McKenzie PTA

Habit of Mind:  Learning Continuously

From the Principal

Dear McKenzie Families,

The days seem to be flying by as the excitement of year-end activities can be felt throughout the building! One of the highlights this week was the Fourth Grade Music Program, where our students demonstrated the musical skills they learned during their years at McKenzie.  Students beamed with pride in sharing their accomplishments, while a packed auditorium rang with applause from family and friends!  Also this week, all McKenzie students were “Moovin’ for Milk” as we ran laps in support of the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team.  If your child brought home a completed pledge sheet from this event, we ask that the donations be returned to school no later than May 29th.  This will allow us time to announce the grand total of money raised before the end of the school year.  Thank you to all the families who helped make the day such a great success and to all who made donations to our service learning project!

Some IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

While Library classes continue to meet till the end of the year, we are preparing to conduct an inventory of our collection. All library books must be returned by Friday, May 25th. Fourth graders should return all of their library books before leaving for Outdoor Education on May 23rd. 

Performance Series Reading and Math results will be sent home via BACKPACK on May 25th for Grades 2 and 3 (due to Outdoor Education, Grade 4 results will be sent home on May 29th).  Please look for this envelope in your child’s backpack. You can access the Performance Series brochure on the D39 website. Click on departments, click on curriculum, click on assessment and then you will see the “Guide to Performance Series Brochure”. It is a pdf download.

Please help us to evaluate our parent communication about “CONNECTED” activities in our schools. This very brief survey will take just a few minutes: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CONNECTED_parents. The survey will remain online until May 25th. 

Don’t forget to complete your child’s online registration for the 2012-2013 school year. We already have over 60% of our students registered.  If you have questions or your family is moving, please give our office a call as soon as possible. Your prompt attention to early registration helps us to accurately anticipate our building/staffing needs for the coming year. 

As our fourth graders prepare for their upcoming Outdoor Education, parents are reminded that all medication must be dropped off at McKenzie’s Health Office no later than Monday at 3:30 pm.  Buses will be ready to board shortly after 8:00 am, as we will depart promptly at 8:30 a.m.  We are looking forward to a wonderful three days of learning and fun!  

Be sure to read all the timely information in the sections below.  There are still many McKenzie happenings in these last weeks of school.  I look forward to seeing you at school in the days ahead!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone~

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

From the P.T.A.

Field Day is June 1^st! Don’t miss out on your chance to volunteer for this fun day. Show your school spirit and sign up today to help at one of the events. 3^rd and 4^th grade events run in the morning; 1^st and 2^nd grade events run in the afternoon. Please visit the link below to sign up to help: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4AA4AB2F4-field

Second Grade Bike Safety – On Tuesday, May 22^nd, please send your second grader to school with his/her bike helmet, bike (and lock). Training-wheels are fine. Volunteers at the bike racks are still needed; please contact Pam Roehl at pamroehl23 [at] gmail [dot] com if you have questions. All 2^nd graders should participate in this training before riding their bikes to school alone.

Attention 4th Grade Moms: On Thursday, May 24^th at 7 p.m., while our kids are at Outdoor Ed, join us for some food and drinks and to reminisce about the last 5 or so years at McKenzie.  Party is at 100 14^th Street. The Signup Genius has all the details about what to bring: www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49ABAF2B0-4thgrade.

2012-13 Room Parent Sign-Up Is Underway! If you are interested in serving as a Room Parent for your child’s class in the coming school year, please sign-up now on the PTA website. Priority will be given to parents who have not previously served as a Room Parent at McKenzie. Questions? Please contact Karen Dekker at ckdekker [at] comcast [dot] net.

McKenzie Garden Summer Keepers: Volunteers are needed to water and weed the McKenzie school gardens during the summer. This is a great opportunity for scout troops and families to work together for one week to keep the gardens looking great. Time commitment during the week varies from two to four days depending on rainfall. Questions, please email Lara Waechtler at lara [dot] waechtler [at] gmail [dot] com. Sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/summer203.

The PTA Needs You! The PTA still has a few committee chair openings. Are you passionate about the environment? Then the Green committee is for YOU. Other opportunities include Bike Safety, Bike to Highcrest, Jr. Great books, and Civics and Safety. Please take a look at the PTA website. Questions? Please contact Kirsten Wilson at kirstenwilson4 [at] aol [dot] com.

Recognize that Special Teacher or Staff Member – Looking for the perfect way to appreciate your teacher? A Certificate of Appreciation from the District 39 Educational Foundation is a beautiful, keepsake gift that not only honors that extra special teacher, administrator, or staff member who has made an incredible difference in your child’s life, BUT also gives back to District 39 schools. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation (minimum online donation $39) to recognize your honoree. See www.d39foundation.org and look for the Wall of Honor/Certificate of Appreciation links.

This Week

Click Here for the Lunch Menu:

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

Monday 5/21

• REMINDER: Chair a PTA Committee!

Tuesday 5/22

• REMINDER: 2^nd Grade Bike Safety Day – send your child to school with helmet, bike and lock!

Wednesday 5/23

• REMINDER: 4^th Grade Outdoor Education – Arrival at 8:00 a.m./Departure at 8:30 a.m.

• MONITOR DEADLINE: Submissions for the McKenzie Monitor are due at 3 p.m.

• ENRICHMENT: 3^rd Grade Field Trip (class TBD) to the Wilmette Historical Society, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Thursday 5/24

• REMINDER: 4^th Grade Moms’ Party; 7 p.m. at 100 14^th St.

Friday 5/25

• REMINDER: No school on Monday for Memorial Day; enjoy the long weekend!