Eagle Connect: February 2025

February 2025

Happy February! January seemed to be very scattered with crazy weather and days off from school. This month will be very busy as well with lots of activities coming up at Maize High School including Winter Homecoming, enrollment for 25-26, Parent Teacher Conferences, and ACT (11th graders) and Pre-ACT (10th graders). For students, there will be no school on Feb. 13-14 due to conferences and Feb. 28 for teacher inservice.

I am often asked by parents, “How can I help the school?” I generally deflect the question and tell them that by simply taking care of their student is how to help the school. That is a huge job! After I attended the After-Prom planning meeting last night, I now have another way that you are able to help the school. This event is for MHS students in 11th and 12th grade (and their dates) for a safe activity for them to do after prom on April 5th. It runs from 11-2am at MHS. However, the committee is short on some funds. If you are able, I know any contribution made to After Prom would be greatly appreciated and go to an amazing cause.

Cash or gift card donations: cash donations will be used for activities, prizes, food, beverages, decorations, and supplies. Gift cards will be used as raffle prizes at the event. Checks can be made payable to Maize After Prom or you can Venmo directly to Maize After Prom (@maizeafterprom).

Merchandise donations: we can use anything that would make a great prize. Do you own a business or work for one that might be willing to help? Dorm supplies, sporting goods, electronics, event tickets, t-shirts, and school supplies all make great prizes!

All checks, gift cards, and merchandise donations can be dropped off at MHS in the office.

Also, we are planning some spirit nights at local eating establishments. I hope you can all attend on these nights and mention Maize High School. We are grateful for our community partnerships!!

• Red Robin all day on February 27, 2025

• Chick-Fil-A from 3-10pm on March 13, 2025

News & Notes

• For all underclassmen, we will begin the 25-26 enrollment process in late January and early February. It is a good time for students and parents/caregivers to begin talking about classes, electives, and opportunities for next school year!

• Congratulations to Thatcher Auten, Jacob Froese, Tyler Carey, Alex Le, Koen Heuer and Josiah Johnson winning all six matches at the AVCTL Division 1 League Scholars Bowl Tournament last night! They are your 2024-2025 LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!

• Enrollment officially begins on Monday, Feb. 3rd. Counselors will be meeting with the current juniors on Feb. 3, sophomores on Feb. 4, and freshmen on Feb. 5th. We are asking all parents to sign off on student course selections.

• Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 4-8pm and Thursday, Feb. 13 from 8-3:40pm. We hope to have great attendance and help provide guidance for student schedules for the upcoming school year. For senior parents, this will be a milestone…your last PTC for your student!!

• Winter Homecoming will take place this coming week. Here is a rundown of our events:

• Feb. 5- Buff-Puff volleyball tournament from 6-8pm

• Feb. 6- HoCo assembly, meet the candidates, and Buff-Puff winners vs faculty.

• Feb. 7- HoCo crownings…juniors will be during halftime of the girls basketball game and seniors will be during halftime of the boys basketball game. Crownings for the homecoming court will be for both high schools.

• After the games, we will have our spirit activity for students from 9-11pm called Bulls in the Nest. There is a $5 entrance fee for students and can be purchased at myschooldance.com. We have invited our friends from Maize South High School to celebrate winter coming. This is NOT a dance but rather fun games including inflatables, cornhole, dodgeball, food, music, and fun.

• Spirit Days:

• Monday, Feb. 3- Adam Sandler Day

• Tuesday, Feb. 4- Wild West vs. West Coast

• Wednesday, Feb. 5- Rhyme Without a Reason

• Thursday, Feb. 6- Jersey Day

• Friday, Feb. 7- White Out

• We will be providing the ACT test to all juniors and the Pre-ACT to all sophomores on Feb. 25th. More information will be coming soon with details about this day.

• I wanted to provide some clarification about our attendance policy that may have been confusing the most recent issue of the Pulse newsletter. At the high school level, students cannot have more than 5 absences per term per class in order to receive credit. This is different from our truancy policy which says that students can have seven absences before a doctor’s note is needed. If you would like further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Visit our school website at www.usd266.com/mhs.

Connect with Dr. Botts at cbotts@usd266.com or 316-722-0441.

Maize High School is located at 11600 W. 45th St. North in Maize.

Caden Lambert

Spencer Broberg

Lillian Gabbert

Lila Francis

Tinley Travis

Charlotte Kerbs

Reese Botts

Kevin Watkins

Emma Hays

Keller McNeil

Addison DeForeest

Nick Moralas

Blake Chambers

Abigail Vincent

Kylie Frisk

Leia Wimbly

Adly Pierce

Students may have 5 absences per class, per 9 week term. Students will risk losing credit for classes after the 5th absence. Professional documentation is the only way to have an absence excused and not count toward credit and/or Truancy.

If you need to call out a student for an appointment we ask that you call in as early in the day as possible. We start answering phones at 7:00am. By doing this, we can ensure that your student has a pass to leave at the time you need them to leave.

Maize High School does NOT have an open lunch policy. Any student called out during 3rd block will be marked absent for the entire block unless returning with professional documentation. Parents/guardians wanting to take their student to lunch without an absence may do so by coming into the office, signing your student out, and having that student back within their 30 minute lunch period.

MHS does not accept food deliveries or outside food to be delivered to a student. Outside food may NOT be taken into the commons area during lunch time.

Flex is a for credit class for graduation. On Fridays, students have the opportunity to leave Flex early if they adhere to the following rules:

1. Students MUST check in with their flex teacher before leaving.

2. Failure to check in will result in an absence in Flex and a 1 hour detention.

3. Students can not leave if they have more than 5 absences in the current term.

4. Students can not leave if they have a tardy in any block.

5. Students must not be on the D/F list.

6. No disciplinary issues for the week.

"Flex Week" starts on Friday and runs to the following Thursday. Example, If a student is tardy to 3rd block on Friday that will count for flex NEXT Friday and not that day.

Students who do not have an immediate ride or ride the bus must stay in flex class until the final bell rings.

If you need to call out your student for flex class we ask that you do so as early in the day as possible.

Betsy Manning, Director of School Counseling

School Counselor for students whose last names begin with A through B

Office Phone: 316-350-2120 & email: bmanning@usd266.com

Katie Shephard, School Counselor for students whose last names begin with C through G Office Phone: 316-350-2118 & email: kshephard@usd266.com

Megan Bleier, School Counselor for students whose last names begin with H through L Office Phone: 316-350-2119 & email: mbleier@usd266.com

Katie Wiechman, School Counselor for students whose last names begin with M through R

Office Phone: 316-350-2147 & email: kwiechman@usd266.com

Anne Debes, School Counselor for students whose last names begin with S through Z Office Phone: 316-350-2114 & email: adebes@usd266.com

Diane Close, College & Career Advocate for all students

Office Phone: 316-350-2281 & email: dclose@usd266.com

Kami Smith, Counseling Secretary

Office Phone: 316-350-2122 & email: krsmith@usd266.com

MHS Counseling Facebook Page

Follow us on our Facebook page, MHS Counseling Center, for all the latest updates from the MHS Counseling department.

Important Dates

• February 3rd-5th - Flex enrollment meetings for 25-26 school year

• February 12th - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-8 PM

• February 13th - No School; Parent/Teacher Conferences 8 AM - 3:40 PM

• February 14th - No School - Conference Comp Day

• February 25th - Junior ACT and Sophomore Pre-ACT testing

• March 5th and 6th - Cap & Gown delivery in Commons 10:30-1:30

• March 14th - End of Term 3

• March 17th - 21st - Spring Break

• March 24th - Term 4 Begins

• April 11th - Last day to turn in pictures for the Senior Slideshow

• May 13th - Last day of classes for seniors

• May 14th - Senior parade, breakfast, graduation practice

• May 14th - MHS Graduation @ Hartman Arena 6:30 PM

Graduation Credit Reminders

The beginning of the spring semester brings the opportunity for a fresh start in new classes; we also look ahead to planning future course selections through the enrollment process. As a reminder, if a student fails a required graduation-credit course, they will need to retake the course in order to earn credit. Students will earn credit by achieving a grade of at least a 59.5% D- in a course that is completed with satisfactory attendance. Grade level classifications are determined by the number of total credits earned at the end of the school year, and 8 credits are possible each school year with regular full-time enrollment. Four credits are required to be classified as a 10th grader (sophomore), 12 credits are required to be classified as an 11th grader (junior), and 18 credits are required to be classified as a 12th grader (senior). The total number of credits required for graduation from MHS is 28 credits.

Enrollment Course Selection

Students may adjust their Individual Plan of Study and explore course options now through our Xello platform. Students can log in through Class Link by clicking on the Xello icon. Please visit our online Student Course Guide for more information regarding course offerings. Counselors will be available to discuss enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year during Parent/Teacher conferences.

Senior Slideshow Pictures

Senior parents/guardians are invited to submit pictures of Class of 2025 seniors for the senior slideshow that is shown before the commencement ceremony and during the senior breakfast in May. For each senior, one baby/toddler picture and one current picture may be emailed to mhsseniorpics@usd266.com. JPEG format is preferred. Please submit photos by April 11th.

Saturday ACT Test Date

Friday, February 28th is the last day to sign up for the Saturday, April 5th ACT test. Students can take the ACT up to 12 times, but most don’t need that many practice tests. More than 50% of students who take the test more than once will increase their scores, however, so at least one full test in addition to the one provided by Maize High is recommended.

To sign up for a Saturday ACT test date, students and parents need to create an account at my.act.org. The ACT is offered on Saturdays in June, July, September, October, December, February, and April. Juniors do not need to register online for the test dates provided at Maize High. Test locations typically include Maize High School during the months school is in session. To use Maize High as a test center, use the test center code: 213970. To make sure Maize High gets a copy of your test scores to include on your transcript, use the high school code: 171-885. If paying for your student to take the ACT presents a financial hardship for your family, or if you qualify for free or reduced lunches, please contact your student’s counselor for information about fee waivers for the ACT.

Current Juniors will be given the official ACT test Tuesday, February 25th during the school day and do not need to register individually or pay for it. If you have any questions, please contact your counselor.

General ACT Test Information

ACT scores can be important for some college admissions and several scholarship opportunities. Some colleges give students credit for introductory math and English classes if they score well on the ACT, and community colleges may accept ACT scores in place of proficiency tests when placing students in leveled courses. ACT scores and GPA are often used to award scholarships, which are a great way to congratulate students for doing well academically.

Students can take the test at any point in high school. To determine the best time for your student to take the ACT, consider these things:

• Pick a time of year when your student doesn’t have activities on Saturdays (especially sports)

• Choose a test date after your student has completed Algebra II (or is taking any higher-level math).

• Complete Chemistry I before taking the test to improve Science Section scores.

By October of their senior year, students should have submitted at least one ACT score to the college(s) where they plan to apply for admission. When they take the junior year test provided by Maize High, they will have the opportunity to send the score to at least 4 colleges. Most colleges will allow students to submit a higher score to improve their eligibility for scholarships even after their application is accepted. Check with specific colleges to find out what options and deadlines apply. Senior year, the December ACT test date is the latest score many colleges will accept when determining merit and other scholarship awards.

ACT Workshop

Power Prep ACT Workshops take place at MHS throughout the year. Each workshop includes two evening sessions covering practical and relevant information on how to increase your ACT score. The cost of each workshop is $90. For more information regarding fall workshop dates and registration, please go to http://actprep.info/maize .

AP Test Registration

For the 2025 AP exams, students at Maize High School will be registering online. Online Exam registration began in the fall and will end on Friday, March 1 at 3:00 PM. The AP exam registration process is two steps, but both can be completed in one sitting when the student and parent/guardian do this together. Even if you do not plan to take the AP exam, you need to complete both steps to access the College Board’s AP resources. Both steps must be completed in order to have AP exams ordered:

Step 1: Students have been sent an email for each AP class they are enrolled in this spring. The email contains a Google Form specific to each course with information on the official test date, AP Join Code, cost of the exam, and instructions on how to pay their registration fee.

Step 2: Students then use the join codes provided at the completion of Step 1 to enroll the student's AP courses and exams in the College Board's system.

This year each AP exam costs $100. Maize High School desires that every student be able to take their AP exams. Students requiring financial assistance should contact Mrs. Betsy Manning, bmanning@usd266.com, at Maize High School to learn more.

Here are the important dates for the registration process:

• Friday, March 1st - AP Test Registration Ends - Registrations that have not been paid for will be canceled and exams will not be ordered.

• Thursday, March 7th by 3:00 PM - Last day to cancel an exam and receive a full refund.

Please contact Mrs. Betsy Manning, bmanning@usd266.com, if you would like to register for an exam not listed or have any questions.

Driver Education
Online Driver Education is a district course offered to high school students who meet the minimum age requirement of 14. This course is offered each term during the school year with a limit of 40 students each term. The book work is available 24/7 online, and the driving is done after school. Drive times are typically 3:00, 4:00; 5:00 PM for one hour. The course is pass/fail (.25 credit) and the course cost is $250. It is recommended that students obtain a learners permit before enrolling in this course. If you would like to enroll in Online Driver’s Education, the student and parent/guardian must both attend the enrollment night. If you have questions, contact Brent Pfeifer (bpfeifer@usd266.com) or John Anderson (janderson@usd266.com)

Driver Education Enrollment Meeting for Term 4:

March 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM MSHS Commons

NCAA Eligibility for Student Athletes

Many student athletes wish to compete at the highest levels in college sports; however, NCAA Division I and Division II sports have high standards of academic achievement that require special attention to class selection and GPA throughout a student’s high school career. Please click on these NCAA Division I and Division II Fact Sheets for a quick overview of current standards, and contact your school counselor early on with questions regarding potential eligibility.

​

College & Career Center Updates

Mark your calendars!

Students and their parents are invited to utilize the College & Career Center as a resource to navigate the high school experience and plan for their post-graduation. Students visit the College & Career Center to ask questions about future class selections, explore post-secondary options, or get assistance with the FAFSA. The College & Career Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday by appointment only. Please email Diane Close at dclose@usd266.com to make an appointment.

College visits during the spring semester are open for students grades 10-12.

February events:

17th College Visit to Newman University

21st College Visit to Friends University

March events:

17/21 Spring break is a great time to review college options as a family

27th College Visit - Students grades 10-12 to Fort Hays State University

April events:

3rd College Visit - Students grades 10-12 to Pittsburg State University

23rd College Visit - Juniors Days, Butler Community College

May events:

Senior Celebration

In preparation for senior students and their parents to complete the FAFSA which is now open, make sure to complete the FSA ID in advance. Go to studentaid.gov, “create, " and click the “start now” button. Please remember the student and parent must have separate email addresses and phone numbers. Student email addresses SHOULD NOT be their school email address.

Please join us Saturday, April 5th from 11:00pm to 2:00am at Maize High School for After Prom! All Juniors, Seniors, and their dates are invited! Our planning team is hard at work collecting donations and prizes and we need your help!

Cash or gift card donations: cash donations will be used for activities, prizes, food, beverages, decorations, and supplies. Gift cards will be used as raffle prizes at the event. Checks can be made payable to Maize After Prom or you can Venmo directly to Maize After Prom (@maizeafterprom).

Merchandise donations: we can use anything that would make a great prize. Do you own a business or work for one that might be willing to help? Dorm supplies, sporting goods, electronics, event tickets, t-shirts, and school supplies all make great prizes!

All checks, gift cards, and merchandise donations can be dropped off at MHS in the office.

You can also help by attending one of these Sprit Nights and mentioning you are there for MHS After Prom:

Red Robin - all day on February 27th

Chick-Fil-A from 3-10 PM on March 13th

Thank you for your support!

Don’t Miss Out – Order Your Yearbook Today!

The school year is flying by, and now is the perfect time to order your student's yearbook! The yearbook is a keepsake filled with memories, friends, and special moments from this school year that your student will treasure for years to come.

Order Deadline: March 7, 2025
How to Order: Order here
Price: $45.00

Yearbooks are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to reserve yours before they’re gone! If you have any questions, please contact pdeugenio@usd266.com

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing this year’s unforgettable moments with you!

****

Purchase Your Senior’s Yearbook Ad Before the Deadline!

Time is flying, and graduation will be here before we know it! Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate your senior’s achievements by purchasing a Senior Ad in the yearbook. Senior Ads are a special way to showcase your pride with photos and a heartfelt message that your student will cherish for years to come.

Deadline to purchase: May 8, 2025
How to purchase: Order here
Ad sizes & pricing:

• Full Page - Color - $330.00
• 1/2 Page - Color - $170.00
• 1/4 Page - Color - $90.00
• 1/8 Page - Color - $50.00

Spots are limited, so be sure to secure yours before the deadline! If you have any questions, feel free to email me, pdeugenio@usd266.com and I will try and help you the best I can.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to helping you celebrate the Class of 2025!

Love is in the Air

Love Me or Love Me Not book markers are in the school nurse's office! The free book markers provide teens and others the warning signs of a abusive relationship. On the flip side, the book marker provides the qualities of a healthy relationship. If you would like your teen to receive a Love Me or Love Me Not bookmarker please email or call the Maize High School Nurse. ddesjardins@usd266.com or (316)350-2123.

Maize Illness policy from the Student Handbook: 15.1 Illness

Students who are ill should never be sent to school. Students with temperatures at or above 100

degrees will be sent home. They must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing

medication before returning to class. The school health rooms are set up to give first aid to the sick and injured, do screenings, and give necessary mediations and care for students with chronic health problems. Ill students need to be picked up quickly in order to prevent the spread of disease to others. The school attempts to provide a safe and accident-free environment. For further policy information please visit the Maize District website.

• If you are unsure, always call the school nurse before sending an ill student to school at (316) 350-2123 or (316) 350-2137.

Important Resources for Parents and Teens

Suicide Crisis Lifeline – call or text 988

Poison Control – 1-800-222-1222

Prepped & Ready – Parent videos and toolkits- steps to take before a crisis.

childrensmercy.org/deparments-and-clinics/developemental-and-behavioral-health/prepped-and-

ready.

Songs for Charlie – (english)thenewdrugtalk.org (spanish)lanuevadrugtalk.org– expert advise, free

tools and education to help families stay connected and stay safe.

United Way of the Plains – 211 Information and Referral service for community resources.

Over the Counter Medications Policy 2024-2025 School Year-

No more carrying over the counter medications! All medication must be brought to

the school nurses office. The parent may log in to their Skyward Account, go to Online

Forms, then click on Over the Counter Medication Consent Forms. Click on what over

the counter medications you would like the school nurse to give.

If you would like your student to take something other than what the school nurse

has for over the counter medications, sign and return the medication form and bring the medication

into the school nurse. Please click the link below.

Prescription Medications - Will your child be taking prescription meds at MHS? You will need to print the medication form, have the prescribing doctor fill it out and return it to MHS Nurse with the prescription. Parents or an adult must bring the prescription medications to school in their prescribed bottle. Please click the link below for the the medication form.

Inhalers, EpiPens, Diabetic Medications, Seizure Meds – All need a signed medication form. Parents can print the medication form and have their doctor's send the health plans to the school nurse. Print the medication form and have their doctor send the health plan to the school nurse. Again, the link to the medication form is below.

Students Going Home - Have your teen check out through the school nurse if they are going home sick or have injured themselves during the school day. We are here to help them get home safely.

School Nurse Office Hours: 7:20am to 2:55pm Monday through Friday. Phone 316-350-2123.

Be safe and take care!

You are no doubt a parent or caregiver who deeply cares about the wellbeing of a teenager. As an adult who cares, there are many ways you can help improve the mental health of the teens in your life.

Zero Reasons Why is a teen led organization seeking to break the stigma of mental health. The teens involved in the campaign believe one of the biggest barriers to their mental health is when parents or caregivers don’t recognize mental health as a real or valid health concern. Having an honest, empathetic conversation about mental health with their parents can be challenging, let alone accessing additional support like therapy when needed. For information on the Zero Reasons Why campaign and for support in having conversations related to mental health with your teen please visit #zeroreasonswhy.org

Do you know the mental health supports available at Maize High School? Did you know there is a mental health intervention team member in each school grades 5-12? For more information on the MHIT program please email your behavioral health liaison Ashleigh Hughbanks at ahughbanks@usd266.com

Did you know that if you text 741741 when you are feeling depressed or suicidal, a crisis worker will text you back immediately and continue to text with you? Many people don’t like talking on the phone and would be more comfortable texting. It's a FREE service to ANYONE - teens, adults, etc. - who lives in the U.S. It's run by The Crisis Text Line.

You. Matter. #youmattertome

Maslow's closet is currently taking donations. Maslow's closet provides, food, clothing, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies to families in the Maize area. This assistance is available to any student in any Maize school.

• . Our most up-to-date event schedule is available at bit.ly/MHSschedules. You can also follow us on social media. On Facebook, search for Maize Eagle Athletics and Activities. On X, you can find us at MaizeEagleAD and on Instagram at MaizeEagle_AD

• If you are going to an event, you can purchase tickets in advance by going to our GoFan page at bit.ly/MHSEaglestix

• There will be a meeting in the MHS commons at 6 p.m. on Feb. 19 for parents of spring sports athletes.

• Athletic and activities director Dan Loving puts out a weekly newsletter. If you would like to receive it in your inbox, you can sign up here.

Ever dreamt of riding to the top of the Swiss Alps? Seeing the curving streets of Monaco? Learning to dance Flamenco in Spain? Come join the World Languages department in the summer of 2026 for our 11 day trip to Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain. Students and families are welcome! For more information contact Mrs. De La Torre (adelatorre@usd266.com), Ms. Prendes (aprendes@usd266.com), Mr. Mercado (vmercado@usd266.com) or Mrs. Moon (amoon@usd266.com) for more info!

Any Maize High student interested in participating in the spring trap shooting season needs to see Coach Frye in room F36.

The last three months our members of NHS have been very busy. Our 130 members have served in their community for 432 hours since November!

Congratulations to Lyla Lansdown (violin), Jack Bowen (violin), Johanna Speer (viola) and Kathryn

Dayley (alternate on bass). They were selected for the Kansas Music Educators Association All-

State Orchestra. They auditioned on Jan. 25 at Salina South High School against all Orchestra

students in the state that were selected for their respective District KMEA ensembles. They will

rehearse Feb. 27-28 and perform on March 1 at the conclusion of the Kansas Music Educators

Association Inservice Workshop.

Congratulations to Alissa Ragland who had two artworks selected for the Kansas Scholastic Art Awards. Only 490 artworks were chosen from 2,200 entries from across the state to be honored for inclusion into this year's exhibition. Alissa was awarded an Honorable Mention and a Silver Key for her two graphic design pieces.

Attachment: Alissa's infographic design Titled "Forget Me Not Day" earned a Silver Key.

Two of our students, Payten LaPoint and Parker Clark, were selected as this year's Student Visionaries for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you are interested in donating to this cause, for their team, you can do so using this link.

Congratulations to Thatcher Auten, Jacob Froese, Tyler Carey, Alex Le, Koen Heuer and Josiah Johnson winning all six matches at the AVCTL Division 1 League Scholars Bowl Tournament. They are your 2024-2025 LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!

Check out the Spirit Central website for all your Maize Eagle spirit gear! You can purchase online and then choose to pick-up at the school or have the merchandise shipped to you! All proceeds support the Maize High Business Professionals of America club.

Please be mindful and YIELD the right of way to the buses when they arrive in the morning. Please DO NOT try to dart in between the buses. Allowing the buses to pull into the parking lot and proceed to the south entry doors is priority. Thank you - Crossing Guard Staff

MHS can not accept food, flower, or gift deliveries.

The second chance breakfast is a great opportunity for our students that arrive late. The kitchen will be open 9am to 9:20am,we ask that students only come down during their block 2 passing period (if they missed early morning breakfast which is 7:10am to 7:30) and not their bathroom breaks.