January Parent Bulletin

Ma'ema'e Elementary
January Parent Bulletin

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

Welcome to the beginning of the second half of school year 2011-2012. We will be looking at data from our diebels testing and will start preparing our students in grades 3, 4 and 5 for the second round of HSA testing.

I am happy to announce that our Academic and Financial Plan was accepted by our Complex Area Superintendent and was sent to Superintendent Matayoshi's office for her signature. With "Race to the Top" the expectations are greater and we will have a lot more to do to accomplish goals we set for ourselves. We will be busy for months to come.

We want to welcome back Mrs. Kimberly Golden (2-13) and Mrs. Dee Wong (SPED), our teachers who were out on maternity leave and are now returning to their classrooms. Mrs. Vivian Canionero, who was the teacher for Mrs. Golden's class during the first semester, will be teaching kindergarten (K-22) this semester. She took the place of Mrs. Ceseli Lee who retired in December.

January 15 is Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and it will be celebrated on January 16, 2012 (Monday). There will be no school that day; students will return on Tuesday.

Please remember that we are a peanut free school. Be sure that your children do not come to school with snacks that have peanuts in them and that they do not share snacks that may contain peanuts. We want our students to be safe.

I would like to take this time to thank you for your well wishes, gifts and thoughtfulness during this holiday season. Happy New Year to everyone!

Sincerely,

Pearlene Blaisdell,

Principal

In This Issue

Vice Principal's Corner

School Calendar & Community Events

Ma`ema`e Home Page:

http://web.me.com/maemae3/Maemae_Elementary/Welcome.html

Vice Principal's Message

Happy New Year Ma'ema'e students, parents, community, staff and faculty!

In this New Year 2012, we as a school shall continue to work towards fulfilling our school improvement goals with more intensity than last year.

We shall find success by practicing our Ma'ema'e Ohana Values, which will strengthen our ability to forge forward in our efforts to improve academic achievement, social, emotional and physical growth.

The Ma'ema'e Ohana Values are Kuleana, Aloha, Laulima, and 'Onipa'a. In the spirit of collaboration, it will take the support and disciplined action of all stakeholders to ensure the Ohana Values are implemented and practiced at school, home and in the community.

Our New Year's Resolution as a school will be to take the pledge to abide by the following values:

Kuleana is to be responsible to myself and others.
- I can focus on a task and follow through to complete it.
- I am prepared, organized and complete all tasks on time.
- I can look, listen and learn.
- I can follow all school rules to include: classroom, playground, cafeteria and Chapter 19 rules.
Aloha is feeling and showing love, compassion and kindness to everyone.
- I can be thoughtful of others.
- I can play safely with others and demonstrate good sportsmanship behavior.
- I can use good table manners.
- I can pay attention and respond appropriately using kind words.

Laulima is working and playing together in harmony.
- I can wait my turn and share my supplies and equipment with others.
- I can pay attention and work collaboratively with others.
- I can leave things better than I found it.

`Onipa`a is to be steadfast and determined.
- I can do my very best in all settings at all times and in all situations.
- I can be determined to do what is right in all settings at all times and in all situations.

Achieving our school improvement efforts can only be met with success if we all pledge to do our part in learning, teaching and respecting our Ma'ema'e Ohana Values. We ask for your commitment and kokua to assist the school in providing the skills that are necessary for our 21st Century Learners to strive. Let us all make a concerted effort this 2012 School Year.

Thank you for your continued support and help!

Best wishes to a fantastic New Year 2012!

L.Kobayashi, Vice Principal

Deadlines

Geographic Exception Applications for the 2012-2013 School Year

Geographic Exception (GE) applications will be available during the months of January and February (Ma`ema`e Office or any public school). The deadline for turning in an application is March 1, 2012. You should consider applying if:

You recently moved or plan to move out of our school district.
Your child is here on a GE and you want to enroll a sibling.

If you are applying your child for Kindergarten or your child is coming from a private school, please submit your GE form to the Home School where your child would normally attend.

Cafeteria Updates

Breakfast with Your Child

Parents/adults are welcome to eat breakfast with their child, but due to Federal Rules and Regulations, parents/adults are not allowed to eat from the student's plate. Adults may purchase their own breakfast at $2.20. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Mealtime Reminders

We would like to extend our gratitude to parents/guardians who have been keeping track of their child's Mealtime account diligently. We appreciate your support and cooperation!

Negative Balance Notices

Just a reminder that our staff will continue to send home negative balance notices through your child. If your child's balance reaches a $11.25 negative balance or $2.00 negative balance for a child under the reduced lunch program, he/she will not be able to purchase a lunch (in accordance with Hawaii State Department of Education School Food Service Policy). We strongly encourage parents to make regular deposits into their child's Mealtime account(s).

Cash Deposits

The cost of eating both a breakfast and a lunch daily in an average month (20 school days) is approximately $65.00. We strongly encourage parents to make regular cash deposits into their child's Mealtime account.

Adult Breakfast

For parents or other adults accompanying their child for breakfast, please bring exact change with you to pay for your meal ($2.20 for adults) as we have a very limited change fund.

Recess Juice/Milk Purchases

Also of note, if your child is under the Federal Lunch program (free or reduced meals) and he/she purchases juice or milk during morning recess, please make sure you have sufficient funds in your child's account to cover these ala carte items.

Health Room

(Just a friendly reminder) please check your child's choice of shoes if they plan on being active at recess. Slippers are not a safe choice and accidents happen. On P.E. days they must wear P.E. shoes. Recess can be as active and busy as P.E.

If your child has borrowed slippers or shoes from the health room, please remember to return them. Thank you for your cooperation!

H. Bedford, Health Aide

Library News

Year Book Sale

The 2011-2012 year book sale will begin in January. The cost of a year book is $15 until January 13, 2012. There after, the cost of the year book will be $20.

Please be on the look out for the order form, which will be distributed to your child's classroom, January 4, 2012.

Technology News

Technology Fundraisers

General Mills Labels (sent in November - next shipment will be February)

Recycling Ink Cartridges and Toners - Intrade (847-5300) will pick them up at your office if you tell them, they'll credit to Ma'ema'e, or send to the office or lab.

Office Depot - 5% back to the school (designate Ma'ema'e ) on qualifying purchases (ask Office Depot for a list of qualifying purchases) School ID Number - 70027176

PTSA

Treasurer's Corner

By Wendy Yoshioka-Moore

Happy New Year! The Year of the Dragon is one that brings happiness and good fortune. It is said that good fortune will come in the areas of health, wealth and living a long prosperous life. What a great beginning to the New Year for us all!

Noteworthy expenses for November 2011:

Volunteer Fund $300.00

2nd Grade Science Project $617.78

Hawaii State PTA dues $92.50

Movie Night $250.74

Classroom Support $150.00

5th Grade Camp Timberline $690.00

5th Grade Play Smart Team $25.98

JPO Program $39.31

Noteworthy expenses for December 2011:

NxTech Systems (maintenance of aruba wireless) $795.68

Volunteer Fund $300.00

Classroom Support $300.00

Liliha Bakery Fundraising Due $54,958.00

Signature Catalog Fundraising Due $6,367.25

Student Council News

'Ohana Chip Donations: HELP NEEDED!!!

Thank you for your generous donations to help stock our 'Ohana Chip redemption "store".

Students are rewarded by teachers and staff for displaying our 'ohana values with their positive actions both in and out of the classroom. Every Wed. at first recess, the cafeteria becomes a bustling store where students can exchange their hard-earned 'ohana chips for small toys, pencils and healthy snacks (please do not donate any home-made food items and any food which contains peanuts).

Here is a list of recent donors: K: AS (22) Gr. 1: JB (7) Gr. 2: Mrs. C. (13) Gr. 4: CS (30), Lisa Kumashiro (staff), Susan T. (volunteer).

WE ARE IN REAL NEED OF HEALTHY SNACKS---NO CANDY AND NO NUTS, PLEASE---FRUIT ROLL-UPS, FRUIT BY THE FOOT, FRUIT SNACKS, RICE KRISPIE BARS, ETC.. THANK YOU!!!

Hi-5 Recycling News

Here are the final revised dates for our ongoing Hi-5 recycling drive. We really appreciate your support in saving your Hi5 containers at home, separating them into plastic, aluminum and glass, removing the caps and bringing them to school on the morning of each collection day.

Remaining Hi5 collection days for this school year:

Jan. 5 Feb. 2 March 1 April 5 May 10

(With the exception of May 10, it is usually the first Thursday of each month)

The Student Council relies on our Hi5 donations to fund many of our school activities. Thank you for your support!

Keiki Fun Run on Feb. 18---Registration DEADLINE Coming up soon

Mark your calendars for this year's keiki fun run. Formerly known as the "Keiki Great Aloha Run", it is now called "Hawaii 5210, Let's Go ! Keiki Run", No matter what the name, it is the same well organized and FUN event, happening Saturday, Feb. 18 at the NBC. Please go to http://www.greataloharun.com/events/keikirun to register and join our school team now.

Only online registration will be accepted this year.

The cost is $15 if you register by Jan. 16. After that date, the cost goes up to $20.

There is also a $1.50 processing fee per person.

We will pick up the race packets for all participants who sign up from the school by the deadline.

Use the drop down list of schools and you'll see Ma'ema'e listed there. We hope to be able to get back 80 to 100% of all the registered participants who choose Ma'ema`e as their designated school!

This money will help support our PE and sports programs for all of our students.

Congratulations to ZT (K-21) for being the first Ma'ema'e student to register for the fun run!

School Calendar & Community Events

1/4/12

Family Night PTSA Meeting in the library at 5:30 p.m.

1/09/12

Gr. 4 & 5 Student Council Roosevelt Complex Leadership Conference @ RHS, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM

1/13/12

Grs. K-2 Ronald McDonald Presentation in cafeteria, 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM

1/16/12

Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school

1/20/12

Gr. 4 Classes - Papahana (Native, Hawaiian Plants/Animals Presentation, 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Gr. 1 Classes - Chinatown Excursion, 8:10 AM - 12:00 PM

1/23/12

Gr. 5: Lifetouch Graduation Picture Taking (order forms will be sent in Jan. TBA)

1/27/12

Gr. K 100th Day of School Celebration