McKenzie Monitor
November 8, 2018
Principal's Note: Author Visit 11/12 - Kate Klise
Message from Michelle Lawniczak:
It is with great excitement we welcome Illinois native and author Kate Klise to our school Monday November 12th! Thanks to the wonderful PTA, Ms. Klise will be talking with all grades throughout the day as she shares her experiences and tips for being a writer. She’ll share how she started creating books as a kid and how anyone can write a book if he or she knows the secret recipe for storytelling. She’ll discuss her early failures and how having a growth mindset can help with the creative process.
Mistakes + Tinkering + Time = Books!
Her first published book, Regarding the Fountain, is on our Reading Rally List this year and her most recent book, Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List, is on the 2019 Monarch Book List. Ms. Klise has been working with her sister over the years writing and illustrating numerous series that our students have been delighted to read and this is an exceptional opportunity for them!
Operation Gratitude SUCCESS!
We Reached Our Goal!!!
317 lbs. of Candy
121 Written Letters
We had another successful year collecting Halloween candy and letters to send to our military heroes!!! Thank you to all of you that donated your extra candy and to those who took time to write a letter. A HUGE thank you to Allie Denton, McKenzie paraprofessional, who took the lead on this project! Thanks for all of your hard work Allie!
Thank you PTA!
Book Fair: Thank you very much to Casey Brown, Aimee Koski, Amanda Doblin, Heather Metz, Anne Dutro and our PTA volunteers for yet another incredible Book Fair!
Flexible Classroom Parent Night
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2018, 06:30 PM
McKenzie Elementary School, Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Spirit Day Schedule
Every Friday at McKenzie is Spirit Day! Wear your McKenzie gear to show your school spirit. Twice a month there will be special spirit days with a theme.
November 16 - Blue Out (dress in all blue to show your McKenzie Spirit)
November 30 – Sports Day (Wear a jersey or any team shirt)
December 7 - Rainbow Day (each grade level will wear their assigned color)
-
Kinder - red
-
1st - orange
-
2nd - yellow
-
3rd - green
-
4th - blue or purple
Staff - black or white
December 21- Pajama Day (wear your most comfy pajamas to school)
January 11 - Crazy Hair
January 25 - Emoji Day (wear anything with emojis on it or dress like your favorite one)
School Board Meeting 11/12 @7pm MEC
The monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, November 12th at 7:00 PM at the MEC. Below are a couple of topics that may be of interest. If you can’t make the meeting, you can view it live or later, either on the District website or on Channel 6. Highlights of the meeting will be emailed and posted online within a day or two.
- New Trier Township 8th Grade Survey
- 2019-2020 Student Fees
- Long Term Enrollment Projections
- Board resolutions:
- establishing fund balance goals
- authorizing intervention in property tax appeals
- Illinois Association of School Board Representation
Distracted Driving
Paw Pride Winners!
We did not recognize winners due to the shortened week.
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
PTA News & Information
THANK YOU
Thank you to the following PTA chairs for helping to provide McKenzie students with so many wonderful experiences and events!
Alicia Cirrincione: Lost and Found
DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS
Share the Feast: Please join the Sharing Committee in our tradition of purchasing Jewel gift cards for the families at our sister school, Carman-Buckner Elementary. Carman-Buckner is located about 25 miles north of Wilmette in Waukegan, and over 80% of the students come from low income households. Let's help make their holidays even brighter this season! Donations accepted Nov. 12th through Nov. 30th. Donate here.
Teacher and Staff Gifts: Show your teachers and the McKenzie staff your appreciation during the holiday season by contributing to teacher and staff gifts! Your contribution will include holiday gifts for all teachers and staff. The suggested amount is $40 per student. Thanks in advance! Please note this will be the only time to donate to the teacher gift fund; there will be no end of year collection. Please be sure to contribute by November 16th. Contribute here!
HELP WANTED
iGNITE: Have you contributed to iGNITE? Did you know that the PTA (you!) directly sponsors field trips, in-school speakers and presentations, and the McKenzie Garden’s activities through your iGNITE contribution? Without your contribution, these endeavors do not occur. To cover the projected costs, the requested contribution is $125.00 per McKenzie student but the PTA welcomes your contribution, whatever the amount. Please contribute today!
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Community News
Wilmette Rotary Club is running its annual BIG BOOK DRIVE at all District 39 schools from October 1st through November 15th. Please donate any gently used books.
Loyola Ramblerettes offer 3rd-8th grade girls the opportunity to learn a Holiday dance and perform at halftime on December 11th.
Wilmette Park District’s Saturday Basketball registration is open for boys & girls grades 4-8.
Wilmette Park District is hosting a Holiday Hustle exercise challenge November 26-December 23; register November 19-25. Also the Center Fitness Club schedule and various classes for children ages 3-14 are posted.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
2nd Posting: PARCC Designation 2017-18
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has redefined how schools in Illinois are evaluated. Using attendance data, PARCC scores, and numerous other metrics (see a breakdown here), schools across Illinois will receive one of four ratings annually. These include:
Exemplary: A school that has no underperforming student demographic groups at or below the “all students” group of the lowest 5 percent of all Title 1 schools, a graduation rate of greater than 67 percent, and whose performance is in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. Schools that receive an Exemplary School designation may apply to serve in the IL-EMPOWER network of partners.
Commendable: A school that has no underperforming student demographic groups at or below the “all students” group of the lowest 5 percent of all Title 1 schools, a graduation rate greater than 67 percent, and whose performance is not in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. Schools that receive a Commendable School designation may apply to serve in the IL-EMPOWER network of partners.
Underperforming: A school in which one or more student demographic groups is performing at or below the “all students” group of the lowest 5 percent of all Title 1 schools. Schools that receive an Underperforming School designation will receive Targeted Support services through IL-EMPOWER.
Lowest Performing: A school that is in the lowest-performing 5 percent of Title I schools in Illinois and any high schools that have a graduation rate of
67 percent or less. Schools that receive a Lowest Performing School designation will receive Comprehensive Support through IL-EMPOWER.
Based on our 2017-18 school year data, it is with great pride that I share we have been recognized as an exemplary school. When you consider that there are over 3,700 schools in Illinois, it is quite an honor to be ranked in the top 10% of schools!
There a numerous reasons McKenzie has achieved this distinction. Of course, our teachers are to be commended for all of the hard work they put in with our students each day; the success of McKenzie is in no small part a reflection of the excellence they bring to the classroom. What’s more, I am so proud that we have achieved exemplary status without teachers simply “teaching to the test.” Our students do so well because our staff creates engaging and inspiring learning environments within which students thrive.
You are to be commended as well. Thank you for sending us students who are eager, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Thank you for supporting us in our work with students, and for making the McKenzie community the warm and inviting environment that it is.
In the coming weeks we’ll begin work to analyze our overall performance on the new Illinois School Report Card. We will celebrate the many successes achieved, and look forward to identifying opportunities to raise the bar!
Warmly,
Rachel
2nd Posting: New D39 Assessment Website
Upcoming Dates
11/12/18
Veteran's Day - School in Session
Kate Klise Author Visit
School Board Meeting @7pm MEC
11/12/18 - 11/30/18
Share the Feast & Share the Joy
11/13/18
PTA General Board Meeting @8:45am
11/16/18
Spirit Day - Blue Out
11/19/18 - 11/23/18
No School - Thanksgiving Break
11/29/18
PTA School Play - Mary Poppins @5:15pm and @6:15pm
11/30/18
Spirit Day - Sports Day
11/7/18
Spirit Day - Rainbow Day (Kinder - Red, 1st - Orange, 2nd - Yellow, 3rd - Green, 4th - Blue/Purple)
12/17/18
School Board Meeting @7pm MEC
12/21/18
Spirit Day - Pajama Day
Regular School Hours
Kindergarten
Kindergarten AM 8:35am - 11:10am
Kindergarten PM 12:40pm - 3:15pm
Grades 1st - 4th
Monday - Thursday 8:35am - 3:15pm
Friday 8:35am - 2:15pm
Student drop off will begin at 8:20am, and the first bell will ring at 8:30am. Please refer to McKenzie's calendar for important dates/holidays.
About Us!
Email: filippir@wilmette39.org
Website: http://mckenzie.wilmette39.org/
Location: 649 Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, United States
Phone: 847-512-6300
Twitter: @McKCheetahs