McKinley Elementary PTC

Here’s a photo of our Big Plant Giveaway! Thank you for supporting our
Plant Giveaway!   Students raised $23.13 for their next project: feeding
needy animals.  They are also orchestrating the Capri Sun, chip, and candy
wrapper recycling project in the cafeteria.  You can purchase items made out
of these materials at www.terracycle.net. For more pictures, and to learn more about Roots & Shoots check out our club page.

Thanks again to McKinley dad, Jim Miller, for making the trek from Bakersfield to Sacramento in a March for California’s Future. You can read an interview with Jim and Kelly here. You are in our thoughts, good luck!

For more information on this march, to follow the marchers, and find out how you can be involved check out the March for California’s Future website: http://www.fight4cafuture.com/.

McKinley students, parents and staff members donated a total of 906 new and used, Spanish and English books for Benito Juarez/Moises Garza Primary schools in Tijuana, Mexico.  The books were delivered on Friday, February 12. Great job everyone!

This month our students are learning about the family in their Spanish Classes, here’s some of the primary vocabulary they will be using.

Familia
Mamá/Papá
Abuelo/abuela – grandfather/grandmother
Hermano/hermana – brother sister
Tío/tía – uncle/aunt
Primo/prima – cousin boy/girl
Padrastro/madrastro – step father/mother
Hermanastro/hermanastra – step brother/sister

Mascotas – pets
Gato – cat
Perro – dog
Pez/peces – fish/more fish
Pájaro – bird

Thanks Mr. Froehbrodt & Ms. Zdunich for coordinating the book drive.

It’s that time of year again. Join us for our annual variety show, and if you’d like to help out we still need volunteers. Contact Danielle Zdunich for more info: my-teacher@cox.net.

Take a minute to read this letter by Kelly Mahew, mom to Walt in Ms. January’s class. If you’d like to get involved in the March for California’s Future contact the PTC at mckinleyptc@yahoo.com. Click here to see the flyer with dates and more info.

Hi Friends –

I wanted to update you all on some things that we’ve been up to to address the horrendous impact the budget cuts are having on education and the service sector.  As Walt continues on in his public schooling (he started kindergarten this year at McKinley Elementary School in North Park, San Diego) and as Jim and I experience the changes at our school (City College) and to our students’ lives, we feel we can’t sit back without doing something.  So…

Here’s the link to the MARCH FOR CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE website (which is still under construction—so this is REALLY hot off the presses!): http://www.fight4cafuture.com/

For those of you who don’t know, our statewide and local union (California Federation of Teachers and American Federation of Teachers Local 1931 respectively) is behind a giant MARCH on Sacramento that will kick off on MARCH 5 in LA and Bakersfield and wind up in Sacramento for a huge rally at the state capitol on APRIL 21st.  Jim is marching the entire way (400+ miles in 7 weeks).  We want to wake people up to the dire consequences of the budget cuts to education and social services.  Please participate how ever you can!  Pass this along and email or call me if you have any questions or want more information for ways you can join in.

Also, don’t forget to be active on MARCH 4 as well—it’s a statewide day of ACTION!  We’re doing teach-outs and a BIG RALLY in Balboa Park at 3:00 (at the Centro Cultural de la Raza, just north of the intersection of Park Blvd and President’s Way) with a march to the San Diego office of the Governor.  All across California cities are participating.  Let me know if you’d like info on this as well.

Thanks and take care,
Kelly

The McKinley students had a blast at the Adventure Camp this past Saturday. Thanks Coach for coming out in the rain (again)!

Be on the lookout for our next Adventure Camp date.

Hopefully by now you’ve heard of Max and Jake’s Big Race, a 5k/1mile trail run and walk on February 28^th at Mission Trails benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital.  The race was in part inspired by Jake Cook, a now healthy McKinley kindergartner who underwent open-heart surgery at age 2 to correct a serious heart defect.

We’ve started a team to participate called the McKinley Racers.  You and your child can join other McKinley families for a scenic walk or run, live music, children’s activities and community fun while supporting a great cause.

This Thursday after school, there will be a lemonade stand to support Max and Jake’s Big Race.  You can register for the McKinley Racers and get an afternoon refreshment and cookie for your child.  All proceeds will go towards a McKinley Racers general donation.  Look for us in front of the school after the final bell!

You can also register and join the McKinley Racers at http://MaxAndJakesBigRace.kintera.org/mckinley. If you can’t attend, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

The Cook family is extremely grateful for all the support they’ve received from McKinley families. They hope to see you on February 28^th at Mission Trails.

Math Night
Math night was a blast! Thanks to all of our teachers and staff who put together the evening and stayed late to host it. One student commented, “I didn’t know that math could be fun.” More info will be coming soon on the next math night, scheduled for mid-March.

Here’s some fun Math Websites that the teachers shared with us:
Coolmath.com
Funbrain.com
Set Game Company
Free Rice
A Plus Math
Math Cats

The mural work weekend was a success, thanks to everyone who helped out. Our garden is continuing to become quite a work of art. Thank you to Jon Rogers for heading up our workforce, organizing our materials and taking the lead in getting this done.

WORKERS: Mattson Family, Michaela Guerrera, Wyatt Heidenfelder, Lana David, Donna Posin, Maria and Christian Matiax, Karen Kenyon, Richard Kenyon, Bovee Family, Moore Family, Barbara Donnell, Fregoso Family, Dearden Family, Elizabeth English, Rebecca Mulvain, Stacia Keller, Maria Soto, Mrs. January, Bette Brackett, Will and Ruben Dumka, Debbie  Davis, Rogers Family, Mrs. Phillips and Family, Danielle Zdunich, Shari Schlossberg, Irene Valenzuela, Anne Mery, Allison Walsh, Morris Family, Luong Family, Corina Borevitz, Trish Martinelli, Darcee Gianni, Santos Family, Kelly Gaughan, Leslie and Izaiah Runyon, O’Connor Family, Cook Family, Teri Sullivan, Hale Family, Ferrier Family, Gina Honma,  Mary Reed, Kurt Van Thillo, Gyure Family, Garczynski Family, Lutes Family, Jean Walcher, Joe O’Brien, Mary Reed, Joseph and Adriana Bagby , Matt and McKenna Whitaker.

COMPANY SPONSORS: SICILIAN THING PIZZA, LEFTY’S CHICAGO PIZZERIA, SANTOS COFFEEHOUSE, MAZARRA TRATTORIA & ITALIAN DELI, HOME DEPOT,  BREAD & CIE CAFÉ, BIG CITY BAGELS, PARK PLACE SCREEN & GLASS, CITY DELI.

SPONSOR A TILE DONORS TO THE ARTS FOUNDATION: Patricia J. Kaszas, PATRICIA’S TILE DESIGN, Schlossberg Family, Egbert Family, Bette Brackett, Maria Soto, Maizy Rogers, Rogers Family, Tom and Peggy Moore, Shirley Rogers, Dohner Family, Debbie Davis, Cervantes Family, Coronado Mobile Storage, Olga Ramirez, Anne Mery, Mattson Family, Kelly Gaughan, Margaret Ramos-Santos, Cheryl and Dennis Reagan, Walsh Family.

MATERIALS DONORS: Becky Baker, Greensmosaic.com, Kirstin Green, Patti Picchietti, Home Depot, Kouta Shimazaki, Coronado School of the Arts (COSA), Patricia’s Tile Design, Edkins Family, Cooke Family, Lutes Family, Awesome Artists of Coronado, Amy Miller, Mooch Designs, Ken McKernan of Park Place Screen and Glass, Joe and Nancy Ward, Surfaces USA

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: Kouta Shimazaki & McKinley Ceramics for making items for the mural. Sarah Scalo and Sonny Burton for securing and organizing the food/drink program for the weekend, Rob Tobin of the ARTS Foundation for using the kids arts and involving the kids in creating this “masterpiece”. Michael and Barbara Bovee for all your extra efforts and staying late with me.

THANK YOU PRESS: Thanks to the Uptown News, North Park Mainstreet Newsletter, North Park News and Union-Tribune for promoting and reporting on our beautiful garden.

Dear McKinley Friends,

Thank you for volunteering to complete the “Octopus’s Garden” Mural this weekend.
We have Santos Coffee, Lefty’s Pizza and Mazara’s as food sponsors.
We have a perfect number of volunteers and all the materials in place to make the project go quickly and efficiently.
We will have gloves and water/lemonade for everyone.

Some people are worried about the weather on Saturday. The current forecast only calls for a 10% chance of rain. That means there is very little chance that any sprinkles will fall west of the mountains.

Please write back if you have any questions about the project.

I look forward to seeing all of you and many years to enjoy our mural,

Jon (jonprogers@hotmail.com)