McKinley Monthly
March 2018
A Word from Mrs. Hoffmann
Dear McKinley Families,
When we first take a look at the March calendar, many of us at school think, “Wow. March is a long month with few breaks...” Then we realize there is so much happening, the month will surely fly by.
Yesterday was the District Art Show opening at Metcalf’s. Artwork will be on display until March 21. We start today with March Madness sports day and kick off our McKinley Messengers Coin Drive for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The assembly this afternoon will include representatives from LLS to present information about this cause. I realize there have been many drives at McKinley this year, yet please note that this one is close to the hearts of many students, staff members, and our families. The Messengers chose to support LLS because Boden Unger, one of our fifth grade Messengers, has a brother, Bennett, who attended McKinley and underwent cancer treatment through his last two years here. Many of you know the Unger family and Bennett, too. We are happy to know that Bennett, a student at Whitman now, has been cancer-free for a little over a year.
Next week Tuesday, March 6, is Hoops for Heart; the PTO meeting is Thursday, March 8; and the staff vs. student basketball game is next Friday, March 9. For that game, all fourth and fifth grade students who want to play need 15 red tickets. Any other student (grades K5-fifth) who want to watch need 15 tickets as well. The week of March 12, Tuesday folders will be sent home on Friday, March 16, with report cards. Also, on the 16th, first through fifth grade students will attend a severe weather assembly with Channel 58’s chief meteorologist, Drew Burgoyne and the morning news meteorologist, Chris Nelson. It’s a fun, educational, interactive presentation that teaches kids how to be safe in severe weather.
Sunday, March 18, is the date for both the All City String Festival and the State Tournament for Chess. We have a number of students who hope to do both!
Monday, March 19, the traveling troupe of Wauwatosa Children’s Theater will present The Emperor’s New Clothes. This year we have 13 students participating in the WCT’s production, with Audrey Jahr, Mitchell Schmitt, Charlie Tiefenbrun, and Olivia Watters performing in our shows, and Elliott Engbring, Nina Klein, Isabella Miller, Claudia Rahn, Henry Riorden, Henry Rommelfanger, Cecile Rowe, Molly Smale, and Morgan Strath performing at other schools in the area.
Wednesday, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day. First observed in 2006 by Down Syndrome International, the 21st of March was officially declared World Down Syndrome Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011. People all around the globe will be celebrating by wearing socks to get people talking and asking questions about Down Syndrome. Be colorful and wear “not just any socks, brightly colored socks, mismatched socks, long socks, printed socks, one sock. Maybe even three socks, one for each chromosome.” Click here to find out more.
Speaking of socks, on March 23, we will be dancing the night away at the sock hop, and Saturday, March 24, one of our Destination Imagination Teams— #flyingwonders—will bring their presentation skills to Stevens Point for the State DI Competition. Just a few days later, on March 27, the Wauwatosa School District Choral Festival will be at West.
Sometimes when the weather is iffy and the weeks are long, it is nice to have lots of diversions. With all of this activity, is there any time for academics? Of course! In fact, third, fourth, and fifth graders will be showing their skills on the Wisconsin State Forward Exams from the week of March 9 through March 29. Also, if you want to get a glimpse of what is happening in the area of mathematics, please take a peek at this month’s episode of the Mechanics of McKinley: MATH.
February “Thank You’s” go out to everyone who worked to put together Family Fun night, Winter Walk to School Day, and dinner for staff on conference night. We appreciate the dedication and abundance of time given by our families!
See you at the Adult Social on Saturday! Have a wonderful and active March, everyone!
Mrs. Hoffmann
McK Attendance Line 773-1502
Dates to Remember
Please mark these dates on your calendar:
March 3 - Adult Social
March 6 - Hoops for Heart - grades 3-5
March 8 - PTO Meeting
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day - Lots of Socks!
March 23 - Sock Hop
March 30-April 6 - Spring Break!
Every Hero Needs a Squad - Pennies for Patients Drive
This year McKinley Elementary will be participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients Drive – raising money to help cure Blood Cancer. We are joining over 27,000 schools across the nation to make a difference. Over two weeks (March 1- March 14), our school will be working to reach a goal of $1,500. A letter and money collection box will be coming home with each child on March 2nd following an assembly where they will learn more about the current campaign, “Every HERO needs a Squad.” This drive hits close to home as many of you know, Bennett Unger, older brother to 5th grader Boden Unger, fought and beat Leukemia while he was here at McKinley.
McKinley Messengers Serve a Meal
Seven McKinley Messengers, two siblings and their parents served a meal at Harambee Kitchen, one of the St. Vincent de Paul meal sites, on February 10th. Harambee Kitchen, located in the basement of All Peoples Church, serves a free meal five days a week in central Milwaukee.
The McKinley Messengers did a wonderful job of bringing the McKinley Message (Respectful, Responsible & Caring) to the community with their service at Harambee Kitchen.
Cold Weather
We go outside every day, unless the weather is extreme. Our district rarely closes, since few students in the district stand outside to wait for buses. District policy is that a “feels like” temperature of five below is the standard for indoor recess; however, we will be reasonable with the call. Negative five degrees and sun with no wind after a week of 20 below can feel like a welcome heat wave; whereas, negative five with biting wind feels terrible for kids having to be out for 20 minutes.
Chess Club Holds Tournament at McKinley
Our first tournament at McKinley went great! Everything went smoothly and kids, parents and coaches had a great time. Attending were nearly 100 kids from several SE Wisconsin schools including Golda Meir, and several New Berlin and Muskego Schools.
We divided the McKinley kids into three divisions, placing some of our kids in the K-12 division to play against older kids. The team members did very well in K-12, fighting hard, with Ishaan Pattankar winning a 5th place trophy, and other players like Henry Riordan and Kate Flint winning games against older and stronger players. With only 3 players, we took 2nd place as a team to Golda Meir, who had 7 players in their K-12.
McKinley kids really shined in K-3 especially! Nolan Krueger and Charlie Desplaines both went 4-1 to take 2nd and 3rd place out of the 27 players in this division. Many of our K-3 players won 3 out of 5 also - Brady Malloy, Manisha Kumar, Miles Jahr - Brady and Miles in their first tournament! We took home 1st place in K-3, beating the Muskego and Orchard Lane and Poplar Creek teams.
Zach Brunow led our K-6 players with 3.5 out of 5, with Connor Dee winning 3 out of 5 and many others with 2.5 or 2 wins. We took 2nd place in K-6, being edged out by a half-point by Golda Meir's strong K-6 club, but beating a large club from Muskego.
Christine and Tim Brunow coordinated the food, and created some great signs for doors and hallways, Maura Riordan coordinated school logistics, Heidi Engbring got us all matching T-shirts so we all looked like one big team! Several parents cooked baked goods which made profit for the club! So many people to thank I don't know where to start or end. Several other parents pitched in with setup and cleanup. Special thanks to coaches Robin Grochowski and Kyle Jain who volunteered all day long to help kids with games while Mark was helping in the tournament room. With all the help, we started on time, and were done and cleaned up by 3:30. Thanks to Principal Jean Hoffmann for her support of the club- she has been great! Also thanks to custodian Lourdes for her help the morning of the tournament.
-Mark Seghers
Here is a link to the full tournament results.
http://www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org/websource/web/results/McKinley%20Results%20.pdf
Ms. Kumferman’s Korner
News from your School Social Worker
*A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated new or gently-worn winter items such as snow pants, boots, mittens, hats and scarves. We are restocked for the rest of this winter and have been sharing items between the other elementary schools in the district when a particular item or size is needed. McKinley appreciates your generosity so that all students can be properly dressed and outfitted for our winter weather.
__________________________________________________________
Emergency Snacks- Just a reminder that the emergency snacks are for those students who aren’t able to bring a snack to school, or they miss breakfast. We also are here to help out if a student occasionally forgets a snack. It has come to our attention that some students are often not eating their own snack sent from home because they prefer what’s offered via the emergency snacks. We know parents and guardians supply those snacks with the intent that their child is eating it and don’t want them to go to waste, so please have a chat with your child and remind them that the emergency items are just that. We are happy to help those who need them! Thanks!
__________________________________________________________________
Milwaukee County’s Community Information Hotline:
If you are in need of emergency shelter, food programs, housing, healthcare, legal support or clothing, you can contact Impact Community Information Line by dialing 2-1-1 or (866)-211-3380. This info line is available Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. They will take your information and provide you with available resources.
Office Max / Office Depot Gives Back
* * Tosa Cares * *
Tosa Cares is a local, non-profit organization located in Mount Zion Lutheran Church that helps families with food donations and so much more. Here are the dates for the monthly food distributions. You are encouraged to contact Linda Ertel before you come either by email Tosacares@gmail.com or phone 414-861-4725, or you can just show up on one of these dates.
2018 dates:
March 10
April 28
June 16
Aug 11
Sept 29
Nov 17
Tosa Cares is also always looking for donations of food, or cash. There are 3 permanent donation sites/times which you can find on their website: tosacares.org
Here is a list of the most needed items:
- Cereal
- Nonperishable fruits, vegetables and juices
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Spaghetti sauces and noodles
- Pastas and rice
- Canned protein, such as chicken, tuna and beef stew
- Snacks such as granola bars, crackers, popcorn and cookies
- Packaged dinners, especially those with meat
- Hearty soups
- Toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes, paper towels and tissues
- Personal care items such as shampoo, hand soap, lotion and toothbrushes and tooth paste
- Dish soap and laundry soap
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