McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
August 27, 2018
President's Update
The First Day of School is Next Tuesday!
It was great to see everyone during last week's Forms, Fees & Photos day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello.
This week students and parents will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and see the classrooms before school starts next week. See the PTO Dates to Remember section below for more information about Meet the Teacher days/times.
In this edition of the PTO newsletter look more information about:
- Safe Routes to School Hug & Go Video
- The First PTO Meeting of the Year
- School Directory Advertising Opportunities
- The McKinley Mile
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Destination Imagination
- McKinley Back to School Procedure Survey
Have a great week!
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- August 29th 5-6:15 p.m. - JK Meet The Teacher (Junior Kindergarten Only)
- August 30th 5:45 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - SK - 5th Grade Meet The Teacher
- August 30th 6:30-7 p.m. & 7-7:30 p.m. - Parent Information Night Sessions
- August 30th 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Popsicle Social (North Playground)
- September 3rd - Labor Day (No Classes)
- September 4th - First Day of School
- September 13th 6:30-7 p.m. Referendum Information Session
- September 13th 7-8 p.m. - First PTO Meeting of the 2018-19 School Year
- September 27th - McKinley Mile
Leadership Opportunities
Book Fair Co Chair Needed
The annual Scholastic Book Fair is not only an event that McKinley children look forward to each year, it's also an important fundraiser. In order to ensure that we are able to keep this event on the McKinley calendar again this year, we are in need of a volunteer Co Chair. This year's event will take place October 23-26. Please contact Maura Riordan for more information.
Senior Kindergarten Lunch Helpers Needed
School Drop Off & Pick Up Proceedures
For anyone planning to drop off or pick up students throughout the school year, please take a moment to watch the Safe Routes to School Hug & Go video below:
First PTO Meeting of the 2018-19 School Year
Save the date for the first PTO meeting of the 2018-19 school year on Thursday, September 13th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the school library.
Have a question you would like answered or a topic that you would like to have addressed during the meeting? We would love to hear them! Email Lindsay Stadler to share your thoughts.
McKinley School Directory Advertising
Advertising in the McKinley School Directory is your opportunity to reach over 280 local families for an entire school year while at the same time supporting McKinley Elementary through the PTO. Advertising rates range from $25-$250 and all ads purchased at $50 or more include an additional FREE listing on our “tear sheet” that parents can remove from the directory and keep handy for quick reference.
For more detailed information, click HERE. To place an ad, contact Heidi Engbring @ hengbring@wi.rr.com
The deadline for all directory ads is September 17, 2018!
Three More Classroom Parent Volunteers Needed!
First Grade
Mrs. Setzke - Needs one volunteer
Second Grade
Mrs. Danmeier - Needs one volunteer
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Botelho - Needs two volunteers
2018 McKinley Mile Volunteers
-Dave Farwell, McKinley Mile Chair
2018-19 Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination is back for another school year! We had an amazing second year last school year! McKinley not only had 5 teams, but also had yet another one of our competitive teams make it to the State Tournament!
What is DI? DI is an international program that allows students to be involved with creative problem- solving. McKinley students in 1st and 2nd grade can join as “Rising Stars” and they are assigned a challenge (Rising Star challenge summary can be viewed toward bottom of page of first link below). 3rd-5th graders can join a competitive team. 3rd-5th grade students work as a team to solve an open-ended problem, or “challenge" from the below italicized categories:
-Technical - prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning, and related skills.
-Scientific - blends the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts.
-Engineering/Structural - asks teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials.
-Fine Arts - students flex their acting and artistic muscles as they explore some of our most fascinating works of literature and media.
-Improvisational - is all about spontaneity and storytelling. Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot.
-Service Learning - is designed to engage students in community service to address real community issues through personal expression.
The make up of the McKinley DI competitive teams will be determined based upon a student's interest. Here is a link briefly describing more specifically the 2018-2019 challenges - https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/2018-19-challenge-previews/. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s up to the kids to solve their challenge! Each team will have one to two adult team co-managers supervising the work, but the adults have a “hands off” role in helping the students with their challenge. All the teams will then perform their solution to the challenge at the regional tournament at Muskego High School on March 9.
Registration fees are not set yet, but they are approximately $50-70 for a Rising Star student and $80-100 for 3rd-5th graders on a competitive team. These fees help pay for T-shirts, registration, and other program expenses. Team managers have the option of collecting an additional fee of $10 to $30 per student, depending on the needs of the team, to pay for snacks, materials, and supplies. Full and partial scholarships may be available based upon need - please contact Monica Deluhery for more information.
We hope to have all the teams set by the end of September. With teams meeting starting to meet mid-October.
For incoming 1st and 2nd graders interested in DI - please complete the following survey to help determine teams. https://goo.gl/forms/ewgjS1oHkc7dKYa03
For incoming 3rd-5th graders interested in DI - please complete the following survey to help determine teams. https://goo.gl/forms/zDh91vC0Xp3DcQi83.
Please register by SEPTEMBER 16.
If you have any further questions, please contact Monica Deluhery at monica.deluhery@gmail.com
McKinley Back to School Procedure Survey
Teachers send out a welcome email to parents. All forms would be emailed, most available in Google forms, eliminating Class List and Form Pickup day. Photos and back to school bash combine with Meet the Teacher, eliminating Registration day. Perhaps even invite food trucks! This could be really fun and would make it seem like we have a longer summer.
Art Room Volunteer Sign Up
Please consider signing up to volunteer in your student’s art class using the sign up links listed below. K5 classes meet twice a week for 45 minutes. 1st to 5th grade classes meet once a week for an hour. It’s a fun opportunity to help kids express their creativity. If you can help mount or hang art at other times, please contact Heidi Engbring at hengbring@wi.rr.com.
Senior Kindergarten
Ms. Mottet’s Class –Monday from 9:15 to 10:00 and Thursday from 9:20 to 10:05
Mr. Sperl’s Class – Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 and Thursday from 10:05 to 10:50
Mrs. Petitt’s Class – Monday from 8:30 to 9:15 and Thursday from 8:35 to 9:20
First Grade
Mrs. Pawasarat’s Class – Friday from 12:30 to 1:30
Mrs. Setzke’s Class – Friday from 1:30 to 2:30
Second Grade
Mrs. Danmeier’s Class – Monday from 10:55 to 11:55
Mrs. P. Brown’s Class – Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00
Mrs. Loechler’s Class – Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:00
Third Grade
Mrs. Oschwald’s Class – Tuesday from11:55 to 12:55
Mrs. Wendland’s Class – Tuesday from 12:55 to 1:55
Mrs. Petri’s Class – Tuesday from 1:55 to 2:55
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Botelho’s Class – Wednesday from 9:40 to 10:40
Mr. Elrod’s Class – Wednesday from 12:55 to 1:55
Mrs. Osman’s Class – Wednesday from 11:05 to 12:05
Mrs. S. Brown’s Class – Thursday from 1:20 to 2:20
Mrs. Provan’s Class – Friday from 10:35 to 11:35
Mrs. Thomas-Lovelace’s Class – Thursday from 2:20 to 3:20
How Do I Become a Member of the PTO?
You already are! If you are a parent, guardian or teacher at McKinley Elementary School, you are a member of the PTO.
Interested in becoming more involved? The PTO is always looking for help. Volunteer opportunities in areas of marketing, communication, social media coordination, event coordination, website design, merchandising and more! There are volunteer opportunities that fit everyone's schedule - during school hours, after school hours, work from home hours and one time event hours.
For more information about how you can become involved in PTO efforts, contact Lindsay Stadler lindsaystadler@gmail.com