News from the Nest — October 25, 2024
Posted October 25, 2024
School Halloween Celebration: Thursday, October 31
We are excited to celebrate Halloween at school on the morning of Thursday, October 31!
Halloween Celebration Schedule: Thursday, October 31
- 7:45 a.m. — Costume Parade for FAMILIES on our field.
- Families are welcome to join us on our field at 7:45 a.m. for our student costume parade!
- Students should wear their costumes to school in order to participate in our costume parade.
- 8:00 a.m. — Classroom Parties for STUDENTS ONLY in classrooms.
- Students will enjoy a morning Halloween party with crafts and snacks.
- Look for information from your teacher for ways to help out!
- Due to space limitations, our classroom parties are for students ONLY.
Please visit the Halloween event post on our website to see our costume rules and to opt your child out of the celebration if you prefer that they not participate.
An Important Message for Families Who Drive to School
We have seen an increase in unsafe driving behavior during our morning drop-off time (7:15 a.m. – 7:35 a.m.). Please make sure that you are following the NEW expectations outlined below if you drop off your child in the front oval Kiss-and-Go line at our main door.
McT Kiss-and-Go Procedures:
- Single file, one lane of traffic along the south curb.
- Pull as far forward as possible.
- Stop the car.
- Child gets out on the curb side / driver stays in the car.
- Driver stays in the line of cars and pulls forward when it is their turn. Do not go around other cars.
If you want to enter the building, play on the playground, or sign in an ECE student, please find a spot in the neighborhood to park. You may NOT park in the front oval. Instead, we suggest parking on Logan Street in the 1-hour spaces on the west side of the street.
Dropping off students or parking in the staff parking lots (west lot and alleyway lot) is prohibited, as the lots also serve as a walkway for our students coming to and from school.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for our students!
Volunteer with Free Book Friday to Help Our Students Build a Love of Reading!
Our school librarian, Ms. Goldberg, is looking for volunteers to help out with Free Book Friday, a recurring book giveaway organized by school staff for the McKinley-Thatcher community!
Most Fridays from November through May, we are planning to hand out books from our donation boxes for FREE to our students after school. If you’d like to assist, please sign up here!
What Does Volunteering Look Like?
Free Book Friday volunteering involves:
- Arrive at 2:00 p.m. and check in as a visitor in the main office.
- Set up folding tables and preselected books on the playground.
- From 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m., facilitate book giveaways by helping children select books and restocking tables as needed.
- At 2:50 p.m., return leftover books to the boxes. Move boxes and folding tables back inside the building.
I Have Questions or Need More Information!
Contact our librarian, Ms. Karen Goldberg, at MaryKaren_Goldberg@dpsk12.net!
Our November PTA Meeting Is Friday, November 1!
Join our PTA on Friday, November 1 at 7:30 a.m. in our library for their November meeting! If you’re attending the meeting, please enter through the main door and sign in as a visitor in our lobby. Coffee is provided – please bring your own cup!
Want to know what’s on the agenda, or can’t make it to the meeting? All PTA agendas and minutes are available through our website here — scroll down to the “Meetings & Minutes” heading!
If you’d like to sign up for our PTA newsletter, find volunteer opportunities, or provide your feedback, please complete this form.
Other School News
- Save-the-Date: our annual fall FUNdraiser GLOW DANCE is Friday, November 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in our school cafeteria. The dance is free to attend and there will be dance competition prize items and food available for purchases. Please RSVP using this Google form. We’ll share more details and event reminders in November!
Families can also help out now by purchasing an item from our PTA’s Glow Dance supply wish list here.
- PTA RIF Days: all McKinley students are receiving a FREE book from our PTA’s Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) days on October 28 and 29! Children will visit the RIF giveaway during school hours.
- Share Your Voice Via DPS’s Family Survey! The DPS “Your Voice / Tu Voz” Family Survey is open until Friday, November 1. This survey focuses on measuring family satisfaction at McKinley-Thatcher and across the district. Your responses to the survey directly impact changes we make to better serve our students and families! Families can access the survey here. The survey is available in the eight most common languages in DPS, including English, Arabic, Dari, Spanish, and Vietnamese!
Community News & Resources
- Check out these Halloween events happening in our community!
- DPS Discount Days: buy tickets to the November 1 Colorado Rapids game through this discount link and the first playoff ticket is HALF OFF! A portion of each ticket purchased will be donated back to the DPS Foundation.
Upcoming School Events
Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.
- Monday, 10/28 & Tuesday, 10/29 – PTA RIF Book Giveaway (during school hours)
- Thursday, 10/31 – School Halloween Celebration
- Thursday, 10/31 – Kindergarten Field Trip: Butterfly Pavilion
- Friday, 11/1 – Monthly PTA Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in our library
Upcoming DPS & Community Events
