Dec2013

MED-O-GRAM DECEMBER 17, 2013

MEADOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Dear Meadows Families, ‘Tis the season for shorter days, cooler temperatures, and heavier workloads. I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but I think I am dancing as fast as I can! Thanksgiving sped past, and now we are on the downhill slope to winter break and the holidays. With school responsibilities and events as well as shopping and family considerations, the days seem shorter than ever.

This year, six of our teachers are “Golden Gator” recipients and they are:

I see teachers and students are working hard too as I walk through classrooms. Please continue to encourage your students to stay on task until the end of the semester on Friday, December 20th. School is out early that day at 12:10 PM so that teachers have time to finish entering grades to close out the semester.

Please join me in congratulating these worthy educators. They are wonderfully representative of the highly qualified, caring teachers that make Meadows such a special place to learn and grow.

Our teachers have so many responsibilities, and I know you share my appreciation of the efforts they make with your children every day to encourage their growth and success. Recently, I received a letter from Xavier College Preparatory School honoring several Meadows teachers. Every year, Xavier students nominate teachers from previous middle schools who have inspired and supported their academic choices.

★ Anna Andrews Social Studies ★ Daniel Coffinger Math ★ Kay McClain Math ★ John Murphy Technology/Yearbook ★ Lee Meyer Social Studies ★ Paula Schmitt Math

Thank you as always for entrusting us with your children and for partnering with us in their education. Enjoy the holiday break, and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday, January 6, 2014.

Happy Holidays!

With Ram Pride,

Susan Doyle, Meadows Principal

I IN THIS ISSUE: • “Pizza with PTM” on 12/18 and PTM recent donations to Meadows • Save the Date: March 29, 2014 Spring Social Event – “Meadows Goes Country – Chili Cook Off & Raffle/Silent Auction” • NJHS Updates, PBIS students of the month, IB Program Updates, Athletic and School Nurse updates • Meadows Spirit Bottles for sale, Camp Friendly Pines Yard Event • THANK YOU to volunteers and supporters: Book fair , NJHS, Holiday party and Art Masterpiece...AND MORE!

MADISON MEADOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL

225 W. OCOTILLO RD., PHOENIX, AZ 85013 (602) 664-7600

PTM

A Message from your PTM President Dear Meadows Parents, Please join us this Wednesday, Dec. 18th from 6-7pm in the Media Center for: “Pizza with PTM”!!! This is a great chance to get to know fellow Meadows parents & administrators. We will have a brief parent meeting where you can hear about what’s happening at Meadows from Principal Doyle and Parent Volunteers. We will be raffling off EIGHT great items and each attendee will receive a free Red Box DVD rental coupon!

Please take an hour out of your busy schedule to join us -- I guarantee it will be worthwhile!

Sincerely, Chris Goodfarb 2013-14 PTM President

RECENT PTM DONATIONS – THE REASON FOR OUR FUNDRAISING!

Your Donation dollars hard at work!

Madison Meadows

SCHOOL SPIRIT WATER BOTTLES

$5

Pu r cha Me se yo ur Sch ado w ool s S pir 27 t o unc (BP e A Sp o Fre r ts e Bot ) tle!

Proceeds go towards Charitable Acts Committee (CAC) THANK YOU! Eric Cook

Order your cup today! It’s easy to shop online: http://meadowsptm.org/ptm_home/shop/meadows-spirit-water-bottle/

You’re invited...

Meadows Families and Friends

We’re GOING COUNTRY!

T h i n k  F U N

ia c o S g Sprin Save the Date...

Saturday, March 29 6:00 -10:00 pm

Location will be announced soon...

chili cook-off, silent auction, raffles, dancing, dinner, etc.

Meadows Goes Country Chili Cook Off Event!

Mark your calendars and be sure to plan on joining us for dinner, dancing & some good ‘ol country fun!

Mark your calendars for March 29th, 2014, 6:00-10:00pm.

It will be a Country & Western theme.

(Think cowboy hats, boots, flannel, bandanas, chaps…you name it—get creative!)

Besides the usual silent auction & raffle items, your taste buds will appreciate the CHILI COOK OFF. We encourage all our "cooks" out there to enter their best Chili recipe.

l

If interested in getting involved, please contact leah@meadowsptm.org

hey ya’ll...

VOLUNTEERS Wanted!

C h il i R e c ip e 3 tablespoons extra

-virgin olive oil,

2 1/2 pounds groun d turkey (85 perce nt lean) or ground tur key breast (99 percent lean), 2 pa ckages 4 tablespoons dark chili powder, 2 pa lm fulls 2 tablespoons gri ll seasoning blend , any brand, 1 palm full 1 tablespoon cumi

n, 1/2 palm full

2 tablespoons Wo

rcestershire sauc

1 to 3 tablespoon s hot sauce, mediu m to extra-spicy 1 large onion, quart

ered

2 large peppers, an y color combinatio n, red, green, purple, yellow or orange, chopped 1/2 bottle beer (th e alcohol cooks ou t), about 1 cup 1 (14-ounce) can tom ato sauce

e

1/2 cup smoky ba rbecue sauce

SAVE tHE DATE! January 14 4-6PM Space Limited,

The Meadows Snack Shack is open after school and during RAMMS sporting events on campus (some nights & Saturdays). Groups on campus can “sponsor” the snack shack for the month and proceeds for that month will help your group! Parents (with student helpers) are needed to staff the

RSVP Required Staci Csizmadia

scorwick@cox.net (602)486-6161

snack shack. Student helpers gain community service time. Fun and easy!

Check out the online schedule and submit your time on line. Contact Snack Shack Coordinator Theresa at MeadowsSnackShack@yahoo.com to learn more!

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! Christy Vandersee Amy Hunn-Acosta Jennifer Funke Colleen Alexy Sonimar Rosa Julie Peterson Danielle Hanson Sarah Speer Chris Goodfarb Marlene Imirzian Jenny Pieri Angel Kronz Grace Geary Lola Harvey

Jen Stewart Farina McKenzie Julie Yakimovich Debbie Hinds Mishelle Mackle Jannine Doto Lori Nelson Debbie Burt Liz Christensen Whitney Smith Matthew Wszalek Holly Keeble Molly Mayfield Jerry Lopez

Kari Blakley Carrie Yost Shauna Cordovana Rachel Rowland Yvette Moran Roseanne Burbach

Jeni DeBenedetti and Traci Haddox thank you for your wonderful help. Volunteers make the book fair so successful!

WE LOVE VOLUNTEERS

PBIS Students and Staff Rewards The PBIS team implements student and staff rewards/incentives with the help of PTM to encourage positive behavior and attitudes across Meadows.

By: Laura Webb, Assistant Principal As you may have heard, Madison has a district wide behavior support program called PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports). Schools promote positive behavior in a number of ways. We are working to improve this program each year with new activities and acknowledgements. At Meadows we have been looking for new ways to celebrate the terrific students and staff that work and learn here. We have implemented monthly PBIS assemblies during one Guided Study period at the end of the month where teachers from each grade level present Students of the Month. The Students of the Month are chosen for a variety of reasons including academics, character and behavior. They are celebrated and congratulated in front of their grade level peers and receive a $10 gift card, courtesy of PTM. Similarly, we have asked staff to recognize their peers on a monthly basis by completing a “tip of the hat” slip. These are read at a monthly staff meeting and put into a drawing for staff rewards. The simple act of reading these slips publicly for everyone to hear the positive comments lifted everyone’s spirit this week and was very heartening. As we are teaching students each day, we are looking for positive interactions and ways to communicate that encourage each other. That is what PBIS is all about. The Students of the Month for November were the following:

• Victoria Gomez

• Grace Bush

• Sarah Jacobs

• Maci Brown

• Dan Drotzman

• Michael Dobos

• Alianna Martinez Romero

• Alan Krueger Hernandez

• Karly Romley Cass

• Raquel Burris

• Isaac Peters

• Dan Merrill

• Jessica Rusconi

• Dominick Dredd

• Kathleen Geary

• Spencer Cook

• Kye Haines

• Andrew Ray

• Isaac Okamura

• Bryce Blair

• Calvin Graef

• Spencer Scher

• Madison Ariola

• Mackenzie Powers

• Lucas Lehman

• Anjali Moore

• Jack Eagar

• Ethan Connery

• Ramsey Penza

• Nicholas Asa

• Rachel Duboiws

• Jessica Barker

• Poleena Yukhanova • Janie Christensen

• Lexi Wahl

The three staff members selected for the “Tip of the Hat” Awards were Lee Meyer, Amy Bondeson and our psychologist, Vicki Percifield.

Thank you to our PTM for supporting our PBIS award program and helping to promote positive behavior.

IB Corner of the World Dear Meadows’ Families, This is an exciting time for our IB MYP program at Meadows.

IB has just

released the latest versions of content area subject guides and the unit planner. These documents have been revised and are now ready for teachers to begin using for planning the MYP framework in their classrooms. Our TCT for this week focused on teachers having time to collaborate together over the subject guides and becoming more familiar with the philosophy of MYP. Teachers met in content area groups that were led by our own teachers that attended IB MYP workshops and have a strong understanding of IB in their own particular content areas.

Next month, teachers will continue mastering the philosophy of IB MYP

as they begin to write their first unit planner which will be taught in the spring.

Meadows’ staff continues to enforce and implement the Learner Profile in class and around our campus.

Teachers will also begin implementing a lesson during guided study one time per month on the learner profile attribute of the month. The attribute of the month for December is principled. The IB definition of principled is: “We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.”

Some suggestions on how you can make the IB connection at home with your child on becoming principled are: 1.

Encourage your child to think about what it means to be a principled person. Does she or he know of a principled person?

2. If your child makes a poor decision, take the opportunity to discuss what consequences our actions have on others and the environment.

3. Have your child identify someone in public life he or she thinks has demonstrated a lack of principles. Talk about what they think of his/her behavior and what he/she should do to “shape up.”

4. Have your child write a letter to someone in the news whose principles have impressed you.

5. Talk about what it means to be “compromise your principles.” Talk about what the phrase “Let your life speak” means.

6. Talk about what it means to “walk your talk.” Brainstorm people who are positive and negative examples of this phrase.

7. Catch your child being principled. Make sure your child knows he/she has done something good. Expressing your approval is a powerful way to reinforce the profiles.

What is going on at Meadows?

Pi Day!!!

Our wonderful 6th grade math team led by Ms. Amy Bondeson, Dr. Noel McClure and Mr. Ryan Kelley implemented a fun and delicious math project before Thanksgiving break for our Meadows’ students. Math students have been learning about finding the area, diameter, circumference and radius of a circle. Their culminating activity was a teacher organized “Pi Day.” This is where students went outside and spent more time completing hands-on activities involving learning about the properties of a circle and of course, eating pie (pumpkin or apple with whipped cream). Yum! There was even a storybook titled Sir Circumference and the Dragon of Pi read by a special guest for a few class periods (Ms. Doyle and Mrs. Webb).

Ms. Doyle read to 6th graders from Sir Circumference and the Dragon of Pi.

Photo Credits: Mrs. Stropky

Meadows’ students are very principled as they accurately complete their math work and s?ll enjoy a slice of pie!

Ms. Bondeson reviews direc?ons for the

Mrs. Webb reads to a group of 6th graders.

ignment e?ng their math ass pl om c

nd a

le irc c

a f g bunch of finding the area o as they worked on What a hard workin ! d le ak re cip b

rin ng p y ivi er sg v ll nk a Students were he day before Tha that “Pi Day” was t ve ie el b o t d ar h s i t I outdoors. students!

Charitable Acts Committee News

Need community service hours? Sign up for these upcoming CAC events: A Message from Charitable Acts Commi3ee…

• Meadows is signed up for one Wednesday per month at Growing Garden on Glendale Avenue from 3-­‐5:00pm on TCT days britton@meadowsptm.org | Britton Sanchez

Charitable Acts Committee

GIVES!

Thank you Meadows families for serving our community. ~ Britton Sanchez CAC Chair

NEWS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE

HEALTH

NURSE SHARON

ITEM OF THE MONTH: Please help us offset the high cost of supplies by donating feminine sanitary pads and female undergarments in various sizes.

Meadows Athletics David Vibber Athletic Director

IMMUNIZATIONS: All 6th graders need to have the Tdap and Meningi?s shot when they turn 11 yrs. old Please check your records and bring in proof of the shot to the Health Office.

FLU SHOTS: It is not too late to get a flu shot. Protect yourself from these powerful strains of flu COLDS/FLU: Please remember if your child is sick-­‐ keep them home so infec?ons don’t spread , AND your child will get well sooner.

LICE: YUCK!!! We are entering the high ?me of ge\ng Lice and spreading it to family and friends. Please periodically check your child’s head and remind them not to share combs, hair bands, ?es and especially hats. A natural alterna?ve for trea?ng Lice is TLC (Total Lice Control) available at some Walgreens and Rosey’s Pharmacy.

MEDICATION: Students can not carry any medica?on with them. All medica?on must stay in the Health Office and a parent must sign a permission slip. Inhalers must be labeled or in a labeled box.

HEARING AND VISION SCREENING: Hearing and vision re-­‐screening is almost done. If your child has gocen a referral no?ce for either the hearing or vision-­‐ please follow up on it. This is for your child’s success in school. If finances are an issue-­‐ please call Nurse Sharon.

Friendly Reminder: Madison Meadows requires all students that participate on an athletic team to pay an athletic fee of $100 to offset the cost of operating our athletic program. The fee pays for coaches, referees, conference dues, transportation, uniforms and equipment. The fee is “given back” in the way of a Tax Credit for the same amount.

Please pay the $100 athletic fee online: www.msd38.org • Click “Tax Credit” on the top right hand side. Scroll down and click “Donate Online”.

• Forward the tax credit confirmation email to dvibber@msd38.org and include player’s name and sport.

• Credit card payments also accepted in the office.

GO RAMS!

Meadows has not turned away a student who meets the academic and behavioral criteria from playing a sport due to financial circumstances. If a student/ family is in need of a financial consideration; volunteer assistance to our school and/or athletic program may be considered instead of the $100 payment. If the student meets all of the academic and behavioral requirements, then we will consider providing a waiver that will enable him/her to participate.

Thank you for supporting your son and daughter by encouraging them to participate in our athletic program. We truly believe that the investment will enrich their lives from the experience they have in practice and games.

Sincerely, David Vibber Meadows Athletic Director

FALL BLACK OUT DANCE

THANK YOU!

to ICM! d e t a n o d d Foo

NJHS would like to thank the following people for helping us put on a successful Fall Ball on November 22nd: • • • •

Mr. Carpenter for being the awesome DJ! Mr. Meyer, Ms. Andrews, Ms. Helmecke, Ms. Webb, Debbie Hinds, Lisa Otto and Courtney Cooper for their help chaperoning at the dance.

Debbie Hinds, the Falk Family, Diane Wroten, Consuelo Galindo, Grady Funke and Kristen Keeble for helping with preparation The Black Family for delivering the canned food items to ICM

NJHS is currently collecting the following items to help ICM Food and Clothing Bank: • • •

Clothing items (new or used) Toiletries (any personal hygiene product appreciated) Canned food

ICM Food & Clothing Bank (formerly known as Interfaith Cooperative Ministries), meets the basic needs of up to 150 families every day, six days a week. These are things most of us take for granted…

There are collection boxes located in the front office. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Keeble at keeble2@cox.net. We thank you for your support of ICM!

Congratulations to the new NJHS officers elected for next semester: I. II.

President: Quinn Funke

Vice President: Ciaran Gallagher

III. Treasurer: Spencer Scher IV. Secretary: Max Noren

Thanks to Lance Keeble, Emma Jensen, Cole Blakley and Quinn Funke for their leadership in serving the 1st Semester!

NJHS would like to thank the following businesses for their help towards reaching our goal for our Semester of Service project: • • • • • • • • •

MBP Realty Dr. Aaron Verbarg DDS Pat Funke and Associates Blue Orthodontics Fairytale Brownies Simis PATS Meadows PTM Haydon Building Corp.

Real Property Painting

If you or your company would like to help, please contact Jennifer Funke at funke03@cox.net, Holly Keeble at keeble2@cox.net or Renee Poginy at rpogeny@msd38.org for more details.

Hope you enjoyed the annual Madison PTM/ PATS Tradition filled with fine wine and food..

Holiday Cheers & Warm Wishes to Simis and the Hannappel Family for graciously host the annual Holiday party!

Serving Sizes

This combined celebration of Madison Meadows and Madison Simis has been a tradition for many years.

Tuesday’s “A,er School Art” Program On Tuesdays from 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm, the art room will be open for “aJer school art.” This FREE a,er school program is open to all students, regardless if they are in art class. This will be a Mme for any Meadows student to come into the art room and work on projects of their choice or conMnue on projects that have already been started. The only requirement is a note from a parent or guardian indicaMng how the student will be transported home (walking, riding a bike, parent pick-­‐up, etc.).

The next “aJer school art” meeMng will conMnue every Tuesday unMl May 2014. Any addiMonal informaMon and updates can be found at www.mistervoss.com. If there are any quesMons, please contact Sco3 Voss at svoss@madisoned.org.

Art Masterpiece Guide Thank you!

A big thank you to all the Art Masterpiece guides for the 5th & 6th grade classes! The kids & teachers appreciate your commitment to this great program that brings history, art and culture to our classrooms. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and look forward to another fun year of great art in 2014!

• • • • • • • • • • •

Veronica Vazquez Sue & Phil Abbass Sherry Rampy Shari Weiss Paula Gualtiere Michele Lingenfelter Malissa Geer Lori Mulholland Terauds Laurel Moran Kim Beler Kelly Barnes

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Rosie Villegas Smith Jessica Ritter Jennifer Larson Jasmine Hyatt Janette Anderson Farina McKenzie Ellen Jason Bond Debbie Hinds Carrie Lifshitz Beth Danik Amy Christensen Abby Loza

p.s. Volunteer art masterpiece guide opportunity in Mr. Bates' 1st period social studies class, 8:30-9:40AM.

Gratefully, Nancy Stouffer Art Masterpiece Committee Chair nbstouffer@cox.net | 602-­‐770-­‐8724 cell

Support Class of 2014!

8th Grade Graduation!

Designate your 2013 tax credit dollars toward Meadows 8th Grade Graduation.

Allocate $400 (couples filing jointly) or $200 (individual) tax credit dollars. Tell Grandparents, friends, and relatives about the way to donate.

We need your help! This is our last time for our eight grade parents to consider earmarking your 2013 tax credit dollars toward our Eighth Grade Graduation. These funds will go a long way in providing your child with the best graduation experience possible.

If you can allocate all $400 (couples filing jointly) or $200 (individual) tax credit dollars toward 8th Grade Graduation, that would be fantastic! And remember, any amount would be appreciated.

Grandparents, friends, and relatives may also contribute their tax credit dollars. Contributors will have special recognition in the commencement program.

Ways to donate: •

Online www.madisonaz.org -Click where it says “Tax Credit” on the top right hand side -Scroll down and click where it says “Donate Online” -School: Madison Meadows; Activity: General – general

•

Come in to Madison Meadows Office. Donations can be made by credit card or debit card in the office.

•

PTM Website – Donations through the PTM Web site will not qualify for the tax credit but are automatically tagged for graduation so may be an easier way to donate. Visit www.meadowsptm.org and select Donate to the PTM on the right side.

Forward the tax credit confirmation email, Office donation or PTM donation information to jdebenedetti@cox.net. Your name will be listed in the Commencement Program as a contributor.

We are already putting exciting graduation ideas and plans in motion and would greatly appreciate receiving the contributions as quickly as possible. For more information on graduation or to volunteer visit the graduation page at www.meadowsptm.org under “What’s Happening.”

Thank you for your support!

Jeni DeBenedetti & Kim Wickey Graduation Fundraising Co-Chairs