April 29

THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
1
The Scoop
Madison Simis Elementary
An IB World School
April 29, 2016
EXTRAORDINARY LEARNING FOR ALL!
Principal’s Pen
Dear Simis Parents,
With the start of the new school year
fast approaching, you may be asking,
“Which Class Will My Child Be in Next
Year?” You’ll be glad to know that
teachers carefully consider the best
placement of students for the
following school year.
What process do we use here at
Simis?
Teachers complete a form on each
student, noting reading and math
levels, special education needs, and
behavior issues. Next, the grade level
team collaborates using all the
documented student information.
Class lists are then built by balancing
boys and girls, high/average/struggling
reading and math achievement, and
behavioral considerations. Cluster
classrooms in all grade levels are
formed based on gifted testing results,
backfilling with students whose MAP
Reading scores are in the 90th percentile. Please be sure to inform us and
bring documentation of your child’s
qualifying gifted scores if you had or
will have outside testing done this
summer.
Class lists will be posted this year
sometime during Monday, June the 6th
on the south cafeteria doors. Note:
Kindergarten class lists will not be
completed until July 25th for those
whose fees are paid.
This process described above is very
important. While we cannot honor requests for a specific teacher, we do
want to provide your child with a heterogeneous mix of fellow students who
need a similar learning environment.
One way you can help us to know more
about the learning environment that
best suits your child is to complete a
“Best Learning Environment” form.
These are available in the Simis office
and page 6 of The Scoop. You need not
complete this form, but some parents
prefer to do so. Deadline for submittal
is May 6th.
Sometimes parents say to me, “But Dr.
Flowers, my child really needs to get
Mrs. ______ for next year. Our whole
family has had Mrs. _______ and we
know she’s the best for our child.” My
reply is as follows: “No one really wants
their child to be in a class that has been
formed without the careful balancing
of abilities and personalities, and needs
and strengths, that only the current
teacher can provide through careful
consideration. Please remember that
we are looking at the class as a whole,
and will take your child’s needs and
your hopes into account.”
(Continued on page 5)
It’s a
I was born in Detroit, Michigan. After
getting my teaching degree, I moved
around and enjoyed living in various
cities: Denver, Phoenix, Delray Beach,
Las Vegas and then back again to
Phoenix. My cat, Cleopatra, came to
me via adopting her seven years ago. I
had been involved in a lot of
Community Theater, but now I am a
volunteer reader for Sun Sounds, a
radio station for the visually impaired.
A highlight of living here was when I
hiked down to Havasupai Falls in the
Grand Canyon. In addition to hiking, I
enjoy bike riding, tennis, swimming
and of course, an Icee on a scorching
Arizona summer day!
WHO AM I? (answer on pg. 9)
In This Issue:








Word Find, pg. 2
Office Summer Hours, pg. 2
IB Update, pg.3
Rams Round-up, pg. 4
Earth Day Fundraiser, pg. 5
Best Learning Form, pg. 6
New PATS Board, pg. 8
Cafeteria News, Pg. 9
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
2
SIMIS SUMMER
OFFICE HOURS
MAY 26– JULY 29
The office will be open
Mon.– Thurs. (CLOSED Fridays)
from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
during the summer break,
EXCEPT for the following days:
We will be CLOSED
May 26 — June 2
and June 27 — July 8.
Additionally, we will have
shortened hours
(to be announced)
July 11— July 14
OM Store OPEN in Room A2
The OM Store is OPEN Fridays before school (starting at 7:20am) and after school (until
2:45pm) in Room A2. 100% of the money raised helps support the teams’ coaches. Come
shop for books and small fun items!
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
3
IB Update—Melissa Powers, IB Coordinator
Change Helps Preserve Different Environments
Exciting learning is happening in Mrs. Harding’s second grade classroom. All
second graders are inquiring into the Central Idea: “Understanding change helps
preserve different environments”. In order to get the students excited about this
unit of study, Mrs. Harding invited students to experience many different aspects
of environment and change. They watched different videos about Earth Day and
the environment, they listened to a read aloud, and they read articles about different naturalists. One day Mrs.
Harding had students pretend they were naturalists. They went outside with their nature journals and made as
many observations as they could. They formulated questions from their observations and organized the questions into subtopics. The students loved this outdoor learning and made many discoveries.
Currently, students in Mrs. Harding’s class are working on their research skills. From their questions, students
are figuring out their interests and at the same time relating them back to the Central Idea. Students have even
taken action already by making posters about saving animals. The posters are proudly displayed in the class.
A common theme with all classes at Simis is the research process. Fourth grade students are going through
their Exhibition right now and similarly, second graders are researching topics of interest. Research happens at
different levels from Kinder all the way to Fourth. An IB classroom is one where students ask questions, research answers, and take action!
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
4
HEY 4th GRADERS!!!
SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, May 12, 2016 - 5:30-6:30pm
Who: All 4th grade students & their parents (check-in at 5:15)
What: RAM ROUND UP
Where: Madison Meadows Cafeteria
Why: Future Meadows students will get an opportunity to visit the campus
& hear about sports, clubs & other information available at their new school.
Students will stay in the cafeteria for pizza & activities while the parents attend a
meeting in the media center from 5:45-6:30pm. After meeting, parents to pick their
child up in the cafeteria. You can purchase shirts at the event!!
PLEASE RETURN BOTTOM PORTION TO YOUR TEACHER BY MAY 3RD (a $10.00 donation
would be appreciated to cover costs of a Meadows PE T-shirt & pizza. Please make check
payable to PTM (Parents & Teachers at Meadows). Contact Deb with any questions at
STUDENT NAME: ________________________________________________________________
HOMEROOM TEACHER: _________________________________________________________
SCHOOL_________________________________________________________________________
SHIRT SIZE: (they will be delivered to your child’s classroom)
YMED
YLARGE
ADULT SM
A-MED A-XL other_________ (circle one)
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
5
Earth Day Fundraiser Huge Success
We had an amazing turnout for our Earth Day fundraiser!
A big THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to our
Thrift Drive on Friday! The Simis community collected
over 3,000 lbs of clothing and household items, and
raised over $400! The winner of the top collector prize
went to Hissyfits Kids Consignment Boutique - stop by
and check out their unique selection of kids’ clothing and
accessories and make sure to say “thank you” on your
way out! A very special thanks to Sarah McWilliams, our
Robotics Team Coach, the Simis Robotics and
Maintenance teams, and Gisel Trevino-Martinez, Sara
Santibanez and Kris Medanic of Simis’ Green Team!
Principal’s Pen (Continued from Page 1)
As you intuitively know, one student can make a
big difference in the complexion of the class and in
how much time and attention each child receives.
For this reason, Best Learning Environment forms
with only one teacher name will be returned for
completion. It is very important for us to carefully
balance classes, for the good of all students, for the
good of YOUR student.
Please note: currently enrolled students will be
placed on class lists automatically but you will still
need to provide us with the annual forms required
by the state. These forms will be available online
and at computer stations in the cafeteria during
registration days, which are July 27 (7:00 am-1:00
pm), and July 28 (1:00 pm-7:00 pm). Open enrollment students will need to fill out new Open Enrollment forms and fourth grade students will need to
inform the office if they plan to attend Madison
Meadows next year or not.
Thank you for your interest and support in this important process.
Dr. Joyce Flowers,
Principal
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
6
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
7
THE SCOOP MADISON SIMIS ELEMENTARY | Issue 16, Volume 81
8
In May, After COOL Fitness will be
playing Giants, Wizards and Elves, Kick
Ball, Human Bowling, and Sharks and
Minnows, a Simis favorite! It is beginning
to warm up outside, and these games
allow for rest as a natural part of the
game, which will give the children little
breaks during their play. Simis is our
flagship recess program and we love working with the students and staff. We always have a blast coaching all of
our innovative games to the students and we really enjoy our role as playground monitors, who help in a multitude of ways from twirling jump ropes and playing basketball with the students to mediating conflict resolution
and administering band aids. As this school year is coming to an end, all of us at After COOL Fitness want to say
thank you for another awesome year at Simis Elementary School. We wish the graduating Fourth Grades the
very best and will miss them next year. We look forward to seeing the rest of you again in August. Have a COOL
summer!
PATS Board Elected for Next
Year; Committee Chairs Needed
By a unanimous vote by acclamation, the PATS
Board was elected at the last meeting to serve
next school year. Your Officers for the 2016-17
There are still a number of committees that
School Year are:
need a chairperson. These include: Box Tops
Presidents: Molly Mayfield and Nicole Ramirez
Vice President (Fall Fundraiser): Dana Seymour
Vice President (Spring Fair): Aaryn Alonzo
Treasurer (Accounts Payable): Susan Healy
Treasurer (Accounts Receivable): Charlotte
Shaff
Secretary (Web site): Aaron Latham
Secretary (Recording): Jenny Goodman
Secretary (Electronic communications): Tonia
Tunnell
Collection Committee, Directory, Hospitality
Committee, Quality Assurance Committee,
and the Rewards Fundraising Program Committee. If you have interest or any questions
about any committee, please contact Molly
Mayfield at [email protected].
9
Greetings from the Cafeteria:
It’s time to celebrate our School Lunch Heroes!!
School officials, students and parents from all over the
country use May 6, 2016 as a day to recognize the hardworking professionals in school cafeterias. Preparing
healthy food for America's students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies and
offering service with a smile, make it clear to see why school nutrition
professionals are true heroes. Don’t forget to stop by and say thanks to
the Simis Lunch Ladies for taking great care of your students during
breakfast and lunch mealtimes. We Love our Simis Students!!
Helping Students Eat Smart and Be Smart
Your Madison Simis
Food and Nutrition Staff
Contact Us
We want to hear from
you! Please let us know
how we can best serve
your student:
Madison Simis School
7302 N. 10th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85020
(602) 664-7300
Visit us on the web at
www.madisonaz.org
For Simis PATS:
www.simispats.com
Articles for the Scoop:
[email protected]
is my 6th year at Madison Simis. It is my 17th
year of my 6th year at
Madison Simis. It is my
17th year of teaching and
my 14th year teaching
1st grade. I've also
DidKinder,
you guess:
taught
2nd, and
GiftedKaren
classes.
I have a
Ms.
Hoffman,
Masters Degree from
Resource
Teacher?
ASU. I've also
taught
puppetry at the Mesa
Arts Center for two summer sessions and
worked as an improvisational actor. ching and
my 14th year teaching
1st grade. I've also
taught Kinder, 2nd, and
Gifted classes. I have a
Masters Degree from
ASU. I've also taught
puppetry at the Mesa
Arts Center for two summer sessions and
worked as an improvisa-
Mystery
Solved!
$20.00 before May 1st
Follow the District!
If you're a social media user, we encourage to follow the Madison District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Pages feature community news and events, student
successes from all eight Madison schools, and tips and alerts for parents.
Facebook.com/MadisonAZ Twitter.com/MadisonAZ Instagram.com/Madison_az