Wildcat News

Dear McKenzie School Parents and Guardians,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful students, parents, staff, and faculty for making this school year a fun-filled learning experience at McKenzie School. Over the years, and especially during this past school year, our school community has truly shown their kindness and big hearts.

During the months of May and June, McKenzie School was proud to showcase several exciting events:

• Facilitated Two Field Days at McKenzie Field: Our students enjoyed days filled with outdoor activities, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

• Multicultural Day Assembly and Presentation: This event celebrated the rich diversity within our school community, highlighting various cultures and traditions.

• Memorial Day Parade / Assembly to Honor Our Veterans: We paid tribute to our veterans with a heartfelt parade and assembly, teaching our students the importance of remembrance and gratitude.

• Several School Spirit Days: These days fostered a sense of unity and pride among our students, as they participated in themed activities and dressed in school colors.

• Celebrated Our Pre-K Program 4 with a Moving Up Ceremony: We marked the transition of our youngest learners as they moved up to the next stage of their educational journey.

• Chief for the Day: McKenzie School highlighted Chief Emma on Thursday, June 13th with ERPD’s annual Chief for the Day. Chief Emma was sworn in by Mayor Lahullier and accompanied by Chief Rivelli as she served as Chief for the Day.

• Celebrated Our 3rd Grade Students with a Moving Up Ceremony: Our third graders were honored for their achievements as they prepared to move on to Lincoln School and new opportunities.

• Held Our Annual Clap-Out for Our 3rd Grade Leading Into Our Breakfast: This cherished tradition allowed the entire school to celebrate our third graders, sending them off with applause and a special breakfast.

The success of these programs is a testament to the collaboration, support, and generosity of the East Rutherford School District, McKenzie Faculty, students, families, and our wonderful PTA.

Once again, I appreciate all of your help, support, and involvement in making this year a very rewarding and satisfying experience for your children. Your children are exceptional, and each of them can achieve whatever goal they set for themselves with the support of loving families and outstanding teachers.

Please continue to visit our website to access learning resources, updates, and our grade-level summer learning packets. I wish you all a fun and safe summer!

Sincerely,

Brian Barrow
McKenzie School Principal

Miss Martinez

¡Hasta luego amigos!

What a fantastic year we have had! Students have acquired so much Spanish and I have had so much fun teaching them! In Kindergarten, we learned to tell the story of the Hungry Caterpillar in Spanish, which helped with counting to 20, learning days of the week, and identifying cognates. We also met Dino, the dinosaur puppet, who helped us learn the Spanish alphabet! First graders learned the months of the year as well as different holidays and celebrations such as their birthdays. Reading and learning about fairy tales helped us to achieve these goals. Second graders learned about clothing for various seasons and weather conditions. We also talked about our families, emotions, and daily routines. Third graders began with traveling the world and traveling around our city. Students loved to name pets and wild animals, as well as to express their concern for endangered animals. Thank you McKenzie families and staff for all your support! It has been a pleasure to support your students in the process of becoming multilingual learners!

Mrs. Schneider & Mrs. Petrone

Students have been performing a variety of activities that focus on combining locomotor movements and fitness skills to complete tasks. Students have completed varying running patterns with differing speeds and agility, performed jump roping individually and in game-play, and practiced various tossing and catching techniques. Our field day was held on May 22, 2024 and the students were confident and excited to show everyone all of the skills they have accomplished throughout the year! Thank you for continuing to have your children prepared and ready for their physical education classes.

Mr. Scelsa

First grade students honored veterans for Memorial Day with a special tribute. They learned about the holiday's significance and participated in a memorable assembly. During the assembly, the students sang songs and shared essential information. The veterans were present, helping the students understand the importance of honoring those who have served. The event concluded with time to reflect on the bravery and dedication of the nation's heroes.

Mrs. Barone, Mrs. Foote, Mrs. Gonzalez, Miss Hagel, Mrs. Iavarone

Soaring into Summer!

As our school year came to an end we participated in many fun activities. Our Field Day was a lot of fun. We learned to exercise our minds and bodies. In Science, we watched the metamorphosis process. First, we had Very Hungry Caterpillars. Then, we watched the fascinating process as they changed into chrysalises. Finally, our butterflies arrived and we released them! Like our caterpillars, we have also morphed this year. Now, we are ready to soar into first grade!

Take a trip to the public library to pick up some books to read. If you go on vacation or just take a walk to the park; work on a Think, Sketch, Write paper which will help keep students' writing skills fresh. Number concepts are also important to review, especially simple addition and subtraction. Don’t forget the fun and family time! The children will be refreshed, ready to take on the challenges of First Grade. Have a wonderful summer. Be Safe and Stay Healthy!!!

Mrs. Narkiewicz, Mrs. Carti, Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Vecchione, Miss Scardino

Second Graders Strike It Big at Bowlero!

The end of the school year is always a time filled with excitement and memorable experiences, and this year was no exception for our fantastic second graders! Last week, our second graders took a field trip to Bowlero for a morning of bowling fun, and what an adventure it turned out to be! Students demonstrated remarkable teamwork as they showed off their bowling skills! Whether they were cheering on their classmates, offering words of encouragement, or celebrating each other's successes, our Wildcats embodied the true spirit of sportsmanship, making us incredibly proud. Wishing everyone a fantastic summer filled with laughter, adventures, and plenty of strikes!