We have now started the 2nd half off our year with second semester and are looking to continue to accomplish great things this year!

2nd Quarter Report Cards

You can now access your student's report card on your Parent Vue Account.

Click on REPORT CARD on left side tabs, and VIEW 2nd Quarter Report Card.

Water Bottles

Students must have water bottles with them each day at school. We are not using water fountains due to our Covid Protocols and do not have supplies of bottles of water for students. Please send them to school with your student, if your child does not have one. You can purchase a McLean bottle for $4 in the office.

Valentine's Parties

Please see specifics for your classroom parties on the 12th and be sure to know our Covid Protocols. All Valentine Cards should come to school by Tuesday, Feb 9th. Cards coming later may not be passed out on the 12th. We will only accept pre-packaged snacks to send home with students to enjoy.

Second Chance Insurance

Accidents happen! Please consider taking advantage of this low-cost protection.

There is a second chance to purchase insurance for the technology device assigned to your student. The voluntary insurance protects you from the financial responsibility of a damaged, lost, or stolen device. The insurance fee is $30, but if you elect to share your meal status you may be eligible for discounted pricing. Device insurance will be available until February 8, 2021. You can pay online using My Payments Plus at www.mypaymentsplus.com or contact the office to pay by cash, check or credit card.

Conferences This Month

Teachers will be communicating with families to start scheduling conferences. The conferences will be held on Teams again and teachers will send you a link to join the meeting closer to the conference time. We look forward to working together to make your child as successful as they can be. Conferences are on February 24 - 26 and school will dismiss at 1:00 and there will be NO Latchkey on those afternoons. Please be prompt in picking up students that day. Buses will run in the afternoon for bus riders.

Super Bowl Spirit Week

Please celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs trip to the Super Bowl with Spirit Week this week. See below for daily events.

Magnet Enrollment

Please click the link for applying for a magnet school for 21-22 School Year. https://www.usd259.org/magnet

If you are a current magnet student, you do not need to apply again to stay at McLean. 5th grade students must apply to a middle school magnet program - you do not need to apply for your neighborhood Middle School. Siblings of current McLean students must apply to have them considered for McLean next year. Please contact Mrs. Graves with any questions about the Magnet program at McLean or in the district. The deadline for applications is February 19, 2021.

Winter Weather

If there is a chance for winter weather, we will send home student devices. If a weatehr day is called, students will log in at 9:00 to their class and get their work for the day and then again at another time in the afternoon, set up by the teacher. Please click here for our district's Winter Weather information. https://www.usd259.org/cms/lib/KS01906405/Centricity/Domain/807/2021-WPS-Winter-WeatherStatement.pdf

We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming place for our students. We are still together, even though we are in the virtual learning world.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Graves

Feb 2 - Chick Fil A Night 3:00 - 10:00/Ridge & Maple

Feb 2 - Scheduling for Conference Begins

Feb 9 - MSR Pick Up Day

Feb 9 - PTA 6:30/Teams

Feb 12 - Valentine's Parties

Feb 15 - No School Presidents' Day

Feb 19 - Last Day for Magnet Applications

Feb 24 - School Dismisses @ 1:00 p.m.

Feb 24 - Conferences until 7:30

Feb 25 - School Dismisses @ 1:00 p.m.

Feb 25 - Conferences until 7:30

Feb 26 - School Dismisses @ 1:00 p.m.

Feb 26 - Conferences until 4:30

We finished 2020 with K/1st completing their Winter Snowman. 2nd/3rd finished their Winter Birds. 4th/5th completed their 3D Winter Mugs. Mrs. Leonard’s class drew pictures of Morey Eels and painted pictures of the sky and ocean. Their artwork will be part of The Wichita Symphony’s Young Peoples Concert which will be virtual this year. The Symphony will be presenting Daniel Kallman’s Sea Creatures and Scott Winters will illustrate it with an animation of children’s artwork. I am excited that our school will be represented in this presentation!

We will start the new semester learning about famous artists! K/1st will learn about Joan Miro, 2nd/3rd will learn about Henri Matisse and 4th/5th will study Pablo Picasso. MSR Learners should have received an art packet containing an artist coloring page and 4 sheets of drawing paper at our last material pick up day. I am looking forward to a successful second semester in art!

Our McLean music students have been learning new skills and keeping old ones sharp. The K/1 students are reading and writing complex rhythms, creating music online and still enjoying dancing to improve our steady beat (a critical language acquisition skill) and a variety of musical games.

Our 2/3 and 4/5 students have been learning rhythm, composition, acoustic science and completing in depth studies of the instrument families. We have completed Brass, Woodwind and the String Family. Soon we will begin the Percussion family and add musical symbols, sol fa and note names to our activities.

Singing and playing safety restrictions, due to covid, are not keeping us from becoming better musicians! I believe that when we are to return to singing and playing instruments, we will be better equipped to do even more fun activities. Take care and have a musical month!

--Mrs. Johnson

F2F

We are still not able to use the gym for PE we are having class outside or in the classroom. In order to get the most out of Physical Education class, as well as providing safe conditions for physical activity; I recommend your child wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Shoes that are designed for physical activity and provide good foot support are required. Athletic shoes are a good example of proper footwear. Also need to be wearing clothing that is appropriate for the different kinds of weather. We will try to go outside if the weather is not to cold and wet. If you have any questions about PE, please feel free to contact me. My office number is 973-8284 and my e-mail is jdoornbos1@usd259.net.

Remote

I have really enjoyed trying to do all this remote stuff and finding ways to get your children up and moving even if I don't have them here at school. One thing I could really use some help with from you as parents is to help in making sure they are participating in the activities that I have them doing during class. I am not asking them to do a lot but the stuff I am asking is really going to go a long way for them since most of their grade is going to be from them participating during class. If you have any questions about PE, please feel free to contact me. My office number is 973-8284 and my e-mail is jdoornbos1@usd259.net.

Science News for Face to Face classrooms:

As we begin our second semester, McLean Kindergarteners are beginning a unit on force and motion. First grade is beginning a unit on solids and liquids. Second and Third grade students are learning about Landforms. Fourth grade is finishing a unit on earthquakes and will be experimenting with electricity next. Fifth grade is beginning an owl pellet dissection to learn about the structure and function of this unique animal.

Science News for My School Remote:

As we begin our second semester, McLean Kindergarten & First grade students are beginning a unit on plants. Second & Third graders are learning about Landforms. Fourth & Fifth grade students are learning about weathering and erosion.

In the library, the kindergartners through 5th grade finished up their digital citizenship lessons. The curriculum focuses how to stay safe online, making good choices when using the internet, balancing time spent on devices with other activities, cyberbullying, and how to keep online games fun and friendly. The students also participated in Martin Luther King, Jr. activities during the week of January 18th. They discussed ways they could promote peace, and some made friendship flowers to show they are grateful that they get to go to school and create friendships with others. And of course, we spent time reading books.

PTA will have a regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 using Microsoft Teams. You’ll receive a link to join the meeting in an email in the days before the meeting if you are a member. Please call the school at 973-8250 if you would like to become a new member. We’ll be making plans for Spring events and getting reports on our financials, as well as hearing from Mrs. Graves.

Feb 2 from 3-10 pm will be a PTA Spirit Night at Chick Fil A at Maple and Ridge.

Feb 24 - Feb 26 will be Spring Conferences and PTA will be supporting staff with a catered lunch during conferences. Last fall families provided individually wrapped snacks and soft drinks for staff to enjoy while they were at the school for the long days of video conferences. Look for a link on our facebook page to sign up.

Feb 21 through Mar. 6 PTA will sponsor a Scholastic virtual book fair. More details will be posted on McLean PTA's Facebook page.

Executive Board for 2020-2021

President - Ray Hall

Vice President - Andrea Johnson

Secretary - Shannon Proffitt

Treasurer - Janell Carr

PTA Meeting Dates - Meetings will be on TEAMS at 6:30 p.m.

· February 9

· March 9

· April 13

· May 11

Follow us on Facebook! We will communicate important events, due dates, and urgent volunteer needs. www.facebook.com/McLeanPTA

Questions/Comments? Contact PTA President Ray Hall by email at droneshot@gmail.com or call (316) 308-3385. You can also call the office at 973-8250.

Email: cgraves1@usd259.net
Website: https://www.usd259.org/McLean
Location: 2277 North Marigold Lane, Wichita, KS, USA
Phone: 316-973-8250
Facebook: facebook.com/McLeanPTA
Twitter: @mcleanwildcats