McKinley PTO Newsletter
Where Every Parent Is A Member
April 30, 2018
President's Update
I hope that everyone had a great weekend!
I wanted to start out this week's newsletter thanking the High Interest Day Committee members for all of the hard work, time and coordination that went in to making this year's High Interest Day so special for all McKinley students. Thank you to Heidi Engbring, High Interest Day Chair/Presenter Recruitment and Coordination, for sharing your time and talents for the past four years of High Interest Day events! Thank you to Allison Byrne for recruiting, organizing and coordinating the High Interest Day volunteers. Thank you to Liz Russell for coordinating the High Interest Day lunch for presenters and volunteers.Thank you to Kelly Rifelj for coordinating the High Interest Day breakfast for presenters and volunteers. Your efforts make High Interest Day, a highlight of the school year for McKinley students, a huge success!
Our last PTO meeting of the year will be on Thursday, May 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the McKinley Library. In response to last year's end of year parent survey, many parents mentioned not being able to find childcare as the main reason they have not attended PTO meetings in the past. Our partners at Right At School have graciously offered to provide complimentary child care during our May PTO meeting. For staffing purposes, registration for child care is required by the end of today, April 30th. To Sign your child/children up, click HERE.
The weather forecast for this week promises to bring warmer temperatures. Celebrate with your family by planning a trip to Yo Mama in the Tosa village this Friday, May 4th from 11 a.m. through 10 p.m. and 30% of sales that mention McKinley will be given to the school. This includes gift cards and pre-packed ice cream pints so please stock up on gift cards for the summer. I hope to see you there!
Have a great week,
PTO Dates to Remember
Make sure to put the following dates on your calendar!
- May 4th - Yo Mama Dine Out Fundraiser
- May 8th - Teacher Appreciation Day
- May 9th - Bike to School Day
- May 10th - Last PTO Meeting of the Year
- May 11th - Kids Trivia Night
- May 15th - Spring Band, Chorus, Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m.
- May 17th - Spring BOGO Bookfair
Upcoming Spirit Days:
Every Friday is McKinley Spirit Wear Day (wearing McKinley red counts too)!
Below are a list of specially themed spirit wear days for the year:
- May 18th - Tie-Dye T-Shirt Day
High Interest Day Thank You
The High Interest Day committee would like to thank the PTO for its generous sponsorship. We also appreciate the support of Mrs. Hoffmann and the McKinley teachers and staff that make the day possible. Charlotte Garder and Terri Uden, in particular, put a lot of time and effort into making it a great day. 2nd grade teacher, Tracy Loechler, graciously offered to teach Hour of Code again this year. Physical Education teacher, Jeremy Roloff, stepped in with Natalia Byrne, Hanna Juzenas, Joe Byrne, Matthew Byrne and Henry Lehman to help when a presenter was unable to teach. McKinley’s custodian, Juan Matute, carried countless chairs and tables and turned the lunchroom around in record time.
Thanks to all who brought in treats, beverages and baked goods to feed our volunteers. They were tasty and appreciated. Thank you to Anna Schmidt and Sarah Scharlau for cutting no-sew pillow fabric.
We’d also like to thank our presenters from Wauwatosa West’s football, dance and tennis teams and the German Club. Thank you to our community presenters from Ruckus & Glee, MSOE Fencing Club, Pizzeria Piccola, Black Belt Leadership Academy, LIFT Field Hockey and Mathnasium. We especially appreciate our volunteer presenters: Emilia Arana, Miranda Banks, Vilma Bell, Lori Brandenburg, Dan Byrne, Lisa Coder, Lindsay DesPlaines, Maggie DiCastri, Sue Hoff, Kristi Knoedler, John Lane, Angela Parish (Right at School Daycare), Kristin Marlier, Sarah Myers, Paul Rifelj, Maura Riordan and Ruth Yasko.
High Interest Day couldn’t happen without a lot of help leading up to and on the day of the event.
Thank you to everyone who generously spent time volunteering: Allison Bardole, Chandrani Bose, Morgan Bosman, Rhianon Bott, Melanie Brandenburg, Kristin Brewster, Sarah Deutsch, Cate DiCastri, Keira DiCastri, Jana Dolan, Greg Ebertowski, Vanessa Eisenmann, Tiffany Fabian, Lori Hagopian, Jen Jaworski, Erin Kell, Barbara Klein, Konrad Klein, Bill Koch, Lindsay Krumsee, Danielle Long, Sharon Lucas, Amanda Mast, Nicole McCann, Angie Miller, Wes Miller, Kathy Morrissey, Sara Nencka, Kate Neugent, Ava O’Leary, Kelly Pastors, Ben Peirce, Amanda Potter, Becky Prusco, Tricia Reis-Rueda, LaNae Rowe, Lucas Ruggeri, Jacklyn Rynish, Heather Sanders, Bridget Schmitt, Kegan Schmidt, Cara Schwantes, Ella Schwantes, Audra Shalles, Lindsay Stadler, Amy Standal, Carrie Theis, LaNae Warnecke, Colleen Watters, John Weber, Rachel Woznick and Erica Zipp.
We sincerely apologize if we missed anyone. It takes a lot of volunteers to make the day happen. Everyone’s contributions were appreciated!
Fire Safety House Volunteers Needed!
Calling all 1st and 3rd grade parents. Renee Michel is in need of a few more volunteers for the 2018 Fire Safety House set to be held on Thursday, May 10th. You can volunteer for a three hour shift (either a.m. or p.m.) or for the full day. Must be able to attend the training, held only once that day, at 8:20. Please contact Renee at mom_tothree@hotmail.com for more information.
Save the Date - Yo Mama Dine Out Fundraiser
Thank you for your support of McKinley PTO through these fundraising events!
LAST CALL for Publishing Center Books!
If you have a student in 1st through 5th grade who would like to publish a book this year, the signup deadline is Friday, May 4th. You can sign up by turning in the yellow sheet that went home in the Tuesday folder or email Lori Brandenburg at crashburg@yahoo.com. Thanks!
McKinley Peace Garden Plant Sale Ends Friday
Plant Sale order forms are due to the school office by Friday, May 4. For an extra order form click HERE. Plants can be picked up at McKinley on Thursday, May 24. Plants will be from Shady Lane Greenhouse in Menomonee Falls, and you also have the option to buy Shady Lane Greenhouse gift certificates. To see pictures of plants, click on the links below:
Photos of Porch Pots Click HERE
Photos of Hanging Baskets Click HERE
If you have any questions please email Terri Holzen (tmholzen@yahoo.com)
Spring BOX TOPS COMPETITION Starts Next Week!
It’s time to gather the Box Tops you have been collecting!
Saving and submitting the Box Tops for Education Stamps, found on packages of your favorite food and household items, is an easy way to contribute to this important fundraiser for McKinley. The Fall Box Tops for Education Campaign raised $795. Our goal is to surpass our Fall campaign - you can help!
The Spring Box Tops Classroom Competition will start May 7th and run until May 24th.
Send your neatly clipped and counted (in sets of 50) Box Tops to your child’s teacher. The classroom that collects the most will win an ice cream party!
*If you would like to volunteer to help count the Box Tops, please contact Sarah Atols at matols@wi.rr.com.
Celebrate 7 years of Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9th!!
Please walk, scoot or bike to school on Wednesday, May 9th. Live too far?? Park 2-3 blocks away or consider joining the bike train.
What is a bike train? A group of bikes led by a leader. 3rd grade parent, Bill Koch will lead McKinley students from 80th and Meinecke to McKinley. The bike train will go west on Meinecke until it reaches McKinley. Students may join the BACK of the bike train at any point along the route. Students must be comfortable biking in a group and MUST wear helmets. Parents are encouraged to ride along with the students, but this is not required. The bike train will depart for McKinley at 7:45 a.m.
Bike Coloring Contest: Bike to school coloring sheets will come home in this week's Tuesday folder. All the entries will be hung by the gym. Sheets should be turned in by Monday, May 7th. Prizes will be awarded to one winner in each grade. Prizes are sponsored by Corey Double Boldt, Power's Realty Group.
Bike to School Activities are held on the North Playground
- Bike helmets and helmet fitting checks before and after school (Suggested $10 donation for helmet to McKinley PTO). Students can get their helmets checked for proper fit and adjusted if necessary. Helmets will be available for free (Suggested $10 donation for helmet to McKinley PTO). Helmets will be available for siblings after the bell rings.
- Bike Safety Checks by Ben's Bike Shop starting at 7:30 a.m.
- City of Wauwatosa Bike Registration before and after school- Wauwatosa Police Department. Bring all your bikes to be registered. Registered bikes are easier to recover if lost or stolen.
We need your help before and after school with these activities. No experience necessary. Sign up by clicking HERE
THE SPRING BAKE SALE IS MAY 15th
Calling all McKinley bakers! We need baked goods and sweet treats for the Spring Bake Sale. Proceeds of the sale help fund the 5th Grade Celebration. The more items there are to sell, the more funds we can raise. Any and all donations are appreciated! Items can be dropped off during the day on May 15th. There will be a table outside the office. Thank you!
For more information, click HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our Spring Bake Sale Chairs:
Lori Brandenburg at crashburg@yahoo.com
Rebecca Shaw at beccalazzmu@yahoo.com
OR Lindsay DesPlaines at lindsaydez@gmail.com
Kids Trivia Night Sign Up Now!
Kids Trivia Night
Friday, May 11th
6-8 p.m.
Kids will participate in teams of six to answer trivia questions, geared towards varying grade levels, during multiple rounds of emcee led questions.
Register your team today, click HERE
BOGO Book Fair Thursday, May 17th!
Noodles Dine Out Save the Date!
Thank you for all your support this entire year!
-Dana Wurzburger
Green Team Needs Your Spare Paper Grocery Sized Bags
The Green Team is very low on paper bags to line the classroom compost buckets. We are in need any grocery size paper bags you can spare. Thank you from the bottom of our green hearts!
Show Your McKinley Elementary Pride Wherever You Go!
McKinley Elementary Bumper Magnets Only $5!
Proceeds of the sale go to support McKinley programs and projects.
McKinley Elementary PTO
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