McKinley Monthly
April 2018
A Word from Mrs. Hoffmann
Hello McKinley Community!
Welcome to April! I hope you are having a wonderful start to your Spring Break. It was fun last week, hearing about the various plans for the week off. Some are staying home; some are going away; and many visits to family are planned. However you spend your time away from school, I wish for you rich moments of connecting, making memories together, and enjoying each other.
Those of you sticking around, perhaps I will see you out and about! If you are in town, you can visit the library and check out the Wauwatosa Library's Elementary Art Exhibit from March 27 through April 24. Thanks to Mrs. Leigh for her hard work in setting it up! Sunday April 8th at 2:00 you can visit AMC Mayfair to see A Wrinkle in Time. Proceeds from this showing will benefit the 5th Grade Class as they fundraise for their completion ceremony and legacy gift.
Last month’s newsletter was filled with so many amazing activities--I want to thank everyone who made each of our events special. The adult social was so much fun, as was the sock hop. Congratulations to our Chess Club--they won State! See the details in Mr. Segher’s recap below. Our Destination Imagination team #FlyingWonders also deserve a big congratulations for their good showing at State in Stevens Point. Right now our Battle of the Books teams are busily preparing for their competition against Eisenhower and Roosevelt on June 1st. I love to see how engaged and motivated students become when given these opportunities. Thanks to all of the parents and community volunteers who make these things happen.
Right away when we are back from break--Tuesday, April 10th--Math Night returns to McKinley, with lots of enhancements. Be sure to check out the PTO Newsletter for details. Our Orchestra and Choral festivals are behind us, but coming up this month is the All City Band Festival. It is sure to be a delightful show, Wednesday, April 11th at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center. April 12th is Severe Weather Day in Wisconsin--the day we hold a tornado drill at school.
For kids who love to write and illustrate stories, please check out the information about the Publishing Center. All students have the opportunity to create a book, if they would like. I have included the information in this newsletter in case you missed the PTO’s weekly. Senior Kindergarten students will be making a book as part of their classroom work. First through fifth graders can receive a packet for creating their book at home and can return it to school to have it finished.
I know that preparations for High Interest Day are well underway for April 27th, and the excitement is starting to build! For those of you looking for an excuse to clean out your closets, make a note on your calendars that April 28th our Green Team will be hosting a textile drive. Please see the flyer in this newsletter or those posted around the building for information about acceptable and unacceptable goods for this collection.
As the weather begins to warm up, students often want to play longer on the playgrounds after school. Please note district policy states that students are welcome to stay with an adult, since we do not have playground supervision after school. We also can’t allow students back into the building to use the restrooms if they are not with Right at School aftercare or an after school supervised activity. We know that some kids run home, check in with their adults, and then come back to play. If that is the case, please remind them they should return home if they need a drink or need to use the restroom. Please feel free to give me a call if you have questions about these policies.
April will be over in a flash, with only three weeks left once we return from break. Notice and enjoy the signs of spring all around our building, and have a great month!
Mrs. Hoffmann
*** McK Attendance Line 773-1502 ***
Dates to Remember
Please mark these dates on your calendar:
April 2 - World Autism Day - Wear Blue!
April 10 - Math Night
April 27 - High Interest Day
THE MCKINLEY PUBLISHING CENTER IS BACK!
Starting this week, every student in 1st through 5th grade can sign up to create a book. Each student who signs up will receive a book packet with all the information and materials needed to create a one-of-a kind keepsake. Students can sign up online using the link below. Volunteers are also needed to type and assemble books. Please visit the volunteer link to sign up. Contact Lori Brandenburg at Crashburg@yahoo.com with any questions.
Book Sign Up, Click HERE.
Volunteer Publishers & Typists Sign Up, Click HERE.
Wauwatosa Library Elementary Art Exhibit!
The Wauwatosa Library Elementary Art Exhibit is opening soon. The show will be displayed within the children’s area of the Wauwatosa Public Library at 7635 W North Ave. The show begins Tuesday, March 27 and runs through Tuesday, April 24, 2018. This is a district-wide show that features over 1000 pieces of artwork from students in kindergarten through fifth grade. McKinley students will have more than 200 pieces on display!
You are invited to stop in and see the artwork anytime during library hours until May 2nd.
EFW Help Needed
Green Team
Service Project
Pennies for Patients - Every Hero Needs a Squad
Destination Imagination
Congratulations to the #Flying Wonders who took 9th place overall in the state Destination Imagination tournament this past weekend in Stevens Point. Molly Hambrook, Ceili Callahan, Brielle Willems, Addison Scharlau, Claudia Rahn, Abbey Tank and Ava Schwantes dedicated five months to work on their project. You represented MCKinley so well and should feel proud.
A special thank you to Mrs Hoffman who traveled to Stevens Point to serve as an appraiser for our team. Your commitment to the students is appreciated.
And thank you to Monica Deluhery who has stepped up two years in a row to bring Destination Imagination to the MCKInley community.
McKinley Chess Team - State Champs!
As you've probably heard by now... the McKinley kids won the state elementary championship!
Great performances by all - everyone contributed.
The school gets the traveling trophy for a year to display (a nice silver cup with our name engraved as 2018 champ), and a nice wooden trophy to keep. Some other kids got trophies and medals too.
Contributors for the state team were (top four scores counted for team win, and every kid contributed at least one win to the victory):
1. Ishaan Pattankar (5 out of 6) - trophy for team, plus trophy for 6th place overall
2. Max Kuhn (4.5) - trophy
3. Louis Liu (4) - trophy
4. Charlie Des Plaines (4) - trophy
Zach Brunow - medal
Henry Riordan - medal
Connor Dee
Jack Sanders
Marissa Brunow
Derius Lucas
Kate Flint
Henry Rommelfanger
Elliott Engbring
Lukas Marik
Matthew Jaworski
John Des Plaines
Ms. Kumferman’s Korner
News from your School Social Worker
Camps for Kids
Established in 1994, the mission of Camps for Kids is to provide life changing, first-time resident camp experiences for children in Milwaukee County.
Camps for Kids offers a unique opportunity to youth ages 8-15 to attend an overnight, residential camp in Wisconsin. Each camp provides exciting activities and a chance to meet new friends and learn in a safe environment.
To Participate:
Camps for Kids provides a one-time scholarship to youth who qualify so that they may attend an overnight, residential camp in Wisconsin.
Students must be ages 8-15 and meet the following criteria:
Reside in Milwaukee County
Eligible for free or reduced school lunch
Has not previously attended camp through the Camps for Kids Program
First-time campers from families with limited financial resources are referred to Camps for Kids from over 25 agencies. Based on their interests, parents match their child with one of the participating American Camp Association accredited camps in Wisconsin.
Check out their website for possible camps and more information: http://campsforkidsmke.org
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Check it out! Another great resource for a guide to all types of summer camps and summer opportunities:
https://milwaukee.citymomsblog.com
A Resource of Day Camps, Sports & Dance Programs, Engineering Camps and so much more from all over the greater Milwaukee Area!
Cold Weather
We go outside every day, unless the weather is extreme. Our district rarely closes, since few students in the district stand outside to wait for buses. District policy is that a “feels like” temperature of five below is the standard for indoor recess; however, we will be reasonable with the call. Negative five degrees and sun with no wind after a week of 20 below can feel like a welcome heat wave; whereas, negative five with biting wind feels terrible for kids having to be out for 20 minutes.
Office Max / Office Depot Gives Back
* * Tosa Cares * *
Tosa Cares is a local, non-profit organization located in Mount Zion Lutheran Church that helps families with food donations and so much more. Here are the dates for the monthly food distributions. You are encouraged to contact Linda Ertel before you come either by email Tosacares@gmail.com or phone 414-861-4725, or you can just show up on one of these dates.
2018 dates:
March 10
April 28
June 16
Aug 11
Sept 29
Nov 17
Tosa Cares is also always looking for donations of food, or cash. There are 3 permanent donation sites/times which you can find on their website: tosacares.org
Here is a list of the most needed items:
- Cereal
- Nonperishable fruits, vegetables and juices
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Spaghetti sauces and noodles
- Pastas and rice
- Canned protein, such as chicken, tuna and beef stew
- Snacks such as granola bars, crackers, popcorn and cookies
- Packaged dinners, especially those with meat
- Hearty soups
- Toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes, paper towels and tissues
- Personal care items such as shampoo, hand soap, lotion and toothbrushes and tooth paste
- Dish soap and laundry soap
McKinley contact info
Website: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/McKinley_Elementary_School
Location: 2435 N 89th St, Wauwatosa, WI, United States
Phone: (414)773-1500