Hawk Talk
Michael Havens, Principal
April 24, 2015
(360) 596-8400 Office
(360) 596-8403 Student Absent/Late Line
Website: http://mckenny.osd.wednet.edu/
From the Principal:
Computer Lab Overhauled
After several weeks of coordinating, planning, designing and moving furniture, our computer lab was overhauled
during the week of Spring Break. There are several thank you’s to be made for getting this done.
First and foremost, thank you to our amazing PTO for purchasing new chairs for the lab. Previously, students
were sitting on stools at tables that were too high for chairs. We felt that state assessments can be fairly lengthy
and it would better if students could be sitting in more comfortable chairs. Specifically, thank you to Amanda
Benjamin for working with The Creative Office Furniture company to select, order and have the chairs delivered.
Thank you to our wonderful custodians! George and Angelo (and sub custodian Nguyen Phan) moved a lot of
un-needed furniture out of the lab. They put legs on tables and adjusted them to the correct height for the new
chairs. Finally, they supported the work done by our field technician as the lab was being put back together.
Finally, thank you to our fantastic field technician Joe Chiaravalotti. Joe spent most of Spring Break, including
Saturday April 4th, working on our lab. He set up the newly reconstructed tables. He set up the 33 machines and
went to great pains strap all wires and cables to the underside of the tables. And he mounted a projector to the
ceiling to create more space for student machines. It looks great. Next time you are visiting or volunteering,
take a look through the windows of A-5 to see for yourself.
Michael Havens, Principal
Late Start – Wednesday, May 6, 2015
School begins at 10:00am
Late Start Dates for 2014-15
June 3
AM Kindergarten Parents, AM Kindergarten is from 10:00 to 12:10pm; Full Day
Kindergarten is from 10:00am to 3:22pm. Preschool Parents, AM Preschool is 10:0012:00, PM Preschool 1:20-3:22.
No School
Please mark your calendars for Monday, May 25th as a no school day to honor
Memorial Day.
Placement Consideration Form for 2015-16
Placement Consideration Forms are available in the office or on the McKenny website for placement for the
2015-16 school year. The forms are due in the office no later than Friday, May 22, 2015.
McKenny Elementary Hawk Talk
Page 2
April 24, 2015
Fifth Grade Outdoor School
Our fifth grade students will be attending Outdoor School at the Cispus Environmental Center in Randle, Washington, May
13 - 15. This will be a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday trip. The Center has been developed specifically for students
environmental studies and has excellent facilities for both study and research.
Also, if your student needs to take a prescription or over-the-counter medicine, the medicine and doctors
permission form must be at school by Friday, May 8th.
Lost and Found
Our racks are full; please check our lost and found for any missing items. We will be donating the left over items
to The Little Red School House. Please write your students name in his or her coat. We can return
any lost coat to the correct student if their name is visible.
Juice Pop Sales
The following dates are the Friday’s that Juice Pops will be sold during lunches. Friday, May 1st, May 15th, May
22nd and June 5th. The cost is 50¢ per juice pop and is sold on a cash basis only .
Kindergarten Registration Information
Registration for Kindergarten for the 2015-16 school year is well under way. Registration packets are available
at the school office. Please bring your child’s Proof of Residency and original Birth Certificate. Olympia School
District is pleased to offer a number of Kindergarten programs and services to meet the needs of students and
families.
New Family Registration for 1st – 5th Grades for the 2015-16 School Year
Registration for 1st – 5th grades for the 2015-16 school year has begun. Please bring your child’s Proof of
Residency and Birth Certificate. If you have neighbors with school age children, please let them know we are in
the process of registering new students.
Tardiness Takes a Toll on Achievement
Missing school every now and then doesn’t seem like such a big deal. But being absent even part of a day can
affect a student’s academic achievement in many ways, resulting in:
• Lower grades. Students who arrive after class begins miss important elements of a lesson.
• Missed information. Tardy students often miss hearing announcements and updates from the teacher. They
may miss hearing about homework assignments and important test dates.
• Loss of valuable learning time for all. A student’s late arrival affects everyone in the classroom as the teacher
takes time to get the tardy student caught up.
If your child is frequently tardy:
• Monitor your child’s sleep. If she frequently oversleeps, you may need to establish an earlier bedtime.
• Make mornings go smoothly. Give your child an alarm clock. Put it across the room so she will have to get up
to turn it off. Allow plenty of time for using the bathroom, getting dressed and eating a healthy breakfast.
• Ask for help. If family circumstances interfere with getting your child to class on time, make an appointment to
talk with her teacher.
McKenny Elementary Hawk Talk
Page 3
April 24, 2015
Mark Your Calendars for the OSD Technology Fair!
Are you interested in how teachers and students are using technology to enhance students’ learning
and achievement, both inside and outside the classroom? If so, we invite you to the Olympia School
District's first-ever Technology Fair on Thursday, April 30 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. in the Capital High School
Commons (2707 Conger Ave. NW). From robotics to mobile devices, you will see it all, plus learn more
about the district’s vision for implementing the 2014 Technology and Safety Levy. Parents/guardians,
the event will also include one-on-one assistance in signing up for Family Access. You can even stay
afterward to enjoy the Capital High School Spring Musical that begins at 7:30 p.m.
2014-15 Yearbooks
Have you ordered your yearbook yet? Prices are $14.00 per book. Order forms are available in the
office. Yearbook distribution day is Friday, June 5th at the end of the day.
Band and Orchestra Concert
Our 5th grade band and 4th and 5th grade orchestras will be performing a concert on Tuesday, June 9th
at 2:25pm. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Up-Coming Events
May 2015
1
Juice Pops for sale during lunches
3
PTO Spring Carnival
1-7
Physcial Ed & Sports Week
4-8
Teacher Appreciation Week
4-8
School Nutrition Employee Appreciation
Week
4
OSD School Board mtg @ 6:30 @ Knox
6
Late start
National School Nurse Day
7
4th & 5th Grade Field Trip – Ballet Northwest
12
PTO mtg @ 6:30 – Library
13-15 5th grade Outdoor School
14
Nelson/O’Halloran/Goldsmith – Port Blakely
Field Trip
15
Sjoboen – Port Blakely Field Trip
Juice Pops for sale during lunches
17-23 National Educational Bosses’ Week
18
OSD School Board mtg @ ORLA @ 6:30
19
1st grade field trip – DirtWorks
20
15-16 Kindergarten Open House @ 11:00
21
Day of Champions Field Trip
22
Juice Pops for sale during lunches
25
NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY
29
Hawk Talk Newsletter sent home
June 2015
1
OSD School Board mtg @ Knox @ 6:30
3
Late start
5
Hawk Talk sent home
Juice pops for sale during lunches
Assembly @ 2:30
8
2nd grade field trip – OHOP Pioneer Farm –
9
PTO mtg @ 6:30
11
Field Day
5th grade picnic @ LBA
12
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – RELEASE AT 12:05
McKenny Elementary Hawk Talk
Page 4
April 24, 2015
PTO
Movie Night:
Thank you, thank you ,THANK YOU to our Movie Night families and
volunteers. Special thanks to the leadership of Jocelyn McCabe and her
movie night committee team for all their work this year! Everything was
awesome!
McKenny’s Spring Carnival is fast approaching on May 2. We will feature food from Big
Daddy’s food truck with hot dogs, corn dogs and elephant ears with 5 toppings! Take your
best throw at the dunk tank featuring a special guest, race your friends on the inflatable
pony races, or get a cool creation from the balloon artist, Tom the Twister. Come check out
these and many other fun games and activities next Saturday night!
2015
All food, games and activities take pre-paid punch cards ONLY. Forgot to buy your pre-sale
tickets? No worries, punch cards and raffle tickets will be available for sale at the carnival.
Cash or check only.
We still need your help! The PTO is asking each family to volunteer 30 minutes during
carnival either at your child’s classroom game, helping with food, the bake sale, photo booth
or selling tickets. Volunteer sign-up sheets are located outside the library or send an email
to [email protected].
Donations are still being accepted for:
- Bingo game prizes ($5 value): The donation box is located outside the main office.
st
- Bake Sale and Cake Walk: store-bought or homemade items. Deliver items to school office on Friday, May 1
We will need help with other carnival projects, too, including set up, clean up, decorations, and more! Contact PTO
President Amanda Benjamin at 915-7477 or [email protected] to volunteer. Thank you for your support!
2015-2016 PTO Board
The PTO is looking for volunteers to be a part of next year’s board. We are currently recruiting for
President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Being an officer is a fantastic way to get involved
and invest in your child’s education and school community. Interested? Curious? Please contact
current President Amanda Benjamin at 915-7477 or [email protected] to discuss. Elections will
be held at our next PTO meeting on Tuesday, May 12th at 6:30pm in the school library. Hope to see
you there
Hey-batter-batter-batter-hey! Sa-WING batter!
Join us for McKenny Night at the Tacoma Rainiers on May 29. There are two ticket packages: The Group Express
tickets are $11.50 per person and include a game ticket, Ballpark Meal (hot dog, chips and water) -OR - snag the
Group Double Play and get the ticket and the meal, plus a limited-edition Rainiers hat for $17.50 per person! Visit
the PTO website to download your ticker order form…due to the PTO May 1. http://www.mckennypto.org/