McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
May 30, 2017
Co-President's Update
We hope everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful Memorial Day weekend!
Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday, May 31 from 4-8 PM at the Noodles & Company in downtown Wauwatosa on State Street for the last Dine Out Fundraiser of the 2016-17 school year. Be sure to mention McKinley Elementary School (or bring in the green 1/4 sheet flyer from last week's Tuesday folder) when you place your order and 25% of that evening's sales will go directly to support the McKinley PTO. Sales of gift cards are also included in the fundraiser so if you already have dinner plans for that evening, consider stopping by to purchase a gift card for a future meal!
With the last day of school quickly approaching, we know that many of you are focused on getting through the next two weeks of classes and finalizing summer plans for your families. It may seem too early to begin thinking about the next school year, but the McKinley PTO would like to gauge our school community's interest in a new program for the 2017-18 school year: a New Family Mentoring Program. The goal of this program will be to match new families with existing McKinley families who will be available to answer questions and share advice throughout the school year. If you are interested in learning more about this program or if you would like to volunteer to be a Mentor Family next school year, please send an email with your contact information to tosamckinleypto@gmail.com.
Have a great week,
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
May 31 - Noodles Dine Out (Final Dine Out Fundraiser of the year)
June 1 - Field Day; Change to Monday Schedule
June 9 - Last Day of Classes
Noodles Dine Out Fundraiser
Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 04:00 PM
Noodles and Company, Wauwatosa, WI, United States
New Family Mentor Program
Being at a new school is an exciting time for students and parents, but it can also be overwhelming to learn new requirements and meet new people. To help our new families transition smoothly, the McKinley PTO would like to create a New Family Mentor Program. The goal of this program will be to match new families with existing McKinley families who will be available to answer questions and share advice throughout the school year. The mentor program is designed to assist the parents of new students, however, the mentor family's children are not expected to mentor the new students.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this new program, please contact Brian or Lindsay at tosamckinleypto@gmail.com.
Hats off to...
Room Parent Volunteers
The PTO would like to thank all of our Room Parent Volunteers for their help in assisting teachers throughout the school year:
Lori Brandenburg
Audrey Davis
Monica Deluhery
Sara Deutsch
Sarah Dupee
Vanessa Eisenmann
Heidi Engbring
Katie Farwell
Colleen Gohsman
Allison Gugala
Jennifer Jaworski
Andy Johnston
Shalini Khare
Lisa Kimpler
Kristi Knoedler
Robin Lane
Lisa Martinez
Mara Michels
Angie Miller
Carolyn Neikirk
Sara Nencka
Kelly Pastors
Chris Riley
Maura Riordon
Becky Schauer
Jodi Schroeder
Jamie Schwake
Cara Schwantes
Lindsay Stadler
Amy Standal
Jodi Weishaar
Katie Wick
Rachel Woznick
Dana Wurzburger
Jeanie Young
We Need Your Help!
We are still looking for Committee Chairs for the following positions:
City Tin Coordinator/s
1-2 people are needed to coordinate the sale of City Tins. This role involves communicating with City Tins, distributing a flyer in Tuesday folders, compiling order forms, picking up tins, and arranging a delivery day for parents to pick up the tins at school. This fundraiser is usually done in late October start and delivery is typically the 2nd or 3rd week in November. Very minimal time commitment: 3-4 hours, and over a one month period of time.
Art Room Volunteer Coordinator
This person coordinates volunteers to help Ms. Leigh in the art room. This person will communicate with Ms. Leigh to set up a schedule, and recruit volunteers using Sign Up Genius sent out through the PTO newsletter. This position involves 2-3 hours of work spread over the school year.
Green Team Coordinator
The Green Team works with Jenny Leigh and Liz Daily. They hold monthly meetings alternating before school and after school with Green Team members. Committee chair organizes parent volunteers to assist at these meetings. Promotion of McKinley composting program to parents and district. Attend Green Team meeting before or after school for 1-1.5 hrs. to assist with green team projects. Green Team coordinator would also meet with Jenny Leigh and Liz Daily 2-3 times a year to discuss composting initiative.
For more information about these positions, click HERE or contact Kristi Knoedler.
Your Child's Artwork
Can you believe it’s May??
YOU WILL SOON HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE ART WORK MADE BY SOMEONE YOU LOVE!
PLEASE SEND A LARGE SIZE plastic BAG TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME ON IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, FOR EASY TRANSPORT OF ALL THEIR CREATIONS.
ARTWORK WILL BE SENT HOME THE LAST WEEK IN MAY/1st week of June. Questions? leighje@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR!
Ms. Leigh
Attend Tosa's Night Out 2017 and Earn Money For McKinley
Safe Routes to School
The City of Wauwatosa 1st Annual Bike Rodeo:- Saturday, June 24th from 9-noon at Washington Elementary School for ages 4-13.
What is a “Bike Rodeo?” A "Bike Rodeo" is a bicycle safety clinic that includes a ride through a miniature "chalk street" course and obstacles where young cyclists are shown where and how to apply bike safety rules. The City of Wauwatosa Bike and Pedestrian committee is sponsoring the bike rodeo. The WI Bike Federation will run the course; the Wauwatosa Police Department will be provide bike registration; Wauwatosa Health Department will provide bike helmets and helmet checks; Dream bikes will provide bike safety inspections and flat tire changing education stations; PRIZES AND MORE! The event is being held the Saturday before the East Tosa Gran Prix-
To view a flyer about the event, click HERE. To visit the event's website, click HERE.
S.O.S. Wauwatosa
Be on the look out- The Joint Finance Committee will probably release their revised Wisconsin State Budget later this week. Please take the time to reach out and remind your state representatives to advocate for all Wisconsin public school children. FYI- Representative Dale Kooyenga and Senator Leah Vukmir are both on the joint finance committee. Ask your legislators to
1. Raise the revenue cap to restore local control.
2. Increase state aid $300 per year, per student.
3. Pause voucher school expansion until all publicly funded schools have the same accountability measures in place.
By phone (be sure to leave your name, phone number, home address and a message):
· Sen. Leah Vukmir: (608) 266-2512
· Rep. Dale Kooyenga: (608) 266-9180
· Rep. Rob Hutton: (608) 267-9836
By email (be sure to leave your name, home address and a message):
· Sen. Leah Vukmir: Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov
· Rep. Dale Kooyenga: Rep.Kooyenga@legis.wisconsin.gov
· Rep. Rob Hutton: Rep.Hutton@legis.wisconsin.gov
Postcard or letter- Info Table at Wauwatosa Public Library: May 24, 9 am – Noon. Come visit us at the Wauwatosa Public Library, where we’ll have volunteers ready to answer questions about advocating for public schools. We’ll have yard signs for the taking (we’d love donations to help defray costs!), and ideas for how you can support the SOS mission.
S.O.S. Wauwatosa Yard Signs are now available- Contact Sarah Lerand, sjlerand@yahoo.com or text 414-841-3576 if interested in one.
For more information check out our website- http://www.soswauwatosa.org/
Need Spiritwear?
Do you or your McKinley student need spiritwear? We can help!
Shirt samples will be displayed on the PTO bulletin board outside the office. Orders can be places by emailing tosamckinleypto@gmail.com and will be filled in the order received. Some sizes are sold out! Shirts will be available for pick up in the office every Friday. Payment is due via cash (exact amount please!) or check at pick up.
Teacher Treats
Office Max / Office Depot Fundraising
This year Office Max/Office Depot stores are offering local schools the opportunity to partner in a fundraising activity. 5% of all qualifying purchases made by parents or teachers for the entire year will be donated to the school in the form of a merchandise credit. McKinley's master ID # is 70113794. For more information, visit http://www.officedepot.com/a/content/back-to-school/5percent/
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 Brian Malloy bmalloy@me.com or Lindsay Stadler lindsaystadler@gmail.com