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McKenzie Monitor
E-NEWS YOU CAN USE
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HABIT of MIND: Thinking InterdependentlyFrom the PrincipalDear McKenzie Families, Just when we thought the Groundhog was wrong……it looks like there really will be at least six more weeks of winter! Today’s snow added to the excitement of the 100th day of school. Primary grades celebrated by bringing collections of 100 items, while our intermediate grades estimated to the hundredth place and wrote expository text with hundreds of words! I visited a first grade classroom today where students were asked to make a list of the things they’ve heard their parents say at least one hundred times…..I’m sure you can imagine the fun they had writing and even more their teacher and I had in reading them! We continue to find numerous ways in which to teach the habit of thinking interdependently. Our teachers masterfully arrange learning opportunities throughout the day for students to learn with and from one another. Learning how to lead as well as follow and working toward shared outcomes are skills for success–not only in school but also in life. McKenzie’s recent service learning project, “No Birthday Cake”, gave our students a hands-on experience in thinking and working interdependently as many of our students spent their recess today decorating and filling over 150 birthday bags to donate to the local food pantry. The energy and excitement they drew from one another was nothing short of amazing! While the bags are just about ready to deliver, we find ourselves in need of some additional items to make all the bags complete. Anyone interested in donating a box of cake mix, can of frosting, or a package of birthday candles can drop them in the birthday collection box found in the school lobby. Thank you, again, for helping us teach our students such a valuable lesson! It was wonderful to see so many McKenzie families and staff at last Saturday night’s Benefit. What an amazing event! A very special thanks to co-chairs Rebecca Leiber and Emily Zivin, for their tireless work over the past 8-10 months, as well as the many people who contributed their time and talents. A great time was had by all! And best of all, your generous donations will enable us to provide many enriching learning experiences for your children in the years to come. Upcoming events: Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Classroom Parties Feb. 15: PTA Meeting; State of the School Address; 7:00 pm Feb. 16: Last day to submit your CONNECTED poster Feb. 20: Presidents’ Day~NO SCHOOL Feb. 21: Teacher Institute Day~NO SCHOOL for students Feb. 23: OPEN HOUSE; 6:30-7:30 PM (note time change) I look forward to seeing you at school this week. Stay warm and enjoy the weekend! Dr. Welter From the P.T.A.The State of the School Address will be presented by Dr. Welter at the McKenzie PTA meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15th. This is the only evening PTA meeting of the year and it’s on Wednesday (not the usual Tuesday). Please plan to join us for this informative meeting!
Hilarious Jokes Wanted for Variety Show Program: The countdown to the 2012 Variety Show is on and all McKenzie Kids can get in on the act by submitting their favorite jokes. We will include the jokes that make us laugh the hardest in the show. Please encourage your kids to participate by downloading the form from the PTA website and sending it with your favorite funny to the Variety Show mailbox. Questions? Contact Erin Lyons at erin-john [at] att [dot] net.
Open PTA Positions at McKenzie: Looking to get more involved in the school PTA? Consider volunteering for an Executive Board or PTA committee chair position for 2012-2013. Open Executive Board positions include President Elect, Secretary, Asst. Treasurer (Treasurer Elect), Asst. Enrichment (VP Enrichment Elect), VP Communications, and VP Fundraising. Or, maybe you’d rather chair or co-chair a committee? There are over 50 – yes that’s right – 50 positions available. There’s something for everyone! Contact Lisa Hoffman at 3redheads [at] sbcglobal [dot] net about the Executive Board positions or Kirsten Wilson at kirstenwilson4 [at] aol [dot] com about all other PTA positions.
It’s Box Tops Time Again! The deadline for box top submission is March 1st. Please put the box tops in the collection boxes located in the main hallway at the front of the school. Two reminders: please do not give any box tops that have expired! Each box top has an expiration date printed on it. Second, please cut the box tops out before putting them in the box. This will be the last submission for the remainder of the year. Questions may be submitted to MLHirschel [at] msn [dot] com.
Help Make Props and Sets for Variety Show - Contribute to the Variety Show’s success by assisting with the creation of props and sets. It’s fun, doesn’t require special talent and can fit your schedule. Sign up at https://sites.google.com/site/mckenzievarietyshow/sets-and-props. And please remember to keep the Variety Show theme a secret from the kids until its grand unveiling on Feb. 22!
Highcrest Executive Board Positions Available: Fourth grade parents, plan to get involved in the Highcrest Middle School PTO for the 2012-2013 school year. Check out www.highcrestpto.org/ for a full description of open executive board positions, including co-presidents, secretary, treasurer, legislation–1st VP, and communications –6th VP. Questions? Contact Rhona DiCamillo, chair of the HMS Nominating Committee at rkd [at] dg-cg [dot] com.
The Going Places Benefit Committee would like to thank the entire McKenzie community for taking the journey with us. We sold 380 tickets to the event, a record! All faculty attendees were sponsored by generous McKenzie parents. Thank you to all who underwrote our Bottle Shop expenses. Congratulations to Nadine Fabish: winner of the iPad 2 raffle! Our amazing auction items raised over $38,000! The fabulous band “Pop Rocks” kept the party going late into the night. To all who donated, participated, attended, danced, and ate, we say thank you! – Your Going Places Benefit Co-Chairs, Rebecca Lieber & Emily Zivin.
Outstanding Items from the Benefit: If you have questions about the bid items you won, your receipt or anything else, please email Rebecca and Emily at benefit [at] mckenziepta [dot] com. Please double check expiration dates and fine print on items you won. Classroom gift coordinators, please turn in your Reimbursement Requests (up to $25) ASAP noting Going Places Benefit on the PTA Treasurer’s form. This WeekClick Here for the Lunch Menu: http://mckenziepta.com/lunch-menus/ Monday 2/13
Tuesday 2/14
Wednesday 2/15
Thursday 2/16
Friday 2/17
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| Reminder: Submissions for the McKenzie Monitor are due by Wednesday at 3:00 pm. Go to mckenziepta.com/communication.html for the submission form. Questions? Contact Mindy Rittner, McKenzie Monitor Editor at mrittner [at] brinkshofer [dot] com. |
