Maize South Elementary School
Welcome Back, Wolves!
Welcome back, Maize South Elementary families! We are so excited to begin a new school year and fill our building with learning, laughter, and the energy that makes MSE such a special place. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us as we begin another year together.
A few reminders as we get started:
Kindergarten Staggered Start
Our kindergarten students will have a staggered start as they begin their elementary school journey. This special time allows our youngest learners to become familiar with their teachers, classrooms, and routines in a smaller setting. Please refer to the information from your child's teacher for your child's assigned start date.
Please Be Patient in the Parent Line
The first few weeks of school can be busy as students, families, and staff learn and practice our arrival and dismissal routines. Please be patient and give yourself a little extra time. Our procedures are designed with student safety as our top priority, and your patience and cooperation make a tremendous difference!
Ask About Their Day!
One of the best ways to stay connected to your child's school experience is simply to ask about their day. Instead of only asking, "How was school?", try asking, "What was something you learned today?" or "Who did you play with at recess?" Those little conversations can open the door to meaningful connections and help your child know that their school experience matters to you.
Look for My Weekly Videos
I will be sharing a short weekly video with families throughout the school year. These videos will provide important reminders, celebrations, and updates from around MSE. Be sure to watch for them so you can stay connected to what is happening in our school!
Get Involved at MSE!
We are currently looking for parent volunteers to serve on our SITE Council. SITE Council provides an important opportunity for parents and staff to work together, share ideas, and help support our school. We would love to have a variety of parent voices represented. If you are interested in getting involved, please watch for more information about how to volunteer.
Thank you for being an important part of the MSE family and for joining us on this educational journey with your child. We are looking forward to an incredible year filled with growth, learning, and wonderful memories. Welcome back, we are so glad you are here!
Thank you,
Carrie Thrash
Principal
Maize South Elementary
Hello Maize South Families!
Welcome back, Wolves! It was so good to have our students back in the building for Meet the Teacher. Seeing their smiling faces and hearing the excitement in the halls was a wonderful reminder of what makes our school such a special place. We are so excited to begin a new school year and are looking forward to the year ahead. As always, we are here to support our students and families every step of the way, and we are grateful to be part of such a wonderful school community. We hope you had a great summer, and we are so happy to welcome everyone back!
Christina Eck
Assistant Principal
Maize South Elementary
Jami Weston
Hello! My name is Jami Weston. I am the counselor for kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grades this school year. I have been in education for 24 years. I have taught fourth grade and fifth grade in the Maize district before becoming a school counselor. This is my ninth year of counseling. I have been married to my husband, Scott, for 35 years, and we have two adult sons along with 2 beautiful grandsons, and one adorable granddaughter. I love working with students and helping them socially and emotionally while here at school. I will be doing classroom lessons, small groups, and meeting individually with some students. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns, or if you need help with anything. We have access to lots of resources and are always willing to share!
Counselor for Kdg, 2nd & 4th
Phone: (316) 462-8311
Email: jweston@usd266.com
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/usd266.com/jweston/home
Katie Frank
Hello! My name is Katie Frank. I am the counselor for kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grades. We loop with our students so we will stay with them all the way through their elementary career. I have been in education for 19 years. This is my fifteenth year in counseling and my thirteenth year in Maize. I have been married to my husband Steve for twelve years and we have two beautiful children. Peyton is in fourth grade at MSE and my son Landon is in second grade. I love working with students and seeing their growth socially and emotionally while they are at school! I will be interacting with your students through classroom lessons, and may be inviting your students to join me in small groups or individually. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have, we have access to numerous resources that can be beneficial to families!! I can’t wait for a great year at MSE!
Counselor for Kdg, 1st & 3rd
Phone: (316) 462-8314
Email: kfrank@usd266.com
Did you know that the Maize School District partners with Simply Hygiene to provide free hygiene resources to our families that may need them? Please see the flyer below for available products and reach out to your school nurse, counselor, or teacher if you have any questions.
Hello and welcome!
I’m Mrs. Hugo, one of the STEAM teachers at MSE, and I’m so excited to begin my fourth year of STEAM! I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Chase, and we have two wonderful sons, Hudson and Hayes. I became an educator with the goal of encouraging positivity and perseverance in every student I meet. STEAM gives students the opportunity to stretch their creativity while diving into science concepts through hands-on learning. I believe the sky's the limit, and I can’t wait to see all that our students will create and discover this year!
Olivia Hugo
STEAM Specialist
Hey there, I'm Mrs. Rachel, the other STEAM teacher at MSE! I am so thrilled to be working with the incredible Mrs. Hugo to bring students amazing STEAM experiences. I also married my high school sweetheart, Drew! We have a funny, loving toddler named Link. I have been at MSE for six years total - as a para, a first grade teacher, and a STEAM teacher! I am passionate about instilling confidence and a sense of belonging in all students. I know this year will be a great year for growth and discovery in STEAM!
Amber Rachel
STEAM Specialist
Dear Families,
My name is Mrs. Hallacy and I am the Media Center Specialist. This is my 8th year serving in this role. Prior to this I spent 19 years teaching 1st grade here in the Maize district. I am so excited to welcome our students back to the library for another year of reading, learning, and exploring!
This year, we will discover new books, revisit old favorites, learn how to be responsible library users, and have lots of fun along the way. I can’t wait to see what books catch your reader's eye and hear about all the wonderful stories they discover.
Here’s to a fantastic year filled with great books and even greater adventures!
Happy Reading!
Kelly Hallacy
Media Center Specialist
Hello Everyone,
I hope you and your children had a wonderful summer break! I am so excited to welcome all of our new and returning kiddos back to the gym, where we'll have lots of fun playing games, building skills, and working on their motor development.
I have so many fun activities planned for this year, and I can't wait to share them with your children! I am looking forward to a fantastic year together!
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind Regards,
Rachel LaBarge
P.E. Teacher
Maize South Elementary
"HEART is what separates the good from the great" - Michael Jordan
I hope you had a wonderful summer break! Here's what we'll be learning in music through September!
K-Echo songs, name games, Steady Beat, Tempo and Dynamics
1st/2nd-Review of Steady Beat, Rhythm of the words, So, Mi, La, Do pitches
3rd/4th-Review of Solfege pitches, major scale, known rhythms ta, titi, tao, ta rest, tikatika, ti-tika, tika-ti, vocal warm ups, learning program music
Save the Date!
3rd and 4th Grade Big! Programs
Tuesday, Nov 17th, 3rd at 6pm, 4th at 7pm.
1st and 2nd Grade In the Jungle Programs
Tuesday, March 9th, 1st at 6pm, 2nd at 7pm
Dress Rehearsals
Please make note that your students will be bused to MPAAC and back to MSE during the day of their program at the following times:
3rd Grade Tuesday Nov. 17th 9am-10:30 am 4th Grade Tuesday Nov. 17th 12:30pm-2pm
1st Grade Tuesday March 9th 9am-10:30am
2nd Grade Tuesday March 9th 12:30pm-2pm
All performances and dress rehearsals will take place at:
Maize Performing Arts and Aquatic Center
1155 W Academy Ave
Maize KS 67101
Looking forward to a great school year!
Kim Noller
Music/MSES
Hello MSES Families!
I am so thrilled to be back at MSE! For those that don't know me, I'm Joni Considine, the school nurse at MSE. I'm starting my 21st year of nursing and my 10th year of school nursing. I've been married to my wonderful husband Chad for 27 years and we have 4 children. Callie is 25 and getting married in March, Carson is 23, Clayton is 19 and Carolina is 17. I love traveling and Sunday dinners with my kiddos. I am looking forward to a healthy fun year at MSE. If I can do anything to better support the health or wellness of your child or family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can reach me by phone at (316)462-8305 or email at jconsidine@usd266.com. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your sweet kiddos!
Joni Considine,RN
Maize South Elementary School Nurse
316/462-8305
Inclement Weather Snow Day Notifications
In the event of school being dismissed or canceled because of inclement weather, the district will send out an e-mail, phone notification, and for those who have opted to receive them, a text message to the primary contact associated with both Family 1 and Family 2, if applicable, for each student. Those phone notifications will go out as early as 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closure. If a decision is made the night before to call off school, calls and texts will go out no later than 10:30 p.m.