Principal Message 3: Early Dismissal - 12:30 P.M

Mining the Promise of the Future Volume 61 December 2019 Information for families of students at Mercury Mine Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona DECEMBER Principal Message 3: Early Dismissal - 12:30 p.m. Twin As we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving and the holiday season, it is theme day a perfect time to think about those things for which we are grateful. This 3: Chorus, 8:00 a.m. has been a sad time for me in the past few months as my sisters and 3: Chorus Concert Assembly, 9:15-10:00 my dad had to find and place my mother in a memory care home. It is a a.m. heartbreaking process. I have been spending time thinking of so many 3: 2nd Grade Greek Day, 9:00 a.m.-Noon wonderful memories I have of my beautiful and artistic mother. I have 3: Family Dine-Out at Aioli Burger become much more mindful of little moments I have with her. I hope all 3: Craft Nights Family Paint Party, 6:30 p.m. of you truly enjoy spending the time you have together with your family. 4: Student Council Officers Meeting, 8:15 a.m., Room 17A I would like to thank everyone who raised money for Mercury Mine’s 4: 2nd Grade field trip to AZ Science Center, Fun Run. It is the fourth year that our PTG Fundraising Committee 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. planned, organized and ran the Fun Run so that all proceeds after 4: Chorus Concert, 6:30 p.m. expenses stay at Mercury Mine. The students, you, and your family and 5: PVSchools Governing Board meeting, friends so far have raised almost $60,000. Unbelievable! That will be 7:00 p.m., DAC, 15002 N. 32nd Street more than enough for next year’s PTG budget. Thank you so much. 6: Chorus, 8:00 a.m. A special thank you goes to Emily Grieff and Jake White, who spent 6: Box Tops collection #1 over two weeks of their lives devoted to the Fun Run. They and much of 6: Spirit Day (wear MMES apparel or school our PTG board and other parents generously gave of their time and colors) talents. And finally, all of the parents who helped out all day long by 6: 1st Grade field trip to Tolmachoff Farm, coming out, supporting your students, counting laps and helping put up, 9:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. take down and run the four different fun runs. We are grateful to be a 7: PTG Pancake Breakfast and Holiday part of such a caring school community. Thanks to Emily Grieff and Erin Marketplace, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and David McDonald for filming and editing the wonderful video. It 7: Runners Club to District Cross Country helped our whole community get excited about the Fun Run. Meet, 12:30-3:00 p.m., NCHS I am hoping that the generosity will continue with everyone donating 9-13: Student Council Gingerbread Shoppe Tax Credit dollars to our school. We fund our before- and after-school after school, 3:00-3:30 p.m. clubs with Tax Credit donations. We offer fun clubs and clubs that 10: Band and Strings assembly, 9:00-10:00 support struggling students. It takes around $50,000 each year to fund a.m., Concert 6:30 p.m. the late bus, staff and materials for both semesters. There is a form 11: Student Council meeting attached to the end of the newsletter. Married, filing jointly can donate 8:00 a.m., Room 17A up to $400 and single filers can donate $200. 12: 1st, 4th and 5th grades field trip to The beauty of this tax opportunity is that you can give to Mercury Mine Nutcracker, 9:15-11:30 a.m. and get it all back on Arizona taxes. If you owe nothing to the state, you 13: Student Council Ugly Sweater Day will get a refund of whatever you gave to our school. You can also 13: Spelling Bee, 9:30 a.m. donate online at our website at pvschools.net/mmes at the very bottom 13: 1st Grade Winter Party, Noon-1:00 p.m. of the page. Thank you to everyone who donates each year. I hope a 19: Ms. Moore’s class Family Gingerbread few more of you will participate in this win-win opportunity. Castle Party, 2:00-3:00 p.m. 20: MMES Food Drive Pajama Day We earned a letter grade of B from the state for our 2019 AzMERIT 20: 2nd Grade Winter Party scores. We again were about two points from earning an A. Our score 20: 5th Grade Rocket Launch was 82.35 and we needed 84.67. It is disappointing to us, but we will 20: Second quarter ends continue to focus upon student growth every day of the school year. *23 December - 3 January: Winter Break* I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday break with plenty of time to relax and enjoy each other. See you in the New Year. Sincerely, Donna Alley Principal PTG News Winte Maketplace Schedule of Events Thank you to everyone who participated in the Fun Run! As of last count, over $58,000 has been pledged, with over $56,000 already received. WOW! We thank everyone for PANCAKE BREAKFAST their support of our school. We are always blown away Where: Cafeteria with the generosity and dedication of our families. When: Beginning at 8:00 a.m. and cleanup by 10:00 at the latest. If you pre-ordered, please be *Donations received through December 3 will count toward sure to pick up your breakfast and pay by 9:30 or prize incentives. we will need to assume you may not make it and Since we blew past our $50,000 goal, we have earned the will sell your preorder. If you do not pre-order we FOAM PARTY at Winter Marketplace! cannot guarantee there will be pancakes available for sale. Preorder here: http:// Winter Marketplace is on Saturday, December 7 with www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4aa8ae23aafc1- various events happening at staggered times between pancake1 (see Facebook or our email for clickable 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Join us for a day of fun activities links). for the whole family! On our half day, December 3, Craft Nights is hosting a SHOPPING at the Winter Marketplace local paint party for MMES families (parent/child bonding night!) vendors and student vendors plus the Student with a percentage of proceeds benefitting MMES PTG. Council Gingerbread Shoppe Signups are limited and we anticipate the event selling out Where: Under the ramada quickly. For more information and to sign up, visit https:// When: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (student vendors may app.getoccasion.com/xp/RR2CL8kp? time_slot_id=201912040130534765&utm_medium=events close earlier due to foam party) &utm_source=facebook GAMES for the kids while you shop AS ALWAYS, volunteers make these events Where: On the field near the ramada possible, so please visit When: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. mercurymineptg.ptboard.com for signup details and help if you can in any way! RAFFLE Thanks for your support of MMES PTG! Email us with Where: Under the ramada questions at [email protected]. When: Purchase raffle tickets from PTG anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Raffle drawings Your friendly 2019-2020 Mercury Mine PTG Executive Board begin at 11:15 a.m. All raffle baskets are donated by Winter Marketplace vendors. President: Emily Grieff, Vice-President: Erin McDonald, Treasurer: Jennifer Rock, Fundraising: Jake White, Events: Lisa Stein, Communications: Karen Stine and FOAM PARTY! Where: On the field near the ramada Kim Miller, Parent-Teacher Liaison: Heather Wade When: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PTBoard Email List DID YOU KNOW? SAY WHAT? NOT getting PTG emails? Shutterfly will donate 8% to our PTG! Shop through our Visit mercurymineptg.ptboard.com to sign up or email us at [email protected] and say, “I need to be Shutterfly Storefront at on your email list!” to be added today! mmesptg.shutterflystorefront.com

Our Facebook page is a great way to stay updated about events and check our Match That! pictures from last year! Search for Mercury Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will Mine PTG and prepare to be entertained by our match charitable contributions made by their employees. witty group of Facebook contributors! MMES PTG is a registered 501(c)3 non-proﬁt. Our Tax ID is EIN 86-0529372. www.pvschools.net/mmes 602-449-3700 Student Council News Tax Credit Donations are Please remember to send in Box Tops! We Welcome Here! will hold our ﬁrst collection on Friday, December 6 and our second collection in Making a contribution to receive an Arizona public May. Box Tops earn our school 10 cents for education tax credit is simple. You can get a tax credit each one turned in. Box Tops have also gone up to $200 for an individual or $400 per married couple. digital - download the Box Tops app, add Mercury Mine as your school, and scan receipts with eligible products to add Eligible fees paid and contributions made to a public money to our school. school from January 1 through April 15 of the following year may be used as a tax credit We made our food drive goal! We collected 1,228 items on the prior year's tax return. For and a few have continued to trickle in. This means we have earned our PAJAMA DAY! Our Food Drive Pajama Day will example, qualifying contributions be the day before Winter Break, December 20. On this made to a public school January day, we allow fun holiday hats as well. 1, 2019 to April 15, 2020 may be used as a tax credit on your 2019 With all of the contests going on for the Fun Run, we also had a contest for the food drive. Congratulations to our Arizona income tax return. winning classes: For additional information, call (602) 449-2049. Learn 1st - Pilling - 172 more about tax credits at pvschools.net. 2nd - Zeligman - 121 3rd - Cullum - 100 4th - McFeely - 99

Thanks for everyone’s participation at such a BUSY time of the school year!

We will be hosting the Gingerbread Shoppe in the large conference room from 3:00-3:30 p.m. at Winter Marketplace on December 7 and the week of December December 9-13 after school. Students can shop for their family Fine Arts Performances members and friends. While supplies last only.

Mark Your Calendars:

December 3 Twin Day Chorus Assembly Tuesday, December 3, 9:15 a.m. December 4 Ofﬁcers Meeting, 8:15 a.m. December 6 Box Tops Collection - Round 1 Chorus Concert December 9-13 Gingerbread Shoppe, 3:00-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m., Multi-purpose Room (students arrive at 6:00 p.m.). December 11 Full Student Council Meeting, 8:00 a.m. Band and Strings Assembly December 13 Ugly Sweater Day Monday, December 10, 9:00 a.m. December 20 Pajama Day Band and Strings Concert Monday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., Media Center (students arrive at 6:00 p.m.)

Come see us! Admission is free. Mrs. Wenger, Mr. Johnston and Ms. Crider www.pvschools.net/mmes 602-449-3700 Congratulations Spelling Bee Participants This year’s MMES Spelling Bee will be held Mark Your on Friday, December 13 in the Media Center. The winner will represent MMES at the District Spelling Calendar! Bee on January 17. Congratulations to our participants: 4th Grade Our annual Kindergarten Hazen: Jett Sheehan, Tyler Jacenko (alternate Nathan Open House will be held O’Connor) Wednesday, February 5, from 6:00 -7:00 Povinelli: Emma Weed, Cooper Williams (alternate p.m. Please tell your friends, family, and Mariah Mata) Beatty: Zoe Einwiller, Brody Rock (alternate Lorelei neighbors who have preschool children to Abajian) come learn about Kindergarten at MMES. Contact the office to receive an invitation. 5th Grade Cullum: Brooke Hernandez, Kirra Ideker (alternate Josephine Datta) Kaplan: Cash Sua, Kenzie Lovo (alternate Dexter Prante) Drake: Lexi Ross, Ashton Diaz Fahl (alternate Xaiden Wish Lists Porter) Nurse Clark’s office is in need of size 6-10 boys 6th Grade or girls shorts or pants. Any new or gently used Hicks: Ben Trujillo, Michael Lowman (alternate Maggie pants or shorts (preferably with an elastic Law) waist) would be greatly appreciated. McFeely: Megan Brindle, Madalyn Jean (alternate Quinn Blanton) MMES Art teacher, Ms. Kirsch and McVey: Grifﬁn Wilson, Kenji Smith (alternate Liana Music teacher, Mrs. Wenger have McCartney) posted projects requesting funding through donorschoose.org.

Ms. Kirsch is seeking funding for art materials Preschool Universe for 3D projects including wire sculptures and dinosaur skeletons using Model Magic. Her January 21, 2020 projects can be found at https://donorschoose.org/ Preschool Universe is a district-wide event hosted kristin.kirsch by Community Education to introduce families to the comprehensive early childhood (ages birth Mrs. Wenger wants to bring through five) programming available in our soprano and alto glockenspiels to Music class. district. The event will be held at 5:30-7:00 p.m. Mrs. Wenger states, “All students love to have a on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Fireside turn playing our Orff barred instruments, and Elementary School. Please share this information two new glockenspiels will add to our small with anyone who is looking for preschool options. collection of instruments that give students a turn at playing and creating music. Find this project at https://donorschoose.org/mrs.wenger

www.pvschools.net/mmes 602-449-3700 Annual 5th Grade Rocket Launch 5K Community Run 2020 Each year the fifth graders end the first semester with a rocket launch. Retired The annual PVSchools Community 5K Mercury Mine teacher, Jeff Collins, returns each year to share his passion for science Run will take place and space with our students. A 2-liter soda Saturday, February 8, 2020 bottle is used as the base for the rocket. Mr. at Horizon High School. Collins explains the physics and helps students create their rockets using cardboard More than 1,000 runners will participate in this great for the wings and clay for the nose cone. On event, aimed at encouraging active lifestyles for our staff, December 20, we will gather on the field and launch each families and community members. rocket using pressurized water. All grades come out throughout the day to experience this event. To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/AZ/Phoenix/ For many years, Mr. Collins ran a club here at Mercury PVSchoolsCommunity5KFunRunWalk by February 7, Mine called MSIP (Mars Student Imaging Project) in 2020. No late registrations will be accepted. conjunction with NASA scientists partnering with ASU. Unfortunately, the ASU program has been discontinued. We are grateful that Mr. Collins enthusiastically continues the rocket launch tradition that he started here many years Snowflake Program 2019 ago. THANK YOU MR. C! It was another blizzard of giving this year with the Catch a Snowflake Honor Band program. Over 190 flakes have been taken so far helping 10 families with We are proud to announce six students 35 children. The generosity of all the volunteers from the 6th grade “Prospector Players” and community members are what make the program so successful. Thank you for Band have been nominated for the 2020 PVSchools all your continuing support of this special District Honor Band! program. Kenji Smith, Percussion; Ava Beaver, Baritone; Liana McCartney, Baritone; Xavier Rodriguez, Trombone; Megan Brindle, Trumpet; and Vienna Jones, Flute. Enjo yor Winte Break December 23 - January 3 The Honor Band concert will be held at the Pinnacle High School Auditorium on January 18, 2020 at See yo net yea! 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Scholastic Book Fair School Memories in the MMES

The annual Scholastic Book Fair will be back at The Ye a r b o o k Mine beginning January 27, 2020. Proceeds from the The yearbook includes each class group photo, Book Fair fund new books for our school library. Your individual student photos and myriad candids from purchases make a lasting impact. activities and events across the campus and beyond! Capture these memories by ordering your Lifetouch Please look for a Sign-Up Yearbook at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/ for $20. Genius for volunteer shifts to help with set-up and sales. It’s easy and fun.