MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.

September 2021
VERMILLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

501 South James
Maize, KS 67101
(316) 722-0266
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
Parent/Teacher Conferences were a success. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to attend. A strong partnership between parents and teachers is critical to optimum student achievement. Please continue to reach out to us with concerns and questions.
 
The PTO Walk-A-Thon is scheduled for October 15th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Maize High School Track. Thanks for your help in raising funds for this event - we have already earned over $14,000! That’s amazing!!! Please continue to send the fundraising information out to family, colleagues, and friends. The success of this fundraiser will be instrumental in raising money to help furnish our library with books and flexible seating, our music rooms with fun new instruments, our gym with cool new items for movement, and teacher grants.
 
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we continue to navigate challenging waters this year. Our Vermillion families are awesome, and we really appreciate the strong partnership that we have with you.
Sincerely,
Michael Dome
VES Principal
QUICK LINKS
FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

Please help our school office run smooth and efficient. For your convenience, we've listed a few reminders below.
Office Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Office Phone: 316-722-0266
  • Student Absences: If your student is absent please call the school office each day BEFORE 10:00am. If you notify the teacher of an absence, you MUST also call the school office.

  • Student Extended Absences: If your student is gone 3 or more days due to illness, a doctor's note is required for them to return to school.

  • After School Transportation Changes: 
  • Call the school office BEFORE 3:00 pm - M/T/Th/F
  • Call the school office BEFORE 2:00 pm - Wednesday (early release @3:20pm)
COUNSELOR's CORNER
Happy Fall! As we continue to get to know our students, we are holding friendship and lunch groups for all students. These groups will occur during student lunch times and recess times - and are optional for students to attend. 

We love this opportunity to meet our students and have some fun! In our classroom guidance for October, we will be learning about harmful drugs and peer pressure. 

Please feel free to visit the counselor's website at https://sites.google.com/usd266.com/vescounselors/home to learn about what we do and what lessons we are teaching each month in classroom guidance lessons. 
Jolene Chapin
Andi Shipman
UPDATE FROM COACH
Welcome to PE. We are excited to have your child in the gym with us this year. We are getting ready to start Fitness Evaluation to determine where we are. We will also be learning about the heart and muscles. Two things we use every time we are in PE.

If your child is sick or has been injured, please email us and let us know. We thanki you for sharing your child with us.
Coach Trail
Ph: 722-0266 x2844
Coach Peck
Ph: 722-0266 x2844
LIBRARY NEWS
Thank you for your school support in shopping the Scholastic Book Fair!
MUSIC MATTERS

Our music program for 3rd & 4th graders are scheduled for Monday, November 8th at Maize High School. Parent letters with more detailed information will be coming home soon!
Music Programs:
We are thrilled to have music programs scheduled this year on the following dates - Stay tuned for more information as these dates approach.
Third & Fourth Grade Concerts: Monday, November 8, 2021
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 3rd Grade
Time: 7:45 p.m. - 4th Grade
Location: Maize High School Auditorium (11600 W. 45th Street North)
         
First & Second Grade Concerts: Thursday, March 10, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 1st Grade
Time: 7:45 p.m. - 2nd Grade
Location: MPAAC (Corner of 119th & Academy Avenue)
 
Kindergarten Concert: Thursday, April 28, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: MPAAC (Corner of 119th & Academy Avenue)
Quaver:
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. Currently our 1st - 4th grade students are all registered for this year and should have brought home a parent letter with more information. A few important changes for the login are listed below.  
Quaver Login Instructions: (note NEW web address & password)
  • 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 email me at dmerkel@usd266.com.
Mrs. Merkel is Looking for Loot!
I'm looking for prizes for my music classroom. Prizes for 3rd & 4th grade students are especially needed! I have quite a few smaller toys for the younger students right now. If you would like to donate some items, please send them to school with your child or you can drop them off at the school office. Here are some ideas:
Larger novelty candy like ring pops or full-sized Skittles or other harder candy (no chocolate, please)
Packs of gum
Anything music themed
Fun pencils - music themed or other fun themes. (mechanical or regular)
Colorful pens or markers
Small games or puzzles
Posters
Doreen Merkel
Kira Thompson
NURSE's COLUMN
We will be doing vision screenings in October and hearing screenings soon after that. Results from these screenings will ONLY be sent home if further testing is needed. Screenings are very basic and are not meant to take the place of professional evaluations. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Nurse Jaime Smith
Phone: 316-350-2810 / School Fax: 316-722-5020
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.
FOOD SERVICES UPDATE
PARAPROFESSIONALS NEEDED
We are looking for additional instructional and special education paraprofessionals for the 2021-2022 school year. We would love to have you on our team!
Please apply below or contact Mrs. Nash with any questions.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED
Substitute teachers are crucial to the operations of Maize USD 266 and are able to make an important impression on our students' lives and education.

Join our #OneMa1ze team! Apply today at www.usd266.com.
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.

  • VOLUNTEER NEEDED! PTO will have an open Secretary position for the 2021-22 school year. We are asking for a 1-year commitment with this position. If you are interested or have questions please reach out to PTO at vermillionpto@hotmail.com

  • PTO is also looking for assistance with several annual fund raising committees. TLC, Walk-a-Thon, Family BINGO Night, and more. If you are interested please email at vermillionpto@hotmail.com
October:
  • 10/11: Walk-A-Thon Donations are DUE TODAY!!!
  • 10/15: Walk-A-Thon -- Maize High Track (6:00-7:30pm)
  • 10/19: Dairy Queen Spirit Night (5:00-9:00pm)
November:
  • 11/4: Chick-fil-A Spirit Night (3-10pm)
  • 11/9: PTO Meeting (6:30pm - VES STEAM Room)
  • 11/11: Hat Day for Kansas Honor Flight (bring $1 or more to wear your favorite hat)
  • 11/20: Wichita Thunder Hockey Game Spirit Night (7:05pm - Thunder vs. Tulsa Oilers)
December:
  • 12/14: Pizza Hut Spirit Night
  • 12/22: PJ Day (bring $1 or more to wear your favorite PJ's)
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
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze