McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
April 29, 2019
President's Update
Every year McKinley's outgoing 5th Grade Class is interviewed about highlights from their time in elementary school. Every year the top response among all 5th Graders is High Interest Day! If you've been able to be a part of the HID in the past, you've see just how special this day is for McKinley. Students beam as they rotate from session to session, often times bringing home projects or goodies that they have created throughout the day. As you can imagine, there is a lot of time and hard work that goes into planning and preparing for this memorable day. From recruiting and organizing presenters, organizing session requests and schedules for all 400+ McKinley students, lining up volunteers and coordinating supplies for the day of the event and coordinating breakfast, lunch and snacks for all presenters and volunteers, the High Interest Day Committee begins planning for this important day months in advance. Thank you to Bridgid Bedingfield, Paige Brown and Kristin Brewster for your time and energy planning and coordinating this year's event. Thank you to Kelly Rifelj and Liz Russell for arranging food throughout the day for the many presenters and volunteers. A special thank you to Heidi Engbring for helping transition this year's HID Committee.
So who funds this extraordinary day? You do! High Interest Day is one of the largest areas of funding that the PTO supports each year coming in at a cost of around $5,000. Thank you to all of the families who have volunteered, participated in and supported PTO fundraisers throughout the year. Your efforts make a difference for all McKinley students!
There is a lot going on at McKinley as we near the end of the school year. This week's newsletter contains important information about:
- Spring BoxTops for Education Campaign
- The Last PTO Meeting of the Year
- Kids Trivia Night
- Yo Mama Dine Out Fundraiser
- EFW Run/Walk Packet Pick Up
- 2019/20 New Family Mentor Program
- 2019 Plant Sale
- Online School Supply Orders
- Bike to School Day
- BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
- Spring Bake Sale
- Green Team Fundraisers
and more....
Have a great week,
Lindsay Stadler
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- May 3rd - Plant Sale Orders Due
- May 6th-10th - Spring BoxTops for Education Collection
- May 6th - Kids Trivia Night Registration Deadline
- May 7th - Online School Supply Orders Due
- May 8th - Bike to School Day
- May 9th - Last PTO Meeting of the 2018-19 School Year
- May 10th - Kid's Trivia Night
- May 10th - Yo Mama Dine Out Fundraiser
- May 15th & 16th - Spring BOGO Book Fair
- May 21st - Spring Band, Chorus & Orchestra Concert
- May 27th - Memorial Day; No Classes
- June 4th - JK and New Student Meeting
High Interest Day Thank You
Fire Safety House Thank You
Spring Box Tops for Education Collection May 6th-10th
Send your neatly clipped and counted (in sets of 50) BoxTops to your child’s teacher. The classroom that collects the most will win an ice cream party!
*If you would like to volunteer to help count the Box Tops, please contact Sarah Atols at matols@wi.rr.com.
Last PTO Meeting of the 2018-19 School Year
The last PTO meeting of the 2018-19 school year is Thursday, May 9th at 6:30 PM. I encourage anyone who is interested in having input on next year's PTO events, programs and initiatives to attend this meeting. We will focus on evaluating our 2018-19 events, programs and initiatives to determine what will remain on the 2019-20 calendar and what will not. During this meeting we will also be voting in our incoming Board members. If you have input that you would like to share but are unable to attend the meeting, feel free to forward your thoughts to me and I will be sure to include that feedback in the conversation.
Lindsay Stadler
Kids Trivia Night May 10th!
Kids Trivia Night
Friday, May 10th
6-8 p.m.
Kids will participate in teams of six to answer trivia questions, geared towards varying grade levels, during multiple rounds of emcee led questions. Kids can form their own team of six, a partial team or register as an individual to be placed on a team. Every team must register with an adult team captain who will attend the event with the team.
Registration:
Teams will compete in one of two divisions based on grade level. Teams can be made up of mixed grade levels within their division:
Division A - Grades JK-2
Division B - Grades 3-5
Cost:
$5/child
Registration Deadline:
Advanced registration is required by Monday, May 6th.
If you have any questions, contact Lindsay Stadler at lindsaystadler@gmail.com
Yo Mama Dine Out Save the Date
Thanks again, Dana Wurzburger
EFW Run/Walk Packet Pick Up
There will be no packet deliveries to schools this year. Please make arrangements to pick up your packet during one of the days and times noted.
Packet Pick Up at Bowlero (11737 W. Burleigh Street, Wauwatosa)
May 1 from 12:00 Noon - 8:00 p.m
May 2 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
May 4 from 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. at event site.
New Family Mentor Program Volunteers Needed
McKinley's New Family Mentor Program connects existing McKinley families with families new to McKinley with the goal of welcoming new families to the school as well as providing a resource for information and questions throughout the school year.
In order to make this program successful, we are in need of veteran McKinley families to volunteer to be mentor families this year. The time commitment is minimal and the impact is lasting. Please consider becoming a Mentor Family by contacting Paige Brown at brownpa@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
2019 Plant Sale
Online School Supply Orders Due May 7th
Every year McKinley offers families the option of ordering all of their school supplies online. This is not a fundraiser for McKinley - just something we do to assist our families getting ready for a new school year.
This year we, again, are partnering with School Kidz to offer you a chance to order school supply kits online. The sale is available only online. You should have received a flyer in Tuesday folders on April 9. The sale ends on May 7.
The flyer will include a website and account number. Please be sure to order the correct grade level kit for your student - order for the grade level they will be in next year - 2019-2020.
When ordering please note the 'components/description' section, which lists additional items the teachers have requested, that might not be available online or that are not required for the entire class.
Please use your child's legal first and last name when ordering - no nicknames.
Contact Charlotte Garder at garderch@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us with any questions.
Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 8th!
Celebrate 8 years of Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8th!!
Bike, (or Walk or Scoot) to School Day is Wednesday, May 8th. We are so excited to see everyone out of their cars and enjoying some fresh air and exercise before school.
Do you live too far? Consider parking 2-3 blocks away and coming to school. Or you can join the McKinley Bike Train escorted by the Wauwatosa Police Department.
What is a bike train?
A bike train is a fun way to get to school as a group! Children bicycle under adult supervision along a recommended route to school. The bike train will start at the Koch house at 2510 N 86th St. Please arrive at 7:50am, the “train” will depart at 7:55 am for McKinley. We will plan on riding as a group in the street. Students may join the BACK of the bike train at any point along the route. Students must be comfortable biking in a group and MUST wear helmets. Parents are encouraged to ride along with the students, but this is not required.
The Safe Routes to School Committee is looking for your help in making year 7 extra special. As in the past, we will have:
Bike helmets and helmet fitting checks before and after school (Suggested $10 donation for helmet to McKinley PTO).
Bike Safety Checks
City of Wauwatosa Bike Registration before and after school- Wauwatosa Police Department. Bring all your bikes to be registered. Registered bikes are easier to recover if lost or stolen.
Bike to School coloring contest sponsored by Double- Boldt Realty Group (coloring pages went home in last weeks red folder, see office if you need another one).
We need your help before and after school with these activities. No experience necessary. Sign up at: https://signup.com/go/QJAfdXc
BOGO Scholastic Book Fair May 15th & 16th
Mark your calendars! May 15-16 will be the favorite Buy One, Get One free Scholastic Book Fair in the McKinley Gym. New this year, parents can set up an e-wallet for your kids. We have heard the dreaded, “Hey it’s book fair day, can I have some money” and you go look in your wallet and no cash! Simply go to McKinley’s Book Fair page between May 1-16 and set up an account:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/mckinleyelementaryschool40
Also, this book fair cannot happen without volunteers . . . if you have never volunteered before, this is a great place to start. It’s easy and we will take whatever time you can give to help make this happen. We always have snacks, too! Here is a link for a sign up:
Spring Bake Sale May 21st
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING BAKED GOODS, AND WORKING THE SPRING BAKE SALE MAY 21st, 2019
**IDEAS** ** COOKIES ** CUPCAKES ** DIPPED PRETZLES ** FUDGE ** SMALL CAKES ** BROWNIES ** PURCHASED ITEMS ARE OK, TOO! These are just ideas. Use your imagination!
Please have baked goods ready for sale. They should be packaged in small quantities and labeled with allergenics (peanuts and dairy). Please place your goods at the table outside of the office on Tuesday May 21st.
All proceeds are donated to the help with the 5th Grade Celebration.
Bake sale hours: before and after the Spring Concert
Student Artwork Coming Home!
Dear McKinley Families,
It has been a productive year in the art room!
All that productivity has created some amazing pieces of art and it is almost time for your child’s own personal art show. Please send a bag, larger than grocery store size, for your daughter or son to take home their art.
Art will come home starting the week of 5/20.
Thank you for another wonderful year.
Ms. Leigh
Green Team Fundraisers
There will be two end of year fundraisers to support the Green Team:
Compost Sale
We'll be selling 20 lb bags of compost for all your lawn and gardening needs. This is premium compost from Blue Ribbon organics, where all of McKinley's food scraps are taken and turned into compost! Please look for the flyer coming home in your child's Tuesday folder soon!
Locally Designed Rain Barrels
Look for rain barrels that were designed by local artists and painted by children and adults at Tosafest. The barrels will be displayed on McKinley's campus throughout the month of May. More information to come regarding how you can make one of them your own!
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year Campaign
Our youngest son, Luke is a 4th grader at McKinley. The last time we had a son in 4th grade was 2012. During the 2013-2014 school year, our then 4th grade son’s friend and classmate, Bennett Unger was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The McKinley community rallied around Bennett and his family during their journey through treatment and eventual moment he was declared cancer free in December of 2016. We are grateful that Bennett is now a healthy 9th grader at Tosa West, but also grieve for the loss of 4th grade McKinley student Claire Denson on the one- year anniversary of her passing from brain cancer, April 20, 2018.
Why are we sharing this today? Because most of us know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. The Unger family continues in their fight to support research for blood and other cancers. On behalf of the Unger family, we are asking for your support.
Bryce Unger, Bennett’s father, is currently fundraising with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) through the Man & Woman of the year campaign. LLS has made a significant difference supporting clinical research to Beat Blood Cancer. In the past two years, 34 of the 39 new drugs approved for blood cancers were supported by LLS. These therapies are now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers, and noncancerous diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Soon they may be used for other cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS also provides financial, information and social support for those diagnosed with blood cancer.
You can learn more about their efforts and how to support them at: https://pages.mwoy.org/wi/wi19/bunger
Thank you. Sarah Lerand, A.J., Aidan and Luke Grove
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please check with your financial advisor if you have more questions.
Junior Trojan Volleyball Club Parent Meeting
Hello 4th and 5th Grade Parents!
Is your child interested in the sport of volleyball? If yes, come to the Junior Trojan Volleyball Club parent meeting on April 30th at 6:30pm in the Whitman Middle School library. This meeting is for parents who are new to the Junior Trojan club. Come learn about the club and what steps to take so your child can join the 5th and 6th grade teams forming for fall 2019.
If you have any questions, please email juniortrojanvolleyball@gmail.com
Teacher Treat Sign Up
If you'd like to show your appreciation to the McKinley teachers and staff by bringing in a treat for the teacher/staff lounge, please sign up for a day by clicking HERE.
Art Room Volunteer Sign Up
Please consider signing up to volunteer in your student’s art class by clicking HERE. K5 classes meet twice a week for 45 minutes. 1st to 5th grade classes meet once a week for an hour. It’s a fun opportunity to help kids express their creativity. If you can help mount or hang art at other times, please contact Heidi Engbring at hengbring@wi.rr.com.
Support McKinley Elementary Through AmazonSmile
If you plan to do some holiday shopping using Amazon this year, please consider selecting McKinley Elementary PTO - Wauwatosa as your Amazon Smile charity. Remember, always start at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.
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