McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
October 19, 2020
Presidents' Update
Thank you Dana Wurzburger for coordinating the first fundraiser of the school year and all of you who supported McKinley and Colectivo. The community fundraiser raised $151 for McKinley.
With fundraisers from dine outs, boxtops, spring flower sale, AmazonSmiles, book fairs, Sendiks Grill Out, spirit wear, we are able to provide all the McKinley students this year with a variety of virtual experiences from First Stage. The lessons will harness live-theater elements like role-playing, speaking out loud, imaginary play, song and dance, while supporting both fundamental literacy skills and the Common Core standards.
Below are several titles that the teachers will be able to select from and then incorporate into their lesson plans for the remainder of the year.
Story drama:
· Kitten’s First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes
· Elephant and Piggie, by Mo Willems
· The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
· If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff
· The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
· Grumpy Bird, by Jeremy Tankard
· Frog and Toad, by Arnold Lobel
· Pete the Cat, by James Dean
· The Three Little Pigs
· Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems
· The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt
· The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
· The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper
· Ferdinand the Bull, by Munro Leaf
· How I Became a Pirate, by Melinda Long
These are Arts-Integrated lessons:
English Language Arts
o Letter Detectives (lower elementary)
o Fractured Fairy Tales (lower elementary)
o Super Creative Writing (upper elementary)
o Greek Mythology (upper elementary/middle school)
Social Studies
o People in our Neighborhood (lower elementary)
o Heroes of Yesterday and Today (lower elementary/upper elementary)
o Les Paul, Wizard of Waukesha (upper elementary/middle school)
Science
o Cycles in Nature (lower elementary)
o Invention Convention (upper elementary)
Social Emotional Learning
o Differences (lower elementary)
o Bully Ban (upper elementary)
So, thank you for your continued support and generosity to the McKinley PTO.
In this edition of the PTO newsletter look for more information about:
- Calling All Boxtops
- Buy the Teachers Lunch
- Online Book Fair
- McKinley Spiritwear
- MKEing Coffee Fundraiser
- Virtual McKinley Mile
- Upcoming Dine Outs
- Fall Food Drive
- Amazon Smile
Have a great week and don't forget to run the McKinley Mile!
Kayla Merker and Mike Hansen
Important Dates to Remember
Calling All Boxtops - It's Collection Time
Reminder...Calling all Box Tops! It is fall collection time! Dig through those drawers, pull those clips out and bring them to school!
Though most of us are scanning those receipts and gaining credit through the app (at least I hope so :-) there are some products that still have the traditional Box Top clips.
As in the past, please count the number of clips you have, put them in a Ziplock bag and label the bag with the quantity. There will be a box located outside the main door to McKinley School, on the 89th St side, so when you come to drop the kids off or pick them up from school just drop off the baggies in the box and we'll take care of the rest! The collection period will go through October 26th. Every clip counts and is money towards the school so lets get as many of those clips in as we can!!
And remember to check the new Box Tops app for special deals and bonus opportunities!
https://www.boxtops4education.com/Find%20Offers
For any virtual families out there with Box Top clips, email me (wvonrueden@gmail.com) and I can either get the clips from you or provide more information on how to submit them from home!
Any other Box Tops related questions, don't hesitate to reach out...Wendy Von Rueden (wvonrueden@gmail.com).
Buy the Teachers Lunch!
Support a Tosa small business and the McKinley teachers during the upcoming "conference season" by buying the teachers a boxed lunch from Miss Molly's on October 22nd.
Click on the link here:
https://www.missmollyscafe.com/lunches-for-teachers
Miss Molly's will donate 10% of the sales back to McKinley.
Online Book Fair
Due to COVID, the McKinley Fall Book Fair has moved ONLINE! You are invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online from November 9-22, 20202! All purchases benefit our school by generating Scholastic dollars to be spent by teachers and staff. We receive 25% of the profits as Scholastic Dollars. This helps connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more.
You’ll love the NEW option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy these special online shopping features:
· Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs
· All orders ship direct to home
· FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25
· All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Stay tuned! A link to this online book fair will be sent closer to opening of the fair.
McKinley Spirit Wear Online Store
Start shopping HERE.
MKEing Coffee Fundraiser Begins October 26th
Thank you to Chad Johnson co-founder of MKEing coffee who joined us at our PTO meeting. He introduced us to a great fundraising idea for the holidays. Starting October 26th, McKinley will be selling coffee, tea and hot cocoa. Orders can be placed from Oct 26-Nov 9th. What an awesome way to get your holiday shopping off to a great start! Money raised will continue to support a family in Wauwatosa for the holidays through Tosa Cares and to support McKinley teachers and families. Be on the lookout on how to order.
Virtual McKinley Mile 2020
The Virtual McKinley Mile is underway! The leaderboard is live! Check it out to see which grade level is in the lead!
Details and answers to all your questions are available here. Students can report finishing the Mile and (if they choose) their mile times here. Again, there is NO FEE and NO NEED TO PRE-REGISTER! Just get out there and get moving. With your help and participation, we can make this a great event worthy of this 30+ year tradition. As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at mckinleymiletosa@gmail.com. Thanks, and Go McKinley!
Regards,
Dave Farwell
Chair - McKinley Mile
Upcoming Dine Outs
Thank you to all who participated in the Colectivo fundraiser last week! The community fundraiser made $151.05 for our school
For two days (Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th) Ray’s Wine and Spirits on North Avenue will contribute 5% of sales that use this specific web address for purchases on those two days only: https://www.rayswine.com/?utm_source=McKinleyElementary No code is necessary but you must use that link. Curbside orders scheduled through that link and purchased on 10/29 or 10/30 will count towards the fundraiser and are encouraged but in-store purchases that mention McKinley those two days will count as well. While in previous years parents have gathered in the Growler Gallery on Ray's fundraiser nights, COVID has forced us to change this and promote the curbside pick-up option instead for this year. Make any Halloween or holiday gift purchases while supporting McKinley!
Join us for a fundraiser with Chipotle to benefit McKinley Elementary PTO on Wednesday, November 4th (at the 2711 N Mayfair Rd Ste A in Wauwatosa location). On Wednesday, November 4th between 4:00pm and 8:00pm when you either bring in the attached flyer, show it on your phone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause, 33% of the proceeds will be donated to McKinley Elementary PTO. NEW! ORDER ONLINE FOR PICKUP Use code DAAJWW4 before checkout in the ‘promo’ field. Orders placed on Chipotle.com or through the Chipotle app for pickup using this unique code will be counted towards the fundraiser! Pick up is in store (sorry, doesn't apply to delivery). Thank you for your support!
On February 2nd 2021, MOD Pizza in the Village will donate 20% of all purchases that mention McKinley that day (10:30 am - 9 pm). Pick-up can be really easy if you order online at https://orders.modpizza.com/ for the location at 7470 W. State Street, Wauwatosa and use the promo code "GR162861M" so the order counts for McKinley.
Thank you to all families for your participation in the Dine Out events so we can generate income for the PTO/McKinley students! Best, Dana Wurzburger
Fall Food Drive
The Wauwatosa Recreation Department and Tosa Cares are teaming up for a great cause. We are hosting a Food Drive and one you don't even need to get out of your car for! 2020 has been difficult year and families are in need of help. Please show your kindness as we head into the Holiday Season and donate at our Food Drive. We will be in the Fisher Administration Building East parking lot.
Please donate Non-Perishable food items for the Tosa Cares food pantry.
Volunteers will be on sight to unload donated food items from your vehicle.
Support McKinley Elementary Through AmazonSmile
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.
Please plan to attend the PTO Meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the followings date:
January 14th
March 11th
May 12th
For more information about how you can become involved in PTO efforts, contact Kayla Merker at kaylamerker@gmail.com or Mike Hansen at academymike@gmail.com