News from the Nest — February 28, 2025

Posted February 28, 2025

Support McKinley-Thatcher – Donate to Our Annual Auction!

As you know, our annual McKinley-Thatcher PTA Auction is happening in May. This annual event is our biggest fundraiser, helping us provide vital staff, resources, programs, and support for our students and teachers. 

We are reaching out again to ask for your generous support by donating an item, service, or experience for our auction. Your donation will help us reach our fundraising goal and will be prominently featured in our auction catalog, giving your business valuable community exposure.

Ways You Can Help:

  • Donate a product, service, or experience
  • Offer a gift card or special package
  • Sponsor a portion of the event

Think you don’t have anything to donate? Get creative! Donate your professional time, pro-bono services or sports lessons/coaching. Donate stay time at your mountain home, your frequent flyer miles, tickets to a game or show from your season tickets. 

Your generosity makes a lasting impact on our school community. If you’re able to contribute, please complete our donation form here or email us at MCTauction@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support in making this event a success!

Best,

McKinley-Thatcher PTA Auction Committee

Join Us for Our K-2nd Grade Student Learning Showcase:
Wednesday, March 12

Our kindergarten through 2nd grade families are cordially invited to our K – 2nd Grade Student Learning Showcase on Wednesday, March 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.! During our showcase event, students will present key aspects of their learning from their grade level classes and their STEM, art, and drama classes to their families.

Event Details

  • Who: Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students and their families.
  • What: Students will present key aspects of their learning to their families.
  • When: Wednesday, March 12, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    • Students should arrive in time for their grade level performance (see below). Families can visit classrooms before and after performances!
  • Where: Performances are in the cafeteria, while other work is displayed in your child’s homeroom classroom.
  • Why: Join us to celebrate our students and their incredible success this year!
  • How: No RSVP is required, but students cannot attend alone, so please come with your children!

Musical Performances

Each grade level will give a short musical performance with Ms. Katherine, our drama teacher. All performances will be held in the cafeteria. Students should arrive in time for their grade level performance (see below!).

  • Kindergarten: 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • 1st grade: 4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • 2nd grade: 5:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Supporting Families During Ramadan

We are excited to share information with you about how we are supporting our school community during Ramadan, which begins soon!

To support our students, staff, and families who observe Ramadan, our school is:

  • Offering a private space during lunchtime for people who are fasting.
  • Making alternative activities available during gym class and recess for students who are fasting.
  • Increasing awareness about Ramadan within our community.

What Is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which most Muslims observe religious fasting. Fasting includes refraining from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset.

Other School News

  • Mark your calendars: we have NO SCHOOL on the following days in March.
    • Friday, March 7 – NO SCHOOL (McKinley-Thatcher staff planning day)
    • Monday, March 24 to Tuesday, April 1 – NO SCHOOL (Spring Break).
      • School resumes on Wednesday, April 2!

  • A Reminder From Our School Attendance Team: as part of our whole-school attendance initiative for March and April, any student who is present 95% of days or above between March 1 and April 18 will be invited to our spring attendance party with extra recess and a popsicle to celebrate!

    Please note that 95% is simply a goal – we do understand that important things can come up in life, and please be sure to follow guidelines around student illness to take care of your kids, your family, and our community. Please reach out to Grace, Sonia, or Alex with any questions. Thank you!

  • Volunteer with Our Free Book Friday Giveaways! We are looking for help with our Free Book Friday giveaways on most Fridays from now through May. During Free Book Friday, we hand out books from our donation boxes for FREE to our students after school, and we need volunteers to make this possible! If you’d like to assist, please sign up here.

  • Help Our PTA Stock the Lounge! Our PTA’s Wellness Committee is asking for your help to stock the McKinley staff lounge with goodies. The Wellness Committee created an Amazon wish list here that has all of our staff’s favorite foods. Please take a look and make a purchase if you are able to. The items will be set up in the staff lounge as they arrive! Thank you!

Community News & Resources

  • Denver South High School Presents Disney’s Wish Upon A Star Night! Join Denver South High School next Wednesday, March 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. for their Disney Night, where you can bring your family to visit different Disney-themed booths filled with crafts, candy, games, food, and more! Entry will be through the main doors and is $3 per child. All profits go towards South HS’s Make-a-Wish goal!

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

  • Friday, 2/28 – Free Book Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on our playground
  • Monday, 3/3 – 5th Grade Field Trip: Overland Pond Park
  • Friday, 3/7 – NO SCHOOL: McKinley Staff Planning Day
  • Wednesday, 3/12 – K-2nd Grade Student Learning Showcase, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday, 3/14 – Monthly PTA Meeting, 7:30 a.m. in our library

Upcoming DPS & Community Events