MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.

May 2022
VERMILLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

501 South James
Maize, KS 67101
(316) 722-0266
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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 excited to announce that Jenny Nash will be the new principal at VES! Vermillion will be in great hands with Mrs. Nash at the helm. Jenny is finishing her seventh year at Vermillion and has been our assistant principal the past three years.
 
Thank you to 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 2021-22 fourth graders!
 
The end of the school year brings about changes for the next year. Here is a partial list of the changes and new staff members for the upcoming 2022-23 school year.
Farewells:
Kylee Spray (4th Grade)
Avery Ozier (2nd Grade)
Jill Allen (1st Grade)
Carol Morgan (1st Grade)
Jonna Ennis (Reading)
Susan Hopson (Math)
Kira Thompson (Music)
Jon Peck (PE)
Megan Bueker (IS/IR)
Tanner Bonham (IS/IR)
 
Changes: 
Christy Paul (Kindergarten) will be teaching 1st Grade 
Abby Brownell (3rd Grade) will be teaching 2nd Grade
 
New Staff:
Melissa Keller (Kindergarten)
Hannah Maddy (2nd Grade)
JoAnn Owens (Math)
Nicole Trujillo (Reading)
Aubrey Hall (Music)
 
Being part of the Vermillion family the past seven years has been amazing. I can’t thank you enough for your support, and I will always treasure the memories I have with our staff, students, and families. Have a fun and relaxing summer with family and friends.  
Sincerely,
Michael Dome
VES Principal
FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE
COUNSELOR's CORNER
May is a time of celebrations and reflections on the school year. I hope you've had a great time learning with your child this year. As you approach the summer, remember to read with your child and promote that curiosity of learning. Enjoy the summer and be safe!

If you happen to be moving over the summer, please call or email us so we can make accurate class lists.
To learn more about what we do and what lessons we are teaching each month in classroom guidance lessons please visit the counselor's website. https://sites.google.com/usd266.com/vescounselors/home
Enjoy the warmer weather and time together as a family!
Jolene Chapin
Andi Shipman
MUSIC MATTERS
THANK YOU, VES PTO! (I know I had this in last month’s letter, but we are TRULY thankful!! ) 
We are so thankful for the PTO funds we received this year! Fourth grade just finished up our ukulele unit using our brand new ukuleles, and now 1st through 4th grades are experiencing Mallet Madness with some of our new xylophones, as well as other instruments. Mallet Madness uses a rotation system so the students are always engaged during class in playing mallet instruments like xylophones, glockenspiels, temple blocks and drums.  

Quaver Reminder:
We LOVE our Quaver music curriculum!  In addition to lessons we use in the classroom, it also has an at home feature so that students can explore music through games and activities using any computer or mobile device at home. It would be beneficial to spend some time helping your child to access this amazing resource at home!
Quaver Login Instructions: 
  • User Name / Quaver Name: 9-digit Maize Student ID#
  • Password: music123 

If you have any trouble remembering the student ID# or if the login prompts you for a code, please e-mail your child’s music teacher at the address listed below.
It has been a pleasure experiencing music with your children this year! Have a fantastic summer!
Doreen Merkel
Kira Thompson
UPDATE FROM COACH
Thank you for sharing your child with us this year. We have had a lot of fun in PE. We have received many new things this year, thanks to our generous PTO and all of you! We have a rock wall, archery, and many extra pieces of small equipment, and now every student has their own equipment to use in PE. 

Hope everyone had a good time at field day. It was VES first outdoor field day in 5 years. I hope students and parents had an opportunity to make some great memories.

Hope everyone has a relaxing and safe summer.
Coach Trail
Coach Peck
LIBRARY NEWS
There are "Oceans of Possibilities" this summer at the Wichita Public Library! The Summer Reading Program runs May 31 - July 28. Read books, win cool prizes and participate in exciting programs all summer long.
NURSE's COLUMN
If your child will need to have medication at school next year, please complete the Medication Administration Form. You or your doctor’s office can fax the completed form to the school nurse AFTER August 1st. Our fax number is 316-722-5020 or you can email the completed form to me at jsmith@usd266.com.

The nursing staff will be back to work the first week of August and you may bring in new medications any time during school hours. We will also be available at Parent Teacher Conferences on Friday, August 12th during school hours. Please stop by and update me on your child’s current conditions, drop off any medications that will be needed for the school year, and drop off updated immunizations and health histories.
NOTE:
  • Students are not allowed to transport medications unless you have arranged something with the nurse.
  • Over the counter medications will be given with the Medication Administration Form signed by a parent/guardian.
  • Prescription medications MUST have a doctor’s signature on the Medication Administration form.

If there is anything I can do to help your child, please let me know!
Nurse Jaime Smith
Phone: 316-350-2810 / School Fax: 316-722-5020
STEAM LAB NEWS
Be looking for more information about our STEAM Lab on Vermillion Elementary School’s Facebook page. There you can find pictures of students and the activities we will be doing in STEAM. You can also check out our Amazon Wish List if you would like to contribute items to STEAM.

Mrs. Yates (2nd-4th)
Mrs. Otto (Kdg-1st)
WE ARE HIRING!
We are looking for Paras at Vermillion! You can apply online at: https://maize.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspxor.

You may also contact jnash@usd266.com with any questions. You may also share this link with anyone that may be interested.
PTO NEWS
Become a PTO member/volunteer - it's FREE! If you are interested in supporting our students and staff, please complete the online PTO Volunteer Enrollment Form or you may email the VES PTO at vermillionpto@hotmail.com.
PTO is looking for assistance for several annual fund raising committees - Walk-a-Thon, Family BINGO Night, and more. Walk-a-Thon planning will begin this summer. If you are interested please contact PTO at vermillionpto@hotmail.com.

VES Staff Favorites can be found at https://www.usd266.com/Page/4949
PTO would like to thank all of the parents for their support and help this year. We know the year still looked different but we appreciate all of the donations and assistance this school year. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

A special thank you to the ongoing VES PTO Board. We appreciate all of your hard work the past 2 years. Your dedication to making changes and working through things in a different environment was greatly appreciated! We especially want to thank Alana Dotson for serving as our President through some of the most challenging times for our school. We also welcome the new incoming VES PTO Board as they start their new positions in July 2022.
  • President: Kim Dickerson-Oard
  • Vice President: Jody Sharp
  • Treasurer: Katie Joy
  • Secretary: Kayla Wilson
1st Day School Supplies Offer
This year, 1st Day School Supplies is going to help parents and teachers get the exact supplies needed for next school year without the headache of going to the store. We have personally found 1st Day School Supplies to be convenient, easy and hassle free! Plus, they have guaranteed competitive prices on the highest quality brands, including the germ fighting brands like Purell and Lysol.

Check school supply shopping off your list now! You can make your purchase online HERE! The deadline to place your order is June 15th.
Watch for New Chameleon Spirit Wear!
The VES PTO partnered with Jodee Johnson's Graphic Design Class at the Maize Career Academy to come up with new logo themes for VES Spirit Wear. Each class got to vote for its favorite option. The tropical logo theme won! All the logo themes were excellent, and we look forward to using multiple ones over the next couple of years. We plan to have shirt samples available at next year's back to school activities.
Caring Chameleons
Congrats VES Chameleons!! You raised a lot of money for charity this year!! The VES PTO sponsored 4 charity events this school year! VES PTO was able to donate $1,257.06 to 4 different non-profits. Thank you for your donations!!
  • Veteran's Hat Day: $409.93 (donated to Kansas Honor Flight)
  • Winter PJ Day: $359.92 (donated to Juvenile Diabetes - JDRF)
  • Spring PJ Day: $249.80 (donated to Down's Syndrome Society)
  • April Crazy Hair/Hat Day: $237.41 (donated to Heart Spring)
Casey's Grant to Partially Fund Self-Regulation/Sensory Rooms
It is time to celebrate! Our school just got a big boost of help from @caseys and its Cash for Classrooms grant program. The PTO received a partial grant totaling $10,000 to help provide the needed items for two self-regulation/sensory rooms. Wow!! Checkout @caseys Rewards program to donate dollars to schools at www.caseys.com/rewards. #HereForGood
Family BINGO Night Items Needed
In preparation for next year’s Family Bingo Night, we invite anyone who has unused/leftover holiday gifts, baskets, bows, filler items that could be used in raffle baskets to turn them into the school office. We greatly appreciate your generosity! 
PTO can be reached at:
Facebook: Maize Vermillion Elementary School PTO
*Be sure to tag all the fun you are having at VES this year with #VES
USD 266 ONLINE BULLETIN BOARD
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.
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze