McKenzie Monitor
March 15, 2024
Principal's Message - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Dear McKenzie Families,
Our staff is looking forward to parent-teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday of next week. These days are extremely important to our team, as we value the home-school partnership and know it is vital to our students' success.
Registration still remains open for our conferences next week. The registration window will close on Monday at 11:59 pm. Video conferences within the Meet the Teacher registration system, as well as in-person conferences will be accommodated to meet the needs of all families. To ensure that we can accommodate all families and provide each one with the dedicated time they deserve, we kindly request that each family only choose one time slot for their child's conference. In addition, we ask all families to only schedule conferences during the district conference days.
Whether meeting via video or in-person, we ask that families be on time for their conference and stay mindful of the 20-minute time slot. The Meet the Teacher video conference will begin (and end) promptly at the designated times, with a visible clock to help participants manage your time.
We look forward to meeting with you!
Dana Nasiakos
Parent Placement Input - Due April 8th
We are approaching the time of the year when we begin to consider our student placement for next school year. Student placement will continue to be a collaborative, individualized process. The placement process includes a review of each child's individual learning and social-emotional needs with a team of teachers, including your child's classroom teacher, the specials’ teachers, and resource teachers.
Although we feel confident in our ability to appropriately place your child, we do welcome parent input. If you feel that extraordinary factors exist that the school should be aware of, please answer complete and submit this form by April 8th. These factors might include your child's special learning needs and social-emotional development. Please do not include teacher requests, as every child’s experience with a teacher is unique.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. We will work diligently to ensure the most appropriate placement for every student.
*Please note that a separate incoming kindergarten form will be sent to all incoming kindergarten student families in May. Highcrest Middle School will also be sending out a parent input form for our all incoming fifth grade students.
Thank you,
Dana Nasiakos
IAR Testing for Families of 3rd and 4th Grade Students
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the state mandated assessment for students enrolled in public schools. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative data forms a complete picture of a child’s academic progress. IAR contributes one data point among many others. Although this assessment is administered in the spring, the results arrive from the state during the following academic year.
McKenzie School will administer IAR assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math to 3rd/4th grade students between April 2nd and April 11th. Please limit doctor appointments and other family obligations during this testing window. Also, there is nothing to do to prepare for this test besides a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast!
Specific dates and times for your child’s classroom will be sent by your child’s teacher.
Upcoming Dates
March 21, 2024
Early Dismissal for Students @ 11:55 am - Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 22, 2024
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 25-29, 2024
No School - Spring Break
Updates from D39
Register for Elementary Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences
Elementary school spring parent/teacher conferences will take place next Thursday and Friday (March 21-22). Registration for conferences will close on Monday (March 18) at 11:59 pm, so please be sure to schedule your time. As in the fall, we will be using the Meet the Teacher platform for these meetings. Video conferences are encouraged and set as the default within the registration system; however, requests for in-person conferences will be accommodated.
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education will gather on Monday, March 18 at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center for its monthly business meeting. During this meeting, the Board will approve student fees for the 2024-25 academic year in addition to hearing committee reports. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings will be posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.
Parent Education Event
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday for our Parent Education event, “School Refusal and Encouraging Positive Attendance.” A recording of the presentation is now available online. Additionally, the presenter shared some valuable resources that are available below. We hope that you find them helpful as we all work together to ensure consistent, in-person learning for our students.
Registration is open for our next Parent Education event, “Social Emotional Considerations in the Digital Era,” on Wednesday, April 10. Please visit our D39 Parent Education website for our full schedule of events, registration links, and archived recordings.
District SEL News
We had a great parent education event this past week discussing attendance and promoting positive attendance. As we get closer to spring break, we know the disruption in routine can be difficult for our students, and can often create stress as they return to school after a break like this. See below for a couple of helpful ideas to ease that transition back to the school routine and support positive attendance habits after a long break.
While on break, try to keep your child’s AM routines as close to normal as possible. This is especially important in the couple of days leading up to the return. Have your child get up at their regular school-day time, eat breakfast and get ready for the day, and maybe even plan an activity to take place at the same time as their start day.
It is important to also encourage your child to get back into their nightly routine and school-day bedtimes in the 2-3 days preceding the return. This will help to ensure they are caught up on sleep and ready to go the first morning back.
If possible, keep some connection to the school while school is not in session. This might be by having a play date or connecting your child with friends from school over break, or going to play at the playground during the break.
Have a wonderful Spring Break, and enjoy the time away! We can’t wait to see you in April!
PTA News and Information
Join the PTA - Open positions 2024-2025!
The PTA is still looking to fill the following positions for next year: Treasurer Elect, PTA membership Chair, Graphics Chair, Parliamentarian, District39 Liaison, and PASS39 representative. Please contact Rachel Gold at pres_elect@mckenziepta.com if you’re interested!
PTA Survey
Thank you to those who have completed the PTA survey! This is a friendly reminder to please spend 5 minutes providing important feedback to the PTA as we plan for the next school year. Even if you have current 4th graders, we would love your input on your thoughts and experiences. Click HERE for the survey. Thank you in advance for your participation!
McKenzie Movie Days! March 21 and 22 at the Wilmette Theater! Buy tickets HERE!
Save the Date: McKenzie Garden to open Monday April 8!
Hurray! It's almost time to open the McKenzie Garden! Students are invited to visit our school garden when open at recess most Mondays and Fridays in the spring and fall. Parent volunteers help in the garden when open during recess- students can join simple activities (think planting bulbs, sprinkling seeds) or on occasion a nature based craft or game (weaving nature looms, stuffing scarecrows etc.) Activities are designed to be extremely simple to lead and do not require a green thumb!
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for a recess volunteer sign up genius in the weeks ahead. Interested in learning more or volunteering to join the McK garden committee? Email Ryann.olson@gmail.com or katebschmitt@gmail.com!
4th Grade Parents - Join the 2024/25 Highcrest PTO Board!
The HMS PTO has openings on executive and general board for next school year! They're looking for people with a variety of interests and experiences. Want to learn more? Email Jocelyn Shook at legislation@highcrestpto.org or Jen Englehaupt at president@highcrestpto.org
Save the date for the Inaugural Dinkin for a Cause - Benefiting the D39 Educational Foundation on April 27th. Pickleball is fun, social and friendly! Tickets go on sale April 2, 2024 at 10am at d39foundation.org. Join us for an exciting evening of the fastest-growing sport in America, light snacks and drinks. All skill levels are welcome.
Cafeteria Volunteer Signup – January through June!
McKenzie welcomes volunteers to help in the cafeteria during their child's lunchtime. Please click HERE to sign up. Thanks to all the cafeteria helpers! Please contact cafeteria@mckenziepta.com with questions.
Birthday Books
Sponsor a new library book in honor of your child's birthday! They will pick from the librarian's selections, will be the first to check it out, and have a dedication sticker added. Summer birthdays are celebrated on half birthdays. Don't forget to both fill out the form and check out. https://www.mckenziepta.com/birthday-books
Library Volunteer Signup
Spend 30-60 minutes shelving returned books in the Learning Commons (and say "hi" to your child during their library/tech class). Please click HERE to sign up.
Trex Plastic Bag and Film Challenge
Through June 30th, you can recycle Plastic Bags at McKenzie through the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge! The Green Committee is looking for parent volunteers to help with weekly recycling hauls. See our Sign Up Genius to learn more!
D39 Parent Education Events
Community News
Regular School Hours
Kindergarten
Academic Kindergarten AM: 8:35 - 11:55 am
KEEP39: 11:55 am - 3:15 pm *Friday: 11:55 am - 2:15 pm
Grades 1 - 4
Monday - Thursday: 8:35 am - 3:15 pm *Friday: 8:35 am - 2:15 pm
**First bell rings at 8:30 am.
About Us
Email: nasiakod@wilmette39.org
Website: mckenzie.wilmette39.org/
Location: 649 Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6300