Sept 2026
MSMS Parents and Families:
It has been a wonderful start to our school year! We sincerely hope that your child is finding his/her groove and settling into middle school life. Communication is key, and we hope to provide clear and efficient information via our weekly Huddles and monthly Newsletters.
The fall FastBridge window is open, and we have already begun completing our aMath and aReading assessments. These screeners allow us to track academic data for each student so that we may provide appropriate support to ensure academic growth during the school year. We will test during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Fall scores will be shared during our Parent/Teacher conferences on October 14th and 15th. Conferences will be conducted in a come-and-go format, hosted in our Commons area on both days.
One of our goals is to increase student agency and accountability. By having students share weekly progress reports via email with their parents/guardians, we intend to increase ownership of their Grades, Attendance, and Behavior (GAB). G.A.B. sheets are completed by students and may contain errors. Please consistently check Skyward to monitor your child’s attendance, behavior, and academic progress. Reach out to your child’s teacher(s) or contact our front office if you need any assistance with the Skyward platform.
Here are a few reminders that we would like to share with you:
IDs/Lanyards - Must be worn at all times. There is a $3 fee for each if misplaced. These will be applied to “fees” in the Skyward system. Cash is also accepted. No refunds.
Dress Code - Please review the dress code policy as outlined in the Student Handbook. We addressed expectations with our students during our first week of school.
Extracurricular Activities Attendance - You represent the name on the front and back of your jersey. Students are encouraged to attend middle and high school-related activities. Behavior must be appropriate during these events. Students who are unable to conduct themselves accordingly may lose the privilege to attend any USD 266 event.
Clubs/Activities - Kansas Association of Youth (KAY) Club is a philanthropic group geared toward local charity work. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club is a school-centered group to encourage good decision-making and boost morale. Student Council (student-elected positions) elections are currently underway. These activities are available for students to join and/or be elected to. Passion Projects (student choice) will begin in October for Term 2. Chess, Rubik’s Cube, Coding, Art, Culinary, Technology, and other activities will take place each Friday.
Attendance - Please be sure to contact the office if your child needs to be absent. District policy allows for seven (7) excused absences for the year. Medical appointments are excluded (a note must be provided).
Please follow us on our social media pages on Facebook (Maize South Middle School) and Instagram (@msmsmavnews). Thank you for being in the huddle with us this year and doing your part. Gov Mavs!
Steffanie Moore (works with students whose last name begins with A-K) is beginning her 14th year as a school counselor at MSMS. Prior to this, she taught ELA at Maize Middle School for six years. She grew up attending school in the Maize School District and is excited to be part of it as a staff member. Her favorite thing about being a counselor is interacting with students and the bright energy they bring to a school building.
Adam Melichar (works with students whose last name begins with L-Z) is beginning his 1st year as a school counselor at MSMS. Prior to this, he was a teacher and assistant principal at Complete High School Maize for three years, a school counselor at MSHS for 10 years, and a teacher in the Andover district for five years. Adam has two kiddos in the district and is proud to be a member of the MSMS family.
Casey's Rewards
Dear Parent's,
We're excited to share that our school is participating in Cash for Classrooms, part of Casey's Rewards. This opens up MSMS to new funding opportunities to help improve learning environments for students.
The best part? Donations don't come out of your own pocket. When you buy from Casey's and use their rewards program you can simply turn your points into a donation to our school.
Help MSMS make the most of this program and learn more at caseys.com/schools.
Dillon's Community Rewards
MSMS is part of the Dillons Community Rewards program, and you can help just by shopping at Dillons. As a Dillons Plus Card holder, you can register your card with community rewards and then choose Maize South Middle School as your reward recipient. Then every time you use your Plus Card, Dillons will reward MSMS by donating a portion of your purchase to the school. The more you shop at Dillons, the more opportunity MSMS has to earn even bigger rewards. It’s that easy!
Here’s how it works:
- Go to: https://www.dillons.com/i/community/community-rewards
- Sign in (if you have already registered your Plus Card) OR create an account by clicking “create an account” (if you create an account you need to check your email for and click on the provided link to confirm your email address).
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page to Community Rewards, click on Enroll and Manage (I’m a customer).
- Under FIND YOUR ORGANIZATION search for “Maize South Middle School” or use our 5 digit number of 18969.
- Select “Maize South Middle School” and click “Enroll” and YOU’RE DONE!
Now you’re ready to go! Through your everyday purchases, you and Dillons will support our community!