McKinley Monthly
June 2017
A Word from Mrs. Hoffmann
June 2017
Dear Families,
Can it really be June already? This year has gone by so quickly! As we complete our end-of-year analysis tasks, I have had many conversations with teachers who express joy and amazement over the academic, socio-emotional, and physical changes they have witnessed this year. It has been a year of learning and growing. Beautiful changes.
I want to send out a thanks to all who have been making our grounds look nice through planting, pruning, weeding, and picking up trash around the school: Girls on the Run, Terri Holzen with the 1st and 5th graders, Green Team, Brian Malloy, Boy Scouts to name a few. Thank you all! And though the weather has been beautiful these past few days, inside the building right now it feels like Christmas! The flexible seating options that have been purchased through the generous contributions of our families continue to arrive every day. Teachers are receiving ball chairs, accordion chairs, seat cushions, bean bags, stand-up desks and so much more! Classrooms will look different next year as we continue to move toward offering these options to students. We also will have 15 iPads coming with the leftover money from the Adult Social. In the past we experienced situations where it took a long while for us to actually get items after a big fundraiser (for instance the sign, Chromebooks, the playground equipment) so it is exciting to see the fast turnaround this year. We thank the PTO for their support, Erin Kell for her efforts in getting the items to us quickly, and everyone involved in updating and sprucing up our learning environments! One more big thank you to all of the parents who kept us well-fed throughout the year with your contributions in the staff lounge. We are lucky to have such kind and generous parents in our community.
We are also receiving boxes of manipulatives for the new math curriculum that is being adopted in the district. It is tempting for teachers to want to break into these and begin playing with the new math tools right away! This summer, classroom teachers will be busily working on learning the new curriculum to be ready to teach in September. The district has put together a “right in time” professional development calendar for teachers. The deep understandings of the math learning that will need to happen will be at the forefront of their minds as each new unit begins. Some parents express frustration when new approaches to developing mathematical thinking are so different from their own learning experiences. We will stage a Mechanics of McKinley on the new math program early next school year so parents understand their role in supporting their children. (Hint: As some of you learned last year, the goal for parents is to avoid helping to solve a problem, but instead to encourage kids to look for a way in! The productive struggle is the key!)
In staffing, we are in the process of hiring a second junior kindergarten teacher and a math instructional coach. I have submitted my candidate recommendation for JK, and the district’s teaching and learning supervisor, Rhonda Schum, will let me know soon about the instructional coach. We interviewed several well-qualified candidates for both positions, which gives me confidence that we will be pleased with our choices. Janet Leffler has decided not return to McKinley next year, so we will be looking for another third grade teacher. We will miss Janet greatly! She has been a valued member of the McKinley staff. Also due to decreased needs in special education, we are sad to say goodbye to Luke Crow, who will be moving to Underwood next year. Thank you, Luke, for your dedication.
Next week Friday is the last day of the school year. Although students and teachers look forward to the long summer break, this can be also be a hard time for students, knowing that the comfort that they have found in their classrooms and friendship groups will be ending soon. This is especially true for 5th graders. More than a handful of them have used the word “bittersweet” with me in the past couple of weeks. It is a word they understand as expressing the excitement of the future married with the nostalgia of the past. We all wish them well as they embark on the next step in their educational journey!
Trimester three report cards will be mailed home by June 16th. Charlotte and Terri will be working summer school, and Charlotte will have sporadic hours. I will be here, at Fisher, and at conferences a few days, so if you have questions that need to be addressed by the office or by me, the best way to reach us is to contact us via email.
Jean hoffmaje@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us.
Charlotte garderch@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
Terri udente@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
Have a safe and happy summer everyone! Thank you for all of your support this year. I appreciate your partnership as we continue to provide a wonderful place where children love to go to school and learn. I have appreciated your feedback this year and hope to continue to foster a positive culture at McKinley. Look for our July and August newsletters with reminders for summer dates and other news that might come up!
Mrs. Hoffmann
Talent Show
The McKinley talent show is on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 a.m. The talent show is an exciting opportunity for students to perform for their peers. Any parent that has a child performing in the talent show is welcome to attend; however we have very limited space, and there will be no chairs available. Parents who come are invited to stand at the back of the gym.
Dates to Remember
June 6 . JK and New Student meeting at 6 p.m.
June 9 . Last Day of Classes
August 17 . Form pick up day and class list posting from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
August 22 . Fees, Forms, and Photos from 1 - 5 p.m.
August 28 . JK only - meet the teacher and parent info session 5 - 6 p.m.
August 29 . SK - 5th grade - meet the teacher and parent info session 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
September 1 . First day of school
September 4 . Labor Day - no classes
Right at School
The Wauwatosa School District is partnering with a new program, Right at School, for our before and after school care and for a wrap-around program with our JK students.
You can find more information on McKinley's website: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/McKinley_Elementary_School/Right_at_School.
There will also be a Right at School representative at McKinley to talk to parents on the following dates:
June 6th (JK and New Parent Orientation)
June 21st (Jump into 4K) 8 AM - 10:35 AM
August 22nd (Forms & Fees) 1-5 PM
You can also contact them on their customer service line: 855-287-2466
FINAL DEADLINE for returning library books is Friday, June 2.
EFW Walk / Run Results
Here are the McKinley results for the EFW Walk / Run:
Junior Kindergarten: Clara Tank took 3rd place
Senior Kindergarten: Mallory Zipp took 2nd place and Jane Hertzberg took 3rd
1st Grade
Boys: Brody Bott took 1st place and Will Myers took 2nd
Girls: Anna Theis took 1st place
2nd Grade: Luke Grove took 2nd place
3rd grade
Boys: Jackson Myers took 1st place
Girls: Ana Byrne took 3rd place
4th grade
Boys: Ben Wozniak took 2nd place and Jack Hanks took 3rd
Girls: Olivia Dupee took 3rd place
Congratulation to all!
Girls on the Run
PBIS
2016-17 PBIS Tier 2 Updates
Our Tier 2 Team has been meeting monthly to examine our data and discuss which students might benefit from additional programming and positive interventions.
Mentoring Program
17 students participated in McKinley’s Mentoring Program where students are matched with a staff member volunteer to spend some extra time.
47% of staff volunteers have been mentoring for 3 or more years, 33% for 2 or more years, 20% are new to the program this year
Of the Mentors we had this year, 95% said they’d like to participate next year
Social Skills Group
Ms. Kumferman and Ms. Fleischmann led 3 small, social skills groups this school year.
Groups were once a week for 6 weeks
14 total students participated
Check In/Check Out
12 Students participated in CICO
12 greeters (staff members) participated and built relationships with the student
Most of the students reached at least 80% of their daily goal
Ms. Kumferman’s Korner- news from your School Social Worker
A big THANK YOU to all of the 5th grade students who worked so hard on their Academic and Career Portfolios as part of the transition to middle school. Each student created their own personal website that reflected his/her goals, strengths, challenges, career exploration, interests and questions about the future. Over the last two months, they have shared these portfolios in a presentation during a conference with a parent/other staff member, and me or Ms. Fleischmann (grad student). We have been so impressed and have learned so much more about each student!
THANK YOU to all of the parents who were able to come in to listen and share in this process. We appreciate your time and hope that you learned something new as well! We certainly understand if someone was unable to come, but we know that your child can share this portfolio with you at home. As long as Google exists, their portfolio exists.
Lastly, GOOD LUCK to all the 5th graders who will be leaving McKinley and starting their new adventures! Please come back and visit.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Resource:
2-1-1 is a great resource to have especially during the summer months! This is a community resource link for all of Milwaukee County. You can dial 2-1-1 to get access to resources related to food, shelter, clothing, transportation, medical care, mental health resources, and so much more.
_________________________________________________________________________
Sharing a great resource…..
Established in 1994, the mission of Camps for Kids is to provide life changing, first-time resident camp experiences for children in Milwaukee County.
Camps for Kids offers a unique opportunity to youth ages 8-15 to attend an overnight, residential camp in Wisconsin. Each camp provides exciting activities and a chance to meet new friends and learn in a safe environment.
To Participate
Camps for Kids provides a one-time scholarship to youth who qualify so that they may attend an overnight, residential camp in Wisconsin.
Students must be ages 8-15 and meet the following criteria:
Reside in Milwaukee County
Eligible for free or reduced school lunch
Has not previously attended camp through the Camps for Kids Program
Check out the website for information about camps and scholarships
____________________________________________________________________________
Kyle’s Korner
7106 W. North Ave
Wauwatosa, WI
414-777-1585
Kyle’s Korner is a local agency that is dedicated to helping grieving children, teens and their families who are coping with the death of a loved one. Kyle’s Korner is a free resource where children, teens and families can go and share similar experiences as they go through the grief process. Whether it’s after the death of a family member, friend or even loss of a pet, this center is a great community resource that helps to support families. Kyle’s Korner has various support groups, and lots of resources for them. They have a lending library and online list of resources. This agency also hosts a free, summer camp for children who have lost a loved one.
Tosa Youth Tri
Registration is now open for the nonprofit Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool’s second annual TOSA Youth Tri on Saturday, Aug. 26, and this year’s triathlon is expanding its age range to include young competitors from 9 to 15.
Participants choose from two categories: FUN, which includes a 100-yard swim, 2-mile bike ride and a .6-mile run, or CHALLENGE, which is a 200-yard swim, a 4-mile bike ride and a 1.2-mile run. Swimming will take place in TOSA Pool, the bike ride will be on the Menomonee River Parkway and the run will go along the Oak Leaf Trail and through Hoyt Park.
Registration is $40, which includes a required one-year USA Triathlon membership. You can find the link to our Active.com signup at tosayouthtri.com. The triathlon is limited to the first 200 registrants. The price goes up to $50 after Friday, Aug. 4.
Office Max / Office Depot Gives Back
* * Tosa Cares * *
TosaCares is a nonprofit agency located inside Mt. Zion Lutheran Church on North Ave in Wauwatosa. TosaCares assists families in Milwaukee County with food and other services. Please contact Linda Ertel for more information at 414-258-0456 ext 410 or tosacares.gmail.com
Distribution dates:
June 17, 2017
Aug 12. 2017
Sept 30, 2017
Nov 18, 2017
Services available on those dates:
Light Breakfast
Food Pack
Clothes Closet (free, no limit)
Health Dept,
Vision, Chiropractic
Opportunity for Fellowship
Sometimes household appliances
_____________________________________________________
Hours: Monday, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday 9 - 11 a.m.; closed on legal holidays.
Clients select their desired food and pack the food in bags distributed according to family size.
Food available: non-perishable canned goods, eggs, protein.
Registration requirements: can register on site.
McKinley contact info
Website: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/McKinley_Elementary_School
Location: 2435 N 89th St, Wauwatosa, WI, United States
Phone: (414)773-1500