McKenzie Monitor

McKenzie students, Lola and Piper Jensen, traveled to Washington D.C. to take action to save the Boundary Waters in Minnesota...check it out!

On Friday, February 1st, kindergarten students will be dismissed at 10:00am and 1st - 4th grade students will be dismissed at 11:55am.

The State of Illinois passed a bill known as “Erin’s Law,” which requires all public school districts to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. This program teaches students in grades EC-12th grade age appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and tell a trusted adult.

Erin’s Law is important because child sexual abuse happens every day across the country, across all populations, to children in all socioeconomic and education levels, across all racial and cultural groups, and in rural, suburban, and urban areas. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 18. 90% of child sexual abuse is committed by someone they know and trust.

District 39 will provide a classroom-based program using age-appropriate strategies, language, and materials in grades K-4. Information for Kindergarten and 1st grade will include information from No Trespassing - This is My Body. Information for grades 2-4 will include information from Health World’s, Keeping Kids Safe: An Erin’s Law program (http://www.healthworldeducation.org).

On February 4th-6th these presentations for the Personal Body Safety Program will occur at McKenzie in all K-4 classrooms with the support of our school (social worker and school psychologist). The program is designed to empower and educate the children. These presentations will discuss the following concepts:

• Safe vs. Unsafe touch
• The Safety Rule about Touching (No one should touch your private parts except to keep you clean and healthy)
• Safe vs. Unsafe Secrets
• Uh-Oh Feelings
• Saying no/stop
• Identifying and learning to tell safe adults
• You are the boss of your body
• If someone breaks the safety rule, it is not the child’s fault

If you have any questions about the content of the program, please feel free to contact me at filippir@wilmette39.org. Together we can make sure our children have the right to be safe, and know where to go if they are not.

If you do not wish for your child to participate in this program, please email Nadine Ibrahim at ibrahimn@wilmette39.org by February 1st.

We are happy to announce this week's students whose tickets were pulled for safe, responsible, and respectful behavior:

Kindergarten

Camille Acosta

Ada Lertrasikul

Yuna Cho

Grade 1

Maddie Jones

Aaron Langdon

Brier Owen

Duncan Stambor

Grade 2

Maya Alford

Xavier Little

Sabine Luglio

Caleb Werling

Grade 3

Chris Cook

Katie Coyle

CJ Dominello

Harper Jacobs

Cooper Utynek

Grade 4

Meera Jagannathan

Lola Jensen

Sofia Preusen

Alex Strano

Hallway CHAMPS

Mrs. Deutsch's AM Class

Mrs. Allen's Class

Mrs. Alfaro's Class

Mrs. Kaplan's Class

Mrs. Eckholm's Class

THANK YOU

Thank you to the following PTA chairs for helping to provide McKenzie students with so many wonderful experiences and events!

Kristen Danielsen and Marie Hirschle: Open Gym Night

DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS!

Mindfulness Sessions: The McKenzie PTA is sponsoring four sessions on Mindfulness, led by Wilmette resident Ramaa Krishnan also featuring teacher Katie Koble. The dates are: 2/4, 2/25, 3/4, and 3/18. The first two sessions are for parents only, and will be offered at Full Bloomed Lotus, at 825 Green Bay Road, Suite 120, in Wilmette. The second two sessions, for children and parents, will be held at McKenzie, in the small gym. Each session is on a Monday, is free of charge and goes from 6:30-7:30 pm.

A Sign Up Genius will go live on Wednesday, January 23rd, at 9:00 pm. Space is limited and only 25 families can participate. Therefore, we appreciate it if those who sign up are willing to commit to attending all four sessions. Questions? Contact Elizabeth at elizabethhart@hotmail.com

Open Gym Nights at McKenzie: Does your family need an evening to escape the cold and burn off some “snow bound” energy? Come to Open Gym Night from 6-8 pm on: Mondays: 01/28, 02/11 and 02/25/19. This is a family event – parents MUST attend with their children - this is NOT a drop off event. More information and the student participation waiver can be found here. Can’t wait to see you at Open Gym Night!

WE NEED YOUR HELP

PTA Nominating Committee: Interested in getting more involved at McKenzie and the PTA? Consider joining the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is comprised of McKenzie parents chosen to meet and help nominate the upcoming future leaders of the McKenzie PTA. It’s an amazing opportunity to become more involved at McKenzie and to meet other parents. Nominate yourself, a friend, or both! Email nominations to secretary@mckenziepta.com

McKenzie Learning Commons: The library media center needs your help! Please consider signing up for a morning or afternoon slot to help re-shelve books during your child’s library time. To check out the library schedule for your child’s class time and to sign up, click here.

OTHER HAPPENINGS

4th Grade Ads: Give a shout out to your child or friend AND support the McKenzie Variety Show (and all of the fabulous programming at McKenzie that it supports). Over 100 parents and teachers come together to sing, dance, and perform in the annual McKenzie Variety Show, now in its 39th year. The program distributed at each Variety Show performance features tributes to graduating fourth graders and cast members. Support your family and friends and the Variety Show! Click here for details!

Dr. Lechner Retirement Celebration: Parent volunteers from our D39 schools, in conjunction with the D39 Educational Foundation, are planning a retirement celebration for Superintendent Dr. Ray Lechner. If you are interested in participating in a planning committee as McKenzie’s representative, please email MaryAnne at maryanneokeefe@gmail.com. Thanks!

Winnetka Community Houses hosts Annual Service Day on Martin Luther King Day, January 21st between 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Kids Against Hunger service project on Saturday, March 16th.

Wilmette Park District hosts Kindergarten Enrichment Open House February 20th, 6:00-8:00 pm

Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development offers Weekend Enrichment Programs for students age 3 through 8th grade.

Wilmette Historical Museum hosts “Meet the Lincolns” Sunday, February 17th, 2:00 - 3:00 pm.

Love to sing? Youth Choral Theatre of Chicago offers a free vocal training class with flyer. Vocal classes available for children ages 4-18.

The Center Fitness Club schedule and various park district classes for children ages 3-14 are posted.

Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Community News

Wilmette, District 39’s Summer Enrichment Program brochure will be available to view online January 21st

CLICK HERE

Reminder, registration is done online.

Registration opens February 4, 2019.

1/21/19

No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/25/19

Semester 1 Ends

Spirit Wear - Emoji Day

1/28/19

Board of Education Meeting @MEC 7pm

2/1/19

Early Release Day (Kinder Dismissed @10:00am AND 1st - 4th Dismissed @11:55am)

2/6/19

Parent PowerSchool Access to Report Cards

2/14/19

Valentine's Day

2/18/19

No School - President's Day (Teacher Institute Day)

2/19/19 - 2/22/19

RED Week

2/20/19

McKenzie Open House @6:30pm

Kindergarten

Kindergarten AM 8:35am - 11:10am

Kindergarten PM 12:40pm - 3:15pm

Grades 1st - 4th

Monday - Thursday 8:35am - 3:15pm

Friday 8:35am - 2:15pm

Student drop off will begin at 8:20am, and the first bell will ring at 8:30am. Please refer to McKenzie's calendar for important dates/holidays.

Email: filippir@wilmette39.org
Website: http://mckenzie.wilmette39.org/
Location: 649 Prairie Avenue, Wilmette, IL, United States
Phone: 847-512-6300
Twitter: @McKCheetahs

12-21-18

12-14-18

12-7-18