McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
May 8, 2017
Co-President's Update
We wanted to start off this week's newsletter by thanking everyone who took the time to fill out the End of the Year Survey. Your feedback and ideas will be taken into consideration as we plan for next school year.
We also want to thank everyone who was able to join us for the last PTO meeting of the 2016-17 school year. The evening was filled with important information and great discussion. To read the highlights from the meeting, click HERE.
The End of Year Survey and PTO Meetings aren't the only ways to let us know your thoughts and ideas. We welcome your input throughout the year! Either click on our names below to send an email or flag us down when you see us at school.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
May 10 - Bike to School Day
May 16 - Spring Concert
May 18 - BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
May 29 - Memorial Day; No classes
May 31 - Noodles Dine Out (Final Dine Out Fundraiser of the year)
Hats off to...
Heidi Engbring & The High Interest Day Committee
Thank you to Heidi Engbring, Allison Byrne, Cara Schwantes, Maggie DiCastri, Liz Russel and Kelly Rifelj for your hard work coordinating this year's High Interest Day. This special day is a highlight from McKinley students, staff and participants alike. In fact, McKinley parents voted HID one of their top highlights of the school year in this year's End of the Year Survey! The HID Committee is looking for volunteers to help plan next year's event. For more information contact Kristi Knoedler or Heidi Engbring.
The Teacher Appreciation Week Committee
Thank you to Lindsay Krumsee, Robin Lane and Erin Kell for coordinating all of the activities recognizing McKinley teachers and staff during last week's Teacher Appreciation Week. It's efforts like these that have teachers responding overwhelmingly that parent support and the McKinley community are their top highlights according to the School Perceptions Survey.
Sarah Lerand & The Support Our Schools (S.O.S.) Committee
Sarah works throughout the year advocating not only for Wauwatosa Public Schools, but for public schools as a whole. The S.O.S Committee is currently running a post card campaign making it easy for every parent and guardian to have a voice in supporting our public schools. The S.O.S Committee is looking for more volunteers. For more information about the S.O.S Post Card Campaign or volunteering please contact Sarah Lerand.
McKinley Teachers
Thank you to all of the teachers who participated in the Adult Social silent auction by donating a "teacher experience". These items alone raised over $2,000 for McKinley!
Kids Trivia Event - NEW!
Open Volunteer Positions for the 2017-18 School Year
The PTO has many ways for you to become involved. There are opportunities to fit every schedule, whether it's single day/event opportunities, work from home opportunities or committee planning opportunities. Volunteer as an individual or sign up with a friend!
There are currently opportunities in the following areas:
- Kids Trivia Event Committee
- City Tins Coordinator/s
- Art Room Coordinator
- Green Team Coordinator
- S.O.S Committee
- Sock Hop Committee
- Teacher Treats Coordinator
- High Interest Day Committee
- Math Night Committee
- McKinley Spirit Ware Committee
- Dine Out Fundraiser Coordinator
- EFW Run/Walk T-Shirt Coordinator
For more information about these positions, click HERE or contact Kristi Knoedler.
Fire Safety House Volunteers
Renee Michel is in need of a few more volunteers to help run the Fire Safety House which will be held on Thursday, May 11th. This is for our 1st and 3rd grade students. You can volunteer for the morning shift, afternoon shift or all day. You must be able to attend the training that is held at 8:30 that morning. Please contact Renee Michel to volunteer or with any questions.
Scholastic BOGO Book Fair
Thurs., May 18th
8:30-6:15
McKinley Gym
Buy One, Get One Free!
Come stock up on some great reads and prevent the “summer slide.”
Many volunteers are needed to make this event possible, especially after school from 3:15-4:00. Duties include straightening books, working registers, bagging, assisting shoppers, crowd control, set-up and tear-down. Please email Melissa Mann at mmann002@yahoo.com or click HERE to sign up for a time slot.
Thank you!
SPRING BOX TOPS COMPETITION STARTS TODAY!
It’s time to gather the Box Tops you have been collecting! The Spring Box Tops Classroom Competition will start May 1st and go until May 18th.
BoxTops for Education can be found on hundreds of food packages and other products, and helps McKinley earn hundreds of dollars.
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.
Calling All Bakers
We are looking for donations of small packaged goodies to sell at the bake sale. The Spring Bake Sale, is May 16th, 2017. Please contact Rebecca Shaw OR Anna Schmidt at beccalazzmu@yahoo.com OR schmidt.anna@yahoo.com. All proceeds donated are contributed to help with the 5th Grade Celebration. Please see click HERE for more information.
Safe Routes to School
Join us Wednesday for Bike, Walk or Scoot to School Day!
May is National Bike Month- Check out these great events in May and coming this summer!
Bike to School Day- Wednesday, May 10th.
o Bike helmets and helmet fitting checks before and after school (Suggested $10 donation for helmet to McKinley PTO).
o Bike Safety Checks courtesy of Ben’s Bike Shop 7:30a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
o City of Wauwatosa Bike Registration before and after school- Wauwatosa Police Department. Bring all your bikes to be registered. Registered bikes are easier to recover if lost or stolen.
o Submit your Bike to School coloring sheet sponsored by Corey Double Boldt, Power’s Realty Group
Help needed to make bike to school day a success! No experience necessary.
Events before and after school. Sign up at:
SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/sdaZqH
The City of Wauwatosa 1st Annual Bike Rodeo:- Saturday, June 24th from 9-noon (rain date June 25th) at Washington Elementary School for ages 4-13.
What is a “Bike Rodeo?” A "Bike Rodeo" is a bicycle safety clinic that includes a ride through a miniature "chalk street" course and obstacles where young cyclists are shown where and how to apply bike safety rules. The City of Wauwatosa Bike and Pedestrian committee is sponsoring the bike rodeo. The WI Bike Federation will run the course; the Wauwatosa Police Department will be provide bike registration; Wauwatosa Health Department will provide bike helmets and helmet checks; Dream bikes will provide bike safety inspections and flat tire changing education stations; PRIZES AND MORE! The event is being held the Saturday before the East Tosa Gran Prix- http://www.tourofamericasdairyland.com/schedule/wauwatosa-about.php
S.O.S. Wauwatosa
Did you see the letter from the Wauwatosa School District on April 11th?
You can advocate for all Wisconsin public school children- Ask your legislators to
1. Raise the revenue cap to restore local control.
2. Increase state aid $300 per year, per student.
3. Pause voucher school expansion until all publicly funded schools have the same accountability measures in place.
By phone (be sure to leave your name, phone number, home address and a message):
· Sen. Leah Vukmir: (608) 266-2512
· Rep. Dale Kooyenga: (608) 266-9180
· Rep. Rob Hutton: (608) 267-9836
By email (be sure to leave your name, home address and a message):
· Sen. Leah Vukmir: Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov
· Rep. Dale Kooyenga: Rep.Kooyenga@legis.wisconsin.gov
· Rep. Rob Hutton: Rep.Hutton@legis.wisconsin.gov
Postcard or letter- Info Table at Wauwatosa Public Library: May 10, 16, 24, 9 am – Noon. Come visit us at the Wauwatosa Public Library, where we’ll have volunteers ready to answer questions about advocating for public schools. We’ll have yard signs for the taking (we’d love donations to help defray costs!), and ideas for how you can support the SOS mission.
S.O.S. Wauwatosa Yard Signs are now available- Contact Sarah Lerand, sjlerand@yahoo.com or text 414-841-3576 if interested in one.
For more information check out our website- http://www.soswauwatosa.org/
Lost & Found
Starting May 15, tables will be set up in the hallway (near Room 14) of all items that are currently in the lost and found. Please consider stopping by to see if anything looks familiar! The table will also be available to look at during the Spring Concert on May 16. On May 19, the remaining items will be taken down and eventually donated. If your kiddo is missing something, please come take a look!
Need Spiritwear?
Do you or your McKinley student need spiritwear? We can help!
Shirt samples will be displayed on the PTO bulletin board outside the office. Orders can be places by emailing tosamckinleypto@gmail.com and will be filled in the order received. Some sizes are sold out! Shirts will be available for pick up in the office every Friday. Payment is due via cash (exact amount please!) or check at pick up.
Teacher Treats
Art Room Volunteers
Looking for an opportunity to get involved in your child's classroom? Please consider volunteering to assist in the art room! Sign ups are available through the link below.
For questions, please contact Lisa Kimpler: lkimpler@yahoo.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/
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 Brian Malloy bmalloy@me.com or Lindsay Stadler lindsaystadler@gmail.com