Weekly Update
American Education Week visits are coming up next week and we hope you enjoy seeing what your students are learning in the classroom! Barnes and Noble Night is next Tuesday as well.
Race for Education Fundraiser Update
A quick update on the Race for Education Fundraiser! All of the prizes were sent home with students this week and we've raised $17,166 so far. A huge thank you to those who have contributed to Race for Education with their time and money. These funds will continue to support the events and activities for our students.
Barnes and Noble Book Fair 11/19
Our next Barnes & Noble book fair will be held on Tuesday, November 19th, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Please join us at the Barnes & Noble Willow Grove at 102 Park Ave #1, Willow Grove, PA, 19090 for an evening of books and fun, and get a head start on your holiday shopping! We'll be featuring a book raffle, scavenger hunt, Dragon Frappuccino, and more--including a visit from our very own McKinley Dragon! Find him to claim a prize!
If you can't make it to Barnes & Noble on the night of our book fair, you can still support McKinley with an online purchase; simply visit BN.com/bookfairs from 11/19-11/22 and enter our book fair ID# 12562195 when you check out. All proceeds from this event support our school library and help us to get new books and materials for our students. Hope to see you there!
Girls on the Run is Now Open!
Space is limited, so please register quickly. Please see flier for registration details.
The Girls on the Run program encourages girls to be involved in athletic activity while working on positive self-esteem and healthy student development. Girls are invited to participate in teams with a coach who trains them for the ultimate goal of participating in a race during the course of the school year. Students meet from March through May. Parents who are interested in volunteering to coach are encouraged to visit the Girls on the Run website (https://www.gotrpa.org/) or speak to McKinley parent, Lenka Doogan (lenkadoogan@gmail.com or 215-806-9684). The more coaches we have, the more girls can be accepted into the program.
Last Weeks of the McKinley Garden
We hope to keep the garden open for the next three school Thursdays, but please keep an eye on garden communications in the event the garden cannot open for recess due to weather. The best way to receive day-of garden closings is by using the sign-up genius links to get notified; information will also be posted on the McKinley family Facebook page.
The remaining weeks will feature garlic tasting & planting, making pinecone bird feeders, and general garden clean up. Bundle up and come enjoy time in the garden with the students! All volunteers with badges are welcome.
Please sign up for the time slots you plan to be in the garden using the links below.
Planned Activity: Planting and tasting garlic
Planned Activity: Either pinecone birdfeeders or clean-up day
Planned Activity: Either pinecone birdfeeders or clean-up day
Drama Club: Rehearsals for Week of November 18-21
Please refer to Drama Club Sunday e-mail in case of changes
Monday 11/18
3:20-5:00pm: SET CREW
Tuesday 11/19
3:20-5:00 pm: Scene 8 and 4th Grade (Music Room)
Wednesday 11/20
3:20-5:00 pm: Scene 8 and 4th Grade (Music Room)
Thursday 11/21
3:20-5:00 pm: Scenes 3 and "Anatevka" (Music Room)
Pickup is at 5pm, PLEASE be considerate of the parent who is volunteering and DO NOT be late! Thanks for your attention to this matter.
SPECIAL REQUEST
If you have any hay bales leftover from fall decorations we can use them as props! Please email us at: mckinleydramaclub@gmail.com
Volunteers
We can not run this play without your help, please sign up below to volunteer. We have opportunities for check-in (taking attendance & helping with snack) from 3:15-3:45. Helping with the rehearsal from 3:30-5pm (coming at 4/4:15 is fine, just note it in the comments) and helping with dismissal from 4:45-5:10. You need to have a volunteer badge for all positions and ask that you wear it when volunteering. Please note if you have other children, they can accompany you—assuming they can sit or help you—it is not a problem!
We need your help, please sign up to volunteer!
Holiday Shop Volunteers
This December 9-12, McKinley will be hosting our annual PTO Holiday Shop and letting our students shop for friends and family. While the Holiday Shop makes a small profit for the PTO, this event is held primarily for the students to be able to experience the joy of giving.
Calling all Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles!!
We need volunteers to help children shop (and choose items within their budget), ring out purchases, and restock during the Holiday Shop. Shifts are only a 1/2 hour long. Please consider signing up for one (or as many) shift/s as you are able to do. Volunteers MUST have their clearances in order to help with this this great event.
If you would like to help out please use the SignupGenius and choose your time slots! Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have regarding the holiday shop. mckinleypto@gmail.com
Bears That Care Donations
Please bring in a NEW bear for the Bears That Care drive by K-Kids! The collected bears will be distributed to sick kids in the hospital during the holidays. To donate, bring in your new bears and place them in the bins in the front of the shcool. All donations are due in by Tuesday, November 26.
Holiday Gift Collection for the Breathing Room
This holiday season consider "adopting" a family for the holidays. Forms are due back by Friday, November 22. After that, gifts will be suggested and then wrapped gifts are due by Monday, December 9th. See the flyer for details.
Odyssey of the Mind Advisor Needed
Advisors are needed for Odyssey of the Mind. Advisors must have their volunteer badges and must attend training with the participating organizations. More information can be found on the organization websites.
Odyssey of the Mind is an educational program that involves competitive creative problem solving. Space on the teams is limited, and selection will be made through tryouts. Students meet from October through March and then compete in the Odyssey of the Mind Competition in the Spring. For more information, visit the National Odyssey of the Mind website (http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/) or email our Assistant Principal (RobertHowe@Abington.k12.pa.us).
Request from Nurse
While you're cleaning out your closets, put aside any elastic waist pants and shorts for the nurse and send them in with your student/s.
Book Fair Update
Thank you for all the purchases and volunteers that helped to make the Scholastic Book Fair a huge success this year! Along with the money raised for the PTO, and in addition to the money raised towards "All for Books", we were able to donate 105 new books to the library and add 95 more books to the teacher/staff's libraries on top of the generosity of parents filling their wishlists as well!!!
Remember the pre-sale books, Dog Man Fetch-22 will be delivered after December 10, 2019 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wrecking Ball, will be delivered after November 5, 2019.
If you have any questions about your order, please contact Elena at elenaloughney1@hotmail.com.
Crayola ColorCycle Marker Collection
Do you have dried up or broken markers at home? Don't throw them away. Collect them and have your student/s bring them to school so they can be recycled through Crayola's ColorCycle program. A collection bin will be stationed at the Art Room and you can download the flyer for more background!
New Box Top Program
The old Box Tops are being phased out! If you have any clipped Box Tops at home, please send them in an envelope noting your child’s class number and teacher. There is a new collection sheet (see link below). Expiration dates still matter for the clipped Tops but the new electronic Box Tops will not have an expiration date. The flyer in the link below provides information on how the new program works. It involves getting the new app on your phone and scanning your grocery receipts after the purchase of participating items. McKinley’s ID number is 383838 – you can set up an account and we will get the credit anytime you scan a receipt. There is an additional “Give Credit” option after you scan your receipt- you can enter your child’s class number and teacher. Submissions can be tracked throughout the school year. Instead of doing contests in January and February, an end of year winner will be announced and the winning class will receive a water ice party. Please consider getting the app and helping McKinley with this easy fundraiser. We have raised over $27,000 for McKinley over the years. Thank you!
Abington Parent Council Meetings
The Abington Parent Council holds meetings throughout the year with each meeting having a focused topic.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
7:30pm
Overlook Elementary
Student Services Orientation How to Access Services
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
7:30pm
Highland Elementary
Vaping and Substance Abuse
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
7:30pm
Abington Junior High School
Community Showcase
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
7:30pm
Willow Hill Elementary
Social Media Online Risks
Join the New Directory
The My School Anywhere directory has been transferred to a new platform, Membership Toolkit.
We invite you to visit https://mckinleyptoelkinspark.membershiptoolkit.com/ to add or review and confirm your directory record. If you have completed a form at a Kindergarten orientation, your entry has been entered. Once you create a Membership Toolkit Account, you will have access to the Directory.
Here's what you need to do:
Click on the Register/Login button.
If you already had a My School Anywhere account, you can use the same email and password to login. You can then proceed to the numbered steps below.
If you do not have an account with the My School Anywhere system, select "Create Account" and fill in the name, email, and password information.
Click "verify my email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
Once you have verified your email address, log back in and finish the registration process.
Complete the Parent/Family and Student Information.
Complete the Directory/Publish Preferences.
Once the Primary Account is set up, the Primary User can "invite" other email addresses to access his/her account. This allows the Secondary User to have their own login information, but still have access to the family account.
Access to My School Anywhere will no longer be available after Monday, September 9.
Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us at mckinleypto@gmail.com.
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found bin, located in the Main Lobby, is filled with lost clothing and items. Please find some time to look through the bin. To avoid an overflow of items, anything left in the bin at the end of each month will be donated to a local organization. This means the first time the Lost and Found bin will be cleared this year will be Friday, September 27.
McKinley PTO Volunteer Opportunities
McKinley PTO is always looking for volunteers. We are currently looking for these specific co-chairs, but would welcome your involvement in any of the activities and committees:
Art to Remember
Build-A-Scarecrow Night
Career Night
Environmental Center (Garden)
Holiday Shoppe
Spring Fair
Teacher Appreciation
Yearbook
Assemblies
For a full list of opportunities and to see who currently chairs committees, visit the PTO website's Committees page or reach out to us at mckinleypto@gmail.com.
McKinley PTO Membership
We ask each family for a $10 dues. Your membership dues help to create an exciting environment where our children learn and grow. Membership also allows you to vote at PTO meetings. We hope to have your support so we can help in giving your children a great school year!
We accept payment of dues anytime during the school year. You can pay your dues by check (payable to "McKinley Elementary PTO") or cash and send them to school with your child in an envelope marked "PTO DUES". You can pay dues electronically if you have a PayPal account. Visit paypal.me/mckinleypto. Please enter your dues amount (PLEASE DO NOT CHECK THE BOX that indicates the payment is for "goods or services") and include PTO Membership Dues in the notes section, along with your child's name, grade, and teacher.
McKinley PTO Website
Please visit the McKinley PTO website to learn more about what the PTO does. These are some of the things you can find on the website:
event listings
subscribe to the Google calendar
find volunteer opportunities
contact the board members
weekly emails
get clearance form information for volunteering
Also, if you have photos to share for the photo gallery, feel free to forward them to mckinleypto@gmail.com.