Where has all the time gone? Our annual PTSA Family Night is right around the corner. Yes, it is on Friday, May 4, from 2:30 to 8:00 pm. Our PTSA Family Night committee has been busy planning for this event since January. The set up this year is a little different, but we are ready for it. We are still in need of more Volunteers to make this event a success. If you can help, please inform PTSA (information found in flyers sent home, online on PTSA website, in the newspaper, on facebook, by word of mouth). Come One, Come All, to Ma`ema`e's Family Night!

Our 5th graders will be participating in the annual Speech Festival on Saturday, May 5. It will be held at McKinley High School from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm. Our fifth grade teachers work with and prepare our students for this activity. This is a good experience for our students and every school that participates is recognized in McKinley's gym with a short ceremony.

On Wednesday, May 9, our Complex will be part of a K-12 Inquiry Showcase that will be held again at McKinley High School. There will be Art, Poetry, Science Fair Projects, Bands, Singing and many other performances featured from 2:30 to 7:00 pm. Our very own Glee Club will perform in the auditorium at 4:05 pm. Our Art and Poetry will be displayed in the library and our Science Fair poster boards will be in the cafeteria.

This year we will not have a promotion day. Students will find out who their teacher will be for SY 2012-2013 two weeks before the start of school on July 30, 2012. The names of the students and their teacher will be displayed on the bulletin board outside of the office. The report card and supply list will go home with the students on the last day of school.

The last day for students and teachers is Thursday, May 24, 2012. It is a full day of school for students. There will be a graduation ceremony for our 5th graders from 9:00 - 10:00 am at the Fairy Ring, weather permitting.

Thank you all for your continued support and caring attitude for all of our Ma`ema`e O`hana.

Malama Pono,

Pearlene Blaisdell,

Principal   

Our motto for the 2011- 2012 school year was Dream Big ...Work Hard! I am proud to say that everyone has worked hard and hope they will continue to work harder next year and the year after to fulfill their own "Big Dream."

The year went by in a flash! As we reflect on the school year I find it quite difficult to remember all the wonderful accomplishments of the year. I do know there were many and I'd like each one of you to take some time from your busy day to reflect on your experiences this school year. If you met your goals, give yourself a "pat on the back!" and Hip Hip Hurrah to you! A job well done! You deserve to celebrate your success (es) whether small or big!

I have met much success and do have many areas that I would like to improve on. I will pledge to continue to make the campus a safer and happier place to be.

Personally I love Disneyland and even in my " ripe old age" I continue to love and believe that it is one of the happiest places in the world. I also believe that Ma`ema`e Elementary School can also be one of the happiest places in Hawaii in the Honolulu District, Roosevelt Complex. I am a graduate of Ma`ema`e School and I loved and continue to love being at Ma`ema`e and it is one of the "happiest places" in the world to be.

My mission is to make Ma`ema`e the Happiest Place in Honolulu, Hawaii! I invite you to join me in my endeavor to make this dream a reality for all!

You must be asking yourself, " What can I do?" Well, the answer is to get involved. Spend the time understanding what your child is learning. Stay up - to - date on what is happening at the school. Communicate on a regular basis with your child's teacher. Join and get involved with the PTSA.

Enjoy your time with your child (ren) during the vacation. Take the time to rest and re-energize for we are in store for tremendous change and we will indeed "Work Hard" in the new school year 2012-13!

Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and patience. I ask for your continued support! What a happy place to be and we shall make it even happier and better!

Sincerely,

Mrs. L. Kobayashi

You are cordially invited to attend the Celebration of Learning ...

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

McKinley High School

2:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Featuring:

• Gr. 5 Science Fair Projects
• Glee Club Performance
• Gr. 2 Art Exhibit
• Poster Contest Exhibit

Parents, please be sure that your child(ren) knows their after school pick-up routine.

If your child is enrolled in the A+ program, tutoring or other on-campus after school program, he/she should report there immediately after school ends.

If your child walks home or is being picked up, please remember that school ends at 2:15 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 12:25 PM on Wednesdays. For safety reasons, students should not loiter or be left unattended on campus after the school day ends.

Adults, parents and guardians please be mindful of traffic signs and drive with caution in the school driveways and parking and drop-off areas. It has been brought to our attention that adults are not adhering to traffic rules. This is not safe for our students, faculty and parents!

This issue was brought to the attention of our JPO police advisor and we were instructed to do the following:

* Take down the license plate number and description of the car

* Friendly reminder about driving safely in the school environment

* Repeat offenders will have their license plate # submitted to the police

Please keep our school campus safe! Think about the safety of our children!

Thank you for your understanding and attention to this matter!

If your child will not be returning to Ma`ema`e School next year, please notify the office as soon as possible, so that the office can prepare release forms and have it sent home with your child on the last day of school.

 If your child is missing jackets, water bottles, or other personal items, please come and check out our office Lost and Found boxes. Our office is open daily from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday (except state holidays.) Any items not claimed by May 24, 2012 will be donated to the Kaumakapili Church.

Menu Changes: 

There will be changes to the menu on the last week of school. Please check the posted menu for the day outside the cafeteria.

You may also contact the School Food Service Manager at 595-2973.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause.

Thank you!

Reminder! Please clear up any negative balances before May 24, 2012. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Mealtime Reminders

Our office will be issuing Mealtime cash refunds to parents of students not returning next school year. Starting May 25, 2012 from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Mon. - Fri. (except holidays) parents may pick up these refunds. A form of valid identification will need to be shown at the time of the issuance of the refund. Only children in the 4th and 5th grade who will not be returning next year may pick up their refund if authorized by their parents (written note) to do so. No refunds will be mailed.

If your child is returning to Ma`ema`e next year, his/her current Mealtime balance will be carried forward to the next school year. If non-returning students have siblings at the school, the office will make every effort to transfer the non-returning student Mealtime account to his/her siblings account, unless the parent notifies the office otherwise.

The office will begin accepting Mealtime deposits (cash only) for next school year at the office drop box beginning Monday, July 23, 2012.

Summer break is just around the corner. If you need a copy of your child's Health Record, for physical exam or immunization update, please call or stop by the Health Room. Forms for students who need medication in school, including Epi Pens, will not be sent home at the end of this school year. The Department of Health/DOE is in the process of revising their forms.

There are many upcoming field trips, please remember to wear school T-shirt, covered shoes, and bring home lunch if indicated by teachers.

If your student is participating in end of the school year activities, please check with their teacher BEFORE bringing treats to class. We have numerous students with severe peanut allergies.

We will be participating in the "Stop Flu at School" flu vaccine program again next school year. The program is tentatively set for October, November or December.

If your child borrowed HR shoes, slippers, clothes or school t-shirt please return to the HR before the end of the school year.

Any question, comments, suggestions please phone the Health Room, school days, 7:30am-2: 30pm, 595-5406.

See you at Family Night. Have a wonderful, restful summer vacation.

Heather Bedford, Health Aide

Book Fair 2012 April 30 - May 4

Check out our book fair website for hours and the new online book fair which allows you to purchase books online from anywhere and it will be sent to the school (free shipping) and given to your child. There is a book fair link on the library web page and this is the direct link: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do? method=homepage&url=maemae

We will also have special guest appearances from Clifford the Big Red Dog and Geronimo Stilton. The library is decorated in the luau theme by the creative design talents of Lori Seto and Janey Stewart. Your child should have received their library citizenship $5 coupon for not having any overdue books as of April 2, 2012.

Book Fair Hours:

Monday: 7:30 am - 3:00 pm Adult Sneak Peek (Come early to choose books for the reader in your life.)

Tuesday: 7:30 am- 3:00 pm

Wednesday 7:30 am- 1:00 pm

Thursday 7:30 am- 3:30 pm

Friday 7:30 am- 4:00 pm

Lifetouch Pictures

If you have not received your class photo from the fall picture taking, please let me know. It does take Lifetouch a while to get them in. Thank you for your patience.

Yearbooks

There are a limited amount of yearbooks for sale. You may order them in the library.

We Give Books Promotion

We have received our first shipment of the 500 free books earned during the reading campaign. The books will be given to classroom teachers for their classroom libraries and the library. Thank you for your support. Continue to read to and with your child on the wegivebooks.org website.

Return all library books

All library books are due by May 11. Please turn books in by this date.

Thank you for all your support.

Sandy Domion

Librarian

808-595-5400 ext.233

G.T. WEBPAGES AND POETRY PUBLISHED

& STUDENTS TO PRESENT ON 5/5/12

During the recent month, students of the Gifted and Talented classes have begun publishing their creations on their self-made webpages. Most are now available on the Ma`ema`e website athttp://web.me.com/maemae3/Maemae_Elementary/Welcome.html.

As students' pages are ready to be viewed, the site will be updated. Please feel welcome to visit often by clicking on the Gifted and Talented Link.

Also, several representative poetry samples have been displayed on the school website. Both Renshi poetry samples and color poems that were written by our students of grades Kindergarten through six are available for viewing.

Finally, student representatives from our school will be sharing Renshi poetry selections based on the experiences they had while writing with Ms. Ann Inoshita this year. We hope you will visit the Hawai`I Book and Music Festival on May 5 from 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. to support their sharing. We also highly encourage you to enjoy the many other great activities which will be available on both Saturday, 5/5/12 & Sunday, 5/6/12. See the following site for more information related to this "free" event: http://www.hawaiibookandmusicfestival.org/

• General Mills Labels (next shipment will be in November). General Mills Labels will now be under Student Council.  We'll put a box for collection in the office.
• 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

Please join us for a night of delight!

FAMILY NIGHT

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012

2:30 PM TO 8:00 PM

Michelle Hashimoto

Mahalo to SY2011 - 2012 Board of Directors

Please help us in thanking our SY2011-2012 parent leaders who served on this year's PTSA Board of Directors: President Elaine Low, 1st Vice President and Family Night Chair Melanie Kawai, 2nd Vice President and Programs Chair Darren Cantrill, 3rd Vice President and Membership Chair Lori Katahira, 4th Vice President and Ways & Means Chair Michelle Hashimoto, Assistant Treasurer and Family Night Finance Chair Ursula Costorio-Meyer, Treasurer Wendy Yoshioka-Moore, Recording Secretary Nicole Nagamine, and Corresponding Secretary Greer Lincoln. In addition, mahalo to our school staff and faculty who also served this year in planning and implementing this year's PTSA events: Principal Pearlene Blaisdell, Vice Principal Lynn Kobayashi, and our 5th grade teacher representatives, Tess Yasui, Donna Nakamura, Brandon Rockwell, Anne Kwiatkowski, and Brett Asato.

Election of SY2012 - 2013 Board of Directors

As we kick-off the 2012-2013 planning in June with our Board Retreat, please welcome with us our newly elected Board of Directors for next school year: President Michelle Hashimoto, 2nd Vice President and Programs Chair Lori Katahira, 3rd Vice President and Membership Chair Wendy Yoshioka-Moore, Recording Secretary Terri Miller, Corresponding Secretary Nicole Nagamine, Treasurer Melanie Kawai, and Assistant Treasurer and Family Night Finance Chair Eydie Nakasone! We also welcome our new teacher representatives from Kindergarten: Sandra Afuso-Fernandez, Karyn Harada, Raena Uyeda, Terri Mei, and Vivian Canionero.

Please note that we are still looking to fill 2 vacant Board positions: 1st Vice President and Family Night Chair and 4th Vice President and Ways & Means Chair before our June meeting. If you or someone you know who is a parent of a Ma`ema`e Elementary School child would like to learn more about these positions, please call or text Michelle Hashimoto at (808) 741-5854. THANK YOU to one and all!

Treasurer's Corner

By Wendy Yoshioka-Moore

April has been a busy month for us all. We had our movie night, installation of the new storage container and lots of planning for Family Night. It wouldn't be possible without the dedicated parents and volunteers that truly make Ma`ema`e an exceptional place.

Noteworthy expenses for April 2012:

Movie Night $558.34

Easter Candy $362.77

Classroom Support (Teachers & Staff) $450.00

Family Night Supplies $144.49

2nd Grade Science $152.75

5th Grade Science Fair $125.22

Volunteer Fund $300.00

04/30/12 to 05/04/12 Book Fair Week:

• 4/30    7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
• 5/1      7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
• 5/2      7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
• 5/3      7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
• 5/4      7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

05/01/12

• Gr. 5 Transition Convention ( Frank Delima ) at NBC from 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM

05/03/12

• Grs. 4-5 JPO Field Day Competition at Kapiolani Park from 8:-00 AM to 1:00 PM

05/04/12

• FAMILY NIGHT - 2:30 PM - 8:00 PM

05/05/12

• Gr. 5 CHEVRON SPEECH FESTIVAL - 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM

05/07/12

• Gr. 3-5 Tech Assistants Field Trip to Apple Store, Ala Moana from 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM

05/08/12

• Teacher Appreciation Day
• Gr. 5 Basketball Intramurals from 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

05/09/12

• Kaimuki/McKinley/Roosevelt Inquiry Showcase, McKinley High School, 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM (Everyone invited!)

05/17/12

• Gr. 5 KoAloha Ukulele Shop - Grp. 1 at 8:05 AM - 10:00 AM, Grp. 2 at 9:30 AM - 11:45 AM

05/21/12

• Gr. 4 Bike Educations from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM at the Big Field

• Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH), 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, in front of the cafeteria

05/22/12

• Student Council Election, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

05/23/12

• Awards Assembly from 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

05/24/12

• Last Day for Students and Teachers (all day)
• Gr. 5 Graduation, 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM at the Fairy Ring

05/25/12

• Directed Leave for Teachers - No School

2012 Track Meet at Roosevelt High School                         

Our fourth annual Ma'ema'e Invitational Track Meet took place on Friday, April 13 at Roosevelt's state of the art track. Ten schools from all over the island participated in both individual and relay races. Our own fifth grade coed team did a terrific job representing our school with honor and enthusiasm. They also collected their share of medals along the way. We thank the administration and athletic dept. of RHS and the many volunteers who make this annual event possible.

'Ohana Chips              

Just a reminder that 'ohana chips are not transferable from person to person or from year to year.   Students should spend any chips they have during the remaining 'ohana chip redemption days (every Wed. at first recess in the café).   The final 'ohana chip redemption of the year will take place on May 16. A big thank you to all of those who have been so generous in your support of this Positive Behavior Support (PBS) school wide program.   Recent donors: A.S. (1-7), B.S. (3-20), Susan Takumi (adult volunteer).

Hi-5  

The final Hi-5 recycling day for this year is Thursday, May 10. We appreciate your support of our school and the planet during the past nine months. We will continue this program next year on Thursday, August 2. In general, the monthly Hi-5 collection will take place on the FIRST THURSDAY of every month.

Peace Art Contest

We recently had the opportunity to participate in a special art contest sponsored by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center (part of the Hawai'i State Judiciary). More than a dozen classes chose to take part in this voluntary contest, entitled "Peace Begins With You".   Nine entries were chosen as winning pieces and will be displayed at the State Judiciary Building.   You can preview them at the DOE complex showcase at McKinley High School on May 9 (from 4 to 8 pm).   The winning art posters were created by: J.T-N.(1-8), A.A.(2-12), A.K.(2-12), T.D.(3-20), C.K. (3-20), C.A.(3-16), J.F.(4-29), J.C. (4-29) & K.T.(5-38).  

Brown Bags To Stardom 2012  

Our three winning acts from Ma'ema'e's own talent show made a fantastic showing at the statewide Brown Bags to Stardom talent competition at Aloha Tower on Friday, April 20. A.M.(3-16) placed third in the female vocalist category, with her stirring rendition of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All". B.S., A.S, F.K. and J.A. group shook and twisted their way to second place in the dance category, while C.K.(5-40) took first place in the instrumental category with his stellar piano playing. It was a memorable evening for our Ma'ema'e 'ohana!

May 18 Basketball Tournament

We look forward to hosting a basketball tournament on May 18 (12:30 to 2:00) as coed fifth grade teams from 'Aina Haina and Wilson Schools come to play on our courts.   Fifth grade homeroom teams are currently playing intramural games during recess. These games will also serve as the tryouts for the school team.