I have experienced many proud moments in my brief tenure at Maize High School; however, ranking near the top of the list was the recent "Showcase" put on by our students and teachers for future high school students. Seeing the excitement and pride in our students and staff, who willingly gave up an evening, reinforced my belief that Maize High School is one of the best schools around! I would especially like to thank Rocky Helm and Lyn Brown for organizing the event and all of the students and staff for making it happen. MHS is truly a special place.

One term that continually comes to mind as December approaches is generosity. Not only is it the Maize Way character trait of the month, the students and staff at MHS are manifesting generosity through their actions. One recent example was with the Maize High KAY Club. They collected 3,750 cans, packages, and jars of food for dozens of families in need.  I would also like to recognize Billie Selichnow, who was the top student contributor. Thanks to the students and teachers who participated. 

As December begins once students return from Thanksgiving break, please encourage your student(s) to tie up any loose ends with their classes and strive to have a strong finish. Feel free to contact teachers or administrators with any concerns or questions.

Other remarks and reminders:

Maize High Regal Red yearbook also won 8th place Best of Show in their division for the 2013 MHS yearbook. 

• Maize High School was well-represented at Emporia State Math Day. Scott Hershberger placed 5th overall in the Algebra exam (received a medal). The Algebra Team of Hershberger, Taylor Axtell, and Conor Phillips placed 5th overall. Brandon Pugh was the highest individual score on the Geometry exam at 9th place. The Math Scramble Team of Pugh, Sam Bayliff and Corey Wilson placed 9th overall.
• Students were also involved in a high school computer programming competition. Congratulations to Michael Tiede and Olivia Baalman (4th Place), Skyler Roth (7th Place), and Katie Ortstadt and Jarod Honas (9th Place).
• Congratulations to the journalism students who placed in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association October Photo of the Month Contest. Paige Doll won third place in Academic Photography, and Maddy McKinnis won first place in Student Life Photography. In the October Multimedia of the Month contest, Lauren Debes took third place in the Video News category.
• I would like to remind everyone of the policy regarding schedule changes during the year. Changes to schedules will be made if they fit the following criteria:

   

  • If there is a mistake on the schedule;
  • The student wants to take a more advanced class;
  • A class was failed and needs to be re-taken;
  • Pre-requisites have not been met; and
  • Seniors decide to graduate at the end of the first semester

I sincerely appreciate everyone's understanding and acknowledgement of this policy.

• While there are still three weeks left of the term, second semester will be here before we know it. When we return from winter break, we will be in full swing of winter homecoming. This year, our theme for the homecoming dance is a masquerade. This formal affair will be held at the Maize Recreation Center on Saturday, January 11, 2014, from 8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

I wish you all a very blessed holiday season. As always, please contact me with any concerns or questions. I sincerely appreciate each of you and am honored to be your students' principal.

With eagle pride,

Chris 

Greetings from the Counseling Department at Maize High School!

In the counseling office:

• The Kansas Community That Cares Survey will be given to our sophomores and seniors on December 11th.
• In January the counselors will
• Go over the results of both the PLAN and PSAT tests with your students. 

Some of the activities for the next couple months include

• December 11 & 13 - Balfour will be at MHS to take orders for senior caps and gowns. Families should have received packets in the mail from Balfour around December first.
• December 17 - Senior Farewell in the commons during EnCor. Seniors will have donuts and say farewell to their classmates who are Early Completers and will not be at MHS second semester.
• December 23 - January 6 - Winter Break
• January 16 - Newman University Advanced Standing classes - Students meet with Newman staff.
• January 23 - Newman University Advanced Standing classes - Students enroll for Newman classes
• February 10 - 13 Begin Enrollment process for MHS students
• February 12 & 13 - Senior announcements will be delivered from 10:30 - 1:30 in the commons.
• February 19 & 20 - Parent/teacher conferences
• March 4 - The counseling office will be sponsoring the 2nd Annual Kansas College Night from 7-8:15 p.m.
• April 14 - Last day to turn in pictures for the senior slide show.      
• April 16 & 17 - Cap & Gown delivery in commons 10:30-1:30
• TBA - Senior parade, graduation practice, and senior picnic
• May 18  - Graduation @ Koch Arena @ 5:30 pm.

SENIOR SCENES

*Please note that the scholarship link on the website is updated each time we receive a new scholarship listing.

Both senior scenes and the scholarship link are located under the counselors' corner on the Maize High School site.      

Counseling Office contact information:

Attendance/Lunch

MHS Front Office: Tel. 722-0441

Pat Bobetsky, Attendance Office: Tel. 350-2148 or email pbobetsky@usd266.com

Connie Comstock, Attendance Office: Tel. 350-2110 or email ccomstock@usd266.com

  

 

Maize High School students and staff were hard at work in November as we completed 344.25 hours of community service through our Character in Action project! As we work toward our goal of 8,000 hours for the 2013-14 school year, the Eagles completed the following activities this past month:

• collected donations for Caring Hearts and Interfaith Ministries
• volunteered at the Crohns and Colitis Foundation walk
• participated in recycling projects
• helped rake leaves at the homes of local elderly community members
• sent care packages to soldiers
• and donated many more hours to local patrons and charities

Maize High School has many exciting plans for Character in Action in the upcoming months. Several EnCor classes, clubs, and teams will be working with Moxi Junction in Maize. We look forward to working with the families and staff of Moxi Junction as they open their new coffee shop and become more established in the Maize community.

 

Pictured: Brady Hoover

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured left to right: Brady Hoover and Luke Glassclock

 

  

Pictured left to right: Kohl Glatczak and Kolby Kern

Pictures taken by MHS teacher Jenny Meirowsky. 

The  students in Mrs. Meirowsky's encor class

If you know of projects or programs that could benefit from Maize High School's Character in Action project, please contact Beth Schmidt at bschmidt@usd266.com or Jenny Meirowsky at jmeirowsky@usd266.com. We will pass along your ideas to the staff at MHS.

Character in Action traits: friendship, compassion, respect, responsibility, generosity, self-discipline, honesty, cooperation, acceptance, and perseverance.

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 website 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.

Term 3: *Student/Parent Orientation Meeting Dec. 11; 6:00 pm; MHS Lecture Hall

Term 4: February 19, 2014 (last day to enroll)

*Student/Parent Orientation Meeting Feb. 27; 6:00 pm; MHS Lecture Hall

Summer 2014: April 18, 2014 (last day to enroll)

*Student/Parent Orientation Meeting April 23; 6:00 pm; MHS Lecture Hall  

*Please bring a writing pen and any type of Kansas Permit or License you already have to the Student/Parent Orientation Meeting. If you do not attend the Student/Parent Orientation Meeting, you will be dropped from the program.

During the month of December Student Council will be working to promote Character in Action by sponsoring 82 Angels from the Wichita Salvation Army. This has been an annual goal, and we look to continue it this year. Each Encore, along with other groups, will each have an Angel that they will collect money and provide a gift for a young girl or boy in our community. The Salvation Army works hard to give children a Christmas. We will also have a group volunteering to work to sort and distribute gifts. Please plan to send a few dollars to school with your student after Thanksgiving. Gifts will be picked up Friday, December 13. Thank you for your generosity.

The Maize High Student Council is busy planning winter homecoming.   This will be the first week of the second semester, January 7-11. We are looking to kick off the second semester and set the tone for a fun second half of the year! Events planned are as follows:

• Monday, January 6: Student Council will be busy decorating the halls to welcome students back after the break!

•  Wednesday ,January 8: Stuco hold the first annual dodge ball tournament from 7-9pm. This will be open to both boys and girls in each grade level, the teams will be co-ed.

•  Friday, January 10: will be the homecoming coronation during half time of the boys basketball game. The week will round out with a winter formal dance. 

• Saturday, January 11: Winter Formal Dance. This year's theme will be masquerade. The dance will be at Maize Recreation Center from 8-11pm. Tickets will be available for pre-sale and at the door.                      

• The Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) is directed by the KSHSAA to train Kansas high school and middle school students in citizenship responsibilities through leadership training and community service.    

Pictured left to right: Greg Burley of Great Bend; newly elected KAY area 6 President Saige Baalman; and KAY state director Cheryl Gleason.

Pictured: KAY members: Rachel Reko, Halie Larimore, Rachel Blevins and Mariah Rey.

Pictures taken by: MHS teacher and KAY sponsor Suzanne McKaig. 

• The MHS football team finished the season with a 7-3 record and was the Class 6A District 8 Champions.

Great job Coaches and Players!

• Sydney Roy signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Friends University to compete in Cross Country and Track and Field.

• Emily Griggs signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Louisiana State University to play softball.

• Taelyn Entriken signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Central Missouri State University to play golf.

• Maddi Cumpston signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Hutchinson Community College to play volleyball.

• Kayln Helm signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Kansas State University to row.

• AVCTL Division I Soccer All-League teams were selected: First Team: Daric Sanders - Defender, Kevin Combs - Mid-Field and Alan Sanchez - Forward. Second Team: Sage Chaffin - Defender. Honorable Mention: Caleb Wilcox - Mid-Field and Connor Holmes - Forward.

Pictured left to right: Daric Sanders, Kevin Combs, Alan Sanchez, Sage Chaffin, Caleb Wilcox and Connor Holmes.

• AVCTL Division I Volleyball All-League teams were selected: First Team: Maddi Cumpston and Keiryn Swenson. Second Team: Tyler Downs and Honorable Mention: Madison Orton. Betsy Manning was name the AVCTL Division I Coach of the Year. 

Pictured left to right: Maddi Cumpston, Keiryn Swenson, Tyler Downs and Madison Orton.

• Keiryn Swenson was named to the Kansas Volleyball Association Class 6 A All-State First Team.

• AVCTL Division I Football All-League teams were selected: First Team: Chase White - Running Back, Jared Luebbe - Offensive Lineman, Kendall Stewart - Wide Receiver, Clayton Norrod - Linebacker, Elijah West - Defensive Back. Second Team: Connor Lungwitz - Quarterback, Gage Morgan - Offensive Lineman, Kavan Jobe - Wide Receiver, Kendall Stewart - Special Teams Returner, Nick Benford - Defensive End. Honorable Mention: Dalton Rupp - Linebacker. Gary Guzman was named the AVCTL Division I Coach of the Year.

Pictured left to right: Chase White, Jared Luebbe, Kendall Stewart, Clayton Norrod and Elijah West.

 

Pictured left to right: Connor Lungwitz, Gage Morgan, Kavan Jobe, Nick Benford and Dalton Rupp.

• Wichita Eagle All-Metro Football Team selections included: Chase White - Running Back, Connor Lungwitz - Quarterback and Kendall Stewart - Receiver. 

Check out all of the activities at Maize High by going to the website http://www.avctl.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=280&school_id=15

Please visit www.usd266.com/bulletinboard to access the Maize USD 266 Online Bulletin Board for complete and timely information about upcoming events and activities sponsored by Maize Schools and partner agencies.

Thank you!