McKenzie PTA

HABIT OF MIND:  Thinking Interdependently

“Now join your hands, and with your hands, your hearts.”  William Shakespeare

From the Principal

Dear McKenzie Families,

What a busy week it’s been! In addition to welcoming the month of February, we investigated the whereabouts of the Groundhog and celebrated School Spirit Day today.  We also introduced a new Habit of Mind to our students–thinking interdependently. The 21st century requires heightened degrees of problem-solving.  We are teaching our students how to navigate the complexities of cooperation–learning with and from one another.  Listening, consensus seeking, compassion, group leadership, supporting group efforts–skills for a lifetime! School is just one place where teamwork is on display.  We invite you to discuss with your child examples that are evident in the world around us. 

McKenzie’s Benefit, GOING PLACES, is an example of teamwork at its best! This wonderful evening of community-building and fundraising is the product of many hands and hearts. With over 300 tickets sold, it’s sure to be one of the highlights of our school year.  I look forward to seeing many of you there!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Classroom celebrations are being planned by our room parents in conjunction with the classroom teachers and the District 39 Food in the Classroom Guidelines (http://www.wilmette39.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=50&Itemid=219). To that end, we ask that all valentine cards brought to school remain food-free. This ensures the health and safety of all our students. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.  If you have any questions regarding your child’s classroom celebration, please contact your room parents (names/numbers are in the school directory) or the classroom teacher.

Kindergarten packets for the 2012-13 school year are now available in the McKenzie Office.

Other DATES TO REMEMBER:

Feb. 7:  Report Cards go home

Feb. 8:  Open Gym Night, 6-8 pm

Feb. 15:  PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., “State of the School” Address

Feb. 16:  CONNECTED Poster Project deadline

Feb. 20:  Presidents’ Day:  NO SCHOOL

Feb. 21:  Institute Day:  NO SCHOOL for students

Feb. 23:  McKenzie OPEN HOUSE, 6:30-8:00 pm

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Dr. Welter
welterd [at] wilmette39 [dot] org
847.251.2295 x6300

From the P.T.A.

The Big Event is Here! The Going Places Benefit is Saturday, February 4! Bring your Auction Atlas with you, so you don’t miss out on some amazing items. There are close to 200 packages on which to bid – something for everyone! Find out if you’re the lucky winner of the iPad 2! Attire is fun, evening casual (think: what to wear for a night out on the town). Need more information, go to http://mckenziepta.com/benefit or email Rebecca and Emily benefit [at] mckenziepta [dot] com.

 4^th Grade Farewell Planning Meeting – A 4^th grade farewell planning meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 8^th at 9 a.m. in the school cafeteria. All 4th grade parents are welcome to attend and help with the 4^th grade farewell celebration, which is scheduled for June 7^th. Questions? Contact co-chairs Jennifer Lind at ryan6lind [at] comcast [dot] net or Laurie Cavalier at lauriecavalier [at] yahoo [dot] com.

 Open Gym Night – Get the kids good and tired on Wed., Feb. 8 – bring them to open gym night from 6-8 p.m. at the McKenzie gyms.

 It’s Box Tops Time Again! The deadline for box top submission is March 1^st. 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.

 Talk on Integrated Learning at New Trier – Long-time Wilmette resident Roger Weissberg speaks on “Educating the Whole Student: Integrating Academic, Social and Emotional Learning” on Wed., Feb. 8, 2012 at New Trier’s Gaffney Auditorium (Winnetka) in a free program open to the public. Dr. Weissberg co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) at the Yale Child Study Center, which is headquartered in Chicago. Dr. Weissberg will address the ways that social and emotional learning can be taught in schools, and the academic benefits that can be derived from these skills.

 Executive Board Positions at Highcrest: 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–1^st VP, and communications –6^th VP. Questions? Contact Rhona DiCamillo, chair of the HMS Nominating Committee at rkd [at] dg-cg [dot] com.

In Other News

Do You or Your Kids Cross Wilmette Avenue? Although crossing guards guide our children across Wilmette Avenue during school hours, many of us navigate across unprotected crosswalks at other times of day and on the weekends. Are you concerned about pedestrian safety? If so, please plan to attend the Feb. 8^th meeting of the Village of Wilmette’s Transportation Commission, where pedestrian safety at unprotected crosswalks, including at Wilmette and Prairie Ave., will be discussed. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Wilmette Village Hall. Come to air your concerns and suggestions!

This Week

Click Here for the Lunch Menu:

http://mckenziepta.com/lunch-menus/

Monday 2/6

• CHESS CLUB: 11:35-12:20 (Gr. K); 3:20-4:20 p.m. (Gr. 1-4)
• McCLUBS: 8-8:45 a.m.: iPod Touch (Gr. 1-4); 3:20-4:15 p.m.: Express Yourself Through the Arts (Gr. K-1); Intro to Flag Football (Gr. 1-2); Legos (Gr. K-2); Smart Board (Gr. 1-4)
• ENRICHMENT: 1^st Grade – Judy McKee, Scientist in Residence: 12:30-1:30 – Moroschan; 2:05-3:05 – Aten

Tuesday 2/7

• McCLUBS: 8-8:45 a.m.: Knitting (Gr. 2-4); Scrapbooking (Gr. 1-2); 3:20-4:15 p.m.: Bowling (Gr. 2-4); Hip Hop (Gr. K-4) Rock & Roll Guitar (Gr. 3-4); Young Rembrandts Drawing (Gr. K-1)

Wednesday 2/8

• STUDENT COUNCIL: 8:25-8:50 a.m., Auditorium
• MONITOR DEADLINE: Submissions for the McKenzie Monitor are due at 3 p.m.
• CHESS CLUB: 11:35-12:20 (Gr. K)

• McCLUBS: 8-8:45 a.m.: Breakfast and Books (Gr. 1-4); 3:20-4:15 p.m.: Amazing Minds (Gr. 1-3); Wearable Art (Gr. 2-4); Young Rembrandts Cartooning (Gr. 3-4)

• ENRICHMENT: 1^st Grade – Judy McKee, Scientist in Residence: 9:00-10:00-McCanse;10:15-11:15 –Dolkart; 12:30-1:30 – Luskin

• REMINDER: 4^th Grade Farewell Planning Meeting – 9 a.m., Cafeteria
• REMINDER: Transportation Commission Meeting – 7 p.m., Wilmette Village Hall

• OPEN GYM NIGHT: 6-8 p.m., McKenzie Gyms

Thursday 2/9

• McCLUBS: 8-8:45 a.m.: Literature and Arts (Gr. 1-3); Scrapbooking (Gr. 3-4); Scooter Mania (Gr. 1-4); Sewing (Gr. 3-4); 3:20-4:15 p.m.: Drama (Gr. 2-4); Flag Football (Gr. 3-4); Rock & Roll Guitar (Gr. 3-4); Science Club (Gr. 1-3)

Friday 2/10

• McCLUBS: 8-8:45 a.m.: Kickball (Gr. 2-4); 11:35-12:20 Chinese (Gr. K); 3:20-4:15 a.m.: Baseball (Gr. 1-2); Beginning Chinese (Gr. 1-4); Legos (Gr. K-2); Running Club (Gr. 2-4)