Hawk Talk October 2026

Posted Date: 09/30/26 (04:01 PM)

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McKenny Hawk Talk

October 2026

McKenny Elementary School

Important Dates:

Oct 1: Food Bank 5th grade @ 5:00pm
Oct 1: OSD Board Work Session @ 6:00pm
Oct 7: Walk n Roll
Oct 7: Art For Kids
Oct 8: OSD Board Meeting @ 6:30pm
Oct 12: Field Trip to the Swantown Marina - 5th grade
Oct 12: Author Visit - Rachel Wilson K-2nd grade
Oct 12: Author Visit - Rachel Wilson 3rd-5th grade
Oct 12: Public Hearing regarding school closure - McKenny Elementary @ 6:00pm-10:00pm
Oct 13: PTO Meeting @ 6:30pm
Oct 14: Art For Kids
Oct 15: Field Trip to Hicks Lake - 5th grade
Oct 15: Public Hearing regarding school closures - LP Brown @ 6:00pm-10pm
Oct 17-Oct 30: PTO Read-A-Thon
Oct 19: Public Hearing regarding school closures - Madison @ 6:00pm-10:00pm
Oct 21: Art For Kids
Oct 22: Food Bank - 4th Grade @ 5:00pm
Oct 22: OSD Board Meeting @ 6:30pm
Oct. 26-30: Conference Week Dismissal @ 11:35am
Oct 26-30: Scholastic Book Fair
Oct 30: Trunk Or Treat @ 6:00pm-7:00pm

Walk N Roll - October 7th

Our school hosts a Walk N Roll event one day each month. These are optional days that students can bike or walk to and from school, and once they arrive, can receive special prizes. Please wear helmets when riding, and make sure students are crossing roads safely. Walking or biking to school is not only amazing for your health, but it is also helpful to the environment!

Attendance Matters

Attendance supports your students' social, emotional, and academic achievement, and it is mandatory by law. Read more about OSPI's policy here.

However, cold and flu season is upon us and with that we understand comes absences. If your child is not feeling well, has a fever or vomiting please keep them home. Refer to the document, "When Should Children Stay Home?" for further guidance.

You can excuse their absence daily by calling the attendance line at 360.596.8403 or email mckes-attendance@osd.wednet.edu. You can also send doctors notes and planned absence forms to the email provided to excuse absences.

If you are checking in your student late or taking them out early, please sign them in/out at the office.

News from the PTO

Join the PTO: There is still time to be part of the McKenny PTO community! It’s completely free to join, and there’s no time or financial commitment required. Simply sign up to stay informed about school events, volunteer opportunities, and meaningful ways to support our students and staff. Everyone makes a difference, and we would love to have you be part of our community! Visit our website to join!

Hawkwear: We still have some great new Hawkwear items available! Check out the latest designs at our CheddarUp page here and show your McKenny pride wherever you go.

Olympia Schools Yard Signs: You can still purchase yard signs to support McKenny, Madison and LP Brown. We would love to see signs throughout our community as a simple but powerful way to show our support for all of our schools.

PTO Meeting Tues October 13th 6:30-8:00pm: Please join us for our second meeting of the year. We still have several committees that need volunteers to help bring some great events and opportunities to life for our school community. Whether you have a little time or a lot, your involvement helps make McKenny a special place for our students and staff. Can’t make it in person? Join us via ZOOM. Meeting ID: 813 2348 3890 Passcode: 625598

Read-A-Thon Sat October 17th - Fri October 30th: Our annual Read-a-Thon is almost here! This year’s theme is “Reading takes you places!” This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get lost in the world of books, whether they are reading independently or enjoying a story with someone else. And the best part? Students can earn prizes just by reading. Be on the lookout for more information coming home in your student’s folder.

Scholastic Book Fair Mon October 26th - Fri October 30th: The Scholastic Book Fair kicks off at McKenny on Monday, October 26th, with tons of great books for readers of all ages! Book fair hours are still being finalized, so stay tuned for an update. We are excited to share that the fair will be open during Trunk or Treat, so be sure to stop by, find a new favorite book, and enjoy the spooky fun!

Trunk Or Treat Fri October 30th 6:00-7:00pm: Our 6th annual Trunk-or-Treat will be held in the school’s Traffic Garden. Join us for an evening of candy, costumes, and car decorating contests. Help us make this year's event the best one yet, by signing-up via Cheddarup to host a trunk, or volunteer during the event. Candy donations will be accepted in front of the school at drop off and pick up, or inside the school office, starting Monday October 19th through Friday the 30th.

Text reads around a blue hawks head with wings EST 1993 then below hawks head McKenny Elementary PTO

Like us on Facebook: McKenny Hawks PTO

Visit our website: mckennypto.org

Check us out on CheddarUp: bit.ly/PTOCU

Reach us via email: mckennypto@gmail.com

School Counselor's Corner

Hello McKenny Families!

I’m excited to be joining McKenny as your new school counselor! I’ve felt so welcomed during my first few weeks by everyone and am already grateful to be part of this wonderful community.

With over 10 years of counseling experience, I’m passionate about helping kids feel supported, connected, and heard. I’m especially excited to get back to a career I love after being home fulltime with my two daughters for the last six years. Fun fact, I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we have Brewster, a 120lb Bernese Mountain Dog, who thinks he’s a lap dog.

Every month, I will be visiting each K-5th grade classroom twice for classroom counseling. Students will focus on learning social-emotional skills that will help them grow, build friendships, manage big feelings, solve problems, and feel confident in themselves.

I’m looking forward to getting to know all students and families and supporting their social-emotional needs throughout the year.

Please reach out anytime - I’d love to connect!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kari Boyd

kboyd@osd.wednet.edu

Principals' Corner

Hello and Happy October! Several people have asked me to send out this reminder related to the safety of our students.

Circle Procedures During Drop-off and Pick Up

Morning Drop Off

Please enter the parking lot and turn right before running over the orange cones.

Follow the driveway to the right around the parking spots and back toward the main entrance to the school.

Pull into the circle and pull as far forward as possible. You may go past vehicles (school bus or cars) that are stopped if there is open space further ahead in the circle.

If possible, children should exit from the right side of the car onto the sidewalk.

Once the students are safely out of the car, the car may drive away.

Please don’t leave the car unattended in the circle for any reason. If you need to get out of the car for some reason, please park in a spot to do so.

Afternoon Pick Up

Please enter the parking lot and turn right before running over the orange cones.

Follow the drive way to the right around the parking spots and back toward the main entrance to the school.

Pull into the circle and pull as far forward as possible. You may go past vehicles that are stopped if there is open space further ahead in the circle. Students may only get into cars once they have entered the circle area. Students may not get into a car prior to it entering the circle area.

If possible, have students enter the car from the right side directly from the sidewalk.

Very Important: Please remain in your vehicle. If cars in front of you drive away, you need to move forward to create space behind. Particularly after school, cars may not be left unattended. Traffic needs to be able to flow as smoothly as possible.

We have staff members to help kids get to their cars.

Most Important: Drive slowly; Be on the Lookout for students; Be Patient and Kind

With Gratitude,

Michael Havens