McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
October 28, 2019
Presidents' Update
Dear McKinley Families,
Destination Imagination is back for another year at McKinley!! Thank you to
Lakisha Arif-Holmes and Marc Reichman for volunteering to be the co-chairs for the McKinley DI Team.
Thank you to Carie Hertzberg and Jane Parish who coordinate the meals and snacks for the teachers during the conference season. Thank you to Monica Deluhery, Laurie Kunz, Phil Janowski, Terri Holzen, Maressa Vento, Cara Schwantes and Jacque Lett who donated drinks and desserts that helped complement the Chipotle Meal last Thursday. If you would like to help supplement Tuesday's teacher snack, click HERE. The teachers appreciate us filling their bellies on long school nights.
The Book Fair was a big success, thanks to the co-chairs Lisa Swiontek and Amanda Potter for coordinating!
A few highlights for this week:
- October 29th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. is the Chipotle Dine Out
- October 30th - 1:15 p.m. - Costume Parade
- November 1st - No School for JK - 12
In this edition of the PTO newsletter look for more information about:
- Keepsake Art
- Destination Imagination
- Secret Holiday Workshop
- Dine Out Dates
- Teacher Treat Sign Up
If you have any questions or ways you would like to get involved, please feel free to contact us.
Have a great week!
Kayla Merker and Mike Hansen
Important Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- October 29th - 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Chipotle Dine Out
- October 29th - 4:30 - 8:00 p.m. Conferences
- October 30th - 1:15 p.m. Costume Parade
- November 1st - No School JK - 12
- November 6th - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Keepsake Art Night
- November 15th - Real Good Life Meal Delivery *Order all day for delivery on 11/20*
Keepsake Art Night
Join us November 6th from 5:30-7:30 pm in the big gym for a favorite McKinley tradition, Keepsake Art night. As in years past, your child (and adults too if they’d like) will have the opportunity to create a piece of art which will then be transferred onto keepsake products to enjoy for years. Your masterpieces will be returned in time for the holidays, and they make great gifts! We are again using Original Works and details on product pricing can be found at here.
Please bring cash or a checkbook as payment is due the night of the event. Contact Faith if you’re interested in volunteering for the event: faithbrawley@hotmail.com.
Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination is back for another school year at McKinley!
What is DI? DI is an international program that allows students to be involved with creative
problem- solving. McKinley students in K5 through 2nd grade can join as “Rising Stars” and
they are assigned a challenge (Rising Star challenge summary can be viewed toward
bottom of page of first link below). 3rd-5th graders can join a competitive team.
The make-up of the McKinley DI competitive teams will be determined based upon a
student's interest.
Here is a link briefly describing more specifically the 2019-2020 challenges -
https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/2019-20-challenge-previews/
There is no right or wrong answer. It’s up to the kids to solve their challenge! Each team will
have one to two adult team co-managers supervising the work, but the adults have a “hands
off” role in helping the students with their challenge. All the teams will then perform their
solution to the challenge at the regional tournament at Muskego High School on March 14,
2020.
In the upcoming weeks, we will send out sign up links as well as the fees for registration.
We will be holding an informational session in November with a representative from DI to
go over further details for those who are new to DI and want more information. Please stay
tuned for details of that session!!
If you have any further questions, please contact Lakisha Arif-Holmes (co-chair) at
larifholmes@gmail.com OR Marc Reichman (co-chair) at marcreichman@gmail.com.
Secret Holiday Workshop
The Secret Holiday Workshop is coming!
DATE: Thursday, December 5th
TIME: 3:20pm-6:30pm
LOCATION: Large Gym at McKinley
The Secret Holiday Workshop is a great way to purchase one of a kind gifts for family, friends, teachers, etc. for the holidays, or just because. All items sold by our over 30 creative vendors are handmade and sell for $10 or less.
We are very excited to have some new vendors join us this year as well. There will be something for everyone!
Students can shop by themselves or shop secretly with a "5th grade Secret Shopper" to help them manage their list and money so it remains a surprise for those they buy for. They can even wrap their gifts and bring everything home all ready to go.
The Brownies, Girl Scouts & McKinley Messengers will be participating with hosting a bake sale, selling raffle tickets, and assisting with wrapping gifts... all the money donated will be going to support a family in need in Tosa during the Holidays through Tosa Cares. This is really the reason we host the Workshop! Giving back to the Community is so important to teach our children. There is nothing better than providing joy and hope to others!
Mrs. Daily and her very talented musicians will also be playing Holiday tunes while you shop. The Orchestra students have a "tip jar" that they graciously donate to our family in need as well. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and plate of cookies from the bake sale and enjoy the beautiful music as you take a break from all that shopping.
Lastly, every year, many of the vendors donate one item from their table for our raffle. Tickets are $1.00 a piece or 6 for $5.00. We hope you come and try your luck, as all the raffle sales are also donated to our family in need.
If you have any questions or are interested in joining us as a "vendor" please reach out to Amanda Mast -amanda.mast@yahoo.com or Elise Hetzel - elisehetzel@hotmail.com.
Bring your neighbors, family and friends...everyone is welcome to attend! Many thanks to all involved and see you on December 5th!
Co-Chairs
Amanda Mast and Elise Hetzel
Important Dine Out Dates
On October 29th we hope many of you will eat a burrito for McKinley! Chipotle gives us the largest percentage back of any Dine Out and we’d love to have a good turn out to support our school.
Tuesday, October 29th 4-8 pm Chipotle on Center and Mayfair (2711A North Mayfair Rd, Wauwatosa). This is a huge one for our school because they give the highest percentage back (33%)! If you want a catering order to count it must be placed via phone at 1800 CHIPOTLE 24 hours in advance and picked up and paid for in the time frame of the fundraiser. Make sure to mention McKinley or show the flyer upon paying for your food in order for it to count!
November 15th all day. Real Good Life meal delivery service. All orders placed on November 15th (meal delivery is on November 20th) will generate 10% back to McKinley! The Real Good Life, Tosa's own meal delivery service, is excited to welcome the McKinley community into their family. Place your order on Friday, November 15th for 10% of all sales to come back to McKinley. Meals are available in one, two, four or six serving portions and serve all kinds of diets (including the kinds that love cheese and chocolate!). Your order will be delivered on Wednesday, November 20th.The Real Good Life can't wait to take dinner off your plate! http://www.therealgoodlife.com/shop
Thursday, December 5th 3-10 pm The Ruby Tap (1341 N Wauwatosa Ave.) Will give 10% back on drink purchases, gift cards, wine of the month clubs, and bottles just in time for the holidays! Come out for a drink with the McKinley parents that night!
Teacher Treat Sign Up
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.
Please plan to attend the PTO Meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the followings dates:
October 10th
January 9th
March 5th
May 14th
For more information about how you can become involved in PTO efforts, contact Kayla Merker at kaylamerker@gmail.com or Mike Hansen at academymike@gmail.com