Weekly Update
We hope everyone enjoyed getting their service projects completed on MLK Jr. Day. The Snowball Dance for 4th, 5th and 6th graders is tomorrow night! Thanks to the organizers and volunteers who make it possible for the students to have a fun and memorable night.
Snowball Dance
The Snowball Dance will be held Friday, January 24th from 6-7:30 PM at McKinley Elementary for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students. The cost of tickets is $10 and the price goes up to $15 after January 17th. Flyers were delivered to the teacher's mailboxes on 1/2/20. Make checks payable to McKinley Elementary PTO and return along with signed agreement slip in a labeled envelope to "PTO Snowball Dance."
Please note: There are no electronic devices allowed at the dance. All students need to be signed out after the dance. No student will be allowed to leave the building to meet a parent at their car.
See flyer here. Volunteers are needed and can sign up here as well.
Drama Club
KISS THE CAST/WELL WISHES
Will be selling candy and wooden Roses during lunch times Wednesday 2/5 and
Thursday 2/6 11:30-1:15 and during all three performances 2/8 @ 7 pm, 2/9 @ 11 am & 6 pm.
This is a great way for classmates, friends, teachers & family to write Well Wishes for fellow cast & crew of Fiddler on the Roof Jr. while giving a little treat. Please remember to send your child in with money - coins (dimes and quarters).
Candy prices will range from
10-25 cents.
Wooden Rose will be priced at $1.00 each.
REHEARSALS WEEK OF JANUARY 28-30
We are down to the wire and just 2 more weeks until show time! Please check the Drama Club Sunday email for any changes!
Tuesday, January 28
3:20 - 6:00 PM Scenes 4, 5, 6 and 7
Wednesday, January 29
3:20 - 6:00 PM Scenes 8, 9, 10 and 11
***4TH GRADERS DISMISSED AT 4:30***
Thursday, January 30
3:20 - 6:00 PM Scenes 12, 13, 14 and 15 also Sound Check with all Leads!
As always, remember that you need to pick up your child up on time, we have volunteers who are waiting with your children, please be respectful of their time. Now is the time when we can really use your help! Please considering volunteering, even if a short amount of time, to help us run things more smoothly.
TICKETS
Please see the ticket forms. In addition, ticket forms will be handed out at pick up on Wednesday. Please note that only 6th grade cast members have access to the "reserved" section, tickets are on a first come, first serve basis.
SAVE THE DATES
Showtimes are Friday, February 7th @ 7pm and Saturday, February 8th @ 11am and 6pm. All case members are expected at all 3 shows.
McKingo is Coming!
Please join us on Friday, March 20th for our annual bingo night known as McKingo! Be on the look out for ticket/food order forms and ways to sponsor, and/or donate! It is sure to be a fun night for all! Sign up to volunteer!
Girls on the Run
It's not too late! We still need volunteer coaches. Both full time (Tuesday/Thursday practice) and/or part time (Thursday) help would be welcomed. Live coach training in February and weekly practices are from 3:15-4:45pm on Tuesday and Thursday beginning 3/3 and will happen on days that school is in session except on early dismissal days. You must have your clearances and have a Abington School District Volunteer Badge. Please contact Lenka Doogan lenkadoogan@gmail.com or call/text 215-806-9684.
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.
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, 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.