McKinley Monthly
July 2017
A Word from Mrs. Hoffmann
Dear McKinley Families,
I hope that you are having a wonderful summer filled with quality family time as well as quiet moments for rest, relaxation, and exploration! It has been great seeing many of you out and about! Time is passing quickly, but there is still much summer to enjoy.
These past weeks I have spent much of my work time focusing on my end-of-the-year review. Academically, in terms of our Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) data we have seen some nice gains in reading and a slight dip in math. We are all optimistic that a more coherent math curriculum will help address our short-falling there. Now teachers will have the materials and the support to make better use of their teaching time. They will be able to provide true differentiated experiences to allow all students appropriate mathematical opportunities. Our Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) data for students Junior Kindergarten through second grade is strong. I am still waiting for information on the Forward Exam. When we receive those results, parents of students who took that State-required test will receive the individual results reports.
I also took time to dig into the results of the School Perceptions Survey that many parents completed online. I received some great feedback that reminded me about why I want to come to work everyday. We have an amazing community with strong teachers who care, and an active parent community. There were also suggested areas to grow and ways to get better. I learn from your feedback and take it to heart. It was interesting to me that some parents perceived that behavior incidents were higher this year, but I’d like to report that this year again we saw a good decrease in “major” infractions, even with more diligent reporting from teachers. I believe the proactive and concerted efforts between staff, administration, the district, and parents work to make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow. In the survey, 94.8% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “My child feels safe at school”; our goal, of course, is 100%. With a number of parents perceiving bullying as a concern, I understand, as this is an area of concern in most schools, our communities, and in our nation. We all must continue to increase our awareness as a staff, student body, parent group, and community, promoting civility, kindness, acceptance, and tolerance for all. I also understand that there is a concern about enforcement of consequences. Please know that parents cannot be privy to the consequences or supports put in place to address other students’ misbehaviors. I can tell you that each year we learn more, tighten our systems, and create more effective responses to help to address problems. We always aim to teach students new, appropriate ways to respond in frustrating situations when needed.
In response to the question “what is the best thing about this school?” many respondents mentioned our total dedication to the children. One comment summed it up nicely: “The communal environment where administration, teachers, parents and kids all work together and care for each other.” This is a good place to be! Let’s keep working together to keep McKinley strong. Thanks to everyone who completed the survey, and I want to thank all parents for their partnership throughout the year. I am around most of the summer, and my door is always open for you.
Have a great remainder of the summer!
Mrs. Hoffmann
Dates to Remember
Please mark these dates and times on your calendar if you have not done so already:
* July 22nd Tosa Wellness Run
* August 2nd 7:00 a.m. GE Community Day (please reply to this email if you plan to help
with cleaning, organizing, painting, landscaping or general help. Adults only please.)
* August 2nd Tosa Night Out at the Zoo: https://www.tosasnightout.org/event-register/
* August 17th 9 am – 5:30 pm Form Pickup Day and Class List Posting; Spirit wear order forms will be available, as well!
* August 22nd 1 pm – 5 pm Fees, Forms, and Photos in the gym
* August 28th 5 pm – 6 pm Junior Kindergarten Only!
Meet the teacher 5-5:30 pm and Parent Info Session 5:30-6 pm. There will be a PTO presentation for new JK families in the multipurpose room from 6-6:15 pm for those who missed the June 6th presentation.
* August 29th 5:45 pm – 6:30 pm Meet the teacher for Senior Kindergarten through 5th grade:
students are invited to come in with their school supplies during this time. At 6:30 pm they will be asked to head to the playground for popsicles while parents stay for the
Parent Info Sessions:
6:30 – 7 pm Session one
7 – 7:30 pm Session two - for families with more than one child at McKinley
7:30 – 7:45 pm PTO Presentation in the Multipurpose Room for new McKinley
families who missed the June 6th orientation. Learn how to stay informed and become involved!
* September 1st First Day of School! (Yes, on a Friday!)
* September 4th Labor Day, no classes
* September 7th 6:30-7 pm Mechanics of McKinley and 7 pm PTO meeting in the Library, 2nd floor. All are welcome to attend! Please enter on 90th Street and come up the stairs. The library is the first door on the right.
* September 8th Spirit wear orders due
GE Community Day
Staffing Update
Julia Oschwald will join us as a third grade teacher. Julia has five years teaching experience and knows McKinley well. She served as Jennifer Botelho’s long-term sub last spring when she returned to Wauwatosa after working in Alaska and the American Samoa. Her diverse experiences, deep content knowledge, and strong desire to become involved in the community made her stand out in the interview process. A graduate of Tosa East, Julia has a connection to the district and an understanding of the value of our public schools. She is happy to be joining the McKinley family. We welcome her back and know that Mrs. Wendland and Mrs. Petri are as excited to work with Julia as Julia is to work with them! They will make an outstanding third grade team.
Junior Kindergarten: Karen Mott joins us as a Junior Kindergarten teacher for the 2017-2018 school year. Karen will be teaching a morning session in room 13. Karen comes to us from Waukesha Montessori and prior to that Nautilus Elementary in Federal Way, Washington. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, has a Masters in Teaching, and has worked as a district level math leader. She impressed the hiring team with her knowledge of differentiation, especially for four year olds who come to school with varying school experiences and readiness. Her lesson sample had students engaged and loving their learning. It was well-planned, active, and focused. Karen is a Wauwatosa resident and has children at Eisenhower. She is excited that this part-time opportunity affords her the time to be with her family while also staying involved in her passion for teaching. Welcome Karen!
Katrina Madden will be here part-time as our math instructional coach. We will share her with Roosevelt. Katrina’s knowledge of our new math curriculum, Investigations 3, her passion for mathematics, her amazing energy, and her coaching qualifications will surely benefit McKinley’s teachers as they navigate the new math curriculum. Katrina has a Masters in Mathematical Leadership and has presented at the Green Lake Math Conference the last four years. She worked in South Milwaukee for eight years. Her husband is a teacher at Cudahy High School, and she has two girls, Lucy who is four and Violet who will be one in July. She loves to run in her free time and is always on the look-out for a new running partner! She is excited to come to Wauwatosa and share her love for math.
This year, shifting schedules means all of our specials teachers are shared with other schools. As a result we keep Mrs. Merriman for grades SK through third and bring on Ms. Suzanne Graber, who also teaches at Washington, for our fourth and fifth grades and choir. Mrs. Merriman will also teach all grades at Montessori and will direct the Montessori choir. Ms. Graber has been with the Wauwatosa School District for 16 years and is highly regarded by staff, students, and parents for her ability to build a strong music program. Welcome Suzanne!
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:
August 22nd (Forms & Fees) 1-5 PM
You can also contact them on their customer service line: 855-287-2466
Chess!
Looking for something to do? Chess coach, Mark Seghers, and other volunteers of the McKinley Chess Club will be at the Landing at Hoyt Thursday evenings June 29 through August 31 from 6:30-? with chess boards for those who would like to play!
Girls on the Run
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.
Amazon Smile
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:
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