McKenzie Monitor

Parent Education Event

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday morning for our Parent Ed presentation, “The Play Paradox: Why Raising Brilliant Kids Is Easier and Harder Than We Realize.” A recording of this event is now available. That presentation wraps up our District 39 Parent Education program for the 2024-25 academic year. We are extremely grateful to all the families for their participation and we hope that you gained some useful information and strategies from our programming. Please visit our Parent Education webpage for archived recordings of our events.

Additionally, District 39 was proud to partner with the Family Service Center, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican, Wellmette, and other community organizations for a mental health presentation titled “Navigating the Anxious Generation: How We Can Empower Our Kids.” A link to this informative panel discussion is also available now.

Register Now for the 2025-26 Academic Year

Registration for the 2025-26 academic year is due now. For those families who have not registered your new and/or returning students, we ask that you please complete their registration now. Registration numbers, particularly for incoming kindergarten students, are important to our planning and staffing. Thank you for your attention to this.

• Registration information for our new full-day kindergarten and for all new students is available online . If you have an incoming kindergartener or know someone who does, please encourage completion of the registration process as soon as possible.

• Registration for returning students can be completed via the PowerSchool Parent Portal and choose “registration.”

• Registration is also open for our Lechner Early Education Program (LEEP) for three- and four-year-old preschool program.

• Our 2025-26 academic year calendar is available online.

District 39 Information on High School “Paranoia” Game

We are aware that some high school seniors may be participating in “Paranoia,” a game in which players use nerf toy weapons to eliminate competitors, often using the element of surprise. As the game progresses, it often extends into areas of the local community.

We want to take this time to remind our families that all weapons, including replica or toy weapons, are not allowed on school grounds at any time, per District policy. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Please reference Board Policy 7:190 Student Behavior for more information. The game of paranoia should not be played on school grounds at any time.

Don’t forget!

• Registration is open for current students and rising kindergarteners! Please register as soon as possible!

Speaking of Read-a-Thon: Get ready for this year's Read-a-Thon taking place 4/7-4/21! The funds raised during this year’s Read-A-Thon will be used to purchase Thanksgiving meal gift cards for the families at our sister school, Carman-Buckner. We hope this important cause motivates our community to contribute and our kids to read! Get more information, the minute tracker and more here!

Today is the last day to donate clothes! Carman-Buckner needs the following items ASAP: Boys Shirts (Youth M-Adult M), Boys Sweatpants (YM-AM), Boys Sweatshirts (YM-AM), Girls Pant (YM-AS), Sneakers (12-3 unisex colors).

Look for collection boxes outside McKenzie 3/31-4/11. Collect clothes as you collect money for Read-a-Thon! Direct questions to Amanda aadams1883@gmail.com

TRINKET COLLECTION 4/11 - 4/25! Celebrate Earth Month by clearing out all those goodie bag extras, bouncy balls and little plastic toys, and drop them in the collection bins that will be out in front of the school. Teachers will use them for classroom prizes and they’ll be out of your basement!

Join us for All Brains Are Beautiful on Friday, April 25 at 4:30 PM at Wilmette Public Library! This hands-on event with speech-language pathologist Stephanie Boron explores neurodiversity in fun, creative ways. Kids welcome and snacks provided. Free Event, Register Now!

The McKenzie Garden Opens TODAY!

Please consider signing up to help in the McKenzie garden! The garden is a special place at McKenzie and is open for recess during the fall and spring on Mondays and Fridays. Parent volunteers are needed to help facilitate activities for students. A member of the garden committee is always present as a point person for volunteers. No green thumb needed-just a willingness to volunteer for about an hour.

Garden activities might include: simple garden tasks (weeding, watering, raking, sweeping), lawn games, crafts, chalk, etc. Sign up today, and thanks!

Sign up for Kindergarten here

Sign up for 1-4 here

LOST AND FOUND CORNER!

Have you checked out our virtual lost and found yet? It’s also accessible via the PTA website under "Parent Resources". Please bookmark it and check often! We will try to update photos once every week or two. (And you or your children are also always welcome to check the lost and found on the shelves in the cafeteria.)

Hello 4th Grade Families—

As we look ahead, the Highcrest Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is seeking fun and dedicated committee members for the 2025-2026 academic year. If you are interested in joining any of these committees or have questions, please reach out to Connie Moran at Barker2@mac.com

BECOME A TRUSTEE WITH D39 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The D39 Educational Foundation is seeking enthusiastic and committed volunteers to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. Please contact Beth Karnes by Monday, April 7th at boarddev@d39foundation.org for more information.

The cafeteria needs volunteers to help us power through to Spring Break! The SignUpGenius is open through the end of the year, but extra help in the next few weeks would make a big difference—sign up here!

PASS39:

Pass39 Monthly Parents’ Coffee is on the 2nd Friday of every month from 9:30-11:30am at Panera in The Shops at Old Orchard Place. No RSVP required. Call 312.533.1340 with questions.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Cafeteria Sign-Up for Jan-June 2025 is live: Click HERE to sign up.

Library Sign-Up: HERE.

Sponsor a new library book in honor of your child's birthday! Click HERE for the $20 purchase.