December newsletter 2009

Principal’s Message

It’s hard to believe it’s time for another newsletter. Time is flying by. Things are going great at McKinley Elementary. The students are studying hard and the teachers are all working to provide the best education possible. There is truly a team spirit at McKinley and I appreciate the PTA and all parents for their support and help. I have been so impressed the way parents have taken responsibility for their child’s education and supported the school and the teachers. Along with this I have received great suggestions of how our school can run more smoothly. I am always open for suggestions and once again I appreciate your patience and cooperation with me and the team of educators at McKinley Elementary School.
One area of concern that has been on my mind and others is car pool procedures. Following is a list of guidelines for all to follow:
It is important that specific guidelines be followed because our car pool is located on a city street and not within a campus proper.
During car pool, please follow the following school guidelines.
· Please observe posted speed limit signs as we are in a residential neighborhood and are concerned about the safety of your children.
· Cars in the pickup line should never be left unattended.
· Car pool drivers are not permitted to get out of their car to find their child. Teachers and Staff are stationed outside to find and load the children into the cars.
· Please observe all neighborhood parking signs. The city enforces penalties for illegal parking.
· Please stay in the car pool line as close to the curb as possible when dropping off and picking up your children.
· Please do not block driveways or street entrances and exits as you wait in car pool line.
· If a car is still waiting for a student after the other cars in the line have been filled, that car will be directed to pull up.
· Please drop off children at the main entrance before proceeding to the parking lot.
· Please do not park in the driveways at any time. Vehicles in the driveway area block the cafeteria loading dock and garbage removal access and are subject to towing.
· Students should be instructed never to leave school with anyone other than the person who normally comes for them. If a child is to go home with someone other than the regular driver or if a child is to walk home who normally does not, a note to that effect must be sent to the school.
· Please be prompt at dismissal time.
· Please do not turn around on 500 South after picking up car pool. No U Turn Signs are posted.
· Please tell children to stay on the sidewalk until their car has come to a stop.
· Parking for assemblies and other special events will be provided in the parking lot or at the east side rear of the school.
Thanks again for your help and support with everything and especially with the car pool situation.
Mr. Chadaz

Thinking Ahead:
Make sure to mark your calendars for Parent Teacher Conferences coming next month on January 13th and 14th. There will be a Book Fair during conferences with a Buy 2 Get 1 Free opportunity. Watch for more information to come home as the event draws closer. FYI: Did you know that the PTA is able to earn free books for the students and classrooms depending on the amount of sales at the Book Fair? So the more books that are sold, the more books we can get for our students and school. THANKS for your support!
Event List for December
December 4 Birthday Table
December 10 Bookmobile
December 14 PTA Board Meeting 9:00 AM
Community Council 3:15 PM
December 23 Winter Break Begins
January 4 Winter Break Ends,
School Resumes

A Healthy Child is a Happy Child

Though kids need less frequent snacks as they get older, it's not surprising that most are hungry after school. Our school lunch time is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We then have an afternoon of classes and
maybe even an after-school activity before their next chance to eat. It's no wonder the students are hungry at the end of the day.

Depending on your child's age and after-school routine, you may not always be able to control what he or she eats in the late afternoon. But don't throw in the towel just yet. Take these steps to guide your child
to good after-school snacks that will be satisfying and still leave room for a nutritious dinner.

Figure Out the Timing. Put yourself in your kids' shoes and consider their eating schedules on
a normal weekday. Some younger kids may have a mid-morning snack, but most older school-age kids won't. Get the answers to these questions: When is lunchtime? What and how much do they eat at lunch? Do they ever skip lunch? This will help you figure out how hungry kids will be when they get home.

You'll also want to think about what time you normally serve dinner. A child who gets home famished at four and eats a large snack probably
won't be hungry if dinner is at 5:30. Likewise, it may not be reasonable to expect a child whose parents work late to go until 7:30 with nothing
to eat since lunch. Think about your kids' schedules and plan accordingly.

Create a List of Healthy Options
Next, talk about which snacks kids would like to have at snack time. Come up with a list of healthy options together and be sure to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. While a slice of cake or
some potato chips shouldn't be forbidden foods, such low-nutrient snacks shouldn't be on the everyday after-school menu.

If you can, take your kids along to the grocery store and spend sometime reading the nutrition facts labels and comparing products. Pay attention to the amounts of protein, fiber, calcium, and other important
nutrients, and don't miss the chance to talk about portion sizes. Together, choose snacks that are low in sugar, fat, and salt. Being involved in the process makes it more likely that kids will learn to make healthy food choices.


Make Healthy Snacks an Easy Choice

Don't expect kids - even teens - to cut up their own veggie sticks. It's just too much bother, especially when they're hungry. Kids are more inclined to eat what's handy. That's where you come in. Make healthy
snacks easily available by packing them in their lunch boxes or backpacks or by having them visible and ready-to-eat at home.

If you're at home after school, your youngster might enjoy helping you make a snacks. Older kids often like making their own snacks, so provide the
ingredients and a few simple instructions. If dinner is just around the corner, consider allowing a "first course," such as a small salad or side vegetable while you finish preparing the family meal.

For those nights when dinner is hours away, you could opt for a more substantial snack such as half a sandwich. Nothing too complicated, though. A good snack should take more time to eat than it does to prepare!

If your child goes to an after-school program or to a care giver's house, find out if snacks are served. If so, what's typically offered? If you don't like what you hear, suggest alternatives or just pack an extra
snack your child can eat after school. Easy-to-pack snack options include trail mix, nuts, low-sugar whole grain cereal, whole-grain pretzels or crackers, fresh or dried fruit, and cut-up vegetables.

What if your child comes home to an empty house? Again, the best strategy is to leave something healthy front and center on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator. A hungry child, like a hungry adult, is likely to take the path of least resistance.

Thanks for all you do to make McKinley School and its students happy and healthy.
Mr. Chadaz


Golden Sneaker Update:
Winter is on it’s way but don’t give up on physical exercise to reach your goal in the Golden Sneaker Program! Make an obstacle course in your house, rent a children’s exercise video, go to an indoor swimming pool… use your imagination and make sure to stay on track for the GOLD!!! Keep up the good work.

Box Tops Competition:
It is the 2nd GRADERS month in DECEMBER to collect Box Tops, Cream of Weber Lids, Campbell’s Soup Labels (Did you know that the UPC on Goldfish Crackers is a Campbell’s label, so please cut them out and save them), and now Capri Sun pouches (make sure all liquid is out, straw is removed, and pouch is flattened). All 2nd Grade students, bring in what you collect all month long and make sure to have them marked with their class name on the bag. Whichever class brings in the most at the end of the month will get a prize.


Stuffed Toy Collection:
The Student Council will be collecting stuffed animals in December to send to children in need for Christmas. They will give each classroom a collection bag and will hold a contest to see which class can bring in the most stuffed animals, so look through your toys and donate a stuffed animal to brighten another child’s Holiday.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MESSAGE
***We are having fun and staying busy after school this fall! We had so much fun making snowman pumpkins for the Pumpkin Walk, and we will be helping out with the upcoming Turkey Trot by making banners to cheer the runners. With the weather getting colder and parent's schedules getting busier, the Boys and Girls Club is a fun, safe option for kids after school this winter. Look for our fliers on our bulletin board in the hall, ask in the office, or call 225-0529 for more information. Our current clubs we are offering are Origami club and Geography Club. We will also be having our club's Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday, the 24th. Congratulations to Aytymn Loutsenhizer for being nominated Youth of the Month for November! Nice work Aytymn!***