April 2024

McKenny Hawks Are Kind, Safe, Respectful and Responsible

 

 

 

April Up-Coming Events:

• 1-5: Spring Break No School
• 8: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.
• 9: PTO Meeting at 6:30 p.m. McKenny Library
• 10: Walk N Roll
• 11: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.
• 11: School Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Knox Building or via Zoom
• 13: Countdown to Kindergarten at 10:00 a.m.  Capital High School
• 15: Running Club at 4:00 p.m. 
• 16: Class Pictures
• 18: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.
• 22: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.
• 25: 3rd, 4th & 5th OJP “Frindle” at 12:30 p.m.
• 25: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.
• 25: 1st Grade 5:00 p.m. at the Food Bank
• 25: School Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Knox Building or via Zoom
• 29: Running Club
• May 1: Walk N Roll
• May 2: Running Club at 4:00 p.m.

New Student Enrollment for the 2024-2025 School Year

Registration is now open for NEW students (Grades K-5) for next school year. Registration can be done through Skyward Family Access (click on New Student Enrollment on the left-hand side menu) or use the OSD online enrollment link. Enrollment packets can also be picked up in the main office.  

Countdown to Kindergarten

For parents/guardians who will have children in kindergarten during the 2024-25 school year. 
April 13th at Capital High School 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

 

Parents/Guardians and incoming kindergartners are encouraged to attend. Please feel free to invite your friends and neighbors as this event is open to all in-district and out-of-district families.  Families have the opportunity to learn all about transitioning to kindergarten in our district. There will be a brief presentation followed by a period of time to meet and greet school staff, enjoy activities, climb on board a school bus, receive free children’s books (courtesy of South Sound Reading Foundation), and much more!

Olympia Junior Programs (OJP)

McKenny students grades 3-5 will participate in OJP at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. 3rd, 4th and 5th will be going April 25th to see Frindle. Permission slips will be sent home the week of April 8th. Please send permission slips back, along with the $5 donation for your child’s attendance. by April 19th.  Payments can be made with cash (exact amount only, Office does not have change), check, or credit (online or in the office). 

Running Club 

If you are new to McKenny, this is a free after school program open to all families and all family members.  This year we will hold practices after school on Mondays and Thursdays, from 4:00-4:30.  These practices are NOT drop off practices- students must attend with adults.  We will walk/run one mile each practice and participate in our final race in mid-May, the Capital City Marathon Kid’s Run.  Some kids may have a goal to try and run a marathon (26.2 miles) one mile at a time, with the final mile being the race.  Some kids may have a goal of just showing up to occasional practices to be active with friends.  Some adults may show up wanting health and fitness accountability or to run a personal best.  And everything in between!  Email Mindy Swedberg with any questions.  [email protected]

Walk N Roll - April 10

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! 

 

News from the PTO

 

PTO Meeting Tuesday April 9th 6:30-8:00pm:

Come join us as we put finishing touches on our spring BINGO event, begin discussing the upcoming school year, and hear updates about what has been happening around the school since the last PTO meeting. We can’t wait to see you there and catch up! Can’t make it in person? Join us via ZOOM. Please note that this is a different Zoom link than previous meetings as we set up a new account. You can use this link for future regular monthly PTO meetings.
Meeting ID: 881 5468 3334
Passcode: 772214 

Fun Run:

Friday March 8th Boosterthon hosted a Fun Run event for the McKenny students as part of a training exercise. The event looked a little different from years past as there was no fundraising component, but that didn’t stop the fun! There were lots of smiling faces and everyone had a great time. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this such a fantastic and memorable day for all the students.  

BINGO!:

Mark your calendars for our exciting new BINGO event on Saturday May 18th! Doors will open at 5:30pm and the games will begin at 6:00pm. We will have food and a silent auction as well. Stay tuned for more details! 

Yearbook:

Keep those photos rolling in for the McKenny yearbook. We are especially in need of orchestra and band photos, first day of school and Trunk or Treat. Please be sure to label pictures with names and what event the photo is from. You can submit using the Yearbook Snap app and search for McKenny Elementary and then enter code McKenny2024. If you have difficulty with the app please feel free to email photos to [email protected].

Thank you:

Gratitude is defined as; the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. The PTO would like to express our deepest gratitude for all the unwavering support and kindness shown, not only in these past few months, but the whole school year so far. McKenny is a truly magical place and this community always shows up to support the students and staff in a big way. So for all the movie nights volunteers, donations for conferences and staff appreciation, attending PTO meetings, buying yard signs, going to OSD school board meetings, field trip chaperones and so much more, please accept our many thanks for all that you do for our beloved school. 

 

Please be sure to visit our newly designed website for all the latest information at mckennypto.org and follow us on social media. 

Instagram: @mckennyhawkspto
Facebook: facebook.com/mckennyhawkspto 

 

Principals Corner 

 

As we head into what looks to be a lovely Spring, a few different and brief topics come to mind that I would like to share with you.

Lost and Found.

This is the time of the year that we usually collect the most lost and found items. As the temperatures begin to rise, children tend to remove coats and sweatshirts during recess and then forget to pick them up when the bell rings. Two suggestions: 1.) Label coats and sweatshirts with the student’s name. When an item is collected, staff members check for a name and deliver it to the student. 2.) Regularly check our lost and found rack near the main office.

Morning Drop-off.

The work day for our supervisory staff begins at 8:15 and breakfast is available for students at 8:15. Please do not drop your students off in the morning until 8:15 or later. We simply do not have staff available at that time to supervise students for safety.

PTO Meetings.

We have an amazing group of parents who lead our PTO. The group is absolutely wonderful; it is small but it has been growing lately which we are really excited about. We love it when we have a large group at our PTO meetings to help discuss topics at the school, make decisions about activities and expenditures, and plan for events. Speaking of events, PTO is hosting a Bingo Night on May 18. We will need new people to join our existing, dedicated volunteers in order to have a successful event. Please come to our next meeting on April 9th at 6:30 in the library or via zoom.

I hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break spent with family and friends.

Sincerely,
Michael Havens

 

McKenny Elementary School Schedule

Grades K to 5  8:30 a.m.—2:45 p.m. 

AM Preschool  8:30—11:00 a.m. 
PM Preschool  12:15—2:45 p.m. 
Early Release Every Wednesday 1:55 p.m.  (No preschool) 
Half Day Dismissal 11:35 a.m.  (No preschool)