McKinley Monthly
February 2016
A Letter from Mrs. Hoffmann
Dear McKinley Families,
Amid all of the hard work that I see going on each and every day here at school, it was such a pleasure to have so many fun things going on in January. Last week alone was jam-packed with two spirit days (career day and the regular Friday spirit day), the Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby, the district Spelling Bee in which Anna Muma placed 5th and will advance to the regionals in Pewaukee this month, and the PBIS rewards dance, which was a great hit with all of those who chose to participate.
February, too, will prove to be full of wonderful opportunities for learning and play. Looking at our lineup of fabulous activities and events this month I feel that Valentine’s Day is just another day that might even get lost in the fray!
Next week is National Start With Hello week, so we will celebrate friendships with a couple of special activities: Hey Day on Monday and Random Act of Kindness on Thursday. Look for more details elsewhere in the newsletter.
February 15th we do not have school, but since it is International Angelman Day and we have a student with Angelman Syndrome, we will have activities throughout the week to learn more and to celebrate our friend.
Wednesday, February 17th is Winter Walk to School Day; Friday the 19th is Family Fun Night; and for those who like theater, you may want to catch the many McKinley student actors who will be on stage performing in Tosa East’s Beauty and the Beast the last two weekends of February.
Leap Day, February 29th, students will see the Wauwatosa Children’s Theater’s presentation of Cinderella, and we may even have a PBIS surprise reward celebration that day.
Wow! So much! So wonderful!
Something new for February: spring conferences in the district have changed. You should have already received information through Tuesday folders and email about accessing the online SignUpGenius system. If you have questions or comments about the new policy, I look forward to an open conversation. I know that Dr. Ertl and the School Board will be interested in the feedback that principals receive from our communities.
I wish you all a month of love and laughter, heartfelt connections, and an abundance of warm friendships. I see these everyday in this building and during evening activities as well. The connectedness of the McKinley community is something to be proud of and to continue to foster. I continue to explode with gratitude for all we have to celebrate in this caring community.
Happy February, everyone!
Mrs. Hoffmann
Lunch and Recess Supervisor
McKinley is looking for a part-time lunch and playground supervisor. Please consider for yourself or pass on to someone you know who would be a good fit for McKinley.
http://services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/pub/ss_vacancy.cfm?ID=26220
School Day Stability
National Start With Hello Week
National Start With Hello Week is February 8 –12th. Start With Hello is a prevention program that teaches children how to be more socially inclusive and connected with each other. Start With Hello asks students, educators, parents and other community leaders who interact with children to take steps in class, the lunchroom and/or other times in their day to be inclusive and connected. To promote this message, the week of February 8-12th, McKinley will be doing the following school wide activities:
HEY DAY, Monday, February 8th: Students and staff throughout the school will be wearing name tags all day. The mission for the day is to say Hello or Hey and meet someone you don’t already know.
Random Act of Kindness Day Thursday, February 11th: The goal today is to do something kind for someone other than a close friend. Parents, we need your help for this one! We are asking that you sit down with your child(ren) and make a plan for one random act of kindness they could provide that day. Then remember to ask them about it after school. Need some ideas?
Write a generic nice note to pass to someone you don’t know
Help someone in need
Ask someone to play you normally wouldn’t
Compliment someone
Smile or wave to someone new
Hold a door open
Be more positive toward someone
Befriend someone new
Post an inspiring quote at school
Be creative! Come up with your own Random Act of Kindness
In addition, the PBIS Team and the McKinley Messengers will be starting Start With Hello Ambassador Program. This program will ensure that students that are new to McKinley are introduced to our McKinley Message and feel connected as they begin at their new school.
Flyers
As always be sure to read the community flyers on the district website.
http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/Wauwatosa_School_District/Community/Community_Flyers
Attendance Line
DATES TO REMEMBER
Feb 11 Random Act of Kindness day
Feb 15 No Classes
Feb 18 & 23 Elementary Conferences
Feb 19 Family Fun Night
Feb 24 Winter Walk to School day *** note the date change
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is starting up again soon! Please see this flyer for more details:
http://www.edlinesites.net/files/_NBHyL_/ecafdf3e70f4b1643745a49013852ec4/GOTR_poster-McKinley.pdf
Milwaukee Public Television Writers Contest
The MPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest is a local contest that encourages children in grades K-3 to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original pieces. Complete your original illustrated story by Friday March 25th and send your entry to the Milwaukee Public Television for judging. Stories will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. The winning story will air on MPTV!
Please go to http://www.mptv.org/kids/writing_contest2016/ for more detailed information.
Composting Assembly
Thank you so much for your continuous support of the composting initiative!
We really appreciate that we were able to assemble together as a school on December 7 and celebrate the good we are doing for the earth through our partnership with Melissa Tashjian. Congratulations to all of the Minute-To-Win-It winners!
Library News
We would like to remind families that Overdrive is available to them through the school district libraries to download free ebooks and audiobooks from us.
Eisenhower Resale
Eisenhower Elementary will be holding a Children’s Clothing and Toy Resale in March and we would like to invite you to become a Seller!
If your closets are overflowing, but you dread having a garage sale, you can turn those unwanted items into cash by letting Eisenhower have the sale for you. We accept baby clothes, baby furniture and equipment, boys clothes up to size 18-20, girls clothes up to Junior sizes, toys, books, games, sports equipment and so much more! Register as a Seller for a $5 fee. We provide you with tags and you set your own prices. The week of the sale, you drop off your items at Eisenhower and let us do the rest. 60% of the sale price will go to you and 40% will go to Eisenhower. Seller Registration will take place inside the main entrance of Eisenhower Elementary, 11600 W Center St, on Tuesday, February 9th, 8-10 AM and 4:30-8 PM and on Wednesday, February 10th, 4:30-8 PM. Please contact Amy Johnson (414-302-0657 or amyrcb@gmail.com) or Jenny Conway (414-465-1908 or jennyrodgers79@hotmail.com) for more information.