Reading for pleasure has real and long-lasting benefits. Our buy one, get one book fair will take place on Thursday, May 16-23 from 8:00am-3:00pm. Special hours on Open House night, 6:00pm-8:00pm. It has a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our book fair and help shape your child's reading habit. The book fair will be hosted in our library. We are also looking for volunteers. Please sign-up at https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/signup/nm4KIHpDj

Are you a parent looking for ways to be more involved in what's going on for your child at McKinley? Consider volunteering with McKinley PEP. We have a variety of activities and volunteer opportunities coming up including the Chocolate Rewards Assembly, Spring Book Fair, School wide VIP Day, and 5th Grade Promotion events. Also, if you attend our meetings, you get to hear more from the principal about the goings on at the school and be part of the decision making process. We are also looking for parents to fill some leadership positions in PEP. Please email Michelle at mcsakai@gmail.com to find out more."

Dear Parents,

This year, your child will take the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for ELA and Mathematics (Grades 3-5) and the California Science Test (Grades 5). The Smarter Balanced ELA and mathematics tests
reflect California’s rigorous academic standards and allow students to demonstrate analytical writing and critical thinking skills as well as their knowledge of facts. For more information, click on the headline for a downloadable information sheet.

We are pleased to announce that we are bringing Chess Masters back to McKinley for the 3rd Trimester. Chess is a game of strategy which promotes critical thinking and your child will have the opportunity to be a part of it. In order to get the program started, we will need a minimum of 15 students to register; however, there is no maximum. It will be hosted after school from 1:35pm-2:25pm on certain Wednesdays beginning March 20, 2019. Applications will be sent home with your child in their Thursday folders or you may pick one up in the office. You may also register online.

The State of California released the California School Dashboard for 2018. This is the official evaluation for all Districts and schools in the state. We are pleased to announce that McKinley did very well! Our District also had high marks on the dashboard. Congratulations McKinley on a job well done! You can access the scores by clicking on the headline.

A Community Resource Guide is available for you as a community service. It provides resources for families and students in need of support. You may view and download it by clicking on the Parent Resources link under the Parents tab.

The computer lab will be opened after school starting October 8, 2018. We have 36 workstations students can use to complete homework, do research, or enrich their academic skills by using iReady, Raz Kids, Typing Club, etc. It is also a great place for students who need space to collaborate on assignments.

Computer lab hours:
Monday 2:30pm-4:00pm
Tuesday 2:30pm-4:00pm
Thursday 2:30pm-4:00pm
Friday 2:30pm-4:00pm

McKinley Elementary is now accepting applications for enrollment in Transitional Kindergarten.  Students eligible for the kindergarten program must turn five years old on or before Sept. TK program-eligible students must turn five years old between Sept. 2 and Dec. Children who turn 5 between Dec. 3 and Jan. 1 will be accepted as space is available. Enroll today!

Dear parents,
Enrollment for the 2019-20 school year is now open. Please drop by the office to pick up an enrollment package. We have enrollment packages in different languages and we have translators on site to help with the process. Please feel free to come to the office between 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Students at McKinley Elementary School have the opportunity to participate in the School Based Mentoring program of Big Brothers Big Sisters. In the program, a child is "matched" with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister from high school. The volunteer will visit once a week on Tuesdays or Fridays to spend about one hour per week with your child reading, working on schoolwork, relationship building activities, playing games, sports, etc. The activities will take place after school, not outside the school grounds. If you would like your child to have this opportunity, please click the link for an application and more information.

We so excited to see what the McKinley Mustangs are going to design, create, make and innovate this year! Many of the projects they design include recyclable materials that students are able to use their creativity to put to great use. One area will be dedicated to building with recycled materials. For this area to expand, we’d love your help! Just send recycled materials you have lying around to school with your child. (Please completely wash out containers such as yogurt containers and milk jugs before sending them). Do not purchase any materials. This will be an ongoing experience for K-5, so feel free to send throughout the year! For more information, click on the heading.