mrs.LaMunyon at klamunyon@usd266.com
Health Office
Breakfast:
Please ensure that your student is eating a healthy breakfast before coming to school. We have FREE breakfast in our cafeteria until the bell rings so if your child does not have time in the morning, then they have an option to get breakfast here at school!

Covid vaccine notification:
Please continue to upload a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card in Skyward if your student has received both doses. You can always email this to me too!! A child is fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose!

Medications:
If your child needs to take any medication at school, a consent form must be filled out every school year before any medication is administered at school. You can find this form on the USD266 website by clicking here and clicking Authorization for Medication. If this medication is prescribed by a physician, I need their signature as well in order to administer.

Please feel free to contact me by stopping by my office, calling, or emailing me if you have any questions or concerns about your student. I hope you and your student have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season! Looking forward to serving you in 2022!

Hannah Weston, RN, BSN
Phone: 316-462-8506
Fax: 316-462-8502
Mavs and the Media Center
Winter greetings! The library is hopping this time of year–no long winter’s naps for us!  

Battle of the Books:  The deadline to read at least 6 books on the list is January 31st. I’ve been keeping in contact with the students who have signed up and the majority of them are on time to get at least that many read. I’m unsure as to the schedule for the actual competition, but anticipate that it will be in early March. I will make sure to communicate with the students and parents so you will know what to expect. I’m so proud of the kids who are challenging themselves with this opportunity!

Book Fair: Can you believe it’s that time again? We will be hosting the book fair again during conferences. I anticipate allowing the students more time to shop during the school day. Book fair will be open during Parent/Teacher conferences on Thursday, February 24th as well. Be watching your email and your child’s backpack for more information as it gets closer. Thanks so much for supporting our library by shopping our book fair!

Passion Research Project: I am working with the Explore teachers to guide the students through a passion research project. This is something we will be working on for the next couple of months during our library lessons and during their Explore time. Right now students are learning about the passions of people in history and starting to think about what their personal passion is. Students will be creating a guiding question that is not google-able (can’t be answered in a simple search) and then researching to find out more about their topic. Additionally, students will be learning about reliable sites and citing their sources. Most importantly, though, they will be gaining knowledge about their individual passions. I challenge you to have this conversation as a family and each share your passion with the others. It’s definitely a great topic to chat about.

Kristin Rodell
MSIS Library Media Specialist
Counselors Corner
Happy January!

Tyler and I are happy to share that we now have a Mental Health Liaison for MSIS. Caitlin Dailey will help connect our students to our district therapist, Jacob, as well as be available to help connect our MSIS families with community resources. A little about me from Caitlin is below:

Hi! My name is Caitlin Dailey and I am a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker through the state of Kansas. I graduated with my bachelors from Kansas State University in 2014 and am currently attending Fort Hays State University to obtain my Masters in social work. I have eight years of experience in working with at-risk youth, youth who have experienced trauma and/or major life changes, and substance abuse issues. I am looking forward to connecting our students and families with different resources within the community as well as mental health supports here at school. My husband and I live here in Maize and have 1 and 6-year-old boys. I am so excited to be a part of the Maize family and am looking forward to getting to know our students and families at MSIS!

If you or someone you know may benefit from these resources, please contact cdailey@usd266.com, chamilton@usd266.com or tslattery@usd266.com

The Great Kindness Challenge will also kick off on January 24th! Students will be given a Kindness Checklist and may be eligible for prizes for completing items on the list. We will also be doing a fundraiser to raise money for the Wichita Humane Society. We will have more information early next week!

Hope you all are staying healthy and safe!

Tyler and Caitlin
Meet Your OneMa1ze Student Support Team
Jacob Asbridge, LMSW
(Licensed Master Social Worker)
Therapist
Caitlin Daily, LBSW
(Licensed Bachelor Social Worker)
Behavioral Health Liaison
Jacob is very excited to be the new Therapist at MIS and MSIS! Jacob has over 10 years of combined experience in trauma informed care, family centered practice, substance abuse counseling, medical social work, individual, and group settings. Jacob has experience working with at-risk youth, children in the foster care system, families, trauma, behavioral concerns, and substance abuse issues.

Jacob attended Wichita State University and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice. While at WSU, Jacob worked in child welfare. This is where Jacob found his passion for social work, empowering others, and working with children. He returned to Wichita State University and obtained his Masters in Social Work. Following completion of this masters degree Jacob left child welfare and transitioned into therapy before shifting focus to the medical social work setting. The last couple of years Jacob as served his community by working at Wesley Medical Center on the Surgical Oncology Unit.

Jacob is excited for this opportunity to serve the Maize community and get back into therapy and working with kiddos, which is his passion. He plans to continue his education and expand his knowledge by obtaining his clinical license. Jacob is married and lives in Wichita with his wife, 4 children, and 2 fur babies. Jacob and his wife continue to serve their community as foster parents.

Fun Fact: Jacob is an Eagle Scout
My name is Caitlin Dailey and I am very excited to be the behavioral health liaison at MSIS. I graduated with my bachelor of Social Work Degree from Kansas State University in 2014. I am currently in school at Fort Hays State University and plan to graduate in May with my Master of Social Work degree.

I started my career investigating child abuse and neglect reports for the Department of Children and Families. I then had my first son prematurely and needed a part-time position so I began working at the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County (CACSC) as a Child and Family Advocate. At the CACSC, I provided support to victims of sexual abuse and physical abuse and connected them to mental health services and community resources. I have spent the last four years working as a hospital social worker at Wesley Medical Center and will continue to work there PRN.

My husband and I live here in Maize with our two boys, who are 1 and 6 years old. My husband is a K9 Handler for Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. We have three dogs, including our police K9. Our 6 year old son is in Kindergarten at Vermillion Elementary School. We enjoy spending time outdoors!

As a Behavioral Health Liaison, I want to get to know our staff, students, and families here at MSIS. I am so excited for this opportunity and to be part of the Maize family. I’m very passionate and hope to make a positive impact on our students and families. I’m here to provide support and connect students and families to mental health services and community resources. I would love to help in any way possible so please feel free to send me an email or stop by my office and share any concerns you may have about students so that we can connect them to the appropriate supports. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Connect with Maize South Intermediate School on Social Media
Official Maize South Intermediate School Twitter account
Official Maize South Intermediate School Instagram account
@Maizesouthintermediate
Find Events, Opportunities on District's Online Bulletin Board
Maize USD 266’s Online Bulletin Board is the place to go for information about upcoming events, camps, clinics, fundraisers, and other opportunities available through the district and official partner agencies. Visit www.usd266.com/OnlineBulletinBoard.
Maize South Intermediate School PTO

For those interested in joining the Maize South Intermediate School Parent Teacher Organization, please click the link to learn more.

#OneMa1ze