In This Issue
MCE STAFF DIRECTORY

You may call any member of our staff by dialing 722-7166.
 
When prompted enter the staff member's 4 digit extension.

Click here to access the  
phone extension list.





Wednesday, 9/30  
NO SCHOOL
for
1/2 Day Kdg.

1/2 Day Kdg.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
All Day Kdg. - 5th Grade
4:00-8:00 p.m.

Thursday, 10/1
NO SCHOOL K-12

Monday, 10/5
through
Friday, 10/9
ANTI-BULLYING AWARENESS WEEK

K-12
Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:00-8:00 p.m.

Friday, 10/2
NO SCHOOL K-12
Conference Comp Day

Friday, 10/9
&
Saturday, 10/10
Maize Fall Festival
 

Wednesday, 10/14
Breakfast with Mom
Grades K-2
Cafeteria
7:45-8:30 a.m.

Thursday, 10/15 
End of Term 1

Breakfast with Mom
Grades 3-5
Cafeteria
7:45-8:30 a.m.
 
Individual
Picture Retakes
10:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Friday, 10/16 
NO SCHOOL K-12
Professional
Development Day
 
Monday, 10/20 
through 
Friday, 10/24
RED RIBBON WEEK

Friday, 10/30
AM Kdg. Fall Parties
10:45-11:45 a.m.

All Day Kdg.
PM Kdg.
Grades 1-5
Fall Parties
2:50-3:55 p.m. 

Thursday, 11/12
All District
Orchestra Concert
Grades 5-12
MHS Gym
7:00 p.m. 

Thursday, 11/19 
5th Grade
Vocal Music Program
MHS Auditorium
6:30 p.m.

4th Grade
Vocal Music Program
MHS Auditorium
7:45 p.m.

Wednesday, 11/25
through
Friday, 11/27
Thanksgiving
Break
NO SCHOOL K-12

Wednesday, 12/9 
5th Grade
Band Concert
MCE Gym
2:00 p.m.
 
Friday, 12/11 
Polar Express

Friday, 12/18
End of Term 2

Monday, 12/21
Through
Friday, 1/1
NO SCHOOL
Winter Break

Monday, 1/4 
NO SCHOOL K-12
Teacher Work Day

Wednesday, 1/13 
Breakfast with Dad
Grades K-2
Cafeteria
7:45-8:30 a.m.

Thursday, 1/14 
Breakfast with Dad
Grades 3-5
Cafeteria
7:45-8:30 a.m.

Monday, 1/18
NO SCHOOL K-12
Professional
Development Day

CHARACTER

ED


Maize Way
  

 
SEPTEMBER 
COMPASSION
 Showing sympathy and concern . . .
caring for others . . .
being kind and thoughtful . . .
helping those in need.
  
OCTOBER 
RESPECT
Honoring another's opinion, belief, or needs . . .
being considerate  
and polite . . .
taking care of the environment . . .
taking care of personal and public property . . .
obeying people in positions of authority.



HOMEWORK REQUEST
When your child is absent from school and you wish to pick up homework, you must request it by 10:00 a.m.  

 

All homework and necessary textbooks will be available in the office after 2:00 p.m.  Thank you.   


 MAIZE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY  TWITTER

Welcome to Maize Central Elementary Twitter!  

 

We are looking forward to engaging with our community.  Check here for school news!

Follow us @ maizecentral


NO

DELIVERIES

 

 

We would like to remind everyone that  

MCE  

CANNOT accept  

deliveries of flowers, balloons, candy,  

cookies etc., per

USD 266 District Policy. 

 

We

appreciate

your cooperation!


PARTY INVITATIONS
Party invitations
CANNOT
be distributed at school. We ask that you mail invitations to personal events or parties directly to the home of the student(s) you are inviting. Parents and guardians may now opt to include your address, primary phone number, email addresses, student's school, and student's grade level in the Skyward Family Access Student Directory so that other families with login rights to Family Access can view your contact information.


ONLINE STUDENT ADDRESS
&
PHONE DIRECTORY


Parents and guardians may now opt to include your address, primary phone number, email addresses, student's school and student's grade level in the Skyward Family Access Student Directory so that other families with login rights to Family Access can view your contact information. You may choose what, if any, information you display and can change these options at anytime by logging into Family Access.

   

Once in Family Access, click on School Directory, then on the Display Options tab at the top of the page to complete the process. If you are unsure how to log on to Skyward Family Access, please contact your child's school for assistance.



QUICK WEB LINKS

 
 
 
Follow this link 
to register your Dillon's card
 
 
 
 
 Target  
"Take Charge of Education"
sign up at  
 
Dillon's Community  
Rewards Program  
Click here to learn more! When registering be sure to use our NPO number 11685. 
  

WEDNESDAY EARLY DISMISSAL

Every Wednesday MCE A.M. kindergarten students are dismissed at 11:35 a.m. and kindergarten - 5th grade students are dismissed at 3:23 p.m. in order for teachers to have time to meet in their  

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).   

During PLC time, teachers participate in discussing curriculum, instructional strategies, data review, state standards and more.


TRANSPORTATION

CHANGES



 

If there is a change in transportation for your son/daughter, you must notify the office

 before 
3:00 p.m.
 
If the office is
not notified by this time, the student(s) will be expected to follow normal procedures that have been established regarding riding the bus. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. 

EMERGENCY ALERTS

&  

NOTIFICATIONS 

In the event of an emergency in your child's school, the Blackboard Connect parent notification system will be used to notify you of the situation and will alert you to steps you need to take in order to reunite with your child.  Voice messages will be sent to all phone numbers and emails listed in Skyward Family Access "Family 1", and "Family 2 Guardian 1".  To view the contact information the district has on file, please log on to Skyward Family Access and click on "Student Information."  If you are unsure how to log on to Skyward Family Access, please contact your child's school for assistance.

TIME SENSITIVE MESSAGES 

 

If you send a time sensitive email to your child's teacher, keep in mind that they may have a substitute and may not receive the message.  We would suggest you carbon copy one or each of the secretaries to help ensure your child will

receive the message.

 

[email protected] 

[email protected] 

j[email protected] 


MAIZE CENTRAL NEWS 

304 Academy Avenue   
Maize, KS  67101                                  Volume 11 Issue 2 
316-722-0427                                        September 25, 2015 
We take safety and security very seriously at Maize Central Elementary.  All exterior doors are kept locked throughout the day, and visitors must enter through a secure entry in the office, sign in, and wear a visitor sticker.
 
We have safety drills on a regular basis.   
  • Fire drills are held monthly, and each year one drill is monitored by the Sedgwick County Fire Department.  Maps with a primary exit are posted in every room.  Once a teacher has evacuated his or her students to the safe location, he or she confirms that all students are present.  Recently, numbers were posted on each of our exterior door locations to enable first responders to arrive at the correct entry point for an emergency.
  • Tornado drills are held three times a year.  During these drills the entire student body and staff is moved to the FEMA shelter (the kindergarten and 1st grade wing).  We are able to move everyone to this safe location in about six minutes.  Teachers have a safety backpack with supplies for students in the event of an extended tornado warning. 
  • An evacuation drill is practiced yearly.  During this drill, the staff and students walk to Pray Woodman Elementary School in a very quiet and orderly fashion.  If it was unsafe for us to be in the building, we could quickly move to a new safe location.  
  • Lock down drills occur twice a year.  When the announcement is made on the intercom, all students get to their safe location and the staff member quickly locks the door.  If students are on the playground they will evacuate to our copy central location located on 201 S. Park.
  • Upon hearing the intercom announcement or suspicious noise from the building, the playground supervisors would continuously blow the whistle.  Students would immediately stop talking and move quickly to an area of the playground.  The staff members would escort the students to a safe spot at Copy Central.  We also have procedures for an external lock down, an event in which something is happening outside and we need to stay inside the building, but can still continue our normal activities.
Just a reminder that the front and east double doors will be unlocked daily at 8:25 a.m. These doors will be locked by 8:45 a.m. every day. I want you to know we are doing everything possible to make sure MCE remains safe for students, staff, and parents.
 
I also want to remind those of you dropping off students in the morning not to park and leave your vehicle in the drop off area. This slows down the flow of traffic in the mornings. Please drop off your children at the double east doors and proceed to Academy Avenue. This will help speed up the process.

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR REMINDERS  

DILLONS
COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM

Dillons is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations earn millions of dollars through Dillons Community Rewards. Now you can link your Dillons shopper card to Maize Central Elementary and help us earn funds!  Click here to learn more!  When registering be sure to use our NPO number 11685.  Thank you for your support!

MCE MUSIC PROGRAM SCHEDULE
vocal music program

News From MCE PTO

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT


PICTURES RETAKES 
boy with camera
Lifetouch "Second Chance" photos  will be taken on Thursday, October 15th.  These photos are for the following students:
  • Students whose start date was after September 15th.
  • Students who were absent on September 15th.
  • Students/families who were not pleased with their pictures.  The unwanted photo package must be returned.
  • Students who did not purchase photos on September 15th.

You may find the second chance order form in the office.   

MAIZE FALL FESTIVAL
Annual Maize Fall Festival
October 9th and 10th

The annual Maize Fall Festival will be on October 9th and 10th.  It will include a carnival, parade, car show, Amazing Voice contest, crafts, and more.

Free Vision Screening Available at Fest 
 
During the upcoming Maize Fall Festival, the Maize Lions will have a booth offering free vision screenings. Those interested can stop by the SPOT PediaVision booth.
 
The assessment takes seconds, and results allow participants to know whether there is a need for a follow-up diagnosis. Screenings are available to children and students, as well.
   

COUNSELOR'S CORNER

KANSAS ANTI-BULLYING AWARENESS WEEK
October 5-9       
"The End of Bullying Begins With Me"   
 
In honor of Anti-Bullying Awareness Week in Kansas, ALL Maize elementary schools will wear ORANGE on Thursday, October 8th.

red ribbon
RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES  
 October 20 - October 24

Monday - October 19
Hand out Red Ribbons
 
Tuesday - October 20
"Sock it to Drugs"
Wear mismatched or crazy socks

Wednesday - October 21
"Too Smart to Start"
Wear a shirt showing your favorite college
 
Thursday - October 22
"Be a Jean-ious, Be Drug free"
Wear blue jeans  
 
Friday - October 23
I Pledge to be Drug Free
 Wear Red

4TH & 5TH GRADE MUSIC PROGRAMS
YOU ARE INVITED TO
MAIZE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY'S
4TH AND 5TH VOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS

JAZZIN' IT UP

 

Thursday, November 19th, 2015  
at 6:30 p.m. at Maize High School

FIFTH GRADE CLASSES :
Dreher, Farrell, Lehner, Parker and Sims

AND 

Thursday, November 19th, 2015  
at 7:45 p.m. at Maize High School

FOURTH GRADE CLASSES :
Groner, Hartzog, Leonard, Wagner and Warkentin

Join us as we share what we've learned about a truly American musical form, JAZZ.
Please note that each child should arrive
at least 15 minutes prior to the performance.
The children will meet to warm-up in the vocal music room.

All concerts will be held in the
Maize High School Auditorium.

We look forward to seeing you!!!!

BREAKFAST WITH MOM
Join Us For Breakfast!
  
Where:  MCE Cafeteria
When:      10/14 Grades K-2
                10/15 Grades 3-5
Menu:       Muffins (Variety), Yogurt, Juice, Fruit Choice 
Time:        7:45-8:30 a.m
Cost:        $1.80 (exact change is appreciated)

CHESS CLUB 
We began offering the Chess Club six years ago, and we have been thrilled with the participation we've had.  Our first meeting will be at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, October 9th.   Each meeting will be from 7:45-8:30 a.m. This club is offered exclusively to our fourth and fifth grade MCE students who are either interested in improving their chess playing skills or who haven't ever played before.  Although younger siblings are not allowed to come, parents are more than welcome to participate because we certainly welcome the adult help.  The club was established on the basis that chess is a lifelong game that requires players to utilize higher level thinking skills, while also encouraging players to be careful and thorough.  Our number one rule in Chess Club is, "If you see a good move, stop and look for a better one."  That is something we hope students apply in school, and then continue to live by for the rest of their lives.
                               
                      Chess Club Dates 
    October 9               January 8                   March 4
    October 23             January 15                 March 25
    October 30             January 22                 April 1
    November 6            January 29                April 8
    November 13          February 5                April 15
    November 20          February 12              April 22
    December 4             February 26             April 29
    December 11     
FALL PARTIES 
Come join your child on
Friday, October  30th!
   
    The Fall Parties will start as follows:
       A.M. Kindergarten, 10:45 - 11:45 a.m.   
All Day Kdg., P.M. Kdg.,
&
Grades 1-5, 2:50-3:55 p.m.
      
Please remember these guidelines for costumes:  
  • No masks!
  • Make believe weapons such as guns, swords, knives, etc. are not to be brought to school as part of the costume.    
  • No make up or face paint.    
  • Children should not wear their costumes to school.
  • Costumes should be easy to put on over clothing.
  • Children will not be allowed to change in/out of their costumes in the restrooms.    
  • We request that students bring their costumes in a sack in the morning.   
  • Before school is dismissed, the costumes should be removed to take on the bus.                            
MCE PARTY GUIDELINES: 
  • Parents are in charge of three parties:  Fall Party, Valentine Party, and Spring Party (Field Day).
  • Party time begins at 10:45 a.m. for A.M. Kindergarten and 2:50 p.m. for All Day Kdg., P.M. Kdg. and Grade 1--5.
  • Please check with the classroom teacher about food allergies and any other medical concerns.   
  • All party activities should occur on school grounds. (classroom and playground only)   
  • No moon walks, petting zoos, carnival rides, etc. 
  • No fire (candles, matches, etc.) 
  • For safety reasons, family members attending parties should stay in the classroom.   
  • To prevent spreading lice, please do not use blindfolds or other types of head gear that might be shared by students.    
  • Donations of items rather than money is strongly recommended.    
No students should be excluded from activities due to financial reasons.  
SHINING STARS 
We will begin our Shining Star Student Recognition Program this month. Each Friday morning after a designated class sings the school song, one student from each classroom is recognized for his/her part in demonstrating the character trait that has been emphasized for the month. The students' names are announced over the intercom and at that time they come to the office to receive a pencil and a personalized certificate signed by Mr. Jennings.
          
MONTHLY CHARACTER ED TRAITS 
August  - Friendship                      January - Self Discipline 
September - Compassion              February - Honesty 
October - Respect                        March - Cooperation 
November - Responsibility            April - Acceptance 
December - Generosity                 May - Perseverance
MCE SCHOOL SONG 
music notes The children at Maize Central have been learning to sing our MCE School Song. Maize Central students suggested that we should share the song with all who read our newsletter. They are proud of the fact that the first verse of the song mentions all of the things they enjoy about school, while the second verse incorporates all of the Character attributes that our students are striving for. You can join in the fun with us. Just sing these words below to the tune of "Hey, Look Me Over." Our song is titled "We're Maize Central".
                                         
We're Maize Central

Verse 1:
We're Maize Central, our school is the best!
Just put our kids and teachers to the test.
We like to learn, to us it is a snap.
We're readin' and writin' and 'rithmeticing
ourselves right off the map.

Oh yes, we sure like our music, recess and P.E.
We've got the best kids and teachers
ou'd ever hope to see.

We're working with zest to be the best,
and know that you'll agree,

That we come from Maize Central Elementary.
               
Verse 2:

We strive for friendship. Our pals they are hip.
We show acceptance and offer you some tips.
Respect your classmates and share some honesty.
We're learnin' and laughing and demonstratin' responsibility.
Oh yes, we practice compassion, generosity
Our cooperation, it's yours for free.
We persevere. Now you should hear,
Self-discipline is key.
Be a STAR at Maize Central Elementary
 
A NOTE FROM NURSE LONI . . . 
Good attendance benefits your child's education. Research is clear - students who attend school regularly do better academically and are more likely to establish work habits that help them succeed in life and work.

Children get about 6 colds per year and they can last for about 10 days. Most of those 60 days fall during the school year. Students can come to school when they have colds.
Students should stay home if they have:
  • A fever of 100 degrees or greater            
  • Vomiting or Diarrhea
  • Has a non-stop disruptive cough
  • An eye that is draining pus

           S
KYWARD HEALTH INFORMATION

It is the responsibility of the parent to update medical information and contact numbers in Skyward Family Access during enrollment and throughout the school year. Teachers, coaches and other school staff rely on Skyward for important health information like asthma, seizures, diabetes, and food allergies. In addition to updating Skyward, the parent/guardian must also personally communicate this information to the school nurse who will educate and train the appropriate staff. If parents and/or student have questions regarding school guidelines and policies in keeping students safe and healthy at school, please contact the school nurse.
PULL TABS
FOR
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

Parents of MCE-

Collecting pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House has become a tradition over the past 3 years. Our building has filled vans full of pull tabs to support Ronald McDonald House!! We have even taken the top prize as a school for collecting! We would love to keep up the hard work this year and see how many pounds of pull tabs we can collect.

Remember these tabs can come off of pop cans, soup cans, energy drinks, vegetable cans, or wherever you see the pull  tabs. We will weigh tabs by classroom each month on the first Friday of the month. Yes, this is a classroom competition! Ask relatives, friends, or even set up a collection point at your job to help us collect as many pounds of pull tabs as we can! Every little bit counts!

Thank you for helping show our kids what it means to give back!
 
Sincerely,
Your Pull Tab Crew
Sara Froese
Brianne Banning
 

USE OF STUDENT INFORMATION  

IN MEDIA AND DISTRICT PUBLICATIONS

Newspaper

Use of student information in media, district publications, and district social media. 

   

Information that may be shared with the news media or used in district publications or on district social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, is limited to participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, school activities, honors and awards received, grade level and photographs.

 

Parents/guardians have the right to refuse or permit the designation of any or all of the above information for use in the media or in district publications (via both print and digital platforms), including official district social media accounts. Parents/guardians who do not want this information published must file written notification with Lori O'Toole Buselt, Director of Communications, Maize USD 266, 905 W. Academy Ave, Maize, KS 67101 by Sept. 19, 2014.

If you do not file a refusal, Maize USD 266 assumes you have no objection to the release of the above information for media or district publicity purposes.

 

TLC
We're looking for the best parents at Maize Central!  TLC is a program that helps celebrate the wonderful staff we have at MCE.  Each class helps out by providing treats for the teacher's lounge once a year, helping with dinner for the staff during spring conferences, and celebrating your teacher and one extra staff member on his/her birthday and during Teacher Appreciation Week.  Class leads facilitate getting the info to the parents in their class.  It is an easy way to show how much we appreciate the teachers and staff that give so much to our kids every day.
If you are interested in being a
TLC parent please contact 
 Jennifer Whitcomb - [email protected] 
RED SHIRT FRIDAY 
The Maize Central Character Education Committee would like to invite your child to participate in "Red Shirt Fridays".  This is nationwide effort to honor our service men and women.  We offer this opportunity for your child(ren) to demonstrate respect and compassion for those who serve in the military.  Children will be invited to wear red shirts on the the following dates:
             October 9                             February 12
             November 13                       March 11
             December 11                        April 15
             January 15

BACKGROUND CHECK FOR

VOLUNTEERS

check mark Volunteers play an important and valuable role in the Maize School District.  Students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community benefit from the work of individuals who freely share their talents and resources.   The Maize Board of Education adopted a policy which requires background checks on volunteers who work in the elementary schools on a regular basis.  These checks are done by National Screening Bureau (NatSB).   NatSB provides the district with secure, confidential, multi-jurisdiction checks in a timely manner.  

Individuals who plan to volunteer may start the background check process by clicking here volunteer background check
to complete the application.  Individuals can also go to any elementary school website and click on "Volunteer Background Check Application."  The form can either be filled out online at home or online in any of the school offices.   Volunteers who work in more than one building only need to fill out one application for the district, not each building.  Applicants can request a copy of the check when it is completed.  If you completed a background check last year, you will still need to complete the application this school year as well.  Background checks are conducted on an annual basis.  If you have questions about the background check process, contact David Jennings at
[email protected] or 722-0427.

A.M. KINDERGARTEN PICK-UP 

  P.M. KINDERGARTEN DROP-OFF

 

Below is a description of the drop-off and pick-up locations for all MCE students.  The southeast parking lot will be closed daily from 2:45-4:15 p.m.  The west parking lot is reserved for staff & bus traffic.  This is not a drop off location.  

 AM Drop-Off  

8:25-8:45 a.m. 

Southeast doors by the office

(Students dropped off at 8:25 will sit in the cafeteria  

until the first bell rings at 8:35.)

 

  AM Kdg. Pick-Up

NE Doors

These doors are locked but will

be manned by MCE staff during this time.

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday - 11:45-11:55 a.m.

Wednesdays Only - 11:35-11:45 a.m.

 

PM Pick-Up

NE Doors

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday - 4:00-4:05 p.m.

Wednesday Only - 3:25-3:35 p.m.

 

AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP
clipboard
Parents are required to enter the building and sign out their son/daughter if they are picked up after 4:05 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.  Just a reminder that Latchkey is available for anyone that is in need of before or after school care. 

PARENT/TEACHER

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

parent teacher conferences  

Please join us for  

Parent/Teacher Conferences: 

 

Wednesday, 9/30

  No School Fieser's (1/2 day) Class

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

 

All Day Kdg. - 5th Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-8:00 p.m.

 

Thursday, 10/1

No School K-12,

Parent/Teacher Conferences

12:00-8:00 p.m.

 

Friday, 10/2

No School K-12

Conference Comp Day
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR 
                           
Mark your calendar

for the

 MCE Book Fair!

 

September 30th & October 1st   

 

Library Media Center

Our school receives 20% of the sales in dollars and books

 

Can't wait to see you there!

BOXTOPS & LABELS FOR EDUCATION 
box tops
              

MCE is collecting Box Tops and Labels for Education (Campbell's Soup Labels). The Library Media Center and the P.E. department are able to earn cash and equipment that directly benefit our school. You can drop them off at the Library Media Center.

Top 5 ways to earn extra rewards!

 

1. Log on to http://www.boxtops4education.com/ and play the different games, print valuable coupons, see recipes and enter sweepstakes!

 

2. Log on to www.labelsforeducation.com and see the different activities and bonus offers!

 

3. Log on to www.eLabelsForEducation.com and register your Dillons shopper's card for additional monies! (Use your Dillon card at checkout and L4E will electronically award our account)

 

4. Ask Grandparents, family, friends and neighbors to help you collect the boxtops and labels! (Don't forget to go pick them up and return to school!)

 

5. Continue to clip labels and boxtops! 

 

You can score BIG for MCE by registering your Dillon's card AND physically cutting the box top to send with your child to school.  

  

2015-16 DISTRICT CALENDAR
school 2
Click here
to view the school calendar for the
2015-2016 school year.
PLEASE HELP
If you have not already done so, please put your child's first and last name inside their jackets, coats, lunchbox, and book bags.  It is most helpful in identifying lost items.  Thank you for your help.

Principal                                                                             Assistant Principal
David Jennings                                                                         Brenda Pfeifer
[email protected]                                                            [email protected]
316-722-0427                                                                            316-722-0427
Ext:  2704                                                                                  Ext:  2705