News from the Nest — January 30, 2026

Posted January 26, 2026

Free Childcare During the Auction – Provided by McT PTA!

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We’re excited to share that free childcare will be available during the McKinley-Thatcher Auction on Friday, March 13, 2026 — because every caregiver deserves a night out while supporting our school!

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Drop-off begins at 6:00 PM (Auction begins at 6:30 PM)
  • Pick-up ends at 10:30 PM
  • At McKinley-Thatcher Elementary
  • Pizza, dessert, games, and movies provided!
  • Open to McT families with children ages 4–15 (this includes siblings, even if not currently enrolled)

Childcare will be staffed by trusted McT staff members, with a confirmed 1:10–1:12 ratio and space for at least 100 children. While this is not a Discovery Link event, it is fully covered by the PTA with liability insurance, planning, and oversight in place.

Reserve your childcare spot through this Google form.

Though the childcare is free, we hope you’ll consider giving generously to the auction—PTA and auction proceeds are underwriting these experiences for our families. You can give by donating, purchasing tickets, or volunteering – visit our website here for all the ways you can contribute!

Kindergarten through 5th Grade Families: Science Fair Registration Is Open!

We are excited to announce the return of our annual School Science Fair on Tuesday, March 3! Students in kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to register to participate in our fair. 

The fair is a fun opportunity to work with your child at home to complete an interesting science project, document their research and results on a display board, and share it with our school! We’ll have community judges visit our fair to interview participants and award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. Winning projects even have the opportunity to register for and attend the DPS STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics) Expo and Science Fair in May!

To see all our science fair information, and to register, please visit our science fair website post here!

School Valentine’s Day Celebration: Friday, February 13

Our school Valentine’s Day celebration is on Friday, February 13! Each classroom will hold a Valentine’s Day party. Please look for information from your child’s teachers for ways to help out! 

Due to space limitations, our classroom parties are for students ONLY.

What If My Family Does Not Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

We will have an alternative activity available in the library for students who are not participating in our Valentine’s Day celebration. If you prefer that your child not participate, please click here to complete our digital opt-out Google form or return the paper opt-out form going home in Friday Folders next week (February 6).

Other School News

  • Show Your Eagle Pride: check out the McKinley-Thatcher Parent-Teacher Association’s (PTA) online merch store for t-shirts and hoodies: click here to shop! All items are sold at cost and printed on demand so every Eagle can show their school spirit! If you’d like to go the extra mile, we also welcome donations to help fund the PTA’s mission of supporting our students, teachers, and community.
  • Save-the-date: our Parent-Teacher Association’s February restaurant fundraiser at Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina’s Broadway location (1294 S. Broadway) is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11! 10% of all food and liquor purchases go back to our school! No code required.

  • Mark your calendars: we have NO SCHOOL on the following days in February:
    • Monday, February 16 NO SCHOOL: Presidents’ Day
    • Friday, February 27NO SCHOOL: district staff planning day
  • Volunteer with Free Book Friday: 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! To see more information and to sign up, visit our SignUpGenius here.

Community News & Resources

  • None at this time!

Share Your Feedback with Us!

Please let us know how we are doing! Send us a shoutout, an idea you have to help us get better, or a concern that you would like addressed. Responses can be submitted using this Google form. Thank you! 

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

Upcoming DPS & Community Events

  • None at this time!