McKenzie Monitor
January 19, 2018
Thank you!
Thanks to all the families who attended the Open Gym Night. What a great way for the kids to burn some energy on a cold winter evening! Thanks to co-chairs, Kristen Danielson and Marie Hirschle, for organizing such a great event for everyone.
Kindergarten Enrichment Program Survey
Board of Education Meeting 1/22/18 @7pm
The monthly Board of Education meeting is Monday, January 22nd at 7:00 PM at the MEC. Below are a couple of topics that may be of interest. If you can’t make the meeting, you can view it live or later, either on the District website or on Channel 6. Highlights of the meeting will be emailed and posted online within a day or two.
- Interim administrative appointments
- Strategic Plan Updates
- School Calendar - 2018-19
Erin's Law
The State of Illinois passed a bill known as “Erin’s Law,” which requires all public school districts to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. This program teaches students in grades EC-12th grade age appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult.
Erin’s Law is important because child sexual abuse happens every day across the country, across all populations, to children in all socioeconomic and education levels, across all racial and cultural groups, and in rural, suburban, and urban areas. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 18. 90% of child sexual abuse is committed by someone they know and trust.
District 39 will provide a classroom-based program using age-appropriate strategies, language, and materials in grades K-4. Information for Kindergarten and 1st grade will include information from No Trespassing - This is My Body. Information for grades 2-4 will include information from Health World’s, Keeping Kids Safe: An Erin’s Law program (http://www.healthworldeducation.org).
On February 5th-7th these presentations for the Personal Body Safety Program will occur at McKenzie in all K-4 classrooms with the support of our school (social worker, social work intern, or school psychologist). The program is designed to empower and educate the children. These presentations will discuss the following concepts:
- Safe vs. Unsafe touch
- The Safety Rule about Touching (No one should touch your private parts except to keep you clean and healthy)
- Safe vs. Unsafe Secrets
- Uh-Oh Feelings
- Saying no/stop
- Identifying and learning to tell safe adults
- You are the boss of your body
- If someone breaks the safety rule, it is not the child’s fault
If you have any questions about the content of the program, please feel free to contact me at filippir@wilmette39.org. Together we can make sure our children have the right to be safe, and know where to go if they are not.
If you do not wish for your child to participate in this program, please email Nadine Ibrahim at ibrahimn@wilmette39.org by February 2nd.
2nd Posting: Makery Materials Needed
- large boxes (see picture)
- washers (for weight)
- craft sticks/popsicle sticks
straws
toilet paper rolls
3rd Posting: Lost and Found
The 4C's: Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, Creativity
Mrs. Torf's Class: Biography's and plays
Ms. Westendorf's & Mr. Wehman's Class: Climbing and Building
Mrs. Flondro's Class: Moon Phases & Eclipses
PTA News and Information
General Board Meeting is Tuesday, January 23rd at 8:40am in the cafeteria. Join us!
HELP WANTED
Variety Show 4th Grade Ads:
Attention Parents of 4th Graders! It’s a long standing tradition for parents to recognize their 4th graders in the program of our upcoming McKenzie Variety Show. The cost for each ad is $20. Everyone is encouraged to participate, and anyone with financial hardships may have the fee waived by contacting Principal Rachel Fillipi. The deadline to place an ad is Wednesday, January 31st. Click here to purchase an ad today!
Open Gym Nights at McKenzie:
Does your family need an evening to escape the cold and burn off some “snow bound” energy? On selected evenings, the gym is opened up to McKenzie families for some free indoor fun! An assortment of equipment will be available for a variety of activities.
Come to Open Gym Night from 6-8pm on Wednesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 7. Click here for more information and to download a waiver.
OTHER HAPPENINGS
PASS 39 Parents Night Out:
Thursday, January 24th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Valley Lodge Tavern, Wilmette
Sneak away from the nighttime routine for a little merriment with fellow PASS39 parents. We will gather at the Valley Lodge Tavern in downtown Wilmette. The private room has been reserved for PASS39!
Highcrest PTO Nominating Committee:
The HMS PTO is currently assembling the nominating committee to assist with the executive and general board slates for the next school year. We need two reps from each of the elementary schools as well as Highcrest. The PTO is also looking for volunteers for positions on the general and executive boards. If you or someone you know are/is interested in a position on the nominating committee, please contact Lisa Hirschle at nominating@highcrestpto.org by January 31st. If you are interested in general or exec board positions or just want to learn more about them, please also contact Lisa Hirschle at nominating@highcrestpto.org.
Holiday Light Recycling:
Drop off broken holiday lights (any color and length) in the McKenzie lobby (compliments of the Green Team!). You can also recycle lights at Wilmette Public Works Facility (711 Laramie Avenue). The recycling boxes are located in the visitor’s parking lot, (24-hours), until January 31st. Let’s keep those lights out of our landfills!
Community Events
Wilmette Historical Museum celebrates Aftican American History Month February 11th 2:00 - 3:00pm
Wilmette Park District hosts after school clubs for students at Central, Harper, McKenzie January 9 - March 23. Registration began November 28th.
Upcoming Dates
1/19/18
Kindergarten Registration
1/22/18
Board of Education Meeting @7pm
1/25/18
Semester 1 Ends
2/2/18
Half Day of School
Spirit Wear: Emoji Day
2/7/18
Parent Access to Report Cards
2/19/18
No School: President's Day
2/22/18
Open House
About Us!
Email: filippir@wilmette39.org
Website: http://mckenzie.wilmette39.org/
Location: 649 Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, United States
Phone: 847-512-6300
Twitter: @McKCheetahs
School Hours
Kindergarten
Kindergarten AM 8:35am - 11:10am
Kindergarten PM 12:40pm - 3:15pm
Grades 1st - 4th
Monday - Thursday 8:35am - 3:15pm
Friday 8:35am - 2:15pm
Student drop off will begin at 8:20am, and the first bell will ring at 8:30am. Please refer to McKenzie's calendar for important dates/holidays.