In this week's newsletter:
- Announcements and Info
- Parent-specific Messages and Volunteer Opportunities
- Sports Announcements
- Counselor's Corner
- Scholarship Center
- PowerSchool Access
IMPORTANT: August Updated Maeser Attendance Policy
The opportunity to attend school and gain an education is both a privilege and a right. Students have the right to an education, and they're privileged to get that education at Maeser. We hope that students enjoy coming to school and learning how to better themselves and their community. Because attendance at school is so vital to fulfilling Maeser's mission, we encourage students to be present in school so they can benefit from class discussions, presentation of material, and other meaningful activities.
We have updated our attendance policy to reflect our commitment to these goals. Here are the key highlights of the updated policy:
Absences
Students are allowed any combination of six (6) tardies and/or excused absences per class, per term. Upon receiving a seventh (7th) tardy/excused absence in any class, the student will receive an NG.
If a student receives one (1) unexcused absence, they will automatically receive an NG in that class.
Parents may excuse absences within 10 school days of the date of the absence. Absences that are not excused within 10 school days must be made up in Attendance School to remove the NG.
Tardies
Parents may only excuse first-period tardies. In rare cases, teachers may excuse tardies (e.g., if students are getting extra help after class, or taking a test).
Excused first-period tardies and tardies excused by a teacher do not count toward accumulated tardies.
Students who are checked in late by a parent/guardian will be excused by the attendance secretary.
No Grades (NG)
Students who exceed the attendance thresholds in a class will receive an NG in that class.
Students will not receive academic credit for an NG, unless the NG is made up in accordance with appropriate school policies and protocols.
NGs may be made up in Attendance School according to the protocol outlined in the attendance policy.
Family Vacations
If a family is planning a vacation or other extended period of absence, a "Family Vacation Pre-Approval" form must be completed and turned in to the front office.
Students who miss Final Exams due to family vacations may not take their finals early. They will be given an Incomplete grade ("I") and may reschedule the final exam at a later date.
Parent Notifications
On Monday, August 29, our School Messenger system will begin sending daily automatic notifications via email and phone to alert parents regarding student absences.
You can access the full updated attendance policy on our website under About Us > Policies > Student Policies (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7rf6HcH-DN-NGdUSlA1UTlrSjg) or by clicking here.
If your student is experiencing issues that are keeping him or her from attending class, please let us know quickly so we can work together to ensure their continued growth and success.
Fee Schedule for 2016-2017
Course fees for fall semester and year-long classes will be assessed this Friday, September 2 (which is also the add/drop deadline for fall classes). Once the add/drop deadline has passed and course fees are assessed, these fees are non-refundable. Please review your student’s class schedule and the 2016-17 Maeser Fee Schedule to see what fees will be assessed for your student. Fees are due by Thursday, September 29. Team participation fees for sports teams (high school and middle school) are also listed on the fee schedule. Team fees are due when the student accepts a spot on the team and are non-refundable after the first game/match of the season.
Opt In for Important Text Communications!
To receive important school announcements via text message, you must Opt In for text messages through our School Messenger service! We have rescheduled our SMS Text Opt-In date for Friday, September 2nd. We will send one SMS text message to each cell number in our system on the afternoon of Friday, September 2nd, inviting you to Opt In for text messages. You can Opt In to participate in our text messaging service by replying “Y” to that text message, or you can Opt In *now* by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587. We will only send time-sensitive and important messages via text.
7th Grade Student Council Elections
Elections for 7th grade class officers will be held next Thursday. Students interested should have picked up an information sheet from Mz. Ure. Feel free to email her to clarify any questions.
Take 5 minutes and take our survey! http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/section/response/begin?surveyConfigId=69818
You can count 2 hours toward volunteer hours for taking this survey.
Summer Book Club, August 31st @ 6:00 pm. We need VOLUNTEERS to help us with refreshments for this evening. See Sign-up Genius for more details.
You may count this as part of your volunteer hours. For every $5= 1 hour.
Middle School Math Tutoring
There will be math tutoring for all middle school students in Mr. Bundy’s room (223) every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 - 4:15.
ACT Prep Class: 1st session of the ACT Prep class begins September 29th, October 6th & 13th
Sophomores have priority sign-ups and are FREE (thanks to Trust lands funds). All other students who wish to take this class are invited and the registration fee is $125. Please sign up at the front desk.
Class is from 3:45-7:00 pm each of these dates and students must attend all 3 session. Sophomores who sign up and do NOT attend all three session will be charged the $125.
Ecuador Winterim 2017
Come spend two weeks in January at the equator--in Ecuador! We are trying to finalize our plans for this once in a lifetime experience and there is room for more participants. We will be working with children in orphanages and immersing ourselves in the culture. Other activities include swimming, zip lining, and eating guinea pig!--or not! Cost is apprx. $3500 (or less-we are including the maximum amount for airfare). UPDATE: we locked in a great airline price and the price is now apprx. $2400!!
Please contact Shannon.cannon@maeserprep.org, or pat.martinez@maeserprep.org for more details. Sign-up and minimal deposits must be made by the end of August.
Spring Anaheim Tour for Choir and Orchestra -- Information Meeting for parents and students
Chamber Orchestra and Choir will participate in our first-ever national competition festival in March, in Anaheim! Limited space also possibly available for other choir and orchestra students. Parents and students, please come to our information meeting Thursday evening, September 1, at 7:00 in the music room. Learn about this great opportunity and the ability to raise funds to participate. We have the best fundraiser ever, and your student CAN earn his/her trip! Questions about participating: Contact Mrs. Vincent.
Student Parking Passes
Students who drive to school need a Maeser parking pass. These can be purchased at the front office for $15. Parking pass applications are available at the front desk or by clicking here: Student Parking Pass Application. Students will need to bring the completed application (including parent signature) and their $15 fee to the front desk, along with the following:
Students who drive to school need a Maeser parking pass. These can be purchased at the front office for $15. Parking pass applications are available at the front desk or by clicking here: Student Parking Pass Application. Students will need to bring the completed application (including parent signature) and their $15 fee to the front desk, along with the following:
- the student's driver's license
- a copy of the insurance coverage for the car
Parking enforcement will start Tuesday, September 6, to give students time to purchase their passes.
Parent Announcements and Volunteer Opportunities
Parent Survey
Take 5 minutes and take our survey!
You can count 2 hours toward volunteer hours for taking this survey.
Lands’ End 30% Off SALE
Now through August 30, save 30% on regularly priced kids’ and school uniform merchandise at http://www.landsend.com/school. Use Promo Code HAPPY and PIN 6505.
Now through August 30, save 30% on regularly priced kids’ and school uniform merchandise at http://www.landsend.com/school. Use Promo Code HAPPY and PIN 6505.
Volunteer Opportunities
Background Check Renewal
Are you planning to help chaperone or drive students this year? Help out in a classroom to get your volunteer hours? Background checks are required for all parents who will be working with or driving students and must be renewed annually. Please fill out the Background Check form and bring it to the school with current fingerprints (can be done at your local police department): Thanks!
Upcoming Volunteer Needs
There are lots of upcoming volunteer opportunities. Please visit SignUp Genius to sign up!
Sports Schedules
HS Girls Soccer
HS Boys Golf
Quidditch
High school students interested in playing quidditch this year should talk to Mr. Dowdle to get the appropriate paperwork. It costs $40 for the entire year. We meet outside the math building at 3:30 for hour-long practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Sept 6. Students who wish to join later in the season are welcome!
Counselor's Corner
Schedule changes this week will require teacher signatures and will cost $10. Friday, September 2 is the last day to make schedule changes.
Service opportunities
Service Club
Rotary Interact Youth Club: contact Jeremy Lewis, who is the Vice-President Elect of the Timpanogos Interact Club. Jeremy is a student at Maeser. His email is jeylew27@icloud.com. https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/exchange-ideas. The Interact Club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pleasant Grove
Family Support & Treatment Center
Volunteer to tend children 12 years old and younger in the Crisis Respite Nursery. 1255 N. 1200 W Orem 801-229-1181 www.utahvalleyfamilysupport.org Vounteers are provided training and will be reimbrsed for the required background check after 10 hours of service.
Step Up Utah
Parents, are you and your student using the resourses provided at www.stepuputah.com to help you plan for college? Learn how to prepare for post high school, apply for college, discover scholarships and more.
Parent research help
The University of Utah is conducting a study on the experiences of parents whose teens currently engage in self-injurious behaviors (e.g., cutting, scratching, or burning) or have a history of engaging in self-injurious behaviors. If you are interested in helping with this study, please contact Mrs. Sorenson (sandra.sorenson@maeserprep.org )
Scholarship Center
Make Your Mark Scholarship: deadline Sept 30 https://stepuputah.com/2016/create-bookmark-win-1000-uesp-scholarships/
A. Michael Perry Scholarship: Up to $750.00, renewable. First time college freshmen with an ACT score between 21-23 and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. Up to $500.00 for first time college freshmen with ACT of 21 or higher and a high school GPA between 2.7-3.0
http://www.marshall.edu/sfa/types-of-aid/marshall-university-scholarships-for-wv-applicants/a-michael-perry-scholarship/
Utah State University provides a comprehensive list of scholarships for high school seniors. These are not just for USU students.
Here is a link to USU scholarships for high school seniors:
https://scholarships.usu.edu/subpageexamples/offcampus-scholarships
Scholarship Search Tool
Learn how to find 100+ scholarships in five minutes. https://www.scholar-box.com/schools/8988/scholarships Sign up today.
A. Michael Perry Scholarship: Up to $750.00, renewable. First time college freshmen with an ACT score between 21-23 and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. Up to $500.00 for first time college freshmen with ACT of 21 or higher and a high school GPA between 2.7-3.0
http://www.marshall.edu/sfa/types-of-aid/marshall-university-scholarships-for-wv-applicants/a-michael-perry-scholarship/
Utah State University provides a comprehensive list of scholarships for high school seniors. These are not just for USU students.
Here is a link to USU scholarships for high school seniors:
https://scholarships.usu.edu/subpageexamples/offcampus-scholarships
Scholarship Search Tool
Learn how to find 100+ scholarships in five minutes. https://www.scholar-box.com/schools/8988/scholarships Sign up today.
PowerSchool Access
Can’t remember your username or password? Contact us at info@maeserprep.org to request a password reset or username reminder.
There’s an app for that!
Did you know you can access PowerSchool on your phone? The FREE PowerSchool mobile app gives you access to real-time information on grades, attendance, assignments, scores, and comments; you can also register to receive immediate alerts specific to your child! The mobile app is available for both Apple and Android devices. Maeser’s district code is PHPQ.
Download on the Apple App Store
Get it on Google Play
Can’t remember your username or password? Contact us at info@maeserprep.org to request a password reset or username reminder.
Did you know you can access PowerSchool on your phone? The FREE PowerSchool mobile app gives you access to real-time information on grades, attendance, assignments, scores, and comments; you can also register to receive immediate alerts specific to your child! The mobile app is available for both Apple and Android devices. Maeser’s district code is PHPQ.
Download on the Apple App Store
Get it on Google Play
