McKenzie Monitor
May 3, 2024
Principal's Message
Fourth Grade Music Show!
Have a great weekend,
Dana
McKenzie School Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
In an effort to ensure the safety of our children, please take a few minutes to review the McKenzie Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures outlined on the graphic below. You will notice a map, which includes no parking and limited parking zones for your reference.
SEL News
As we enter into the final weeks of the school year, students can feel a mixture of emotions. They are gearing up for summer and a less-structured time away from school, and they are facing the reality of saying goodbye to their friends and teachers for the summer, and maybe even longer as they transition to a new building. This can mean challenges at home as students think about the transition ahead.
In the coming weeks, as you gather around the dinner table, or even on a walk or car ride, we have suggested a couple of activities that you can try with your child(ren) to help them express these end-of-year feelings with a focus on gratitude and looking forward to new and exciting things. Check them out and enjoy!
- Gratitude and Memories: Have your child create a Top 5 or Top 10 list of best memories from the school year. You can write these down or just ask your child to share them with you. Ask your child why that stood out to them, and why they are thankful for having had that experience. It will help them process their feelings about that experience, and will also spur some great conversations about what they might hope for in the coming year.
- Letter to My Future Self: Invite your child to create a letter or a drawing that they would share with themselves a year from now and include what they want to remember from this school year, and lessons they have learned, and one wish for themselves for the coming year or summer. As this can be difficult for younger children, they could draw three things: their favorite memory, something they learned this year, and a wish/goal for themselves in the next grade or in the summer. After completing the letter/drawing, put it in an envelope and put it on the fridge with an open date for a year later. You can open it up and see if the lessons and memories were still there, and if the wish came true!
Updates from D39
Welcome Our New Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction!
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Joshua Swanner to our D39 family as our new Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Swanner is completing his seventh year as principal at Greeley Elementary School in Winnetka and has extensive experience as an administrator, teacher, and teacher leader. Prior to his principalship at Greeley, he served as Assistant Principal at The Skokie School (Grades 5-6) and as a middle/junior high school teacher in both Winnetka and St. Charles. Dr. Swanner brings to this position a passion for supporting student and staff learning, successful experiences with building strong and successful school communities, and a commitment to advancing effective curriculum and instruction. He was approved by the D39 Board of Education at Monday night’s meeting and will begin his work in D39 in August.
Information on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Classroom
District 39’s statement of inclusion articulates our commitment to a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect, and belonging. Every classroom in our district comprises students who bring unique identities, cultures, beliefs and traditions, and it is imperative that they see themselves and their families reflected in their classroom and school.
Teachers and staff in D39 are committed to supporting students as they share their identities, beliefs and traditions with their classmates and strive to acknowledge the many traditions represented in our D39 community. This may include the use of literature, video, student sharing, or other activities to support student representation and understanding of one another. Please visit our website for our complete District 39 Statement of Inclusion.
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education gathered on Monday night for its monthly business meeting. During this meeting, the Board heard committee reports and was presented with the district’s December 1 Child Count report. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings will be posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.
Parent Education Event
Make plans now to join us virtually via Zoom next Wednesday (May 8) at 11 am for our last Parent Education event of the academic year. This presentation, titled “Supporting School Transitions,” will give our families tips and information ahead of their child(ren) transitioning from 4th to 5th grade and 6th to 7th grade. There is not an in-person option for this presentation. Register online to reserve your spot and visit our D39 Parent Education website for our full schedule of events, registration links, and archived recordings.PTA News and Information
PTA Meeting May 9th
Please join us for our final PTA Meeting of the year. It will be held at 8:45am in the school cafeteria. Please bring ID and check in at the front office. Hope to see you there!
McKenzie Read-a-Thon
Submit your minutes online at this link! (This is the preferred method, you can also turn in paper to your teacher by 5/3.) Learn more on the PTA website.
It's time for EduKits!!
Order your child's school supplies for the 24-25 school year! EduKits include the supplies approved by our school in one package that will be in your child's classroom on the first day of school. Visit www.edukitinc.com by June 30. Questions? Contact Amanda Houde at school-supplies@mckenziepta.com or visit the PTA website for more information.
The McKenzie Garden is Open!
Students are invited to visit our school garden when open at recess on Mondays and Fridays this spring. How can you help the garden? VOLUNTEER: Parent volunteers help in the garden when open during recess. Activities are designed to be extremely simple to lead and do not require a green thumb! Visit our Sign Up Genius! Interested in learning more or volunteering to join the McK garden committee? Email Ryann.olson@gmail.com or katebschmitt@gmail.com
D39 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT!!
Join us on May 17th for a fun family evening out for OPENING NIGHT of one of the most anticipated movies of the year, IF starring Ryan Reynolds! Learn more HERE. Tickets on sale now!
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-May 10
Looking for a special gift to say thank you to a special teacher, staff or administrator? For your $39 donation, the staff member(s) of your choice will be honored with a personalized certificate sent via email and their name posted on our website's virtual Wall of Honor. All donations will benefit our schools by funding the Foundation's Gripp Grant program. Purchase your Appreciation Certificate here.
Cafeteria Volunteer Signup – January through June!
McKenzie welcomes volunteers to help in the cafeteria during their child's lunchtime. Please click HERE to sign up. Thanks to all the cafeteria helpers! Please contact cafeteria@mckenziepta.com with questions.
Birthday Books
Sponsor a new library book in honor of your child's birthday! They will pick from the librarian's selections, will be the first to check it out, and have a dedication sticker added. Summer birthdays are celebrated on half birthdays. Don't forget to both fill out the form and check out. https://www.mckenziepta.com/birthday-books
Library Volunteer Signup
Spend 30-60 minutes shelving returned books in the Learning Commons (and say "hi" to your child during their library/tech class). Please click HERE to sign up.
Trex Plastic Bag and Film Challenge
Through June 30th, you can recycle Plastic Bags at McKenzie through the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge! The Green Committee is looking for parent volunteers to help with weekly recycling hauls. See our Sign Up Genius to learn more!
Regular School Hours
Kindergarten
Academic Kindergarten AM: 8:35 - 11:55 am
KEEP39: 11:55 am - 3:15 pm *Friday: 11:55 am - 2:15 pm
Grades 1 - 4
Monday - Thursday: 8:35 am - 3:15 pm *Friday: 8:35 am - 2:15 pm
**First bell rings at 8:30 am.
About Us
Email: nasiakod@wilmette39.org
Website: mckenzie.wilmette39.org/
Location: 649 Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, USA
Phone: 847-512-6300