It is difficult to believe I am writing the last newsletter article for the 2012-2013 school year.  With it being the last message, there is so much that I want to say!  My first year as principal of Maize High School has been such an adventure!  There are many people I want to thank and recognize from this year...I am not quite sure where to begin.

 

• To the students of MHS- thank you for making me feel welcome.  You should be proud of what you have accomplished this year and take pride in knowing you attend an marvelous school!
• To the staff- I always knew there was a talented staff at MHS, but I had no idea that it was as good as it is!  Every person gives 100%, sets high expectations, and has a genuine passion for helping our students.  Thank you for all that you do!
• I would like to send a heart-felt hug to our retiring teachers Joy Lewellen, David Powell, Mary Grimes and Margie Eaton.  We are going to miss their professionalism and dedication to our students.  We certainly wish them well on their future endeavors, and hope they know that they will be Eagles forever!  Additionally, we wish Alan Birdsell nothing but the best as he takes on a new adventure of teaching middle school students!
• Mr. Bonner always used to say that he had the best administrative team in the business.  After working a year with Mr. Broadbent, Ms. Schmidt, and Dr. Cannizzo, I am in total agreement.  You have taught me so much and I feel blessed to work alongside each of you.
• Eric Wolgast has done a great job serving as our athletic director.  It has been comforting to know that all of our events were going to be ready and for his professionalism in working with other schools, parents, community members, and our students.
• To the parents- I admire the passion you have for your student(s).  I have truly enjoyed getting to know as many of you as I could.  I look forward to working with you all in the future.  Thank you!
• The staff at Complete High School Maize has worked hard to ensure I still felt connected to their program.  I know it is great hands, but I sure appreciate them making feel connected!
• John White, Frank Simon, Greg Burkhart, and Brenda Ake have done a remarkable job as our custodial staff.  Thank you for all that you do!
• The front office staff- I appreciate the uniqueness that each of you have and the role that you play in serving our students and staff.
• Counselors- you have done an amazing job of meeting the needs of our students.  From helping fix student schedules to being a confidant, you each play a vital role in our successes.
• Coaches/Directors - Thank you for providing opportunities for our students to represent themselves and their school and for teaching them life lessons outside the classroom.
• Technology staff- I am not sure what we would be able to accomplish without you helping meet our needs.  We all very much appreciate you!
• Food Service- each day, you make sure our students have food in their bellies!  You go above and beyond making sure the needs of our students are being met.  Thank you!
• Seniors- I hope that in 20 years, when you think back about your glory days of MHS, you have great memories and positive thoughts about your almamater.  Please know that we will always be here for you and expect great things from each of you.  Thank you for being a class that I will never forget.

Important Dates

AP Testing Dates

Thursday, May 9 -  AP Literature Test MHS Lecture Hall - 7:45 a.m.

Friday, May 10 - AP Stats Test MHS Lecture Hall- 7:45 a.m.

Monday, May 13 -- AP Biology Test MHS Lecture Hall- 7:45 a.m.

Monday, May 13 -- AP Physics B Test MHS Hall- 11:45 a.m.

Tuesday May 14- AP Government Test - MHS Lecture Hall- 7:45 a.m.

Wednesday May 15 - AP U.S. History Test - MHS Lecture Hall- 7:45 p.m.

Tuesday, May 14 - Seniors last day of classes

May 15:      A very BIG Day for Seniors!  PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE DATE & TIME CHANGE!!!

• Parade: - Starts at WSU West Campus at 7:00 a.m.  The line-up will begin at 6:30 a.m.
• Graduation Practice at WSU Koch Arena following the Parade from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Senior picnic
• The senior picnic will be held at the Sedgwick County Park and will start tentatively at 1:00 p.m.
• Hamburgers and buns have been donated by Outback Steak House.  Senior parent volunteers & the Maize Booster Club will help cook and serve the food.

May 19: Graduation at WSU's Koch Arena at 5:30 p.m.

*ALL SENIORS NEED TO BE THERE AT 4:30 P.M

May 23rd   Last day of school

The American Lung Association has developed a FREE online asthma education module that will provide important basic asthma information for parents and care

givers of children with asthma. Beth Marolf, representative of American Lung Association, asked us to pass this information on to our parents and students in the Maize District. The module covers topics such as: your child's asthma, their medications and possible triggers. action.lung.org 

The American Lung Association believes their 50 minute module will be very helpful and informative to parents. They state, "If everyone in a child's life has the same information we can all work together to keep kids healthy in school and out of the hospital." Parents that complete the online module will get a FREE asthma trigger checklist to help them manage their child's disease.

The association claims this link includes information on how to access a new computer game Lungtropolis. The computer game helps your child understand about their disease and teaches them how to become an effective asthma manager. 

Reference: Beth Marolf,American Lung Association - Plains/Gulf Region Serving Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,Nebraska, Oklahoma & Texas www.breathehealthy.org. 

Get Your Immunizations Record Before It's Too Late!

The MHS Nurse's office will be closed after May 24, 2013. No student immunization records will be released after this date.

Why you would need your child's immunization records:

Family Moving:

            College or Secondary School

            Changing High Schools

            Summer Camps

            Traveling to a foreign country over the summer

If you need a copy of your child's immunization record, please contact us at 350-2123.

The MHS Nurse's office will reopen on August 7, 2013.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe summer!

Moving over the summer or changing school districts? Please contact me at 350-2121 or  lrankin@usd266.com and let me know your students name and what school district you will be moving to.

MHS students visit with author

Todd Strasser via Skype.

For weeks, students in Mr. Birdsell and Mr. Watkin's classes read books by author Todd Strasser, so they would be prepared for the author's Skype visit.  These students from the Library Advisory Committee had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about Mr. Strasser's life and work.  Strasser is the author of more than 140 books mostly aimed for middle and high school students.  Students read The Wave, Wish You Were Dead and his latest Edgar Award nominated, Kill You Last.  Mr. Strasser discussed how reading was difficult for him and that he was tutored one summer to prevent being held back his third grade year.  With humor and candor Strasser engaged the students and inspired some.  One student said, "He inspired me to start writing again."

As the last few weeks draw to a close I want to share my thanks and appreciation to the staff and students at Maize High School. This will be the end of thirty-seven years of serving as librarian at MHS.  I have been fortunate to work in a school that inspired me and challenged me to give my best.  I hope in turn that I have inspired you and challenged you to explore, dream, and discover.  My one piece of advice to you - expand your mind, don' t be afraid to put in the effort it takes to learn new things.

Mrs. Eaton

When: Saturday August 24th 2013   

Time: 7:30-11:00am

Where:  MHS commons area

Cost:  $5.00 per person, under 3 free

 Come show your support for your Maize High Football program.

GO EAGLES!

Student Council will be finishing the year with the annual Mr. Maize pageant. Mr. Maize will take place at 7:00pm on May 8.  Prior to Mr. Maize, the seniors will have their senior sign off beginning at 6:00pm.  Mr. Maize consists of five talented senior boys who will model and perform a talent.  Although a spoof on the traditional beauty pageant, year after year the audience is wowed by the talent of these senior boys.  Admission is $1.  During costume changes seniors will be presented with their Graddy awards.  It is sure to be a fun night!

Student Council is also working to interview for next year's positions.  A change for this year will be that the positions for all freshman student council members will be filled after the school year begins.  We feel this will help the incoming freshman get a chance to join in the fun. 

The 12^th Annual Maize USD 266 Partners in Education recognition night will be on May 9^th.  Check out our webpage dedicated to our sponsors at www.usd266.com, click on Community/Corporate Sponsors.  The following organizations and businesses will be recognized:   

• Adopt a School
•  Big Brothers Big Sisters
•  Butcher Block
• Carlos O' Kelly's
•  Charisma
• City Blue Print Inc.  
• City Print
• Coca Cola
• Companion Animal Hospital
• Emprise Bank
• Freddy's Frozen Custard
• Greater YMCA West
•  Halstead Bank
•   Junior Achievement
•   LDF Inc.  
•   Wendy's
•   Maize Lion's Club
•   McAlister's Deli
•   Nancy's Amaizen Sandwiches
•  Old Navy
•  Outback Steakhouse
•   Pathway Church
•   Pizza Hut
•   Pizza Hut Bistro
•   Papa John's
•    Prairie Pines Tree Farm
•   State Farm Insurance
•   Rusty Eck Ford
•   Shoe Carnival
•   Target
•  United Way of the Plains
•   Wal-Mart
•  Woodard Mercantile

On June 13, 2013, the Family Access online enrollment portal will be opened on the district web page,  www.usd266.com. You will receive a letter containing your Family Access login and password. Using the login information in the letter, you will fill out all of your 2013-14 transportation form on a secured site for each of your students. Due to state requirements, ALL parents must provide this information to our Transportation Department regardless of whether your student will be riding the bus. This portion of the enrollment process will need to be completed by July 6.

On July 5, 2013, you will receive a second letter giving you instructions on how to complete the 2013-14 enrollment process. You will be asked to provide demographic information about your family and answer a series of questions for each of your students. This portion of the enrollment process will need to be completed by July 19.

You will also have the ability to pay your fees online using your credit card or you will be able to mail in a check for your student's enrollment fees. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunches and complete the Waiver of Confidentiality form (back page of the free/reduced application) will have their fees waived if approved. The free and reduced lunch application will be available on the district web page after July 16, 2013. If you believe you will qualify for free and reduced lunches, please complete the enrollment information. Print and mail your free/reduced application to the Educational Support Center but do not submit your payment until your application has been processed.

If you do not have access to the Internet, you may come to the district's Educational Support Center, 11611 W. 49th St. North, between July 8-18 during normal business hours to log in and complete the enrollment process. The office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the summer months.

Questions? Please send an e-mail to  enrollment@usd266.com and a district representative will contact you.

Know someone new to the district who needs to enroll? One Stop Enrollment for students new to the district will be held on August 2 at Maize High School from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. To save time during One Stop Enrollment, parents new to the district will be able to pre-enroll by going to the district website, www.usd266.com and clicking on the New Student Pre-Registration link in the Quick Links section of the home page.

USD 266 Maize offers driver education year round. The driver education programs strive 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. More detailed information on driver education can be found on the high school web site under the counselor's corner.

Online Driver Education: 2013-2014 Enrollment (enrollment packets may be picked up in the counselors' office or online under the counselors' corner)

**Enrollment packets for 2013-2014 will be available May 15th.

Summer Face To Face Driver Education: Enrollment (enrollment packets may be picked up in the counselors' office or online under the counselors' corner starting April 29, 2013)

**We will not be holding a meeting for parents and students; instead students will fill out their enrollment papers and turn them in on one of the following dates:

Date:  May 7, May 8, or May 9, 2013            

Time:  7:00-7:30am                 

Place:  MHS Big Gym or MSHS Lecture Hall

Maize USD 266 is working to utilize technology and online resources in communicating with parents, staff and the community. As part of this effort, Maize USD 266 is introducing an Online Bulletin Board to tell parents about opportunities offered by school sponsored or student curricular groups, events linked to individual schools or activities sponsored by groups partnering with the Maize schools. 

The Online Bulletin Board is through the district Web site,  www.usd266.com. Beginning in January 2013, the Online Bulletin Board will replace all paper flier distribution from outside groups.

Families can access the Online Bulletin Board from the Parents or Community tab on the district home page. Additionally, it will be available under Quick Links or you can go directly to the page at www.usd266.com/bulletinboard.

As an added convenience, people can receive email updates each time new information is posted. Visit www.usd266.com/bulletinboard and click "Subscribe" to sign up. Subscribers will receive emails each time new fliers are posted.

Transportation Change Form Now Available in Skyward Family Access  

Parents needing to make changed to pick up or drop off locations for student bus transportation can now access an online form in Skyward Family Access. Simply log in to your Family Access account and click "Bus Change Form" under District Links in the left side navigation pane.

For the safety and protection of our students, any change in a student's bus transportation arrangements must be provided using this form. Please allow up to three school days after the form is received by the Transportation Department for the changes you have requested to be made.

Please note if your home address has changed, you must provide proof of residency to your child's school before changes in transportation occur. We can accept an electric, gas, or water bill with service address or housing contract with date of residency or lease/rental agreement.