Mackay Newsletter

Dear Mackay Families,

Happy New Year and Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful winter break and that your holidays were filled with warmth and memorable moments with your families. Thank you all for your holiday wishes before the break. Your kindness is truly appreciated by our staff. We are so fortunate to live and work in such a caring and supportive community. Thank you again to everyone who supported our Mackay Gives Back campaign and who donated pet supplies to Pet ResQ. A huge thank you again to our HSA for the support and help. We wanted nothing more than to remind the students how important giving to others is and how wonderful it could make us all feel.

The cold weather is here! Please remember to bundle up your children very warmly for recess. We will go outside for recess and fresh air whenever the real-feel temperature is above 28 degrees. Exercise and fresh air are so beneficial for all of us!

The new year is always a time of reflection. It is a time to take stock and consider where we have been and where we hope to go! It is a time to set goals, think big dreams and put our best selves forward. There is excitement in the air filled with hope and possibility! We are in this together–if you or your child needs any level or type of support, I hope you won’t hesitate to reach out. As you reflect on the first half of the school year, if you feel there are habits or learning strategies that you’d like to see improve for your child, please do let us know. We’re happy to be thought-partners along with you!

I wish you all the best for a happy, healthy 2025! It is a great day to have a great day!

Heidi Chizzik

Principal

Happy New Year, Mackay Families!

As we step into 2025, we are excited to embrace the theme of kindness. The start of a new year offers the perfect opportunity for a fresh beginning, and as a school community, we’ll focus on how kindness can brighten our days and strengthen the bonds that unite us.

In our counseling lessons this month, students will explore the many ways to express kindness. They’ll discover the power of a positive attitude and the impact of our words and actions. To kick off this initiative, the Peace Builders have created "Kindness Critters" for all Mackay staff members, offering gentle reminders to slow down, take deep breaths, and savor the present moment. We’ve also launched a bulletin board showcasing acts of kindness, along with simple suggestions for how we can lift up those around us.

From filling our buckets to offering a helping hand, we’re thrilled to see kindness flourish throughout our school community! At home, you can help reinforce these ideas by asking your child about the acts of kindness they’ve experienced or shared during the day. Whether it’s holding the door for someone or raising a hand in class, every act of kindness matters.

Let’s work together to make 2025 a year filled with compassion, care, and kindness for one another!

–Mrs. Angerson

Hello and Happy New Year!

Moving into this new year I am looking forward to jumping back into all the creative and exciting things the rest of our school year brings. At this point in the year all the students are well adjusted to have their creativity flow as they create new and exciting art pieces.

With that said, I would like to say that I am planning for a very special Valentine’s Day inspired Art Night where we will celebrate the love of Art and families can come create together next month! Stay Tuned!

-Ms. Bracero

In January, students will continue their computer science and coding units.

Kindergarten will engage in an author study. First and second-graders will create projects in Scratch Jr. Third and fourth-grade students will explore computer hardware and software, as well as online safety and digital citizenship. Fifth graders will learn about fair use and digital footprints.

Welcome back from the holiday break! Congratulations to all of our young musicians on a great Winter Concert—our students really enjoyed sharing our music with you and the school, and we can't wait to do it again in May! Parents/guardians, please check your emails from December for each group's first rehearsal dates.

Our 4th Grade students had a wonderful time singing at the Tenafly Senior Center last month! The 4th Grade sang with members of the TSC as part of the Mackay Gives Back week. One of the most heartfelt comments that Mr. Fugaban heard from a senior was, “Wow, your kids LOVE to sing!!!” We were so glad to share the holiday spirit with others through music!

The Tenafly Elementary Schools Symphonic Orchestra—commonly referred to as the Super Orchestra—will be starting their rehearsals this month! The Super Orchestra is composed of nominated Band and Orchestra students from Mackay, Maugham, Smith, and Stillman. Students that were nominated for Super Orchestra have already received a permission slip. Please return it as soon as possible.

We look forward to making wonderful musical memories throughout 2025!

Happy New Year,
Mr. Fugaban, General/Vocal Music (Gr. 2-5)
Mrs. Tirri, General/Vocal Music (Gr. K-1)
Mrs. DeJoseph, Instrumental Music (Gr. 3-5)

The Milk for 2nd session is now available. Sign up can be found in your Genesis Parent Portal, then send a check to the Mackay main office.

Session Dates: February 3, 2025 - June 15, 2025

Amount Due: $92.40 (check only)

Payment Due Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Follow Mackay's social media platforms to keep up-to-date with upcoming events and happenings in our school and community.

Instagram - @principalmackay