The Lion's Roar

Good Morning McKinley Families,

The past couple of weeks have been tough. For this reason, I’m especially looking forward to coming together for Multicultural Day this Friday, from 3:30–5:30 PM. It’s a wonderful opportunity to unite as a community, support one another, and honor the diversity, joy, and connection that make McKinley so special.

This year, we are proud to showcase 25 different cultures represented at McKinley (if you'd still like to sign up to present your culture, there is time...see below)! Together, we will celebrate traditions from the Philippines, Serbia, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Austria, Germany, Ukraine, Iran, South Korea, Israel, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Mexico, Belize, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Turkey, Tonga, Vietnam, African-American, Autism, and Down Syndrome cultures.

Enjoy delicious, homemade food from our own community, including Ethiopian injera, Salvadoran pupusas, Italian tiramisu, and more. Be inspired by performances like Indian dancing, Flamenco, Mariachi, Baile Folklórico, Capoeira demonstrations, and our very own McKinley Dance Team! We will need plenty of volunteers, so please sign up to help with set up, break down, ticket sales, check in and drink sales: bit.ly/multiculturaldayvolunteers

For those who can’t make it to the afterschool event, don’t worry! We’ll kick things off at our Schoolwide Assembly at 8:30 AM with a special performance by the Lion’s Pride Kung Fu dragon dancers, following a reminder from our TK/K students about this month’s pillar of character: caring. In honor of Lunar New Year, this is a chance to clear out the bad and welcome the good—a perfect opportunity for a collective “redo” for the year ahead.

Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate, and here’s to better days ahead for all of us. I can’t wait to see you on Friday as we come together to explore the world and celebrate the beauty of our community, right here at McKinley! ❤️

In partnership,

Dr. Daniela Wiener (Dr. DW)

This week, we welcomed prospective McKinley families to our TK/K Round-Up, and our incredible Student Council took the lead, guiding families on tours of our campus and hosting a panel to share what life at McKinley is all about. Their pride in our school and their genuine enthusiasm left a lasting impression on our visitors, showcasing the welcoming and vibrant community we have at McKinley.

Our campus was looking extra vibrant and welcoming for our TK/K Round-Up this week, thanks to the creativity and hard work of our McKinley team! Our Bulletin Board Extraordinaire, Carra Jost brightened up the entrance with a beautiful display inspired by the incredible work we’ve been doing in Maker Space. Meanwhile, Ms. Botello and Ms. Oliva worked their magic on a fantastic bulletin board showcasing Student Council. It perfectly highlights the amazing leadership and teamwork of our student leaders who are making a difference every day at McKinley.

The grades 3–5 theater informances this week were awesome! Under Ms. Hannah’s guidance, students created original scripts inspired by I Am Every Good Thing and brought them to life with creativity and meaning. The theme, “Come as you are,” emphasized belonging, with each performer contributing to the ensemble. The inclusion of ASL added an extra layer of connection and inclusion.

This week, due to changing air quality reports, we offered and indoor play space for our students—and it was such a hit! The kids had a blast exploring new activities and played so well together, filling the rooms with laughter and creativity.

Due to the rainy forecast, the School Beautification Day scheduled for Sunday, January 26 has been CANCELLED. Thank you to everyone who had planned to join us—we’ll keep you posted on a new date soon. Stay safe and dry this weekend! 🦁✨

From the Santa Monica Fire Department:

We know that this past week has been difficult for many of those affected by the LA Fires. As we move toward recovery, it’s essential that we work together to build a safer community through prevention, preparedness, and response.

One way to strengthen our community’s safety is by creating a life and safety profile on Community Connect. This vital technology provides first responders with critical information about your residence or business. By inputting details such as floor plans, pets, or specific medical needs, you empower first responders to make more strategic decisions en route to an emergency. Seconds matter in a crisis, and having this information readily available can make all the difference.

Participation in Community Connect is completely voluntary and based on what you are comfortable sharing. All data you provide is secure, used only during emergencies, and protected with bank-level encryption.

For more details, please visit the Community Connect website.

Join us for this month’s Coffee with the Principal, where we’ll dive into the important topic of safety at McKinley. We’re bringing together a fantastic panel of experts to address different aspects of safety in our community:

• Officer Anthony Angel, our School Resource Officer, will discuss community safety.
• Our COO of Maintenance, Operations, Transportation, and Facilities Use Departments, Carey Upton will provide updates on physical safety measures on campus.
• Director of Student Services Francisco Dussan and School Counselor Sarah De Santis will talk about social-emotional safety and how we’re supporting our students’ well-being.

This is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and work together to ensure McKinley remains a safe and supportive space for all. We hope to see you there

Come help out with Snack Sales! It's fun! Your child can help sell too! Arrive by 1:00 PM and meet up outside the parent room, located to the left of the 1st-grade classrooms. We’ll set up a table with delicious snacks, including popcorn and drinks. The sale ends promptly at 2:00 PM, and we’ll clean up quickly after. Click here to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050A4FADAF28AAFE3-52304166-wednesday#/

We’re excited to invite you to a special performance by the Lion’s Pride Kung Fu Dragon Dancers on Wednesday, January 31st, at 8:30 AM on the Kinder Yard following our TK/K presentation on caring.

There’s still time to host a cultural table (see below)! Use the button below or connect with others through the Cultural Table Connector to pair up. We also need volunteers for set-up, break-down, and ticket sales. Thank you for helping make this event a success! 🎉

The Jog-a-thon is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we need your help to make it a success! Please reach out to our PTA president, Sibyl Fenwick at mckinleyptapres@gmail.com to see how you can help. We need you!

• The State of Fire: Why California Burns: Author Obi Kaufman combines lyrical prose and well-sourced science to explore social/ecological challenges, with a love for the natural world and a hopeful vision of California's future. Malibu Library, January 29, 7 p.m.

• Youth Aztec Dance, Ballet Folklorico, Hawaiian Dance, and Belly Dance Presented by Santa Monica Ballet Folklorico at Virginia Park, Santa Monica. Open to boys and girls of all ages and cultures. Classes serve as both physical and historic forms of education, focusing on Native American and Mexican local histories of Santa Monica. Students have several opportunities to perform locally as well as throughout Los Angeles.

• Parent and Me Programs For children ages 5 and under. Requires adult participation. Biological and adoptive parents, guardians, stepparents, grandparents, or other parenting relationships may attend. Programs allow adults to interact and nurture relationships during playful yet structured programs. All classes promote bonding while helping children develop cognitive, social, and motor skills and an opportunity to learn, play, and grow together. For details and/or schedule contact MalibuCity.org/Register.

• Memories & Movement Senior Club: Exercise classes, workshops/seminars, crafts and hobbies, social time, talking with friends, guest presenters, health and wellness activities The Patio Room, Virginia Park, Santa Monica. Every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Caffeinated Verse: Poetry Workshop & Open Mic: Includes a featured reader, followed by an open mic format. Malibu Main Library, Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• The Ripple Effect: Generative Poetry Workshop with Malibu Poet Laureate: Participants: bring a pen/notepad! Malibu Bluffs Park, Michael Landon Center, January 25, 2-4 p.m.

• Tech & Tasks: Volunteer tutors offer free help reading documents, writing letters and resumes, completing forms, navigating government websites, using mobile devices, email and more. Santa Monica Main Library, Thursdays, 2-4 p.m.

• Walk-In Legal Clinic : Meet 1-on-1 with Legal Aid Foundation lawyers for help with housing and other issues. Ongoing Wednesdays, 4:30-7 p.m.

• Literary Lounge- Books, snacks and music. SM Main Library, Wednesdays, 6:15-7:30

• Chess Sundays: Players of all ages/levels invited.Third St. Promenade, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Free US Citizenship Classes: Study the 100 Civics questions, review citizenship applications, practice dictations and prepare for the interview. SM Library/Pico Branch.

• Free ESL Conversation Classes: Group classes and 1-on-1 tutoring. SM Main Library.

• Social Service Assistance: Family Nutrition & Health Care Access: Meet with community health workers to sign up for benefits. Virginia Park, SM, Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

This Week

• January 28: Earthquake Drill

• January 29: Coffee with the Principal, School Resource Officer, Director of Students Services and Chief Operations Officer: Maintenance, Operations, Transportation, and Facilities Use Departments, 8:30-9:30 AM, Auditorium

• January 31: Schoolwide Assembly (TK-K, Caring and Lunar New Year), 8:30-9:00 AM, Kinder Yard

• January 31: PTA Meeting, 9:00-10:30 AM, Auditorium

• January 31: Multicultural Festival, 3:30 -5:30 PM, Big Yard

• February 3: Teacher Experience Raffle Opens

• February 5: LMS Counselor Visits 5th Grade Classrooms

• February 5: 5th Grade Field Trip to Jazz Reach Performance , 12:15-1:15 PM, LMS

• February 6: Climate Survey Open

• February 6: Lincoln Lion Lowdown, 6:00 PM, LMS

• February 7: Room Parent Meeting, 9:00-10:00 AM, Zoom

• February 10: Jog-a-thon Kickoff 8:40 (PreK-1st), 9:25 (2nd/3rd),10:55 (4th/5th)

• February 11: School Site Council Meeting, 3:15-4:30 PM, Zoom

• February 12: PTA Exec Board Meeting, 9:00-10:30 AM, Zoom

• February 13: Fire Drill, 2 PM

• February 14: Special Education Resource Group Meeting, 9:00-10:00 AM, Zoom

• February 14: Teacher Experience Raffle Winners Announced

• February 14: Report Cards Go Home