Sept 2024

September 2024

McKenny Hawks Are Kind, Safe, Respectful and Responsible

 

 

 

Up-Coming Events:

  • Aug 30: Teachers Posted in Skyward Family Access at 3:00 p.m.
  • Aug 30: Kindergarten Families Can Register for WA Kids Conference
  • Sept 3: Supply Drop Off & PTO Social
    • Last names A - K    3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
    • Last Names L – Z   3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Sept 4: First Day of School for Grades 1 – 5 (8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.)
  • Sept 4-6: WA Kids Conferences (Kindergarten Only, additional information forthcoming)
  • Sept 9: First Day of school for Kindergartners and PreK
  • Sept 10: PTO Meeting at 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
  • Sept 17: McMenamins Spar Cafe at 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
  • Sept 21: McKenny Garden Revitalization Work Party at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Oct 1: Individual Picture Day
  • Oct 2: Walk N Roll
  • Oct 4: Teacher In-Service Day - No School

School Information:

  • McKenny Elementary School website
  • School Hours
    • School is 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. (every Wednesday we release at 1:55 p.m. except the first day of school we will release at 2:45 p.m.)
    • Students walking/riding, arrival time to school should be no earlier than 8:15 a.m.
    • There is no supervision in the building prior to that time.
    • Students will line up with their class in the gym every morning. 

WA Kids Conferences (Kindergarten Families Only)
WA Kids Conferences are held September 4th, 5th and 6th for our kindergarten families! These 30 minute conferences are intended for both parent/guardian and student to attend. Your scheduled date/time is when you will bring students supplies. Families can register using Skyward Family Access starting August 30th through September 2nd. 


Skyward Updates:

The yearly updates for Student Information are now available. Please sign in to Skyward Family Access to complete the yearly update of student information including emergency contacts and make changes as necessary.
DO NOT add parents/guardians as emergency contacts. We always call family first before emergency contacts (aunt, uncle, grandparents, friends, neighbors etc).

School Supplies

Supply List
McKenny has received community donations of school supplies for families in need. Please contact Charo our amazing Family Support Liaison for available items. She can be reached at [email protected].

 

Volunteering

Are you interested in volunteering this school year? Visit the district’s volunteer website for additional information. Please be sure to complete the volunteer application if you have not already done so. This application must be completed yearly.


Child Nutrition Services Information

Lunch is $3.75/breakfast $2.50.
Funds can be added to student accounts here at the school with cash/check/card (no change given), or through the online portal.
Menus are posted online (click the menu icon), if you would like a paper copy, please let the front office know. (please note the format has changed this year when looking online).

 

If you feel you qualify for free/reduced we should have paper applications at the school by the end of August. There will also be an application link added to Skyward closer to the start of school (that is quicker).


Transportation

If you haven't done so already, and you would like your child to ride the bus, please complete transportation's Google Form so they get your child routed for the new school year. This must be done annually even if your student rode the bus last year.

News from the PTO

Join the PTO: As the new school year kicks off, we invite you to become a vital part of our school community by joining the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The PTO is free and offers a great way to connect with other families. Signing up keeps you informed on upcoming events, gives you access to a digital directory, and voting rights (commits you to nothing). Whether you are a returning family or new to McKenny you will need to register each year. Sign up today using this link!


PTO CheddarUp Group Page: The PTO will once again be using the online platform CheddarUp to collect registration information, sell tickets, sign up to volunteer, etc., however there is one small change. CheddarUp launched a feature that allows the PTO collections to be on one central page, so gone are the days of tracking multiple websites to sign up for events or buy tickets, it will be a one stop shop! We are so excited to offer this new feature and our hope is that it will make life a little easier for our busy families.  So check out our new group page to see any open collections for the PTO by clicking this link or visit bit.ly/PTOCU.


Welcome Back Social Tuesday September 3rd 3:00-4:30 pm: Drop off your student(s) school supplies, meet the teachers and then stop by the PTO table to say hello, hear about our exciting 2024-2025 school year, and enjoy a refreshing Otter Pop.  If you have a Kindergarten student or a new student 1st-5th this is also a great time to get their free McKenny shirt. We can’t wait to connect with you all. 


PTO Meeting Tuesday September 10th 6:30-8:00 pm: Please join us for the first PTO meeting of the 2024-2025 school year! At this meeting we will hear updates from Principal Havens, vote on the PTO annual budget,  and finalize the calendar of events. We hope we get the chance to connect with you all! Can’t make it in person? Join us via ZOOM.  Meeting ID: 881 5468 3334 Passcode: 772214 


McMenamins Spar Cafe Tuesday September 17th: Spar Cafe will generously donate 50% of their food and beverage proceeds to McKenny PTO on Tuesday September 17th! Come hang out, eat good food, and support our school community from 5:00-11:00 PM.  Bring your family, friends, and neighbors – the more, the merrier! *Not applicable on to-go orders.


McKenny Garden Revitalization Work Party Saturday September 21st: Do you have a green thumb? Are you an arborist? If not, don't worry, you can still make a big impact on the McKenny garden. Saturday September 21st 9:00am-12:00pm join us as we work to revitalize the  garden at McKenny.  We will be removing a rock swale, emptying and repositioning garden boxes, as well as laying down cardboard and mulch on the grass. Sign up to volunteer and get further information on our group CheddarUp page, bit.ly/PTOCU. Questions, comments, concerns please email [email protected]


We are looking forward to another magical year at McKenny and can’t wait to get to know you better. We are here to help and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].  Find us on Instagram, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website mckennypto.org!
   

Instagram: @mckennyhawkspto
Facebook: facebook.com/mckennyhawkspto 


Principals Corner  

McKenny Hawks!

Welcome to another school year at McKenny Elementary: A Magical Place to Learn and Teach.

For those of you returning to McKenny, Welcome Back! We look forward to seeing you again as you continue your journey through elementary school.

To those of you who are joining our school community for the first time this school year, we can’t wait to meet you and support you as you begin your time at McKenny.

This promises to be a wonderful school year and I am so excited to see the students and have their voices filling our halls and classrooms once again.

We have a few new staff members and I am also thrilled that they have joined our community.

Ms. Andrea Cunning will be our new preschool teacher.
Mr. Rob Daray will serve as our Teacher-Librarian and Learning Assistance Program (LAP) teacher.
Ms. Sophie Bustetter will be teaching alongside our 4th and 5th grade teachers in support of our 4th and 5th combination class.
Ms. Tia Arndt will be teaching First Grade to begin the year as Mrs. Johnson takes medical leave to recover from a health concern.

Please join me in welcoming these amazing staff members to our team.

Can’t wait to see you next week! 

 

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)