McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
September 11, 2017
President's Update
Did you know that McKinley Elementary has one of the strongest PTO/PTA groups in the entire Wauwatosa School District? Parental involvement is the backbone of our organization both through fundraising and volunteerism. Now that we are back in full swing with the new school year, I encourage you to consider ways in which you can get involved throughout the year. With so many events, clubs and fundraisers, there are so many ways for you to participate. Whether you have few or many hours to spare, whether you can work from home or be at school, there truly is something for everyone!
Please take a moment to visit our Online Volunteer Sign Up Survey. Here you will find more information about all of the volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. This survey is the best way for us to determine which programs have enough support to continue into the school year. The survey will only be available through September 22nd, so be sure to sign up soon!
In this week's edition of the PTO newsletter look more information about:
- Whole Foods Community Day
- Adult Social - Save the Date
- Noodles Dine Out Fundraiser
- Destination Imagination
- The McKinley Mile
- Safe Routes to School
- School Directory Advertising Opportunities
- Support our Schools (S.O.S.)
- Marketing Committee Opportunities
- Community Happenings
- PTO Links, Flyers & Forms
Have a great week!
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- September 20th - Whole Foods Community Day Fundraiser, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- September 25th - Noodles Dine Out Fundraiser, 4- 8 p.m.
- September 28th - McKinley Mile
- October 3rd - Photo Retake Day
- October 4th - Walk to School Day
- October 12th - PTO Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Library
- October 12th - Ray's Wine & Spirits and Growler Gallery Dine Out Fundraiser
- October 18th - Jason's Deli Dine Out Fundraiser, 5-9 p.m.
Whole Foods Community Day Fundraiser
Head to Whole Foods (Wauwatosa location only) anytime between 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20th and 5% of the net sales will be donated to McKinley!
Not only groceries, this fundraiser includes purchases from the beer & wine department, vitamins & supplements, hair/body/facial care items, gifts and toys from the Whole Body department as well as any purchases made from the Juice Bar, Coffee Bar and Tosa Tavern located inside the store. Whether you're starting your day with a cup of coffee or freshly squeezed juice and a bakery treat, stocking your pantry or stopping by the Tosa Tavern for a glass of wine or one of the 20 unique craft beers on hand, every purchase made that day will go to support McKinley.
Adult Social - Save the Date
Noodles Dine Out Fundraiser
Destination Imagination - Sign Up Now!
Still on the fence?? There will be a DI parent info session on Monday 9/18 at 7pm in the McKinley cafeteria. A representative from Tosa DI will provide a brief overview presentation of DI and answer questions.
What is DI? DI is an international program that allows students to be involved with creative problem- solving. McKinley students in 1st and 2nd grade can join as “Rising Stars”; 3rd -5th graders can join a competitive team. Students work as a team to solve an open-ended problem.
The McKinley DI competitive teams will be determined based upon a student's interest. Here is a link briefly describing more specifically the 2017-2018 challenges - https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/2017-18-challenge-previews/. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s up to the team to solve their challenge! Each team will have one to two adult co- team managers supervising the work, but the adults have a “hands off” role in helping the students with their challenge.
For incoming 3rd-5th graders interested in DI - please complete the following survey to help determine teams. https://goo.gl/forms/qlEozIaiWaxHOUIo1
Registration fees are not set yet, but they are approximately $50-70 for a Rising Star student and $80-100 for 3rd-5th graders on a competitive team. These fees help pay for T-shirts and other program expenses. Team managers have the option of collecting an additional fee of $10 to $30 per student, depending on the needs of the team, to pay for snacks, materials, and supplies. Full and partial scholarships may be available based upon need - please contact Monica Deluhery for more information.
We hope to have all the teams set by the end of September/beginning of October with teams starting to meet shortly thereafter. The season usually runs through mid-March.
If you or your student is interested NOW IS THE TIME to contact Monica Deluhery at Monica.Deluhery@gmail.com
McKinley Mile September 28th!
Regards,
Dave Farwell
Chair - McKinley Mile
Safe Routes to School
Thank you to the 5th grade McKinley Messengers and their parents for greeting students the first week of school- Jane and Ellie Scholtus, Sarah and Olivia Dupee, Jenni and Abigail Tank, Ellen Mack and Xavier Crum, Angela and Isabella Miller, Ava Schwantes, Nora O’Toole, Addison Scharlau, Chloe Standal, Kate and Peter Neugent, Jenny Jablonsky and Ben Wozniak, Milo Hagopian, and Niamh Wick.
Families who filled out interest forms in the Walking School Bus program have been contacted. We look forward to our 5th year of the walking school bus program. We have 4 walking school buses this year.
Wednesday, October 4th is Walk to School Day! McKinley has been celebrating Walk to School Day for 8 years. We are looking for guest walking school bus leaders. Please contact Sarah Lerand, sjlerand@yahoo.com if you have any ideas or contacts with local dignitaries.
We are excited to have apples, provided by Firefly Real Estate and an all school assembly on the playground featuring the McKinley Students performance of the Pedestrian Safety Dance!
Help needed to set up, pass out apples at Walk to School Day- Sign up here. http://signup.com/go/bVboGwk
Did you know that McKinley SRTS won the national bike to school day raffle? McKinley received n 10 new bikes and 20 helmets. GE volunteers built the bikes this summer. The bikes will be used for programs for the younger elementary students. Please consider signing up to be a part of the committee developing a biking program for younger students. http://signup.com/go/hKSZfpZ
McKinley Directory Advertising Opportunities
If you run your own business, the annual McKinley directory is the perfect way to reach almost 300 local families.
The ad options and rates are as follows:
- Business card sized: $25 (approximately 3-1/2” x 2”)
- Quarter page: $50 (3-1/2” x 5”)
- Half page: $100 (3-1/2” x 10” or 7” x 5”)
- Full page: $150
- Full inside front cover: $200
- Full inside back cover: $250
For all ads purchased at $50 or more, we will include an additional FREE listing on our “tear sheet” that parents can remove from the directory and keep handy for quick reference. If you choose, you can include a discount or incentive on the tear sheet OR we will simply include your business name and contact information.
If you are interested in placing an ad in our directory, make your check payable to: McKinley PTO, with a memo designating the payment for “2017-2018 Directory Advertising”. You can drop your check in the office. The deadline for all ads is September 15th.
The directory is printed in black and white, so please keep that in mind as you develop your artwork. The file should be saved in PDF or high-resolution .jpg format and emailed to me at hengbring@wi.rr.com. The directory will be distributed to McKinley Elementary school families in October. Thank you in advance for supporting McKinley Elementary School!
Support our Schools (S.O.S.)
Support Our Schools (SOS) Wauwatosa is a parent-powered, nonpartisan, grassroots non-profit that believes in and advocates for public education in Wauwatosa and throughout Wisconsin. They have a website, https://www.soswauwatosa.org and a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/soswauwatosa. You can check out the website to become a member. They are currently looking for new board members. If you are interested or want to know more, please contact Sarah Lerand.
Recent budget news from SOS:
“On August 28, 2017, the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee met and voted on the 2017-2019 State Budget. This was not the final step towards passage; the budget will next be reviewed by the full State Senate, State Assembly, and then signed by Governor Walker.
We are pleased that the public education advocacy work by Support Our Schools (SOS Wauwatosa) and similar advocacy groups across Wisconsin is paying off and making a difference. After six years of cuts, flat budgets and minimal increases, we were relieved when the Governor proposed an increase in per pupil funding of $200 for 2017-2018 and $204 for the following year. We saw this as a bare minimum and hoped for more, but recognized that it was an improvement. Fortunately, the Joint Finance Committee voted in support of that increase.
Other changes are being proposed in this budget, and we think it’s a good time to review the three main things SOS Wauwatosa has been advocating for over the past two years:
Increase the state imposed revenue cap so districts can make decisions locally about how much money they want to spend and the types of programs they want to offer in their district.
Increase state aid by $300 per pupil, per year, and stop efforts at the state level to place more of the costs for funding public schools onto local property taxpayers.
Pause the statewide voucher school expansion until these schools are held to the same accountability measures as our public schools so taxpayers can be assured of their performance.
Unfortunately, this budget falls short on all three items:
Although the low revenue adjustment under revenue limits was increased for a small number of districts, the state imposed revenue cap for most districts was not increased. It is our understanding that Senator Luther Olson and Representative Joel Kitchens are convening a committee in the coming year to review and simplify the state funding formula, increase transparency, and reduce the use of “categorical aids”; we will be following their efforts closely and will hope for significant improvements.
Public education advocacy groups all across Wisconsin were asking for a state aid increase of $300 per pupil, per year, because we are concerned about public education. Many schools are struggling to make ends meet, and polls consistently show that the vast majority of Wisconsinites value their public schools and want to see their funding increase. According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers’ Alliance, our state recently dropped below the national average in per pupil funding; we believe this trend needs to stop.
Instead of a pause in the statewide voucher school expansion, the Joint Finance Committee voted to increase the number of families statewide who will qualify for taxpayer-funded vouchers to send their children to private schools. Some changes were made to accountability measures (e.g. for the first time, the Department of Public Instruction will have the authority to demand background checks for staff in voucher schools), but they are still not held to the same standards as public schools. The bottom line is that we continue to be very concerned about the increasing diversion of public funds to private schools.
Moms, dads, grandparents and citizens all across Wisconsin are proud of our long tradition of quality public schools. As we’ve said before, we believe that public schools are the heart of our communities and the key to a prosperous future for our state. If ultimately passed as currently proposed, this year’s budget is a small step in the right direction, but our advocacy efforts will continue in earnest. We believe our kids deserve better.”
New! Marketing Committee
Looking for a way to help out the PTO from the comfort of you living room? Consider joining the PTO's Marketing Committee. Help is needed in the following areas:
Website Design
Website Coordination
Newsletter Production
Contact Lindsay Stadler for more information.
Community Happenings
Cub Scout Pack 116
Cub Scout Pack 116 will be having a meet the Pack meeting Tuesday September 12 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the McKinley Lunch room. If you are interested in joining the Pack please attend this meeting and learn about the scouting program and activities our Pack is involved in. If you can not attend this meeting and are interested in joining the Pack, please contact Darren Engbring at Darren.engbring@altertrading.com or AJ Grove at mizzoutcu72@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/
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