McKenzie Monitor
April 20, 2018
Thank you PTA!
Friday Early Dismissal Information School Year 18-19
Posting from January 26th:
We have all had time to adjust to the Friday early dismissal for grades 1-4. Managing the logistics has been challenging across the District, and at McKenzie too. So, we are initiating a change for next year. We know this may mean some additional planning for a handful of parents, so we wanted to give you plenty of notice.
With the start of the 2018-2019 school year, 2:15-3:15 supervision for our Friday Early Dismissal will be offered only to families who meet the one of following criteria:
Your child attends the Park District After School Recreation Program and takes the 3:15 bus from their elementary school to the Wilmette Park District Recreation Center.
You have a child in grades 1-4 who has a sibling in PM kindergarten.
Your child participates in a Friday After School Park District 3:15 club at your home school.
As we did last year, we will send out material in the summer for you to sign up your child, if eligible, for the Friday supervision.
McKenzie Garden is OPEN!
Clay Project In Art Class
Board of Education Meeting 4/23 @7pm MEC
The monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, April 23rd 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.
- Student Recognition
- HMS Assistant Principal announcement
- Grades 5-8 Related Arts Course Progression
- Kindergarten Enrichment
- After School Programming at HMS/WJHS
PTA News and Information
PTA NEWS
Thank you! McKenzie PTA would like to recognize the following committee chairs for their leadership this year:
Jennifer Mullman, First Grade iGNITE Coordinator, Fourth Grade iGNITE Coordinator
Melissa Fenwick, Second Grade iGNITE Coordinator
Michele Oh, Third Grade iGNITE Coordinator
Do you have time to chair a committee next year? The following committees are open:
Sharing Co-Chair
After School Clubs Liaison
Civics and Safety
Charging for Cheetahs
Please contact MaryAnne at maryanneokeefe@gmail.com for more information. Thanks to all who have volunteered to be PTA chairs.
Sharing Committee Events:
Toiletry Drive for Carman-Buckner from April 16th through April 30th
The principal and social worker indicated that the students are in need of toiletries. Please bring unopened shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, and body wash of any size to Heather's (1329 Gregory) or Cara's (1762 Highland) house; we will each have a box on our front porch marked "sharing" for any drop offs.
Carman-Buckner Staff Appreciation Event
The Sharing Committee is hoping you'll help us thank the hardworking teachers and staff at Carman-Buckner Elementary School, our sister school in Waukegan. We will be stocking their teacher lounge this May for them.
Please sign up here and drop off to either: Heather Hebbeler at 1329 Gregory or Cara Gaziano at 1762 Highland. There will be a box labeled "Sharing" on our porches.
Earth Week:
Walk or ride your bike to school all week! Kids will be counting the number of cars on Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th in hopes that the number will decrease.
Join us Monday and Friday in the garden for a project using recycled milk jugs!
Look out for a blue marble your child will bring home, along with an explanation. Click here for more information.
Attention Parents of current 4th grade students:
PHOTOS Needed for 4th GRADE FAREWELL Video! The Farewell Committee is creating a video to commemorate the years our kids spent at McKenzie, but we need YOUR help rounding up photos. Please click here for the details. Photo submissions due by April 30th.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week:
Staff Appreciation Week is May 7th - May 11th. To show our appreciation to our SUPER teachers, the PTA is running a SUPERHERO RAFFLE. Please donate gift cards in $5 - $15 increments to be raffled off - (Think: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Panera, Target, & other local favorites). Please send gift card(s) in an envelope to the office labeled AMANDA DOBLIN or contribute via PayPal.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon:
Help us celebrate our everyday superheroes - our teachers and staff - at this year's superhero-themed appreciation luncheon on Friday, May 11th. There are many opportunities to get involved! Click here to help!
School Kit Ordering starts Tuesday, May 1st:
Don’t spend your summer running around trying to find school supplies at the last minute - pre-order your child's kit and the supplies will be waiting for him/her on the first day of school! Ordering information will be available on April 27th. Ordering runs from May 1st – May 18th. A portion of the sales from each kit will be donated to the McKenzie PTA. Questions? Contact Evita Gailuma at evitagailuma1@yahoo.com.
Race for Recess Fun Run:
Register Now for the 5th Annual Race for Recess FUN RUN, Thursday, May 10th on McKenzie's blacktop. Sign in begins at 3:15 pm, and the races begin at 3:30pm. More information and volunteer sign up: please click here.
Help Wanted in the Garden:
Please sign up to help the kids in the McKenzie Gardens this spring!
OTHER HAPPENINGS...
Cradles to Crayons Donation Drive:
Please donate gently used clothing (kids size 0-20; adult S-M), shoes, baby essentials, toys, books and new socks, underwear, pajamas, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby diapering/feeding/safety supplies, items to children living in homeless and low income situations. More info: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/take-action/donate-goods/items-we-accept/ or email margie.swain12@gmail.com. Drive runs April 30th to May 4th. There will be drop-off boxes at the main and kindergarten entrances.
Transition to 5th Grade Parent Night:
Attention all 4th grade parents! Please join us on Wednesday, May 2nd at 7pm in the HMS auditorium for a 4th to 5th grade transition question and answer session. The panel is made up of current HMS parents along with HMS Administration. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Community Events
Centennial Classic Pro-Am Charity Tennis Tournament at Wilmette Tennis Club May 5th at 7:00 pm.Register as a player or viewer. All proceeds benefit the Wilmette Park District Scholarship Fund.
Wilmette Historical Museum & Wilmette Police Department host open houses on Sunday, May 6th at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.
FREE Adult English Language Classes will be offered at Highcrest Middle School for 5 weeks; April 5-May 3rd.
Wilmette Junior Trevians are hosting a week long cheer camp for all 2018-2019 5th-8th grade boys & girls July 16-20.
Wilmette Public Library’s "One Book, Everybody Reads" featuring Amor Towles discussing his best-selling novel A Gentleman in Moscow at WJHS Auditorium April 22nd at 3:00 pm
Illinois Baseball Academy is registering boys & girls 3-6 years old. Register individually or as a group and form your own team.
2nd Posting: My Maternity Leave
I have been working closely with Dr. Lechner on plans for the 2018-19 school year in light of the TWO new babies that will be coming - mine and Meghann’s! Babies are exciting news, but they can create some challenging logistics! I am confident that McKenzie will start the school year without missing a beat.
We are very fortunate that Melanie Horowitz will be filling in as principal during my maternity leave when it starts in August. For those of you who do not know Melanie, she was the Central School principal for eight years, before joining the District administrative team handling curriculum and instruction. Melanie retired in 2016, but has remained involved in D39 through a handful of projects. Melanie and I will begin meeting in May to ensure a smooth start of the year. I am thrilled to have McKenzie in such capable hands while I am gone, and I will keep everyone posted on my return date.
We are also working on plans for Meghann’s maternity leave, which will likely begin in September. All the details are not yet worked out, but I know we will have assistant principal coverage during Meghann’s absence. I will keep you updated as details are finalized.
Thank you all for your understanding.
2nd Posting: RED Week D39 Feature! Check it out!
2nd Posting: Green Team Needs Your Help
The Green Team is collecting bottles for a school. Why are we collecting bottles for a school? It is because they help build schools. For example, a school in the Philippines! Pepsi helps to collect the bottles. Now, they produced some schools with bottles, but they still need more bottles! Help us collect bottles April 23rd-27th.
Sincerely,
The Green Team
2nd Posting: Kindergarten Orientation April 25th @6:30pm
3rd Posting: New Trier Innovation & Tech Expo
We’re reaching out to let you know of an event being planned called the New Trier Innovation & Tech Expo. This free event is an opportunity for parents to attend and hear about how technology is being used throughout the township. All New Trier Township schools will be participating in this joint mini-conference taking place Saturday, April 28, 2018. It will be held at New Trier Winnetka Campus, 385 Winnetka Avenue, Winnetka, IL, from 8:30am to 12pm.
In addition to saving the date, if you have something of interest to present, parents are welcome to submit proposals to the committee. Click here to submit your proposal by February 9, 2018.
Tip: Click and zoom in on picture
Upcoming Dates
4/23/18
Board of Education Meeting @7pm MEC
4/25/18
Kindergarten Orientation @6:30pm in McK Auditorium
5/2/18
Transition to 5th Grade Parent Night @7pm HMS Auditorium
5/3/18
4th Grade Bike Safety
5/10/18
McKenzie's Annual Fun Run
5/21/18
Board of Education Meeting @7pm MEC
5/23 - 5/25
4th Grade Outdoor Ed
5/28/18
No School - Memorial Day
6/7/18
4th Grade Music Show
6/8/18
Field Day
6/12/18
2nd Grade Bike Safety
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
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.