McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
August 14, 2017
President's Update
18 Days Until the First Day of School!
This Thursday, August 17th, class lists will be posted on the wall outside of the main office and the Forms and Fees Packets will be available for pick up from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. As you look through the packet, please keep an eye out for the following PTO documents:
2017-18 McKinley Directory Sign Up (Forms & Fees Worksheet)
McKinley Mile Entry Form
Spirit Wear Order Form
2017-18 List of Volunteer Opportunities
If you have any questions about any of the information in the Forms and Fees Packet or anything else about the upcoming school year, please feel free to contact me.
Enjoy the last weeks of summer break!
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- August 17th 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. - Forms & Fees Packet Pick Up & Class List Posting
- August 22nd 1 - 5 p.m. - Forms & Fees Drop Off & Photos (in the Gym)
- August 28th 5 - 6 p.m. - JK Meet The Teacher (Junior Kindergarten Only)
- August 29th 5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - SK - 5th Grade Meet The Teacher
- August 29th 6:30 - 7 p.m. & 7- 7:30 p.m. - Parent Information Night Sessions
- August 29th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Popsicle Social (North Playground)
- September 1st - First Day of School
- September 4th - Labor Day (No Classes)
- September 7th 6:30 - 7 p.m. - Mechanics of McKinley Presentation
- September 7th 7 - 8 p.m. - First PTO Meeting of the 2017-18 School Year
- September 8th - Spirit Ware Order Forms Due
- September 28th - McKinley Mile
New McKinley Spirit Wear is Here!
Last school year McKinley unveiled a new school logo and mascot. No longer the McKinley Mounties, we are now the McKinley Mountain Lions and what better way to show your school pride than by sporting some new spirit wear!
New this year…
Choose Your Own T-shirt or Sweatshirt Color and Design!
Create your own t-shirt and/or sweatshirt by choosing either a red or grey shirt and adding either the new McKinley “M” logo or mountain lion mascot logo.
McKinley Elementary Car Magnets
Show your McKinley Elementary pride everywhere you go with this logo car magnet.
For a sneak peak, click HERE
Look for your order form in the Forms & Fees Packet available for pick up starting on Thursday, August 17th from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. outside the Main Office.
Forms & Fees Packet Pick Up Day Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help distribute school kits in the gym during Forms & Fees Packet Pick Up Day on Thursday, August 17th. We need a volunteer to staff the following shifts:
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Volunteers are welcome to bring their children for their shift!
If you are able to help, please contact Lindsay Stadler.
SK Lunchroom Volunteers
During the first few weeks of school we will need parent volunteers to help the SK students at lunch time. If you have a child entering SK, you will be receiving an email soon with more information.
Classroom Parent Volunteer Sign Up
If you are interested in being a classroom parent volunteer for the 2017-18 school year, please sign up by August 15th. Room parent assignments will be posted on August 17th along with the class lists.
To sign up to be a Classroom Parent, click HERE.
New Family Mentor Program Update
Within the next couple of weeks we will begin to pair up our new incoming McKinley families with veteran mentor families who have volunteered to be a part of the New Family Mentor Program this year. If you are interested in being involved, there's still time!
There are 42 new families joining McKinley during the upcoming school year. It is our goal to have each new family paired with a veteran family before the school year begins. As of today, we have 33 veteran McKinley families signed up. We would love to have 9 more families join us!
If you are interested in becoming a part of this new program, please contact Paige Brown or Lindsay Stadler.
Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination is back for another school year! We had an amazing inaugural year last school year! McKinley not only had 7 teams, but also had 2 of our competitive teams take home trophies at the Regional level and one team making it to State! Quite a feat for our kiddos and managers.
What is DI? DI is an international program that allows students to be involved with creative problem- solving. McKinley students in 1st and 2nd grade can join as “Rising Stars”; 3rd -5th graders can join a competitive team. Students work as a team to solve an open-ended problem, or “challenge from the below categories:
- Technical - prompts students to complete tasks by using engineering, research, strategic planning, and related skills.
- Scientific - blends the research and curiosity of science with the thrill and creativity of the theater arts.
- Engineering/Structural - asks teams to design, build and test load-bearing structures out of specific materials.
- Fine Arts - students flex their acting and artistic muscles as they explore some of our most fascinating works of literature and media.
- Improvisational - is all about spontaneity and storytelling. Teams receive topics and produce skits right on the spot.
- Service Learning - is designed to engage students in community service to address real community issues through personal expression.
The McKinley DI teams will be determining teams based upon a student's interest. Here is a link describing more specifically the 2017-2018 challenges - https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/2017-18-challenge-previews/. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s up to the team to solve their challenge!
Thinking about becoming a team manager? Each team will have one to two adult co- team managers supervising the work, but the adults have a “hands off” role in helping the students with their challenge. Here is some additional information to give you an idea of what your responsibilities would be - Destination Imagination – So You’re a Newbie Team Manager
Registration fees are $50 for a Rising Star student and $85 for 3rd-5th graders on a competitive team. These fees help pay for T-shirts, challenge supplies, and other program expenses. Team managers have the option of collecting an additional fee of $10 to $30 per student, depending on the needs of the team, to pay for snacks additional materials and supplies, etc. Full and partial scholarships may be available based upon need - please contact Monica Deluhery for more information.
We hope to have all the teams set by the end of September/beginning of October with teams starting to meet shortly thereafter. The season usually runs through mid-March.
If you or your student is interested please email Monica Deluhery at Monica.Deluhery@gmail.com by September 18.
Look for a DI flyer at the PTO table at Forms/Fees Day on 8/22
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 Lindsay Stadler lindsaystadler@gmail.com