The Lion's Roar

September 14, 2024

Happy Saturday, McKinley Families!

What a wonderful week we've had at McKinley! We kicked things off with heat days on Monday and Tuesday, but thankfully the weather cooled down just in time for the rest of our week’s events.

This week, students began their PBL classes with Rediscover Center artists, Ms. Sam and Ms. Molly, diving into creative projects that inspire curiosity and innovation. Our 3rd graders started their music classes too! In addition, our staff took part in training on Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention, which while not uplifting is an essential step in supporting our students given the current youth mental health crisis.

The absolute highlight of the week, however, was the Back-to-School Picnic. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces gathering on our Big Yard. The picnic felt extra special this year with the incredible performance by The Lunch Crew, a jazz ensemble formed by McKinley alumni and the brothers of current student Chanel Ravare. They treated us to amazing music, playing some of my favorites by Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, and they were simply phenomenal! As educators, nothing is more rewarding than seeing former students grow into creators who bring joy to the world—and The Lunch Crew embodied everything we hope our McKinley Lions will become. Check out a video of The Lunch Crew jamming above!

Next week, we will be planting additional seeds of inspiration as we will begin visual arts classes for TK-2 and theater for 3rd-5th grades (thanks to the Santa Monica Education Foundation). I can’t wait to see all the creativity that will blossom from these opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who came to the picnic and for making McKinley the best place to be. Have a fantastic weekend and hope to see you in the Garden on Sunday for our first Campus Beautification Day!

GO LIONS!

In partnership,

Dr. Daniela Wiener (Dr. DW)

Principal, McKinley Elementary

dwiener@smmusd.org

310-828-5011

We are thrilled to welcome Sarah De Santis as the new School Counselor at McKinley Elementary School! Many of you had the opportunity to meet her at the Back-to-School Picnic, and we are excited for the entire community to get to know her. Sarah brings a wealth of experience in promoting mental and behavioral health, with a focus on creating equitable educational outcomes for all students.

Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Child & Family Well-Being from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Policy from Tulane University. Her experience includes individual mental health counseling, implementing social-emotional learning programs like Second Step, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support students' well-being.

At McKinley, Sarah will bring her expertise in trauma-informed care, restorative justice practices, and neurodivergent-affirming strategies to create an inclusive environment where every student feels respected and empowered. Her background also includes working with diverse populations, engaging families, and designing school-wide campaigns to reduce mental health stigma and promote a positive school climate.

We are excited to have Sarah’s passion and expertise contribute to our school community, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on our students and families!

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latinx history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

This year the SMMUSD theme for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” which ”encapsulates the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic/Latinx experience.” Classes have been invited to celebrate this theme by studying a notable person Hispanic/Latinx Pioneer of Change.

At home, you can extend these celebrations by introducing your children to the wonderful world of Latinidad through books written by some of my favorite Hispanic/Latinx children's authors. These stories provide both "windows" into different experiences and "mirrors" that reflect your child’s own world.

Latinx/Hispanic Children's Book Authors: Para los que leen en español en la casa, la mayoría de los libros están en español también.

The City of Santa Monica has begun important construction near McKinley as part of the Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements at Six Schools project. This first phase will focus on intersections a bit farther from the school, including 26th Street at Santa Monica Blvd and Arizona, 25th Street at Arizona, and 22nd Street at Arizona. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as these improvements are designed to enhance the safety of our students and families walking to school. Please keep in mind that Phase 2, scheduled for next summer, will include construction at intersections directly adjacent to the school, so we will keep you updated as that time approaches. Your support in spreading the word to fellow families and staff is greatly appreciated!

On Friday we had our first fire drill and this week will have our first shelter in place drill.

We have regular emergency drills so students and staff know what to do in the case of an emergency. We have 1 fire drill a month, 3 earthquake drills a year, and 2 shelter-in- place/lockdown drills a year.

The Fire Alarm system has been updated, and has bells, lights, and verbal directions. The updated PA system also has emergency bells and communications available for use. All gates are locked during the instructional day, and visitors/volunteers enter via the front office and are checked in.

All staff have been trained in emergency procedures and know what to do in the case of an emergency

A Lockdown is when there is an unsafe threat on campus, so we immediately get inside, hide, and stay quiet. A Shelter-in-Place is when the threat is outside of the campus, so we stay inside but talking and instruction can continue. The lockdown/shelter-in-place drills are relatively short, and our focus at the elementary school level is on teaching students how to follow teacher directions and how to transition into a room quickly and calmly.

Below is a description of discussion points that teachers use to discuss shelter-in-place/lockdown drills that parents can also use at home.

Preschool – Early Elementary

1. Teachers are here to protect you and keep you safe from people who might want to hurt other people.

2. The need to hide out in the classroom and be very quiet is sometimes required to be safe.

3. Leaving the room or play yard very quickly may be necessary to be safe.

4. Following the Teacher’s directions is very important to keep us all safe.

Upper Elementary

1. Teachers are here to protect you and keep you safe from people who might want to hurt other people at school.

2. The need to hide in the classroom and be very quiet is sometimes required to be safe from those who want to hurt others. Hiding is to keep intruders out and to not let them know that anyone is inside. To hide we close/lock doors and windows, close blinds, turn off lights, move to where we cannot be seen, and are very quiet.

3. Leaving the room or yard very quickly may be necessary to be get away from someone unsafe. The teacher will give you instructions if this is necessary.

4. Following the Teacher’s directions is very important to keep us all safe when hiding or escaping from an unsafe person.

On and Off Campus pick-up procedure maps, and emergency procedure information, are available on our school website: https://www.smmusd.org/domain/372

Thank you to 1st grade parent, Ufuk Tuna for accepting the position of McKinley's LCAP representative! We appreciate your willingness to make sure that McKinley's voice is represented in shaping our district's goals and how money should be spent to meet those goals!

Although breakfast and lunch will be free again this year, families must complete the application to determine if McKinley qualifies for Federal Funding under Title I. Last year, we missed out on $200,000 in funding due to a lack of applications. Completing this application also helps families qualify for additional services or scholarships. You can fill it out in your epacket or click below. If you need assistance, please contact our Community Liaison, Michael Muñoz, mmunoz@smmusd.org,

"Calling all Artists! This year's Reflections Art Contest will be open for submissions Aug 30 - October 11. Forms for submissions will be in the office beginning Sept. 3, please pick one up to complete your artist's entry. See https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections for more information about this National PTA event. If you have any questions, please email mckinleyptalitanded@gmail.com or reach out to Elizabeth Badger, McKinley PTA VP of Literacy and Education.

This Week

• September 15: Campus Beautification Day, Garden: 11-1 PM
• September 15: Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Begins
• September 17: Visual Arts and Theater classes begin
• September 17: School Site Council 3:15-4:30 PM (Zoom)
• September 19: Shelter in Place Drill
• September 20: Sped Resource Group: 9-10 AM (Library)

Upcoming Dates

• September 25: Online Safety and Digital Wellness Parent Workshop 6-7 PM (Auditorium)

• September 26: School Smarts Workshop Series #1, 9 AM (Location TBD)

• September 27: Schoolwide Outdoor Assembly, 2nd- Respect, 8:30-9:00 AM (Kinder Yard)

• September 27: PTA Meeting 9-10:30 AM (Auditorium)

• October 3: NO SCHOOL - Local Holiday

• October 4: Room Parent Meeting (Zoom)