Paola Middle School S P E C I AL P O I NT S O F I N T E R E S T : Parents who drop students off in the morning are reminded to keep crosswalk clear so students may cross safely. Please support the USD368 Paper Recycling Program. Use the green Abitibi recycling bins in the PMS parking lot for your newspapers, magazines and catalogs. Winter Break Dec. 22 Jan. 3 Kansas Central Bus Service phone number is 294-9610 Paola Middle School Mr. Mark Bloustine Principal Ms. Amy Hastert V. Principal Mr. David Cash Counselor (913)294-8030 (913)294-8031 Fax www.usd368.org/pms NEWSLETTER School Resource Officer Hired January 2012 In a continued effort to make Paola Middle and Paola High School a safe environment, the BOE has approved the hiring of a part-time school resource officer. This is a valued position that has been an important part of our schools plan in the past, but was eliminated due to budget cuts several years ago. We are excited to see this collaboration between law enforcement and the school district back in place. Students at Paola Middle School will be introduced to Officer Adam Hale on January 6 when we hold a school assembly on keeping Drug-Free and keeping our building Drug-Free. Sargent Schulte will share the effectiveness of dogs trained to find drugs in school and kids will be made aware that searches of lockers will be done randomly at Paola Middle School to keep our school a great place to learn. USD368 Drug Free Schools Policy Maintaining drug-free school is important in establishing an appropriate learning environment for the district s students. The unlawful possession, use, sale or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students on school premises or as a part of any school activity is prohibited. We are opening up the January May Calendar for Watch DOGS at Paola Middle School. If you are available and would like to spend the Day as WatchDOG at school, email: beth_hines@usd368.org or call 913.294.8030 to reserve your date.
P A G E 2 Great News! You can now keep up with your child s grades and assignments anytime you need them from your IPAD, IPHONE or ITOUCH. Simply download the app and follow the directions on the left. New Names to know about in January. There will be a couple new faces around the halls and we thought we would give you a heads up on the names. I believe we all agree that, for the health of Kansas, nothing is more important than education. ~Kathleen Sebelius~ Mr. Greg Cartwright Mr. Cartwright will be doing a long-term substitution 3rd Quarter in Computer Applications. Mr. Cartwright taught at Paola High School and is a familiar voice at Paola Middle School Football games. You can send the following items to Paola Middle School to help out: Box Tops for Education Best Choice UPC Labels Campbell s Soup Labels Sign up for Paola Middle School with Target s Education Charge Program. Old Cell Phones Mr. Steven Smith Mr. Smith will be long-term substituting in Band while Mr. Proctor is gone with National Guard training. Mr. Smith is highly qualified with 25+ years of experience in this area. P A O L A M I D D L E S C H O O L
P A G E 3 Books Online Did you know that you can now access student textbooks and assignments on-line. For textbooks, instructions can be found on Infinite Campus. Log-On to the Grade Card Login and choose grade, pod, and math class for your student. Student daily assignments are also on our webpage. Go to Paola Middle School webpage, www.usd368.org/pms, click Daily Assignments on the left side and choose the assignment that you need. The staff at Paola Middle School continue to work to make your child s education our #1 priority. Our hope, making these resources available to you at home, will help students. 8th Grade Varsity Basketball " Loving a child doesn t mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult." -- Nadia Boulanger Congratulations to: Noah Rolf For winning the Paola Middle School Geography Bee. 1st Runner-Up was Nate Trigg After a qualifying test, the top 15 students from each grade level, have been chosen to participate in the Paola Middle School Spelling Bee on: Friday, January 13 @ 1:00PM in the school auditorium. Parents and guests are welcome to attend. The winner and the first runner-up will represent Paola Middle School at the Miami County Spelling Bee to be held at Louisburg Middle School in February.
P A G E 4 Next Meeting is January 30 @ 5:30PM in the PHS Commons Area. Paola Middle School KAYS Holiday Party. January Project Students will be collecting pennies for the Leukemia Society. Penny drive will last from January 4th through 24th. More details are coming... They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. ~Carl W. Buechner 8th Grade Reminder Promotion Policy The Promotion Policy states, All 8th graders will be passing 5 of 6 classes at the end of the 4th nine weeks of their 8th grade year in order to walk across the stage at Promotion Exercises. Seminar, Band and Journalism classes are not included. This applies to all 8th Graders. Letters will be sent to the parents of any students in danger of not meeting the requirements. Follow-Up telephone calls and conferences will also take place. It is our sincere hope that all students will be able to participate in promotion.
The Press were everywhere. Security was impressive Paola Middle School kids remember this day first hand. I thought the President s speech was very inspiring and I hope he keeps his promises. Mr. Hines, Mr. Stuart & Mr. Oshell from the PHS staff listen intently. ~Tabitha Foster~ A Presidential Visit... My experience with the President was a chance in a lifetime deal. It was cool to hear what he had to say. Well, at least the parts that I knew what he was talking about. It was worth the wait in the cold to see him. It was cool to see the Secret Service people also. I would do it again. ~Kyle Wokutch~ It was a truly amazing time for me. I learned so much that day. ~ Emily Benton~ Derek has fun with a reporter. This experience was unbelievable. President Obama talked about some real political stuff, a bit confusing for a kid, but it was a neat experience. ~Jake Hastert~
It was a wonderful experience. It was especially great because it was my Grandpa s restaurant.. ~Daelin Bright~ I thought meeting the President was a great experience. When he came into the restaurant, I was so excited, I was shaking and I was nervous. When he got to my table I did not know what to say, my mind was blank. He was really funny and nice. I was glad I got to meet the President of the United States. I feel so lucky and special! ~Makenzi Bryant~ I was shaking all over and I couldn t wait to meet him. It was a once in a lifetime chance, a great experience. It was amazing. ~Hayley Boyette~ I was outside to experience this. I got to see tons of Secret Service working to protect him, which was pretty cool to see. We saw Obama s car pull up and then saw him wave goodbye to us. It was a very neat experience. I had an amazing time and I m glad I went. ~Paul Copeland~ My experience with the President was amazing. No matter what your opinion is with the topics he talked about that day. Overall it was awesome and I am thankful I got to go! ~Taylor Williams~ I thought his family connection to Kansas was interesting. It was a great experience. ~Jackson Smith~