Weekly Update
So many exciting things coming up in February! A new safety initiative from the 6th grade APEX, a PTO meeting, Fiddler on the Roof, the V.I.P. Dance and the Red Cross Blood Drive plus two days off. We also encourage students to submit their statistics posters and Junior Flower show creations.
McKinley’s Fiddler on the Roof
Come see McKinley students perform Fiddler on the Roof! Tickets are now on sale for the entire school! There are three shows: Friday 2/7 at 7pm, Saturday 2/8 at 11am and 6pm. Ticket orders are due by Monday February 3rd, so don't delay! Order form can be downloaded below.
Join the #helmetheads Movement
Students in the Thursday grade 6 APEX group are initiating a movement called #helmetheads. Its goal is to encourage all students to wear protective helmets while biking and educate about the importance of protecting your head through a poster awareness campaign. On Tuesday, February 4th, we would like any/all McKinley students and staff to wear a bicycle helmet to school. (Helmets may be kept in classrooms when not being worn.) Their pictures will be taken and posted on our newly created #helmetheads display across from the main office.
Drama Club
We made it to the final week of rehearsals! Next week is very important as it is Dress Rehearsal week!
Please read the Sunday Drama Club e-mail carefully as it will have important information regarding showtimes!
Rehearsals will end at 6pm next week. Please be respectful and pick up on time.
REHEARSALS
Tuesday, February 4
3:20 - 6:00 PM: Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday, February 5
3:20 - 6:00 PM: Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, February 6
3:20 - 6:00 PM: Dress Rehearsal
IT'S SHOWTIME!
Friday, Feb 7 - School Performance and Evening Performance at 7PM
Saturday, Feb 8 - Morning Performance at 11AM and Evening Performance at 6PM
TICKETS
Tickets are currently for sale for the cast and crews! Reserved tickets are available for 6th grade cast members. All ticket orders should be in at this point - any questions in regards to tickets should be directed to natasha.hatton@gmail.com
KISS THE CAST (NOT LITERALLY) /WELL WISHES
We will be selling candy and wooden roses during lunch periods on Wed 2/5 and Thursday 2/6 11:30-1:15 and at all 3 performances. This is an opportunity for children to wish their friends well in the play. Candy will be placed in the cast and crews' bags and bags are distributed after the last performance. Please remember to send in coins with your child on Wednesday 2/5 & Thursday 2/6. Prices range from 10-25 cents for candy and $1.00 for wooden roses. Parents/volunteers: we need help to sell the candy, please reach out to Tricia Mooney with your availability at triciam74@icloud.com -thank you!
Volunteers are needed for this final week and for help during the performances. Please consider helping so we can make sure things run as smoothly as possible. Sign up below.
V.I.P. Dance
On February 13th, McKinley Elementary will host its Very Important Person dance. McKinley students can spend an evening with their special adult guest. There will be an opportunity for photographs, dinner, dancing and fun. The ticket order form is below. We are also looking for parent volunteers. Please sign up to volunteer below.
2020 Pennsylvania Statistics Poster Competition
All students are welcome to submit their statistics poster creation into the PA Statistics Poster Competition! For more information, download the flyer here. You can also visit https://www.francis.edu/PA-Statistics-Poster-Competition/ to view winning posters from previous years for inspiration.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
The Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on Friday, February 14 from 9:00am-2:00pm. Sign up at www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: McKinley. You can download the flyer here.
Junior Flower Show (Update)
All students are invited to contribute a creation for the Junior Flower Show sponsored by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS). This year's theme is "Horticulture Holiday." Categories for submission and more information are included in this flyer. Submissions are due by Tuesday, February 18. If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs. Tanay (Room #20), JenniferTanay@Abington.k12.pa.us.
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 below.
Volunteer in the McKinley Library!
Would you like to get more involved or volunteer your time at McKinley? Please consider joining our dedicated team of library volunteers! Our weekly volunteers assist with shelving, checking books in and out, and maintaining our library shelves; you must have your district volunteer badge to help. To learn more, please contact our school librarian, Ms. Strohecker, at laurenstrohecker@abington.k12.pa.us. Thank you!
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.