McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
September 23, 2019
Presidents' Update
Happy First Day of Fall!
McKinley has lots happening this week:
- 9/24 - Five Guys Dine Out
- 9/26 - McKinley Mile - Post Run Pizza Party
- 9/27 - YoMama Dine Out
Volunteers are still needed for the McKinley Mile. (Thanks to all who have signed up already!) To sign up for an open slot, please click on the McKinley Mile SignUpGenius page and pick a slot that works for you. If you have not registered, you can register in advance and return payment and consent form to school by Wednesday or register at the event, but please allow extra time.
The 10th Annual Walk to School day is on Wednesday, October 2nd. New this year "Why I Walk" multi-media contest with lots of PRIZES!!!...please scroll below for more detailed information about the contest.
In this edition of the PTO newsletter look for more information about:
- McKinley Mile
- Walk to School Contest
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Upcoming Dine Out Dates (*more dates added*)
- High Interest Day Presenters Needed
- Book Fair Volunteer Sign Up
- Teacher Treat Sign Up
- Helpful Tips to Go Green
If you have any questions about the upcoming school year or ways you would like to get involved, please feel free to contact us.
See you at the McKinley Mile and post run pizza party!
Kayla Merker and Mike Hansen
Important Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- September 24th - 4:00-8:00 p.m. - First Dine Out at Five Guys - Mayfair
- September 26th - McKinley Mile
- September 27th - 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Dine Out at Yo Mama
- October 2nd - 10th Annual Walk to School Day
- October 10th - PTO Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
- October 10th - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Ray's Fundraiser
McKinley Mile This Thursday
REMINDER: McKinley Mile 2019 is THIS THURSDAY! Volunteers are still needed to help out at the REGISTRATION TABLE and as CORNER MARSHALS (need to be 18+) for this year's event. Thanks to all who have signed up already! To sign up for an open slot, please go to the McKinley Mile SignUpGenius page (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f44adae2faaf85-mckinley3) and pick a slot that works for you. Your assistance with this McKinley Elementary institution is greatly appreciated! ALSO, NEW THIS YEAR: Tickets will NOT be coming home in Tuesday folders but will be available at the registration table on event day. Thanks in advance for helping make this a great event!
Celebrate 10 Years of Walk to School Day - Wednesday, October 2nd
EVENTS TO INCLUDE:
Walking School Buses led by guest walking school bus leaders! Look for maps and times online and in the Tuesday folder! Bring signs, sing songs, show your McKinley Spirit!
Apples, Apples, Apples- Thank you to Dan Ludwig and Katie Sprague, Firefly Real Estate Company for sponsoring apples again this year.
All School Assembly with Wauwatosa Mayor Kathy Ehley and “surprises” on the North Playground before school- Family and friends welcome to attend.
NEW THIS YEAR- “Why I Walk” Multi- Media contest sponsored by Dan Ludwig and Katie Sprague, Firefly Real Estate Company. PRIZES!!!!
Entries due Monday, October 2nd.
- The Multimedia Contest hopes to engage ALL students in exploring the benefits of walking to school. Even if your student does not walk regularly to school, they are still encouraged to enter! Students often surprise us with their insight into the benefits of walking, even at a young age.
- Students should use their own, unique creative process to share why they think it is important to walk to school.
- The contest is for grades K4- 2nd & 3rd-5th. Prizes will be awarded Individuals or groups can enter (If group, prize will be split between members. If the group has students in multiple grades, they will be entered in the contest for the grade that corresponds with the oldest child).
- Any form of multi-media is welcome (e.g. Painting, film, song, drawing, collage, video, poetry,drama, story, PowerPoint, etc.). Please limit any videos, songs to less than 1-2 minutes.
- Actual written pieces or art work can be turned in to the office or a digital image can be submitted. All digital entries should be submitted to: SRTSMK2019@gmail.com
- A video montage of ALL the submissions will be made. Names and grades will not be included in the video.
- Questions should be sent to SRTSMK2019@gmail.com
Volunteer Opportunities
McKinley Auction
We are seeking a volunteer(s) to lead the Auction Committee. Please consider being part of this exciting fundraiser.
Destination Imagination
Looking for a parent to coordinate meetings, parent volunteers, competitions and act as a liaison between DI International and local representative. ***If we are unable to fulfill this role by September 30th, McKinley will not be having a DI program during the 2019/20 school year.***
High Interest Day and Secret Holiday Workshop
The hardworking Committee Chairs for High Interest Day and Secret Holiday Workshop will be stepping down from their rolls at the end of the school year. We are looking for new leaders to step into these positions for the 2020-21 school year so they can shadow the current Chairs and learn the ropes.
Please contact Maura Riordan for more information.
Upcoming Dine Out Dates
This coming week we will have our first two Dine Out fundraisers for McKinley! Please make plans to visit the Five Guys at Mayfair Mall on Tuesday and Yo Mama in the Village on Friday (remember, gift cards count, too!) and mention that you are there for the fundraiser for McKinley. Thank you so much for your support! For any questions contact Dana Wurzburger.
Here are all of the already scheduled Dine Out events for your calendar.
Tuesday, Sept 24th 4-8 pm, Five Guys in Mayfair Mall (2500 N Mayfair Rd #320, Wauwatosa)
Friday, September 27th all day, Yo Mama in the Village (1349 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa) Gift Certificates and pre-packed ice cream pints count, too, for 30% back!
Thursday, October 10th, 9 am - 9 pm, in store and at the Growler Gallery from 3 pm to 10 pm (come meet up after the PTO meeting that night!), Ray's Wine and Spirits (8930 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa)
Thursday, October 17th all day, Jose’s Blue Sombrero in the Village (7615 W State St, Wauwatosa)
Tuesday, October 29th 4-8 pm, Chipotle on Center and Mayfair (2711A North Mayfair Rd, Wauwatosa). This is a huge one for our school because they give the highest percentage back (33%)!
November 15th all day. Real Good Life meal delivery service. All orders placed on November 15th (meal delivery is on November 20th) will generate 10% back to McKinley! http://www.therealgoodlife.com/shop
Thursday, December 5th 3-10 pm, The Ruby Tap (1341 N Wauwatosa Ave.) Will give 10% back on drink purchases, gift cards, wine of the month clubs, and bottles just in time for the holidays! Come out for a drink with the McKinley parents that night.
High Interest Day Presenters Needed
Be part of the greatest day of the year: McKinley's High Interest Day - April 24, 2020!
We are looking for new presenters due to parents with students aging out of McKinley and would love for you to be part of the fun! If you are interested in showcasing your special talents, incredible knowledge, or just want to present a session that's tried and true, contact Bridgid Bedingfield (bridgidreardon@gmail.com) or Paige Brown (brownpa@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us).
Book Fair Volunteers Needed
It’s that special time of year again- Scholastic Book Fair time! This year’s fair will take place October 23-25 in the McKinley Gym. Mark the days on your calendar.
The book fair has proven to be an outstanding fundraiser for our school while putting books in the hands of our fabulous students. Scholastic’s “All for Books” program matches the amount raised and purchases books for children in need. It is truly a worthwhile event!
We are once again asking you to consider sharing some of your precious time to help make the book fair a success. Our greatest area of need tends to be right after school during the “rush” but all time slots are essential for the book fair to run smoothly.
If you can spare an hour or two, please sign up here.
Amanda Potter and Lisa Swiontek, Book Fair Co-Chairs
Teacher Treat Sign Up
Looking to Go Green - Here Are Helpful Tips
Pack a “green” lunch
➢ Send reusable bags/containers. We’ve already collected hundreds of ziploc/sandwich bags in less than a month of school. Invest in a few adorable, reusable bags to reduce single use plastic and increase the cute factor of your child’s lunch and snacks!
○ Cute cloth bags are good for crackers, popcorn, and dry snacks
○ Silicone bags are good for juicy things like apple slices & cheese curds
➢ Try a Bento-box style container. There are fancy ones out there but also some simple, cheap ones on the market that function really well. They can be found in the sandwich bag aisle at Target. Bring your child’s lunchbox with so you can see what fits well inside.
➢ Buy in bulk instead of snack-pack sizes. Put food in your own reusable bags/containers to reduce waste from all those wrappers which end up in the landfill. (We can even do this for applesauce and yogurt instead of the individual cups!)
➢ Send a spoon/fork in your child’s lunch bag so they don’t need to use the disposable plastic cutlery in the cafeteria. If you’re worried about losing your good silverware, use the old stuff you don’t have a full set of or grab a handful of mismatched silverware from Goodwill to use especially for lunches in case they accidentally get lost.
➢ Encourage your child to drink their milk without a straw! Or send a reusable one!
➢ Try putting juice in a small reusable water bottle. Juice pouches & straws can’t be recycled. If buying a disposable juice, boxes are a better than pouches because they can be recycled.
➢ Throw a cloth napkin in there! They’ll bring it home, they promise.
Compost at home!
Has your child gotten into the habit of composting his food in the cafeteria? Keep those great habits going at home, too!
➢ There are two residential composting services that are in our area now! It’s seriously the easiest thing ever
- they pick it up right from your house and take it to a composting facility. They are both relatively inexpensive and you will feel really good about it.
○ Waste Not Compost / www.wastenotcompost.org A five gallon bucket gets picked up from your doorstep and replaced with a clean one each week. You get a bag of compost back once/month in season. Cost is $4/week. A number of families in our school community use this service - ask around if you want more info!
○ Compost Crusader is doing a pilot program in some areas of Wauwatosa. They’re using larger, 35 gallon carts and pick them up each week. If you missed the sign-up but have seen the carts in your area - talk to your neighbor about sharing as it is definitely seems big enough for more than one household to use.
➢ Compost in your backyard! There are LOTS of tutorials online!
Collect dried-up markers! Instead of tossing, send old markers to school with your child. Mrs. Muellenbach sends them in to be recycled through the Crayola Colorcycle program. They turn that non-recyclable plastic into diesel fuel. Who knew??
Recycle old clothes - There is a fabric drive each May at Tosa East High School. Instead of putting those holey socks or worn-out leggings in the garbage, stash them in the basement and recycle them in the spring! We’ll make sure to remind you about it :)
Buy back our compost from Blue Ribbon Organics in the spring to naturally fertilize your pots, gardens, bushes and lawns! You’ll be helping sustain and ensure the great work they do at Compost Crusader will continue. Plus reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
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:
October 10th
January 9th
March 12th
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