Maize South High School

Greetings Mavs!

This month I want to share a few pieces of new information with you as well as some reminders from last month’s newsletter about events coming up in December. At the beginning of the year, I shared the Maverick of the Month nomination form with you that is always on our MSHS website. We honor three staff members each month based on nominations received from staff, students, parents, and community members. Anyone is able to use these links to nominate a Maize South staff member for this award. Please use these links anytime you would like to share the great things our staff is doing that everyone may not know about.

The congestion, safety, and efficiency of the parking lot has and continues to be a priority to find solutions to make busy arrival and departure times better for all. Throughout this fall, our building and district leaders have been working together to create a plan to help our parking lot issues. A parking lot study has been conducted by an outside company, and we are in the process of taking the appropriate Board procedures to put suggestions in place from the study. I’m hopeful that all stakeholders will receive communication soon regarding updates and changes to our parking lot as early as the beginning of the spring semester.

Snoball Dance:

• The Maize South High School Dance Team will be hosting the annual semi-formal Snoball dance on Saturday, December 10th from 8:00 -11:00 pm at Maize South High School. Tickets may be purchased in advance now through December 8th at www.myschooldance.com for $15. Any Maize South student who is bringing a guest to the dance who does not attend Maize South is required to purchase their tickets online in advance. Outside guests must have the approval of their school administration to attend the dance, this process is all completed online through My School Dance.
• Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $20 CASH by MSHS students. All students will need to bring their ID (or Skyward account w/ picture) for entry to the dance. Doors will close for entry to the dance at 9:00 pm.

End of semester Finals:

End of semester finals will occur using the same finals schedule as last year. Student finals will be December 20th and 21st. Every student in every class will have a cumulative final and will have two finals per day. Finals are an end of course learning opportunity designed by each teacher. A final may look like a traditional paper/pencil assessment, or it may look like some type of individual or group project, presentation, lab, etc.

Finals Schedule:

Tuesday, December 20th 7:35 am - 2:40 pm

• 1st block - Study Hall - Students will be assigned to a study hall location
• 2nd block - FINAL - Students report to 2nd block to take their final
• EnCor - Students will report to their regular EnCor classroom
• 3rd block - Non-academic Activities planned - Students will be provided multiple non-academic related activities to participate in (lunch will be during this time as usual)
• 4th block - FINAL - Students report to 4th block to take their final

Wednesday, December 21st - Early Release Schedule 7:35 am - 2:05 pm

• 1st block - FINAL - Students report to 1st block to take their final
• 2nd block - Non-academic Activities planned - Students will be provided multiple non-academic related activities to participate in
• EnCor - Students will report to their regular EnCor classroom
• 3rd block - FINAL - Students will report to 3rd block to take their final (lunch will be during this time as usual)
• 4th block - Non-academic Activities planned - Students will be provided multiple non-academic related activities to participate in

Students will be provided a list of activities pending confirmation of our offerings.

This schedule applies only to Maize South High School. Students who travel to MCA or MHS for classes will continue their regular travel schedule and be expected to be in attendance at their regularly scheduled MCA/MHS class times.

Students are not able to take finals early. For families that know their student is going to miss the last few days of the semester, there is a process to complete so that the student is able to make up their finals upon their return to school in January.

Students who will miss finals need to have their parent contact the student’s alpha administrator

• A - G - Mrs. Klock aklock@usd266.com
• H - O - Mrs. Fowler mfowler@usd266.com
• P - Z - Mr. Nash dnash@usd266.com

Parents may give their student permission to leave campus during "off" times. "Off" times are those times during the school day in which finals are not being taken. Our office staff will not be able to answer the volume of calls and track down students on the 20th and 21st. If parents would like their student to be allowed to leave campus for part or all of the "off" times, please complete this form. For planning purposes, please complete this form by Monday, December 19th.

Mavs Up!

Becky Sailor

Principal

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

Connect with Ms. Sailor at bsailor@usd266.com or 316-462-8000.

Maize South High School is located at 3701 N. Tyler Rd. in Wichita.

College & Career Center Updates

All students are invited to utilize the College & Career Center as a resource to navigate the high school experience through developing and/or updating their Individual Plan of Study. One on one assistance is provided to students as they begin thinking about life after high school. Current freshmen, sophomores and juniors are encouraged to schedule an appointment to discuss their Individual Plan of Study. Taking time to prepare or revise current plans will make the 2023-2024 enrollment process go smoothly.

Mark your calendars!

• Annual College & Career Night - Monday, February 13th to be held in the Maize Career Academy from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• Representatives will be in attendance from both public and private postsecondary institutions.

• Each branch of the military will be presented to discuss options available to students if they are considering the reserves or full enlistment.

• Apprenticeships programs are an excellent way for students to obtain skills while working.

• Interested in volunteer, shadow or internship opportunities for summer 2023? Representatives will be available to discuss options.

• Upcoming College Tours for students grades 10-12

• January 25th WSU Tech

• February 15th Friends University

• February 23rd Newman University

• March 29th Fort Hays State University

• April 5th Pittsburg State University

• April 19th Butler Community College

Registration for college visits will open two weeks prior to the scheduled visit date.

Every spring, journalism advisers throughout the country enter their students' work into the National Scholastic Press Association Awards, hoping that their students will be chosen as some of the best in the nation. OneMaize Media is honored to announce our NSPA Award winners that were announced at the Journalism Education Association convention in St. Louis, November 11-13.

Sydney Endicott, 2nd Place, Photographer of the year

Sydney Endicott, 3rd Place, Feature photo of the year

Noah Byer, 3rd Place, Broadcast news story of the year (in a group, along with Emma Stillings & Trevor Sites from MHS)

Lakin Zamorano, Honorable Mention, Social Promotion (in a group, along with Isabelle Blasdel, Kayla Nicol, Taylor Roetzer from MHS)

Fusion Online, 9th Place Best of show - all students in OneMaize Media contribute to the success of our website! www.maizenews.com

Congratulations to the students who attended the Journalism Education Association convention in St. Louis, November 11-13, and earned honors in the National Student Media Contests.

Emma Wilks, Graphic Design: Photo Illustration, Superior

Cevin Montgomery, Review Writing, Excellent

Sydney Endicott, Sports Photography, Honorable Mention

Bridget Johnson, Feature Writing, Honorable Mention

December 22-30 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

January 2-3 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

January 4 - NO SCHOOL, Teacher Work Day

January 16 - NO SCHOOL, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• Because students are not allowed to bring balloons or glass items on the bus, the Maize school district will not be accepting any flower, candy, cookie, or balloon bouquet deliveries to students.
• If your student is going to be tardy to school, please call the office. They are allowed three parent excused 1st block tardies per year, after that they are subject to detention.
• When a student is absent, it is the responsibility of the parents to call the attendance office within 24 hours to verify the reason for the absence. Please be sure to provide a doctor's note to the front office when your child has seen the doctor, dentist, etc., these visits won't count against your child's attendance. Medical notes can also be faxed to 462-8001.
• If you need to pick up your child from school during school hours, please call the office with the time your child needs to be released. They will receive a pass ahead of time and can check themselves out at the requested time. The exception to this, is lunch time. If you wish to check your student out for lunch, a parent must come in and sign the student out. Parents are not required to sign students back in.
• We have a "closed lunch" policy. Students will be expected to eat at school and NO OUTSIDE FOOD may be brought in or delivered.
• If your child is absent and will require homework, please email the teacher.

Thank you for your help with this. We appreciate it!

USD 266 Maize offers Online Driver Education each term during the school year. The online

driver education program strives to prepare students to become knowledgeable and respectful

of the law; to learn basic driving skills; and to develop a responsible attitude toward driving.

The instructors will provide critical experience to students; involve parents in the process, and

foster cooperative interaction with others in the driving environment. Students should be

studying the Kansas Driver Handbook and be ready to take a handbook test at the start of the

course. Students that have a Kansas Permit that is valid through the course dates will be

exempt from taking the handbook test. More detailed information on Online Driver Education

can be found on the high school website, (click on Counselor then Driver Education).

Online Driver Education 2022-2023: Both the Student & Parent/Guardian must attend the

enrollment night in order to be in Online Dr. Ed. Each term class is limited to 50 students.

Enrollment packets may be picked up in the counseling office or downloaded off the high

school website.

- Term 3 January 9th Student/Parent Enrollment Night 6:00pm MHS Commons

- Term 4 March 6th Student/Parent Enrollment Night 6:00pm MHS Commons

**Both the Student and one Parent/Guardian will be required to attend the enrollment

meeting. Please bring your enrollment packet, a writing pen, corrective eye wear (if needed)

and any type of Kansas Permit/License you already have to the Enrollment Meeting**

If you would like to speak with someone in the main office during the school day, you may call (316)462-8000.

Becky Sailor, Principal

Alison Klock, Assistant Principal A-G

Megan Fowler, Assistant Principal H-O

Dave Nash, Assistant Principal P-Z

Luke Smith, Athletic Director

ADMIN OFFICE

Brenda Block, Attendance Secretary

Communications Secretary

Cassie Tholen, Accounting/Athletics Secretary

Stephanie Brooks, Discipline Secretary

COUNSELING

Jennifer Cashman, Counselor A-B

Brooke Sorenson, Counselor C-H

Paige Luna, Counselor I-P

Taluia Pentecost, Counselor Q-Z

Lyn Brown, College and Career Advocate

Tiffany Riedel, Registrar

NURSE

Katy Carter