McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
February 10, 2020
Presidents' Update
Hello McKinley Families,
Are you looking for ways to give back to McKinley so we can continue providing amazing opportunities for our children and teachers? If so, consider volunteering at the Family Fun Fest, being a basket coordinator for the Adult Social, bringing in treats for the teachers during the upcoming conference dates, or handing out hot chocolate on the winter walk to school day. Please read below in detail all the ways you can get involved.
In this edition of the PTO newsletter look for more information about:
- Kids Trivia Registration
- Donate for Teacher Conferences
- Family Fun Fest
- Volunteers for Egg Drop Session
- Winter Walk to School
- Basket Coordinators Needed
- Dine Out Schedule
- 5th Grade Celebration Fundraiser
- Teacher Treat Sign Up
Don't forget to register for the 2nd Annual Kids Trivia Night, Friday, February 21st at 6:00 p.m. for registration and 6:20 p.m. begins the first round of trivia. Click HERE for a printable registration form.
Have a great week!
Kayla Merker and Mike Hansen
Important Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar
- February 13th &18th - 4:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Conferences
- February 17th - No School JK - 12 and Saz's Dine Out
- February 21st - Trivia Night and Winter Walk to School
- February 23rd - Pizzeria Piccola for the 5th Grade Celebration
- March 5th - 6:30 p.m. - PTO Meeting
- March 6th - 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Family Fun Fest
- March 8th - McKinley's 90th Birthday Celebration
- March 13th - No School JK - 12
Register Today for Kids Trivia Night
2nd Annual Kids Trivia Night
Don't forget to register your trivia team soon!
Advanced registration is required by Tuesday, February 18th.
Click HERE for a printable version of the registration form.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Lindsay Stadler & Jackie Rynish-Knapp
Kids Trivia Night Co-Chairs
Donate Drinks, Snacks and Sides for Teacher Conferences
During our Family-Teacher Conferences, the PTO makes sure our McKinley teachers are well fueled for their long nights after school. Please consider donating drinks on February 13th and drinks, snacks, and sides for February 18th to help us round out the two meals that we will purchase. The teachers and staff appreciate this so much! Please drop off day of in the teachers lounge (drinks in the fridge).
Family Fun Fest Volunteers Needed
Mark your calendars for Friday, March 6th from 6-8:30 PM for the 2020 McKinley Family Fun Fest! Bring the whole family for this carnival themed event featuring a DJ, game room, carnival and cake walk.
Family Fun Fest needs your help! Please consider signing up to help out the night of the event. Volunteer positions include event set up, registration, carnival games, concessions, clean up and more. To sign up, click here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054CAEA92AABF85-mckinley3
Volunteer(s) Needed for Egg Drop Session
Join us for McKinley's High Interest Day on April 24, 2020. We are looking for someone (or two) to run the Egg Drop Sessions for our HID event. It is a STEM based session where students explore ways to drop an egg without it breaking. Please contact Bridgid Bedingfield (bridgidreardon@gmail.com) or Paige Brown (brownpa@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us) if you are able/interested.
Winter Walk to School Day is Friday, February 21st!
Join students from around the district in walking to school on Friday, February 21st. Hot Chocolate by sponsored by Corey Boldt from Double- Boldt real estate group will be served on both playgrounds to help keep you warm as you socialize and play with other students before school.
Live too far? Please park 3-4 blocks away and walk! If you do pull into the drop off and pick up area, please turn off your engine. Let’s keep the streets surrounding school free of cars and breath in the fresh air!
Winter Walk to School day is the official kick off to McKinley’s TURN THE KEY- BE IDLE FREE campaign. Watch for more information about why idling is bad for health and environment in upcoming newsletters and Tuesday folders.
Have you ever noticed that the signs on 89th and 90th street where students are dropped off instruct you to turn off your engine? Idling is when a driver leaves the engine running and the vehicle is parked. Idling vehicles contribute to air pollution and emit toxins that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. Monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of benzen, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other air toxins during the times coinciding with dropping off and picking up students. Our students lungs are still developing and when they are exposed to elevated levels of these pollutants they have an increased risk of developing asthma, respiratory problems and other adverse health effects. Limiting a vehicle’s idling time can dramatically reduce these pollutants and children’s exposure to them.
Can you help pass out hot chocolate on Friday, February 21st? Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D45A8AC22A13-winter1
Basket Coordinators Needed for Each Classroom
Are you creative? Do you like shopping? Do you have a knack for organization? Do you enjoy giving back to the community? If you've answered yes to any of these questions then you may just be the person we are looking for!
We are looking for volunteer basket coordinators to help collect items for a classroom basket that will be placed in the Adult Social Silent Auction. One volunteer is needed per classroom.
If you would like to sign up for this fun and exciting volunteer opportunity please click on the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49A9AC2DA0FA7-adult
Thanks in advance for helping to make a difference at McKinley!
Dine Out Schedule
Monday, February 17th, Saz's at 5539 W State Street will be donating 15% back to McKinley when you mention that you are there for the fundraiser when you order. This fundraiser is for the entire time Saz's is open that day (11 am - 9 pm) and gift cards do count toward our total! They take reservations for any size party at 414-453-2410. Hope to see you there!
Friday, March 13th during their business hours (7 am - 3pm) that day Miss Molly’s Cafe and Pastry Shop on center and Swan will graciously donate 20% of sales that mention McKinley back to our school! This is a new restaurant for us for Dine Out. Before work or if you are off Friday come and grab some coffee, pastry, or a meal to benefit our school and let them know you are there for McKinley.
Wednesday, April 8th Colectivo Coffee on Swan and North will be giving McKinley 5% of their total prepared food and drink sales all day! For this event you don't have to even mention you are with our school unless you want to thank them for supporting us in this way. (Gift cards and bagged coffee do not count in this total, though.) We are very excited about this new collaboration and support from Colectivo!
Support the 5th Grade Celebration
The 5th Grade Dine out fundraiser at Pizzeria Piccola is coming up on Sunday, February 23 - Pizzeria Piccola - 11am - 9pm - 25% of sales will be given back to go toward McKinley’s 5th Grade Celebration.
If you can't dine out that day, but would like to support the fundraiser, you can pre-order frozen pizza and soup to enjoy later at home. To place a pre-order, please click HERE and either email Erin Kell or drop off in the office (5th Grade Celebration Dine Out folder) by February 14th. Then on Sunday, February 23rd, stop by Pizzeria Piccola and pick up your frozen items. Payment will be taken upon pick up.
Teacher Treat Sign Up
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 dates:
March 5th
May 14th
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