The Lion's Roar

Good morning families,

We’ve just completed our first full six weeks of instruction, and it’s been inspiring to see the focused teaching and learning happening throughout the school. Walking through classrooms, it is clear that our commitment to student growth is strong, and I want to share more about the key focus that is driving much of our work this year: collective teacher efficacy.

Research by John Hattie shows that collective teacher efficacy—teachers working together to improve student learning—has a greater impact on achievement than a student’s past performance or socio-economic status. At McKinley, this means that we are making student learning our top priority, by working together in professional learning communities (PLCs) to refine our practices, and using evidence to measure our impact.

This week PLCs meet to plan our first cycle of inquiry drawing upon our School Implementation Plan, which was designed by our school leadership team (SLT) who reviewed our 23-24 data and identified Word Meaning and Language Use as an area of growth. To address this, our SLT selected Communicating Using Precise Academic Language as our schoolwide focus. This work not only supports academic achievement but also strengthens language skills—especially critical for our Multilingual Learners—and helps us meet district and state requirements in English Language Development (ELD).

As part of this focus, teachers are refining how they integrate academic language into everyday learning. From using domain-specific vocabulary in math, science, reading, writing, social studies, social emotional learning, theatre, art and PE, to encouraging students to engage in rigorous academic conversations, we are aligning our instruction with district priorities such as reclassification, project-based learning, and meeting the Common Core standards for vocabulary and grammar. As part of our inquiry we will be looking at how these practices impact student learning and sharing our results with each other to build our collective teacher efficacy.

Our teachers believe that reflecting on and improving their own practice is key to student progress. By working together and tracking the impact of their teaching, we are ensuring that McKinley students not only meet, but exceed, their learning goals. I'm looking forward to seeing the growth in our students and our own community of practice!

Have a wonderful weekend!

In partnership,

Dr. Daniela Wiener (Dr. DW)
Principal, McKinley Elementary School

The PTA needs your help! Last year our basement, including our Parent Room was flooded during a week of heavy rains. Fortunately, the parent room has been rehabbed with new floors but the room is a mess! The PTA would appreciate your help in re-organizing. Click on the button below to sign up to help out. After all, many hands make light work!

If you weren't able to attend Digital Wellness Expert, Julia Storm's workshop last week, or you were inspired to learn more about digital wellnes, please join SMMUSD parents at Grant Elementary on October 8th at 6 PM for a screening of "Screenagers" to continue to the discussion. 3rd-5th graders welcome to attend the screening and childcare provided for TK-2 students!

Join us this Wednesday for an absolutely spectacular McKinley tradition—Family Literacy Night! Set in our beautiful, historic courtyard, families and students will enjoy literacy-themed activities like creating your own book and meeting real authors. The evening will include the Lunch Crew, an incredible Jazz ensemble composed of McKinley alumni!

Communities that read together, grow together, and this evening is all about fostering that love of reading in our McKinley family.

Our 5th grade students are invited to attend the exciting 2 night, 3 day, science camp at the Pali Institute in the San Bernardino mountains! The field trip is scheduled for Wednesday March 26 to Friday March 28, 2025. A parent information session about Pali Camp will be held on Thursday October 10th at 6pm. The meeting will be on Zoom. Please check your emails for the Zoom link.

Information can also be found at their website www.paliinstitute.com.

In recognition of National Bullying Awareness Month and as part of our Olweus Kick Off, our students will be participating in a Superhero Training Camp where our "superheroes-in-training" will learn how to activate 3 very important powers: MINDFULNESS-KINDNESS-GRATITUDE.

During this pep rally experience , both students and teachers slip on a pair of wireless headphones to be instantly transported into a surround-sound music infused assembly. The mission? To make this world a happier & healthier place! Students will be asked to dress in the colors assigned to their classes. These colors will be sent out early next week!

We need parent volunteers to help with the headphone distribution between 8:30-10:00 AM (TK-2 parents) and 10:30 AM-12:00 PM (3-5 parents). Use the button below to sign up! Thank you!

Join us for Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! on Friday!

Kids should walk, bike, bus, scooter, skate or get dropped off a block away from school! Make it fun by joining one of our Walking/Biking/Scooting School Buses departing at 8:15 AM from:

• 26th/SM Blvd (Led by the Matute Family)
• 17th/Arizona (The Dombrova and Bejarano-Gardner Family)
• 23rd/Broadway (Led by the Dinshaw Family)
• Arizona/Yale (Led by the LaRose Family)

The teachers will be tallying in the classroom how the kids got to school on that day.

McKinley last won the Golden Sneaker in Fall 2021! It's time to bring the Golden Sneaker back to McKinley by having the highest rate of participation on Friday. This is an opportunity to show McKinley’s commitment to sustainability by leaving the car at home and walking, biking, scooting, and skating to school...and winning a trophy!

At McKinley we encourage walking/biking/scooting every day!

And check out the No Left Sign from southbound Chelsea Ave to Santa Monica Blvd. that the City of Santa Monica put up to help with our flow of traffic. Wilshire Matute is very excited about this as are we!

"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.

Experience the amazing Samohi Orchestras at this year’s fall concert, Disney in Concert Around the World, on Friday, October 25 at 7:00pm in Barnum Hall. Enjoy an evening of popular movie themes such as Lion King, Mulan, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Aladdin. Bring the whole family to hear these iconic melodies as movie clips are projected above stage! Concessions open at 5:30 with tacos and baked goods for sale. Dress as your favorite Disney character and join in the costume contest prior to the show. This event sells out, so purchase your tickets now at www.samohiorchestras.org, $10 for students/$20 for adults.

Parents Night Out is an opportunity to connect with McKinley parents outside of school. You can buy drinks at the bar, dance to the DJ, and chat with fellow parents. Buy tickets now -- $15 for one or $20 for two. Tickets at the door will be $20 each.

This Week

• October 9: PTA Exec Board Meeting 9-10:30 AM (Zoom)
• October 9: Family Literacy Night 6-7 PM, Courtyard
• October 10: 5th Grade Overnight Science Camp Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM (Zoom)
• October 11: Bike It, Walk It, Bus It
• October 11: Superhero Assembly 8:50-9:35 (TK-2)/ 10:55-11:40 (3-5), Big Yard
• October 11: African American Family Association Meeting 9-10 AM (Library)

Upcoming Dates

• October 14: Student Council Elections
• October 15: School Site Council Meeting, 3:14-4:20 PM, Zoom
• October 17, Great Shakeout, 10:17 AM
• October 18, School Tour, 9 AM