As the holiday season is upon us, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support. We have a high standard of excellence here at MSHS, and through collaboration with you, we are accomplishing some great things! Please know that we value your student(s) and appreciate all that you do.

 After a very successful first semester, I wanted to send out a few reminders that you might find beneficial as we head into the second semester.

TARDIES - Do NOT start over at the semester; Parents may call and "erase" up to 3 tardies (per year). This can only be done for a first block class. Students begin receiving Out of School Suspensions once they reach their 7^th tardy.

Absences - Do start over at the beginning of each term (9 weeks). Students are allowed up to 5 verified absences during each 9 weeks. These accumulate even with parent verification. Students providing a Doctor/Dentist note (to the front office) will not have those absences accrue. Once students receive their 6^th absence, they will lose credit for any course in which they have been absent those six times.

Dress Code - In an effort to align with dress code policies, please make sure your student is wearing modest clothing.  Wearing low-cut tops and showing midriff, bra straps, and bare shoulders is inappropriate at school. We appreciate your assistance in helping us make sure our students are dressed appropriately. Please consult your son or daughter's student agenda for a more thorough explanation of our policies and guidelines.    

Character Education - In the district's endeavor to promote quality characteristics and a caring environment, the January theme will be Self-Discipline. Please join us in helping your student understand the importance of this very important trait and the many benefits it will provide for their future.

We hope you enjoy the holidays and have a happy new year!

Cort Haynes

Assistant Principal

Do You Own a Health or Wellness Business or Sell Health-Related Products?

• The Health and Wellness Fair is Monday, January 17^th at Maize High School.   It is a professional development day for licensed staff, so school is not in session.  Between 350 and 400 people should be in attendance for the event.

6:45 am - 7:15am      

Set up in commons area at MHS (Participants will have tables)

7:15 am - 7:30 am                          

Healthy breakfast for staff who arrive early (yogurt, granola, fruit)

7:30 am - 7:45 am                          

"State of the District" presentation by Superintendent Doug Powers in MHS Auditorium 

7:45 am - 8:55 am                             

Staff released to commons area to visit Health and Wellness tables

9:00 am                                       

Health and Wellness Fair ends

9:00 am - 12:00 am                         

Staff Academy

Health and Wellness Fair participants may actually set their tables up anytime between 6:45 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.  We are suggesting that organizations have brochures, small displays, business cards, samples, or any other material that will tell people about their product or service. Staff members will probably start arriving to the commons area between 7:00 and 7:30 to visit and eat breakfast.  Health and Wellness Fair participants who set up early will be available to those people before the presentation in the auditorium. 

There is no charge to have a table in the fair.  We plan to have door prize drawings for those staff members who visit the Health and Wellness Fair tables, so if your organization has anything to donate i.e. gift certificates, T-shirts, coupons, etc., it would be appreciated.  These items will be used as the prizes for the drawings.

If you are interested in participating, please email or call Marsha Beard at mbeard@usd266.com or call her for more information at 350-2001 or 722-0614.

Winter weights have begun at MSHS (3:05-4:25). Currently there are between 50-60 students participating in this afterschool activity. Students not only spend time working heavily on weight lifting's core lifts during the week, but a new focus emphasizes strengthening the athlete's core, balance, flexibility, and conditioning through  activities like yoga, kick boxing, and other agility training.  Coach Rasmussen and Coach Christensen have been impressed with the athletes' efforts since the start of after-school weights.

                Each year Botanica puts on a wonderful light display throughout their gardens. The Illuminations take place four weekends in a row on Friday and Saturday evenings during the holiday season. So far this year, they had a record-breaking crowd Friday, December 3^rd, with over 1700 people touring the gardens.  As one can imagine, it takes a lot of volunteers to put this together and to make it work each evening the lights are turned on!

                Maize South High School students took advantage of the opportunity to contribute to this event, as they donated their time to help make this festivity a great experience for the thousands of people in attendance. A big thanks goes out to the National Honor Society members and the Maverick Dance Team for representing our school. These young people made a great impression with the other volunteers and staff of Botanica. The students kept busy making/selling hot chocolate and hot cider, greeting visitors, checking light bulbs, cleaning the walkways, creating greenery decorations, and much more. All were impressed with the work ethic and fun attitudes of our students and look forward to having them return next holiday season.

                The following students should be commended for donating their time...Kyla Bolling, Sammi Bruner, Kenzie Cordell, Molly Gabrielson, Kristi Huynh, Allison Geisler, Hannah Jennings, Shelby Lewis, Carli Kingsley, Amanda Kline, Taylor Moody, Corbin Moore, Lindsey Moser, Jordan Nguyen, Corwin Nozari, Kambry Porter, Shea Poynter, Kelsey Pracht, Brad Samakin, and Adam Smith.

Aaron Jackson

Athletic Director

Maize South High School

Not all high school students have the same nutritional needs, right?  So, Nutrition Facts Labels are now available in the cafeteria for the lunch menu items.  As a project of the district's nutrition wellness committee and the school nurse, Maize South High School is formatting the available nutritional information into standard Nutrition Facts Labels.  These Facts labels are in the same format as you would find on individually packaged foods.

The Facts are being placed at the point of selection in the cafeteria so students may use the information to choose lunch items which fit their individual nutritional needs and plans.  Ask your son or daughter if he/she has noticed the Facts in the cafeteria. 

Katy Carter, RN, School Nurse, Maize South High School 462-8085

Click here for tips on HELPING CHILDREN AVOID HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN.

The pace is picking up as we wind down first semester and start planning for the second half of the year.  Several students have visited with us regarding class changes for second semester.  Students are accommodated if possible; changes will only be made prior to the Winter break.  Once classes begin on January 4, NO changes will take place. 

Maize South High School Enrollment Dates

• February   8                   Class of 2012 Enrollment Meeting during EnCor (Juniors) 
• February   9              Class of 2013 Enrollment Meeting during EnCor (Sophomores)
• February 10              Class of 2014 Enrollment Meeting during EnCor (Freshmen)
• February 15 -18       Enrollment requests are entered into the computer

 A large part of second semester for the counselors will be spent on enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year.  During March and April, we will enter enrollment information into the computer system and design the master schedule. 

In preparation for the enrollment process, meetings will be held with students to get them thinking of the importance of aligning their class selection with their goals and plans after high school.  In years past, students have selected courses because of friends or just to complete the paperwork process.  A major point that will be stressed is that it is critical in a small school for students to choose classes wisely. 

Our master schedule will be built according to the information submitted in February.  Those will be the classes staff members will teach and what will be offered to students.  The master schedule cannot be changed because students change their minds. 

We are thrilled that MSHS is able to offer the selection of elective classes that we do; however, in a small school there may only be one or two sections of the class offered.  This is why the number of students requesting a class is so important.  We plan to offer classes students have requested, but when they continuously change their minds, we will not be able to accommodate. 

Please encourage your student to read the course description in the course catalog which will be distributed at enrollment time and to talk with staff members about the class offerings.  Also, there will be major changes occurring in the Business, Technology Education, and FACS departments.  This will result in fewer term classes being offered for the 2011-2012 school year.   

What's Happening Now

• Freshman Meetings:  Presentations were given to freshman through their Freshmen General Science class the week of November 29^th.  Some topics included in the discussion were graduation requirements, a tidbit of enrollment information for the 2011-2012 school year, clubs/activities available at MSHS, Kansas Board of Regents admission criteria, and much more.  Ask your student to tell you about what he or she learned!  Students who have Freshman General Science during second semester will receive the presentation during the month of January.
• PLAN Test Results are In:  On October 28^th all sophomores were given the PLAN test.  As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT.  At the same time, it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement to be successful in post-secondary education.  PLAN test results were distributed to sophomores on December 1^st and 3^rd during an informative meeting.  Make sure to ask your child to see his/her results.  Along with test results, students were given their PLAN Test Booklet and a guide, Using Your PLAN Results, to help you and your student interpret their scores. If a student was not able to attend the meeting, their PLAN test results were hand delivered to them by one of our student helpers.
•  ACT Prep Class - There is still room in our Spring ACT Prep Class.  The class will be held February 24^th - April 7^th.  The cost of the class is $95 for six sessions.  Enrollment forms are available in the counseling office. 
• THE ACT TEST WILL BE GIVEN AT MSHS IN FEBRUARY AND APRIL 

There are two codes you will need for the registration process:

• Our School Code is 173-197. 
• The Test Center Code number is 231680.
•  We are listed under Wichita, KS not Maize, KS.
•   Students can register for the ACT test by going to www.ACT.org.

Enrollment for Pre-Kindergarten Connection

January 13, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.

In the Maize Elementary Gym

305 W. Jones, Maize KS  67101  722-8230

This meeting is open to all parents of Maize School District students who will be attending kindergarten in the fall of 2011.

(In order to attend kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old by August 31, 2011.)

 Topics to be discussed that evening include:

*  What is the pre-Kindergarten Connection Program

*  Enrolling your child in the Connection Program

*  Volunteering to help (sign-up sheets will be available)

*  Cost ($5.00-payable that night)

  This is not a meeting to enroll your child for kindergarten. Kindergarten enrollment for 2011-2012 is scheduled for April 15, 2011.