McKenzie Monitor
December 14, 2018
Principal's Note: Paw Pride
At the beginning of this year you may remember Mrs. Horowitz (Interim Principal) introducing Paw Pride, our school-wide positive behavior system. The purpose of Paw Pride is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm. Over the past few months we have taught our students our Paw Pride standards: Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe. Social behaviors can be taught in the same way as academic skills are taught. First, teach the child what behavior you expect. Second, provide consistent recognition for positive behaviors. “Catching” the positive behavior when it happens and providing meaningful, positive incentives will reinforce the expected behavior. Applied school wide, it defines, teaches, and supports appropriate student behavior to create a positive school environment. When a child feels safe and understands what is expected, more time and energy can be spent on learning.
On Thursday, December 20th we are hosting our 2nd Paw Pride assembly! During this assembly we will learn if we met our school-wide ticket goal AND many students' tickets will be randomly pulled for prizes! We will hold the prizes in the office for parent pick-up. You will be notified via email if your child has won a prize.
Paw Pride has been very successful thus far and we have enjoyed watching our students be their best!
Osmo Coding - Thank You PTA!
1. Collaboration
Bring students together naturally. Osmo’s open game play encourages interaction and collaboration, allowing for the development of social-emotional skills. Students learn by engaging, and with Osmo, teachers are able to promote open-ended interaction and learning through discovery.
2. Communication
Open lines of communication with Osmo. As students work together to overcome the different challenges in each app, they also learn cooperation, gain social and emotional understanding of their peers, recognize the strengths of others in the group, and foster leadership skills.
3. Creativity
Osmo provides a platform for free form expression. By incorporating real world items into game play, students are not limited by the apps’ programming. Unlimited solutions encourage students to think outside the box and find answers as unique as the students themselves.
4. Critical Thinking
The different Osmo apps tap into a student’s curiosity and creativity to encourage hands-on problem solving and social skill development. Working alone or in groups, our apps provide the right amount of challenge, pushing the students to continue developing their skill sets and challenge themselves. It’s learning through play!
The Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey
The 5Essentials Survey provides school districts with detailed data on school culture and climate. As a parent, you have an opportunity to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness about your child’s school. Your identity and survey responses will be completely confidential. The Parent Survey Supplement will be open from December 11, 2018 through January 18, 2019.
- To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/.
- Select the appropriate survey to begin.
Board of Education Meeting 12/17/18 @7pm MEC
The monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, December 17th 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.
- Financial presentations including the Audit, Levy, and 5-year projections
- 2019-20 Draft School Calendar
In addition, the Board will share updates on the Superintendent Search if there is news to report
Kindergarten Registration 2019-2020
- January 17th 9:30am - 5:00pm
- January 18th 8:00am - 3:15pm
Paw Pride Winners!
We are happy to announce this week's students whose tickets were pulled for safe, responsible, and respectful behavior:
Kindergarten
Grayson Cohen
Natasha Frangos
Corinne Phillips
Grade 1
Leela Greenberg
Levi Hartstein
Ella Shefi
Maggie Weir
Grade 2
Reese Bednar
Maggie Dominguez
MaryKate O'Keefe
Caroline Weiland
Grade 3
Isaac Atlan
Fede Garcia
Sandra Jimenez
Sofia Romera
Luke Schultz
Grade 4
Eliana Micek
Daniel Schanzenbach
Victoria Wainscott
Charlie Warner
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!
MaryAnne O’Keefe- PTA Executive Board Holiday Brunch
DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS!
Variety Show: It’s that time of year and I’m not talking about the holidays. It’s Variety Show sign up time! This year is the 39th year of the Variety Show and you can be part of this amazing McKenzie tradition! Sign up here. Signups end Dec. 21st so register now! Not sure about the time commitment? Click here for more information about the schedule.
Junior Great Books: Help your child build a positive relationship with books! Junior Great Books is a great way to spark your child's interest in literature and thoughtful discussion. Each week, a story is chosen for the group. Students read the story at home, either independently or with an adult, then come to their weekly meeting to discuss and do a craft or project with other kids from their grade. Junior Great Books makes it possible for all children, regardless of their reading level, to contribute with confidence and learn from one another. Groups will meet once a week for 8 weeks (January-March) during lunch/recess and your child will need to bring a nut-free lunch from home that day. Sign up today!
Contact Courtney Radde with any questions.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Junior Great Books: We need leaders! Please consider signing up to lead a Junior Great Books group! It’s a minimal time commitment and so much fun! Groups meet 8 times January through March during your child’s lunch/recess time and you can choose a day that fits your schedule! Email courtradde@gmail.com for questions or to sign up!
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Ed. Foundation Wall of Honor: Searching for a unique holiday gift for that special teacher or staff member? Honor him/her with a D39 Educational Foundation Appreciation Certificate. Your recipient will be recognized on the Wall of Honor and be given a certificate with a special message from you. For $39, this is the perfect gift; whether from families or homerooms. All proceeds benefit the foundation's Gripp Grants program.
Community News
Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development offers Weekend Enrichment Programs for students age 3 through 8th grade.
Love to sing? Youth Choral Theatre of Chicago offers a free vocal training class with flyer. Vocal classes available for children ages 4-18.
The Center Fitness Club schedule and various park district 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.
Upcoming Dates
12/17/18
School Board Meeting @7pm MEC
12/19/18
2nd Grade Music Show @2:30pm
12/20/18
Paw Pride Assembly - Wear McKenzie swag!
12/21/18
Spirit Day - Pajama Day
12/24/18 - 1/4/19
WINTER BREAK
1/7/19
School Resumes
1/17/19 - 1/18/19
Kindergarten Enrollment
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