Maize Elementary School Newsletter
September 2024
Thank you for your interest in joining the Panther Patrol program (formerly Watch D.O.G.S.) at Maize Elementary School. This is open to all individuals who are interested in volunteering and have a connection to a Maize Elementary student or staff member. The program will be an extension of our efforts to maintain and improve safety and security at MES.
To volunteer you must do the following:
Fill out the District Background checks. You can access this by going to the drop-down menu under the school headline on the top left of the page.
Both steps must be completed in order to volunteer. Visit our sign-up genius, and choose your times.
MOXI Mondays bring local baked goods to our school menus
Maize USD 266 Food Service and MOXI Junction, a coffeehouse and bakery in Maize, are making Mondays a little easier with MOXI Mondays during school breakfast. Check out our breakfast menus to see when your student will have the opportunity to select a freshly baked carmelita bar from MOXI Junction as a part of their school breakfast. Students can select a carmelita and add choices of fruit, juice, and milk.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped support the Fall Book Fair! Thanks to your generosity, we’ll soon be adding exciting new books to our library!
Check-Out Procedures:
On the topic of books, we’re rolling out a fun new reward program for classes with no overdue books! Each week, classes with no overdue books will receive two gold coins the following week. We’ve already shared this with the students, so feel free to ask them about it! If your child needs to keep a book for an additional week, we’ve asked that they bring it to the library on their class day to renew the check-out. This will help us track what’s still being read and what might need replacing.
ID Badges:
Lastly, students check out books using their Maize Elementary ID badges. If your child needs a new badge, please send $3 to school, and we’ll gladly print one for them.
Go Panthers,
Mrs. Kirkman and Ms. Nicole
Hope you are all doing well. Students have done a great job during the first 9 weeks of school. The first and second graders will be learning an additional 4 bones of the body. Kindergarten will be learning about more organs of the body. We are currently in a soccer unit and will begin our archery unit just in time for turkey hunting. First and second graders are working towards a 10 minute continuous run, and the kindergartners towards a 5 minute run. Remember to eat healthy and find ways to get a great workout during the winter cold!
Coach Horn thorn@usd266.com
Coach Schuette sschuette@usd266.com
We are once again getting ready to help our local Caring Hearts organization. Caring Hearts is an organization that assists USD 266 families that are experiencing various needs during the holiday season. This is Maize school families helping out other Maize school families. Your child’s classroom teacher will have a sign up to donate a grocery item. Our food drive will be November 11-15. Thank you for your generosity! You make a difference for families every year!
Mrs. Stephens bstephens@usd266.com
Mrs. Nietfeld Anietfeld@usd266.com
Health Screenings:
The nurse’s office has started and will be continuing our annual vision and hearing screenings over
the next few months. Vision screenings for K, 1, 2, 3; hearing screenings for K,1, 4 and dental
screenings K-4. These are required by state law. Results 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 call me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.
Skyward Health History:
It is the parents responsibility to update your students information in Skyward and notify the school nurse if needed.
Immunizations and Health Assessments:
IMPORTANT: If I have contacted you regarding immunizations or a health assessment, please turn
them in as soon as possible due to the deadline having been October 1, 2023. You may send them
to school with your student, fax them, or email them to me.
SAY BOO TO THE FLU!
Flu season is approaching. Get your flu vaccine now! Vaccination is recommended for everyone 6
months and older. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose,
body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people with the flu will not have a fever.
What is the flu? Influenza (the flu) is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the
influenza virus. There are many different influenza viruses that are constantly changing. The flu is
spread when an infected person coughs sneezes or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and
then touches his eyes, nose, or mouth. The best defense against the flu is washing your hands
often!!
Please keep your student home if they are exhibiting any of the following symptoms: fever over 100
degrees, headache, general aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, continuous coughing, chest
discomfort, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Fever MUST be gone without the use of a fever reducing
medication (i.e. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen)) for a full 24 hours before student is
to return to school.
Thanks, Nurse Erin
Third and Fourth Grade Families!
Thank you for your support last month! Your students worked very hard and we had an excellent program.
Hello Kindergarten Families!
Your child is preparing for a December Vocal Music Program. It is exciting to showcase your young and talented singers, dancers, speakers, and instrumentalists! The program will be on Tuesday, December 17th at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatic Center (MPAAC) and will last about 25 minutes. MPAAC is located at 1055 Academy Ave, Maize, KS 67101 on the corner 119th and Academy.
Students report to MPAAC at 5:45pm – Performance begins at 6:00pm
Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Jacobs, and Mrs. Gupilan
Katie Todd
Ethan Jeffries
Attendance is Important
After seven absences, professional documentation will be required for an absence to be excused. With this change, the district encourages parents to obtain a note from a medical provider when appropriate. You can fax (722-5456), e mail or bring the forms into the office. Absences will not be changed after 3 business days. Find a complete definition of an excused absence in the District Student Handbook. This is important because Kansas Law requires the school district to report truancy after unexcused absences accumulate (three in a row, five in a semester, or seven in a school year). For more information on truancy, please see the Compulsory Attendance Law (K.S.A. 72-3120).
If you know of an extended absence ahead of time you will need to fill out the Administrative Excusal form prior to the absence.