I want to thank each of you for the gracious donations of candy. As a school we collected a grand total of 20,632 pieces of candy. That is almost double what we have had in the past. It was heartwarming to see all of our families and our students showing their personal flair and enjoying a childhood pastime in a safe environment. I would also like to thank our staff for getting our halls ready for the festivities and our fifth graders for being leaders and handing out candy. Together we make an amazing community.
As we enter November we have quite a few dates to be aware of. Student Council will be collecting cards for Veterans from November 1st - November 8th. They will will be conducting a Food Drive from November 12th - November 26th. On November 12th we will have a schoolwide performance of Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf by the Arizona Opera. Picture retake day will take place on November 15th and Thanksgiving break will take place on November 28th and 29th.
On November 27th we will have a schoolwide lock down drill.
LOCKDOWN: In a lockdown, the campus is closed, and no movement throughout the school is authorized. A lockdown is put into place when there is an active threat on the school campus.
I understand that lock down drills can be upsetting but are necessary and required by our state and governing board policy. You can learn more about school preparedness on the ADE webpage. https://www.azed.gov/wellness/sep You can also read the TUSD board policy https://govboard.tusd1.org/Policies-and-Regulations/Regulation-Code-EBCB-R
I will review all steps of a lock down drill with students during our school wide community time on November 25th to ensure that all students know what will occur step by step. On the morning of the drill I will remind all students that we will be having a drill to practice and remind them that we practice things so we can get better and assure them that it is not an emergency. After we conduct the drill I will address the school over the intercom letting everyone know the drill is over and thanking them. Our leadership team will review areas we excelled at as well as areas in which improvement can be made as well as sharing the information with school safety.
Warm regards,
Principal Ramirez
Chronic absenteeism in young children can have significant and lasting effects on their development and academic success. If your student misses more than 18 days in a school year for any reason they are considered to have chronic absenteeism. Here are some key impacts:
Academic Performance: Frequent absences can lead to gaps in learning, making it difficult for children to keep up with their peers. This can result in lower grades and a lack of foundational skills.
Social Skills: Missing school can hinder opportunities for socialization. Children may struggle to develop essential interpersonal skills, leading to difficulties in forming friendships and collaborating with others.
Emotional Development: Chronic absenteeism can contribute to feelings of isolation, anxiety, or depression. Children may feel disconnected from their peers and may have lower self-esteem.
Behavioral Issues: Some children may exhibit behavioral problems as a reaction to absenteeism, including increased aggression or withdrawal, as they struggle to cope with their emotions.
Long-term Effects: Early absenteeism can set a pattern for future educational disengagement, leading to higher dropout rates in later years. This can affect job prospects and overall life opportunities.
Family Dynamics: Absenteeism can also affect family relationships, as parents may feel stressed about their child’s education and future, leading to tension at home.
Health Implications: Sometimes, chronic absenteeism is linked to health issues, whether physical or mental. Addressing these underlying problems is crucial for improving attendance.
Addressing chronic absenteeism requires a multi-faceted approach, including supportive interventions from schools, families, and communities to help children thrive both academically and socially.
Our students will be making cards to honor our Veterans from November 1st through November 8th.
On November 12th they will begin collecting food for their annual food drive. Each grade level has a different food item to ensure we can create balanced food boxes. This is a great way for students to learn about service projects and give back to the community.
Kindergarten - Canned Vegetables
First - Potatoes
Second - Bread
Third - Stuffing / Gravy
Fourth- Whipped Cream, Cool Whip, Butter
Fifth- Pies
PTO fundraising focus for Maldonado
Next Meeting
We need you! Please join us by zoom for our Parent Teacher Organization Meeting on Wednesday November 6th at 5:00pm.
To ensure the safety of everyone I would like to remind families of the following:
- Students may be dropped off AFTER 7:20 am. Students should never be left alone at a gate or in a parking lot.
-We are a closed campus with limited points of entry and exit based on available supervision. Only identified gates may be used to access the playground. Never climb over or try to enter a secure gate.
-Parents may walk their students to the exterior door of their teachers classroom and say goodbye at the door in the morning before the bell rings. After the bell rings only authorized personnel may be in the school building.
- Late arrivals will be escorted to class by authorized personnel.
- The entrance off of the bus bay is only for PRESCHOOL students. All others need to use the identified gates.
-Volunteers must be approved through TUSD. As our focus is on instruction, all classroom volunteers must schedule visits ahead of time with the teacher.
Wondering where morning drop off is? (All drop offs will be off of the main playground on Tetakusim) Where should my child line up? (Depends on teacher)What day can I bring in a goodie for my childs birthday? (Fridays at the end of the day) Answers to all of these questions and so much more can be found in our Maldonado Family Handbook. You can find the file here Maldonado Family Handbook.
We Want You! We would love to have you as a partner. There are many ways in which you can support Maldonado Elementary. Our PTO and Site Council are looking for parents interested in supporting our children by planning events and advocating for the school. We are always in need of volunteers to assist in classrooms, read with students, and prepare for school events. Please refer to our school web page https://maldonadoes.tusd1.org/ and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MaldonadoMountainLions/ for upcoming events.
Volunteering is as easy as one, two, three!
- Please contact the school of your choice to establish a volunteer opportunity prior to filling out this application.
- To ensure the safety of our students, all parent and non-parent volunteers must complete their application each school year.
- HR will review your submitted application and work with your selected school to authorize volunteer work to begin.
Click here to apply to volunteer, this includes chaperoning field trips.
We want you to stay informed. You can ensure you don't miss important Parentlink notifications by ensuring your information is current in ParentVue (phone/email). If you are still not getting notifications be sure you have not blocked the phone number or that your spam filter is not blocking emails. You can also look for current information on our school marquee, our Facebook page, and webpage.
November
1 Fire Drill 10:00 am
4 AAA Student Awards @ Community Time
4- 8 Student Council Cards for Veterans
6 PTO Meeting at 5:00pm online https://tusd1.zoom.us/my/mountainlions
7 Flags for 1st Grade Program
11 Veterans' Day - No School
12 Arizona Opera School Wide performance @ 9:00 am
12-26 Student Council Food Drive
15 Picture retake day
21 Food Pantry at Grijalva Elementary from noon - 2:30 pm
26 Paw Bucks Store
27 Lock Down drill at 9:00 am
28-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School
TUSD Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Center services are available to TUSD students and their families, free of charge. Please call the center to register for classes. Childcare is available to TUSD students and siblings for most classes. Please inform staff of the need for childcare when you register. Include the number of children, ages, and any special needs. Interpreter services are available. Please inform staff of the need for an interpreter when you register. Please register at least two weeks in advance if interpreter services are needed.
Other services include:
- Clothing bank
- Food pantry
- Help with TUSD forms
- Information and referrals
