McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
November 13, 2017
President's Update
Happy Monday!
Please join us for tonight's Dine Out Fundraiser at Saz's State House in Wauwatosa from 4-8 p.m. The purchase of Saz's gift cards, which make fantastic holiday gifts, are also included in the fundraiser.
The deadline to order this year's City Tins is tomorrow, November 14th. City Tins are a fantastic way to check out unique & locally-owned bars, restaurants, and performing arts venues at a discount while at the same time raising money for McKinley Elementary!
Wednesday, November 15th from 4:30-6 p.m. is the McKinley Open House. This is a fantastic opportunity for the kids to show you where and how they spend their school days. I look forward to seeing everyone there!
Remember to turn in your BoxTops by Friday, November 17th. Our BoxTops for Education Fundraiser is a fun and easy way to support McKinley. Last year's BoxTops for Education Fundraisers (both Fall & Spring) raised over $1,600 for our school!
Thank you McKinley for your outstanding participation in our Fundraisers!
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- November 13th - Saz's Dine Out Fundraiser
- November 14th - City Tins Fundraiser Order Deadline
- November 15th - Open House, 4:30-6 p.m.
- November 17th - Battle of the Books Registration Deadline
- October 30th-November 17th - Fall BoxTops for Education Fundraiser
- November 22nd-24th - Thanksgiving; No Classes
- December 1st - McKinley Chorus at Wauwatosa Tree Lighting
- December 7th - Secret Holiday Workshop, 3:20-6:30 p.m.
- December 12th - Jimmy John's Dine Out Fundraiser, 4-8 p.m.
- December 14th - Winter Sing Grades SK-3, 2 p.m.
- December 15th - Winter Concert Grades 4 & 5, 2 p.m.
Saz's Dine Out Fundraiser Tonight!
Please support McKinley through the dining out fundraiser at Saz's State House (5539 W. State Street) tonight from 4-8 pm. 15% of purchases during that time frame will benefit McKinley when McKinley is mentioned upon ordering (gift cards are included!!). You can just walk in or call 414-453-2410 for a reservation. Thank you for supporting McKinley!
City Tins Order Deadline Tomorrow!
Reminder that City Tins order forms are due Nov 14th.
Tins will be ready for pick up at McKinley the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
These are fantastic gifts at the $30 price point and are a great way to support McKinley.
Check out more details at: citytins.com
2017-18 Battle of the Books - Calling All 5th Graders!
Battle of the Books is a program where students read great books and then have fun competing with their McKinley peers in a “battle.” A battle is a competition where teams earn points by testing their comprehension knowledge. They do this by answering questions about the books they’ve read. The winning McKinley team will go on to battle against Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Commitment is five to seven books per child over a five month period. Teams generally consist of 5 to 7 students of any reading level. Most meetings will happen during school time. Books will be provided by the school.
Parents Needed
If you are looking for a fantastic way to connect and promote literacy with a fabulous McKinley 5th grade Battle of the Books Team, then becoming a Team Coach is the opportunity for you! Each Battle Team will be in need of a Team Coach or Co-Coaches beginning December through May. If you are interested, a brief summary of responsibilities include:
● Flexible weekly “check in” with your team for 30 minutes (very flexible and may be over a lunch period, 12:20-12:45, before school, after school.
● Creation of a team name and team poster (materials supplied).
● Motivational support for your team in completion of their reading lists, learning titles and authors, creating questions and practice battles.
● Encouraging your child to read the chosen books from the Battle of the Books booklist is key! Participating students are placed on a team where collectively all members will need to cover the booklist.
Registrations are due by November 17th. Click HERE for a registration form.
Fall BoxTops Competition Submission Deadline Friday!
It’s time to gather the Box Tops you have been collecting! The Fall Box Tops Classroom Competition will start October 30th and run until November 17th.
Send your neatly clipped and counted (in sets of 50) BoxTops to your child’s teacher. The classroom that collects the most will win an ice cream party!
*If you would like to volunteer to help count the Box Tops, please contact Sarah Atols at matols@wi.rr.com.
Secret Holiday Workshop Coming Soon!
Less than for 4 weeks to go until you can shop till you drop at
McKinley's Secret Holiday Workshop!
Thursday, December 7th
3:20-6:30pm in the big gym!
All items sold by our 30 plus creative vendors will be $10 or less and all hand made. We are very excited to have a few new and very talented vendors join us this year as well. There will be something for everyone to enjoy!
Students can shop with a parent or shop secretly with a 5th grade Girl Scout. Kids can even wrap their gifts and bring everything home for the big surprise. Bring your neighbors, family and friends...everyone is welcome to shop.
Feel free to also stop at the McKinley Brownie and Girl Scout Troops bake sale and have a yummy treat or warm cup of hot chocolate! All monies raised will go towards helping a family in need over the holidays. So bring your appetite and your sweet tooth while you shop.
Also, back by popular demand will be McKinley's own Mrs. Liz Daily with her very talented orchestra students that will play some holiday tunes while you enjoy shopping for those perfect gifts! It's really a wonderful event all around.
We look forward to another great event! Any questions or if you are interested in assisting with next years workshop as it will be Jamie's last year running the event please email Jamie Schwake at jamieschwake@yahoo.com
Happy Holidays!
Hawaiian Luau Adult Social - March 3rd
With the temperatures dropping, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Hawaiian Luau themed Adult Social!! Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Mount Mary
Also, if you have items or experiences you would like to donate to the silent auction or raffle, please contact Erin Kell at febz99@hotmail.com.
New Families Need Mentors!
We will continue to welcome new families who register throughout the school year which means we are in need a of a few more Mentor Families.
The time commitment is minimal and the impact is huge!
Please contact Paige Brown or Lindsay Stadler to have your name added to our list of McKinley Mentor Families.
Show Your McKinley Elementary Pride Whever You Go!
McKinley Elementary Bumper Magnets Only $5!
Proceeds of the sale go support McKinley programs and projects.
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
Office Max / Office Depot Fundraising
This year Office Max/Office Depot stores are offering local schools the opportunity to partner in a fundraising activity. 5% of all qualifying purchases made by parents or teachers for the entire year will be donated to the school in the form of a merchandise credit. McKinley's master ID # is 70113794. For more information, visit http://www.officedepot.com/a/content/back-to-school/5percent/