http://www.mckinleyschool.org News feed for the McKinley Elementary School es 2007 custom perl script 60 http://mckinleyschool.org/images/school_loweryard.jpghttp://www.mckinleyschool.org/400225 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:04:00 PDT Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:47:33 PST As one of our intrepid organizers said, "Nine months of blood, sweat, tears, panhandling, begging, orchestrating, organizing, praying... and we have a new playground for McKinley Elementary School. We replaced the rusting, splintering, cracking 33-year-old structure that was built back when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Huge thanks to WaMu for funding and volunteering and to KaBOOM! for helping us pull the darn thing off."Timelapse photography courtesy of Ricky Montalvo. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:16:02 PST The demolition has begun--we're nearly ready for our KaBOOM! build day, which is Saturday, July 19. McKinley has committed to providing 75 to 100 volunteers on the build day, and additional volunteers are needed for non-build activities such as food, safety and kids activities. Kids are welcome to attend, but they will not be able to participate in the primary build activities. (There will be fun stuff to do related to the playground build!) If you're interested in volunteering, email playground@mckinleyschool.org. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:16:28 PST The school year is officially over, but there are a couple of can't-miss events for the McKinley community coming up. July 19 is the KaBoom! Playground Build Day, August 23 is our Welcome BBQ (and when teacher assignments are posted), and August 25 is the first day of school. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:26:26 PST Last Thursday and Friday, May 29 and 30, were United Nations Days at McKinley, part of the History and Social Studies curriculum. The goal is to provide each student with the opportunity to experience another culture through story telling, sampling regional foods, studying maps, art, and other cultural artifacts.This year the classrooms represented Argentina, China, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Guatemala, Nigeria, Thailand, Russia, and Turkey.This Thursday and Friday, June 5 and 6, continue the theme with Jr. Olympics, in which the student participate in the parade of nations as athletes from their class' country at the opening ceremonies. After that, the games begin! Students participate in the athletic events of their choice Thursday and Friday mornings, and in the afternoons the students step up for the Walkathon. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:05:40 PST McKinley students recently enjoyed Safety Day with the San Francisco Police Department. Students saw safety demonstrations, sat on the motorcycles, toured a patrol car and 'paddy wagon', and enjoyed seeing a drug-sniffing demonstration by a canine officer. The kids loved the dog!Many thanks to retired police officer Mr. Linell Williams, grandfather of a McKinley student, who arranged the event. The only thing missing was the horses, and Mr. Williams still wants to bring the horses to show the kids. Wed, 28 May 2008 00:12:44 PST Phase One of the McKinley Native Plant Garden, funded by a Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant, is complete. Thank you, Lowe's! Even at this interim stage, the students are thoroughly enjoying the garden. The native flowers have been attracting bees and other insects, and many a student has stopped to see exactly what they're up to. Next fall we will begin Phase Two, expanding the garden to include more native plants and seating areas. There will be a meeting soon after the start of school to plan the next workday. If you are interested in helping, please contact garden@mckinleyschool.org Fri, 23 May 2008 15:38:20 PST One of McKinley's beloved kindergarten teachers, Irene Fong, was one of ten winners of Mayor Newsom's second annual Teacher of the Month Award. (Ms. Fong is fourth from the right.)While teachers are selected throughout the year, they are all honored at during National Teacher Appreciation month. Winners will receive prizes, including cash and gift certificates. Congratulations, Ms. Fong! Tue, 20 May 2008 23:20:32 PST This school year, 2007/8, marks the 100th full year of school for McKinley Elementary. After the 1906 earthquake, there was a school on the site, but it started late in the year (as many things did that year.) Principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith organized a wonderful event, with students from as far back as the 1930's, families with generations who've attended McKinley, and one family whose father was the custodian at McKinley for nearly 20 years. It was a special event and those who attended got to hear the stories of families who cherish their (and their families' time) at McKinley. Fri, 16 May 2008 12:28:37 PST Operation Playground hosted a design day for the new play structure. This was the first opportunity for students, parents, staff, and community to help design the play structure and be part of the decision-making process. Representatives from KaBOOM! and Washington Mutual, our generous donor, were on hand to see the designs the students came up with. There were some amazing creations, but some of the ideas, like the tunnel to the cave and the water balloon cannon, didn't make the cut. An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to the Operation Playground Team, and especially Patricia and Nicki for wrangling the whole project before they knew what they had bitten off, and sticking with it when even after they found out how much work it was! There will be more meetings in the summer, culminating in the playground build day on July 19th. Plan to join us! Sun, 11 May 2008 22:32:01 PST A first grader in Mr. Woo's class, Sophia Brutschy, has won Honorable Mention in San Francisco Zoo and SFUSD’s second annual “Wild About Art” contest. The citywide art project encouraged students in kindergarten through 5th grade to learn about how wildlife uses the planet through art. During the 3-month art project, all kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms in the SFUSD were invited to participate in activities designed to meet California science content standards for each grade level and submit a drawing.McKinley had two winner's last year, too. A big round of applause for all our students who worked their hardest to submit wonderful pieces of art to be judged among the 1,200 entries this year. Mon, 05 May 2008 02:38:17 PST This year marks a significant transition for McKinley Elementary--Principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith is resigning. Bonnie has been principal at McKinley for the past 10 years (she has been with SFUSD for 38 years) and she has worked hard to transition McKinley to a vibrant, up-and-coming general education public school. As she has said, retiring was not an easy decision because she is dedicated to public education and our children. Read Bonnie's letter to the community announcing her retirement here. The McKinley Community has been strong and supportive throughout the interview and selection process. Lisa Schiff, McKinley parent, has written about how important a principal is to a school, and how they should be honored. Given Bonnie's recent "Principal of the Year" award, her departure is bittersweet--she leaves very big pair of shoes to fill! A new principal has been selected; Rosa Fong was the unanimous choice of the interview committee. She has had various roles in education for the past 20 years (15 years with SFUSD). She spent 8 years as a math/science teacher at Marina Middle School, several years as administrative assistant at Alamo Elementary School, one year as Assistant Principal at Francisco Middle School, one year as Assistant Principal at Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, and for the past year she was principal of Excelsior Middle School. We look forward to another successful school year next year with Rosa Fong at the helm. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:20:57 PST McKinley Elementary has a new look! Rebuilding Together brought approximately 100 volunteers from Goodby Silverstein, organized by Baya Area Young Architects, to McKinley to paint, sand, landscape, install bulletin boards and soundproofing, add murals, and rearrange furniture. Still to come in the next few weeks: sound proofing in the cafegymatorium and new built-in storage for our classrooms Changes you'll see right now:- new lobby furniture, and a colored stripe in the lobby that carries on the "rainbow" theme from the cafegymatorium- a brightly painted front office- a newly painted cafegymatorium: stage, back walls, new bulletin boards on the walls- newly painted staircases- landscaping in the upper yard, and outside the back fence - LOTS off weeding and clearing away of dead plants- newly sanded, painted and repaired benches in the upper yard with "conversation centers"- newly painted stair railings outside and inside- bulletin boards installed outside every classroom, so teachers have a place to show student work- a bright entry/exit hallway with groovy circles to the upper yard Special thanks to McKinley parents Gary Head, Le Vu, Darby Davenport, Aaron Anderson, Jonathan Hoyt, Lisa Zahner, and Tom Kohler. We are very excited about the results of our Rebuilding Weekend, and invite you to join the Building Improvement committee to plan our other long-term facilities improvement projects, such as new carpeting, painting the outside of the building, replacing the classroom windows, and more. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:29:09 PST Dear Proud (Buttons-Bursting-in-Air) McKinley Community Members, I am honored to be asked to send you this message to officially announce that Bonnie Coffey-Smith, our beloved Principal who is retiring this year, has been awarded one of the San Francisco Mayor's Principal of the Year Awards. Most of you know already that Bonnie Coffey-Smith is a superb Principal; damn good at her job, well respected by teachers, parents, and children alike. Those at the helm of educational enterprises often, for better or worse, have personalities that both permeate and reflect the very communities they have been selected to lead and serve. Fortunately for us, if attitudes were contagious, Bonnie Coffey-Smith's would be worth catching. In fact, many of us have been seriously, and happily afflicted with her infectious and overwhelmingly positive spirit. We all know that many of us came to place our children at McKinley, simply put, because Bonnie convinced us that McKinley was and is a special place. It is through actively participating in the community (interacting with the teachers and other families engaged in this entity called "public" school) that we all eventually came to realize, indeed, when it comes to McKinley Elementary School, resoundingly, she was right. Now, after all her years of faithful service the secret is leaking to the greater San Francisco Community. Here we are presented with an an opportunity to recognize Bonnie for all she has done, knowing full well that no award would be suitable (well, except for a multi-million dollar grant to endow her retirement and the school in perpetuity) beyond the wish that every teacher dreams - that her students go forth and do great things. Wisely, the Mayor's office has cobbled together a mechanism for recognizing great works. In an industry where there are no quarterly bonuses, no annually merit increases based on past measured improvements, no lavish options offered as shares of the company accrue great and vast market capitalization, we rest our laurels where we can and may. And our humble and jovial Principal, Bonnie Coffey-Smith will be receiving one of those heralded awards Friday, at Noon, delivered by the Mayor and the Superintendent themselves at the McKinley Campus. Although I'm not entirely a sports analogy fan, the first image that came to mind when I heard the news comes from sports. Michael Jordan had his moment, retiring at the top of his game. Lance Armstrong, likewise, retired after winning the Tour de France an unprecedented seven times. Bonnie Coffey-Smith, appears to be following suit. Retiring after a banner year for McKinley seems most appropriate. Receiving the Mayoral award as one of our City's Finest Principals this year cements the recognition we all know she has long deserved. Congratulations to Bonnie Coffey-Smith. Let's help her celebrate! Hats off to her, the staff and teachers of McKinley Elementary. And more importantly, let's rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the promise, as "all our children are all our children," and renew our commitment to ensure that existing and future McKinley student population grows to do and accomplish great things as nearly one hundred years of McKinley graduates have done. Sincerely, Aaron Anderson, Ph.D &amp; Proud K-Parent Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:02:30 PST On Saturday, July 19th, McKinley is getting a new play structure! This is a long-overdue improvement--rumor has it this is the second-oldest structure in the school district--because the structure is literally falling apart and in need of frequent repairs. Because of its age and condition, it cannot be used by 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. An up-to-date and safe playzone would improve students' recess experience considerably. The structure has many worn, damanged, and decomposing parts. A grant through KaBOOM! funded by Washington Mutual will provide the majority of the funds to build a brand new play structure including new rubber safety surfacing (worth at least $50,000). It's a community build, which means the McKinley community will be working together to design and install it. There is lots of work ahead, and the McKinley community will need to contribute $10,000 and on July 19th provide 90-100 volunteers, supply lots of tools, provide lunch for the volunteers, entertainment for the kids, a PA system and DJ, etc. There are many things to be done, but first and foremost the Operation Playground committee deserves a hearty and hearfelt thanks for making this happen. Their time, effort, and persistence paid off and this would not have happened without them. And thanks to everyone else who contributed their change to the coin drive. The design portion of the preparations will take place at school on Tuesday, May 13 from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Stay tuned for more details on that event, or contact playground@mckinleyschool.org. for more information. KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization whose vision is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:50:39 PST The first annual DogFest fundraiser for McKinley Elementary was a success! Fun was had by all, and funds were raised. The efforts of tireless volunteers have helped make McKinley's first annual DogFest a fun and fabulous community building event, as well as a successful fundraiser. An announcement of the final total is soon to come, but it looks like the net total is nearly $10,000!!! This money will benefit all of McKinley's students and programs. To see what happened at DogFest, or to relive the experience, NBC 11 sent a photographer , and a professional photographer from Nuena Photography took photos that can be ordered (and they are donating a portion of the proceeds from any photos ordered to McKinley). Thank you to everyone who came out to Duboce Park, brought friends, sold raffle tickets, bought hot dogs, put their dogs in the contest, and contributed to the general energy of the day! It was such a successful event that we're already looking forward to the second annual DogFest in 2009! Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:10:07 PST The Marin Headlands trips are fast approaching. This is an amazing experience for McKinley students, due almost entirely to the efforts of 1st/2nd grade teacher Jean Micheli. Generous benefactors have donated the majority of funds this year, including the money to use private buses so the students can stay longer.First grade is taking a day trip on April 25, third grade is going for an overnight trip on April 24 and 25, second grade is going for an overnight trip on May 22 and 23, kindergarten is going for a day trip on May 27, and fourth and fifth grades are going for three days from June 11 through the 13.For field trips outside of San Francisco, permission forms must be turned in two weeks before the trip. There are no exceptions, and if the forms aren't filled out and turned in, the child cannot attend. So fill them out and get them in so all our children can experience this enriching, hands-on trip. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:08:19 PST This week's School Beat entitled Schools Are What We Make Them was written by McKinley's own Lisa Schiff. She writes about where McKinley was when her children started in 2003, and how the school has moved forward, courtesy of a very active community."That larger group of parents has enabled a great little school to see its dreams come true, dreams like having more one-on-one time with students, implementing a vibrant library program, organizing educational programs for parents, hosting fun social events for classes outside of school time, and yes, expanding fundraising to add in new programs that weren’t possible before. The influx of eager folks (who like parents at all schools volunteer their time despite working full-time and having other kids who also need attention), has meant that we, as public education supporters who have a direct stake in a particular school, could roll up our sleeves and work with each other and the school staff to make this school what people see and hear about today." Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:29:57 PST Our monthly PTA meeting will take place next Thursday, April 10, in the school cafeteria/auditorium. Our potluck dinner starts at 5:30pm, and the meeting begins at 6pm. Bring a dish to share--appetizers and main dishes are always welcome. Childcare is provided by ASEP.We will be voting for officers for the next school year. The currently nominated slate of officers for 2008/9 is: * Susan Colson, President* Charles Nelson, first Vice President* Jean Micheli, second Vice President* Georgia McNamara, Secretary* Alan Geist, TreasurerCome to the meeting and vote for next year's PTA officers. A full agenda will be sent to the Yahoo! group. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:48:49 PST Sandpaper, paintbrushes, and staple-removing tools were all in heavy use during the second Spring Spruce Up Day on Saturday, March 22. Over 25 of McKinley's community spent the first Saturday of spring break preparing walls for painting (removing staples, sanding) and cleaning out the art and paper rooms upstairs. The goal is to make Fall and Spring Spruce Up Days a tradition at McKinley where parents, staff, and community members contribute their manual labor to make McKinley a better environment for our children to learn. To kick things off, there are three Spruce Up days this spring. The first was March 1, this was the second, and the third is April 26. On that day over 100 volunteers from Bay Area Young Architects (BAYA), an AIA San Francisco committee which connects young architects, designers, and associates to gauge their career development, provide an opportunity for community involvement, peer networking and resources, and host social events. This is a big day for McKinley, and many improvements are planned, including installing sound-dampening in the auditorium/cafeteria, installing straw color fabric panel for a pin up walls at lower level and upper levels, painting railings inside and out, etc. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:37:58 PST Registration for DogFest is now open! Register and pay online, print and mail in your registration, or (if there are spaces available) you can register at the event. On April 19, 2008, from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at Duboce Park (Noe &amp; Duboce Streets), the fun starts with a promenade at 11:00 am. Come for the promenade, stay for the day! Ther will be a raffle (including a trip to Disneyland!), jumpy houses, pup and pet stuff, face painting, music, food, a silent auction, craft tables, and contests:* Best Costume (approximate start time 11:30 am)* Best Bark (start time 11:55 am)* Best Trick (start time 12:15 pm)* Most Ear-Resistible (best ears) (start time 1:00 pm)* Best smile (start time 1:25 pm)* Mutt What? (most mysterious, interesting, mixed breed)(start time 1:50 pm)* Best Couple (dog-owner look-alike) (start time 2:15 pm) PLEASE NOTE: All times are estimates – please check in 10 minutes before start time noted. Questions? Email fundraising@mckinleyschool.org or call 415/710-7387 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:12:39 PST We're looking forward to welcoming all the new families to McKinley! On March 18, from 8:15 - 9:15am we are hosting a new family welcome in the library with refreshments, Q&amp;A with staff and parents, and activities for your child to meet current kindergarten students. However, it appears that SFUSD has over-enrolled McKinley for kindergarten. Parents who put McKinley on their list but did not receive an assignment to McKinley and want one should bring a copy of their application to the Educational Placement Center at 555 Franklin. Parents who were assigned to McKinley and want to accept that assignment should call our principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith at 415-241-6300 if they are definitely going to register and then come to the school and register. Parents who were assigned to McKinley and don't want to accept that assignment should attend one of the Round 2 counseling sessions this week and next week:Thursday, March 13, 6-8pm, Jose Ortega ES, 400 Sargent St. @Arch St.Saturday, March 15, 10am-12pm, Starr King ES, 1215 Carolina St. @Wisconsin St.Monday, March 17, 10am-12pm, (in Chinese only) Chinese for Affirmative Action offices, 17 Walter U. Lum Place @ Clay Tuesday, March 18, 6-8pm, John O'Connell HS, 2355 Folsom St. @20th St. Thursday, March 20, 6-8pm, Excelsior MS, 325 La Grande Ave. @ Brazil St. People can also contact Parents for Public Schools for assistance (info@ppssf.org or 415-861-7077) and check out the PPSSF website for more enrollment information. Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:43:22 PST McKinley Elementary is one of the SFUSD schools with the greatest increase in enrollment requests for 2008-2009 school year. McKinley was the 5th most improved school for kindgergarten requests with a 39% increase over last year. Kindergarten requests increased from 143 to 203 this year. In addition, there were 20 requests for other grades. This continues our trend in the growing number of requests for McKinley in the past five years. For the 2003/04 school year, McKinley had ­ 40 requests, for 2004/05 McKinley had 73 requests, for 2005/06 - 100 requests, for 2006/07 -­ 108 requests, for 2007/8 146 requests. SFUSD has a press release on the first assignment cycle (Round 1). We're looking forward to the full enrollment report--and to welcoming all the new families to McKinley! On March 18th, from 8:15 - 9:15am we are hosting a new family welcome in the library with refreshments, Q&amp;A with staff and parents, and activities for your child to meet current kindergarten students. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:45:07 PST Tonight's Science, Math, and Health night was a rousing success for all the students who attended. Activites ranged from making your own flubber to measuring the sugar in soft drinks to many more fun and educational experiments. Many thanks to the teachers and staff who worked hard to bring these exhibits to life, and to the Rosenthal family who generously supported the event. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:34:00 PST McKinley received an unexpected donation from the San Francisco Law School Black Law Student Association, which they'll be delivering next week. As Beverly Roberts Charles, President of the association said in her email,"McKinley is the closest elementary school located near San Francisco Law School. In the spirit of giving to our community and in celebration of Black History Month, the SFLS Black Law Student Association collected donations of new art supplies, school supplies, and many wonderful items from the wish list Vicky provided to us....We had a wonderful experience collecting the items, as we baked chocolate treats for our classmates and faculty in return for donations, and hope that McKinley will benefit from our efforts."We are thrilled to be the recipients of a such a generous donation! Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:33:35 PST The kindergarten, first, and second grade classes went on a field trip to the San Francisco Symphony today at Davies Symphony Hall. They Symphony's "Making Music!" program is geared toward schoolchildren from kindergarten to third grade. For more information, and games and other activities, check out the symphony's website for kids: SFSKids.org. Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:34:35 PST DogFest 2008 is coming soon! This is a first-ever fundraising extravaganza of fun and festivities to benefit McKinley Elementary. Enter your dog in contests for best trick, best costume, best look-a-like duo, mutt what? and many other categories. All proceeds from this event will support much needed educational enrichment programs for our children. Come join the fun on at Duboce Park (Noe &amp; Duboce Streets) Saturday, April 19 from 11 am - 3 pm. The fun starts with a promenade at 11:00 am.For more information, check out the web page or contact: 415.710.7387 or fundraising@mckinleyschool.org. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:05:02 PST Thanks to the tireless efforts of parent volunteer Dianne Zinky, McKinley parents and staff will have a school directory containing contact information (phone numbers and/or emails) for students and parents, teachers, PTA officers, SSC members, ASEP and school administration staff. One should have come home already, but if you don't have yours, ask your child's teacher to send another one home. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:02:23 PST McKinley Elementary's second grade classes were chosen for a special San Francisco Ballet program. All three classes will be going on a field trip to a performance at the War Memorial Opera House this Wednesday, and then will participate in 8 weeks of ballet lessons. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:47:39 PST It may not look like anything is going on in the Native Plant Garden, but work is progressing. The cardboard is working as an organic weed killer (when the rain doesn't wash it down the hill), and will be removed or composted into the soil this week. Students will be spreading California native wildflower seeds this week, too. Behind the scenes, plans are underway for the hardscaping. The focus is on creating a foundation for the garden, including teaching spaces. To create these, a 2 foot retaining wall and safety railing will be installed. Irrigation will be manual, and boxed hoses will be included, so students can actively participate in maintaining the garden. Planting the new native plants will follow. Currently there is not enough money in the budget to fully plant the entire garden, so any donations toward this effort would be greatly appreciated! Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:15:13 PST Even though the school library is only staffed 2 days a week (Wednesday and Thursdays) by our Library Media Teacher, nearly 1,800 books are circulated a month. This is an amazing number for our approximately 265 students! And the new Grab-n-Go library is another hit with the kids--they can take a book to read on the honor system, returning it to the kiosk when they're done. Parents are also encouraged to check out books from the school library, too. Parents and family members may take up to 10 books at a time; please stop by during school hours on any Wednesday or Thursday. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:36:29 PST The instructional calendar for next year was voted on in December, and is official. The first day of school is August 25, 2008, and the last day of school is June 9, 2009. In a change from this year, Cesar Chavez Day doesn't extend Spring Break, which is from April 6 - 10, 2009. Download the PDF version here, view it on the SFUSD website. Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:53:21 PST McKinley's own Lisa Schiff is very active not only at McKinley, but with Parents for Public Schools (PPSSF), too. She writes regularly for the School Beat column on BeyondChron, and recent article was What’s up in 2008 for San Francisco’s Schools . The budget is always at the top of the list, especially with recent state funding cuts on the table, but there's always more going on: school assignment, the distribution of Prop H funds, the upcoming election, and No Child Left Behind's reauthorization. More of Lisa's columns, including last week's on graduation rates, can be found here. Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:54:55 PST Our teachers let it all hang out last year for a fundraiser aimed at replacing our aging playground structure. Not only did they help raise more then $1,200 toward the cause through photo sales, they obviously had a good time doing it. The original jumbo poster remains resident in our lobby to give visitors a sense of our school’s unique personality. Come see it in person! Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:22:40 PST The Readathon final results are in, and this year we raised a little over $5,000 for the school library! The money we raised will be used for new library chairs and new library books. Ren Volpe, the Library Media Teacher, would like to thank everyone who participated--students and staff and parents and friends and family--for supporting our school library. Without the Readathon money, the McKinley Library really has no budget. This year the district gave every school $3.00 per student for library books. Our school received $780 for new books - a new library book costs approximately $20--so that's only 1 new book for every 7 kids! Our Books, Inc. winter fundraiser was another success. According to Ken Irish, Books, Inc. Manager, "Sales were $5990.38 for just over 2 hours (we did include all the last remaining stragglers), so your portion of the procceds is $1198.08." A big thank you to the entire McKinley school community for your support of our winter fundraiser! A big thank you to everyone who volunteered--those who helped keep everyone in wine and nibbles, All the room parents who found refreshment donors, the fundraising team, Principal Bonnie and the teachers and staff who were able to attend, and of course all of those people who brought food and drink, helped explain our mission to the customers, encouraged customers to come in to shop, bought wish-list books, and who shopped themselves! Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:18:09 PST This week starts the dramatic arts Winter Performances! This Thursday, December 13, the Kindergarten and 2nd grade classes will be performing and showing what they've learned in dance, choral, and drumming.Students should arrive at school, with their costume, at 5:50pm and go to their classrooms where they'll have a simple snack. The performance starts at 6pm, and ends at approximately 6:45pm. Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:34:00 PST Come one, come all! Our fall Books, Inc. fundraiser is almost here--just in time for all your holiday book shopping! On Tuesday, December 11, from 6 to 8pm at the Books, Inc. at 2275 Market Street (between Sanchez &amp; 16th &amp; Noe) they will donate 20% of all sales to McKinley. All purchases during that time will count, so please tell friends, family, neighbors, anyone to stop by! Can't make it? Call the store (415-864-6777) with your order and payment info, and pick up your books at your convenience.We'll have snacks, drinks, and lots of McKinley family, staff, and friends to chat with, so don't miss out! Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:04:05 PST Confused about the Standards Based Report Card? You are not alone! This is the second year the SFUSD has piloted the report card. At present, the majority of the standards are in Language Arts and Mathematics. The standards listed are the ones for which we have the assessments. this report card looks at the question: Does your child have mastery of a skill? Throughout the year, each standard is tested. The number (1 to 4) indicates the performance level that your child received at the last testing interval. Benchmark is considered grade level; thus your child should be receiving 3's and 4's to have mastery of that skill. Some skills are introduced and reviewed several times during the year, while others may only be assessed once. Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:55:24 PST Two new December fundraisers for McKinley--ordering gift cards and shopping at Sports Basement. Buy Gift Cards from McKinley McKinley families who purchase gift cards during the holiday season can purchase them through Great Lake Scrips so that the McKinley PTA can earn some extra money. (We usually average 7% earnings). Purchase them to give as gifts or puchase them to buy your gifts or everyday items! There are over one hundred merchants available -- Peet's, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Safeway, Macy's, AMC and Regent Movie Theatre cards and tickets ... and many more (full list here). To purchase gift cards before the holiday, please submit your order using the order form and a check payable to McKinley Elementary Education by either November 26th or December 3rd. Paper copies of the order form and list of merchants are available in the office. For more information, please contact support@mckinleyschool.org. Shop Sports Basement in support of McKinley Elementary and get a 10% DiscountOn December 9th from 10am -12pm, McKinley Elementary's Operation Playground is hosting a shopping event at Sports Basement where you'll receive 10% off all your purchases and McKinley's Operation Playground receives a percentage, too. Our goal is to raise $75,000 to build a new structure by the end of 2008. Get your holiday shopping done while helping McKinley Elementary raise funds for a new playground!Sports basement carries great stuff at discounted prices:* Brand name athletic gear and casual clothing for men, women and kids* Athletic and casual shoes * Camping, sporting and outdoor gearThe Presidio location is at 610 Mason @ Crissy Field. Please register as a guest of McKinley as you enter to ensure you get your discount. There will be complimentary snacks and beverages and childcare provided in the play area. Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:34:21 PST A recent School Beat column in BeyondChron by McKinley's own Lisa Schiff was titled: Public School Assignment in San Francisco—What Works and What Doesn’t. Lisa writes about "an assignment process that is somewhat opaque and definitely more uncertain than the neighborhood school system most of us grew up with....The flip side of the immediate uncertainty of our assignment process is a great amount of opportunity."Her column goes beyond the fear-mongering articles in other publications and the scuttlebutt on the playgrounds. There really are many excellent public school choices in San Francisco! (Speaking of which, McKinley is hosting an Open House this Saturday, November 14, from 10am to noon where prospective parents and guardians can speak with our principal, teachers and families and take a tour of the school. No RSVP required.) Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:54:30 PST The students at McKinley Elementary are participating in a school wide “Read-a-Thon” this November to raise money for the school library. The money raised will be used to buy new library books for the school library and to replace the worn-out library tables and chairs. Sponsors pledge to donate a certain amount for the time the child reads between November 1st - November 15th. For example, a person could pledge $1 per hour read and if the student reads for 10 hours during the Read-a-Thon, that person would donate $10. If a different person pledged 10 cents per hour, the same student, who read 10 hours, would collect $1. A sponsor could also give a flat amount, for example $10, $25, or $100. The students keep track of the amount of time they read on a reading log, and they're building paper chains with each link representing a book they've read. Find out more or donate here or at http://readathon.weebly.com/. Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:11:09 PST From the Principal's Newsletter, October 31:"As we think about Thanksgiving, I am so grateful to the staff and parents who give so much time and effort to make McKinley special. it takes everyone in our community to support all of our children. This year, we have parents who are volunteering to tutor and give students more time with an adult. We have committees of parents who are recruiting new kindergarten students. We have groups that are fundraising for Marin Headlands and a new play structure on the upper yard that can accommodate all students--kindergarten through 5th grade. We have parents who have taken leadership in our SSC and PTA and we have scores of other parents who help out in classrooms and at events. The McKinley staff gives ours beyond the school day, weekends and evenings to plan, attend meetings, and conference with parents. For all this and more, I am very grateful to be the principal of this dynamic school. I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving season." Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:24:25 PST Saturday was this year's Public School Enrollment Fair where all of San Francisco's public and charter schools, grades K-12 are available to talk to prospective parents and caregivers. McKinley had more representation in the form of teachers, administrators and parents then could fit in the booth, and we talked to a lot of prospective parents. The silly pose poster of the teachers was a huge hit--stop by the school lobby to see what the faculty have been up to! Last year we had a record number of applications put McKinley in their top spots, and we're looking forward to another banner year. Tours have started, and McKinley is hosting our own open house on November 17th from 10 - noon, too. Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:30:24 PST Saturday was McKinley's 3rd car wash, and it was a rousing success. We raised $1,410.16 for the PTA. Despite the rainy week and a slow morning, McKinley families, friends, neighbors and strangers turned out to have their cars washed and enjoy delicious bake sale treats.Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event -- time, money, energy, dancing in the street to bring cars into the lot, yummy baked goods, lemonade, equipment -- and more. We had a great crew of volunteers -- big and small! And special thanks to Traci Crespo who brought her pressure washer all the way over from the East Bay. Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:08:37 PST The Lost and Found, located just inside the second set of double doors, is quickly filling up. As the weather turns, the students seem to have more things to lose--coats, rain gear, etc. Be sure to check to see if your student has left something behind, because once it's full, all items will be donated to Community Thrift.Community Thrift Store accepts donations in the name of an organization and when those items sell, the organization receives a portion of the proceeds. They're located at 623 Valencia Street (near 17th Street) and their phone number is (415) 861-4910. Donations are accepted daily between 10:00am to 5:00pm in Sycamore Alley, which runs parallel to 17th Street (enter from Mission Street) and be sure to designate McKinley, #129, as the beneficiary. Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:40:32 PST Today was another working day in the garden! The garden area has been covered with a thin layer of compost and cardboard over it to get rid of any non-native plants and seeds that might be left. We will water the cardboard (or let it get rained on). After about two months the cardboard will break down and we will mix it in with the dirt. Then we will be ready to lay out the garden. Many thanks to today's volunteers, and to the volunteers from McKinley and One Brick (pictured) who helped dig up the non-native plants and trees on September 9. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:17:05 PST Saturday's Sandcastle Classic was a great success. Many thanks to McKinley's general contracting partner, Swinerton Builders, for providing the food and the expertise. And special thanks to all the people who came out to make McKinley's 'Nature Rocks' Swingin' Starfish Rockin' on an iPod such a success! Everyone had a good time and McKinley won the "Hippest Sandcastle" award. McKinley parent Brad DerManouelian put together this video of the event: Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:59:26 PST McKinley's teachers and staff have put together a wish list of items they need for the classroom, office, and library. These are items for the start of 2007/8 school year; please see the teachers for more specific details concerning some of the items requested. Many thanks to those that can help out! Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:59:33 PST Kindergarten parent Nicki Dugan has taken on the formidable task of figuring out how we can replace the decrepit playground structure in the upper yard. Rumor has it this is the second-oldest structure in the school district. An up-to-date and safe playzone would improve our kids' recess experience considerably. If you haven't looked at the structure recently, it has many worn, damanged, and decomposing parts, which you can see here, contrasted with the new playground structure at Leonard Flynn Elementary. Nicki is researching various options, including Kaboom!, which Leonard Flynn Elementary used to replace their play structure last year. If you're interested in helping with this effort, email playground@mckinleyschool.org. Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:53:22 PST Snacking is encouraged for students at McKinley, in fact the Kindergarten through second grade are encouraged to bring a healthy snack out to recess to keep them going until lunch. Snacks are covered in SFUSD's Student Wellness Policy, here in a message from Dana Woldow, chair of the SFUSD Student Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee. A reminder to school staffs and parent groups: As school begins again, please remember that the SFUSD's federally mandated Wellness Policy prohibits the sale of food at school (beyond the cafeteria) during the school day; this includes all sales by parents, school staff, or students, including student or parent run school stores, bake sales, or class-room food sales. Please do not plan fundraising events around the sale of any kind of food, especially any kind of candy, during the school day.In June 2007, the Board of Education amended the Wellness Policy to include all food sent to school for sharing, such as food for parties, celebrations, or classroom snacks. Additional information on snacks:More on food sent to school for sharing, including birthday celebrations A quick and easy guide to finding healthy snacks for sharing at schoolSFUSD's Wellness PolicyFAQ about the Wellness Policy for elementary and middle schoolFor more information on student nutrition or the Wellness policy, go to: www.sfusdfood.org Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:25:04 PST Next week will be the start of McKinley's many enrichment programs. Grades K - 4 will start their Spanish Enrichment classes and GATE Enrichment classes will begin for grades 3 - 5. All students will begin their musical theater programs--dance, drumming, or chorus. There will be a 'Dinner &amp; a Show' performance night for K &amp; 1, grades 2 &amp; 3, and grades 4 &amp; 5. Stay tuned for an announcement the date, and be sure to ask your student to demonstrate what they're learning! Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:14:26 PST Principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith and the rest of the McKinley staff take attendance very seriously. A recent op-ed in the New York Times noted that while attendance is typically good in elementary schools, truancy problems are common in middle and high schools. Setting a firm foundation in the importance of attendance is one way to help students, and their families, remember the importance of coming to school every day. As Bonnie has said many times, if they're not here, they're not learning!There is a table in the main lobby starting at 7:55am and any student arriving after that time must sign in late. Late minutes are added up, and 30 minutes equals a tardy. Any student arriving after 8:20am is considered tardy. Parents of students with 3 or more tardies will be scheduled for a conference. If attendance does not improve, parents will be referred to the SFUSD Attendance Office. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 22:24:23 PST We now have an online calendar of McKinley and other school-related events available on this website, and it's updated through November. If there's something you'd like to see there, please let us know at webmaster@mckinleyschool.org. Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:09:17 PST The Spring STAR testing results are back! (See details here.) Our overall scores show a 1 point loss in Language Arts and a 6 point gain in Math. The scores released to the newspapers compare 2006 fourth grade scores with 2007 fourth grade scores. At the Proficient and Above level, there was no change in Langage arts and an increase of 7 in Math. The long term trend indicates we are improving, moving more students from the lower categories (Far Below Basic and Below Basic) to Basic, Proficient and Advanced. All parents of third, fourth, and fifth grade students should be receiving individual test scores by mail. We have not received our API or AYP (No Child Left Behind) data; however we expect to see an increase in our API score and a YES in the AYP. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:50:21 PST Yesterday was the first day of school, and a photo from McKinley's first day of school was in today's San Francisco Chronicle. (Chronicle photo by Lea Suzuki.) McKinley has over 280 students enrolled for the 2007/8 school year, and we're looking forward to another great year. Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:29:53 PST Our annual BBQ to welcome the new families to McKinley will be on Saturday, August 25th and we encourage all McKinley families to attend. We usually have over 100 family members, and it is a great way to welcome our new families and re-connect after the long summer.The festivities start at 11 a.m. and end about 2 p.m. We'll grill some hamburgers and hot dogs (including veggie burgers and veggie hot dogs). We ask parents to bring a salad, pasta dish or desert to share. We also ask that parents bring some bottled water, juice, etc. (We we wish to keep the sugar sodas to a minimum.)Teachers typically attend, and we can provide tours of the school. If you're a new or current McKinley family, please plan on attending! Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:56:36 PST The McKinley PTA earned $1630 from the car wash and bake sale on Saturday, June 9th. Cars were washed non-stop from 9 am to 2 pm, when the gate was closed. There was probably one five minute period when there was calm. Many thanks to Tony and Traci Crespo for bringing their pressure washer. The proceeds will be used to fund various projects for students at McKinley, including San Francisco Symphony concerts at Davies Hall, outdoor education at Marin Headlands, and many other programs. Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:50:48 PST McKinley has received a grant from Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program for a native plant garden. Designs for the garden have been submitted from Thomas Y. Wang's students at the City College of San Francisco's Department of Environmental Horticulture and Floristry. They're on display outside the front office, and everyone (including students!) is encouraged to vote for their favorite. The winning design will be implemented in the fall. Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:42:02 PST McKinley's principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith in an article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle Insight section:Home prices' hard lesson: As families leave S.F., schools struggle to attract those left"Principal Bonnie Coffey-Smith of McKinley Elementary going out in her school's neighborhood, to the Castro Street Fair, to meetings at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center, touting her school's Spanish enrichment program, its performing percussion group, its artists-in-residence. The extra effort has paid off: The school was on the closure list two years ago with an anemic enrollment of 170. Next fall, enrollment will be around 260; at least one-tenth of McKinley's student body now comes from gay and lesbian families."You can read the entire article on the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/03/ING8OQ456Q1.DTL ">San Francisco Chronicle's web site. Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:39:30 PST Our fifth graders will participate in a promotion ceremony on Tuesday, June 12 at 9:00am. Brothers and sisters of 5th graders may attend the ceremony, but must remain with their parents at all times. Fri, 25 May 2007 19:12:53 PST McKinley's 23rd Annual Jr. Olympics is coming again this year on Thursday and Friday, May 31 and June 1. Opening Ceremonies will be at 8:45am on May 31.Once again, our students will be walking around the school in connection with our Jr. Olympics to earn money for McKinley's PTA and school programs. Students are asked to get pledges for each lap walked. Sun, 20 May 2007 12:56:30 PST McKinley students will be traveling to the following countries during this year's United Nations Days--complete with passports! Be sure to ask your globe-trotters about the places they visited: Thailand, Kenya, Japan, Eritrea, Germany, Tonga, Bhutan, Zambia, Australia, Canada, Spain, and El Salvador. Tue, 15 May 2007 13:46:48 PST McKinley 3rd grade teacher Richard Swerdlow is a contributor to public radio KQED's Perspectives, a series of daily commentaries by KQED listeners. His latest broadcast can be heard at the KQED website:Richard Swerdlow takes his third grade class camping in the wilds of the Marin Headlands. Richard Swerdlow hates camping. You can hear more of Mr. Swerdlow's pieces, including others on McKinley, here in the KQED archives. Fri, 11 May 2007 13:26:24 PST Spring Performances for all grades are coming up.May 22 - 4th and 5th gradesMay 29 - 2nd and 3rd gradesMay 30 - K and 1st gradesPotluck dinner is at 5:10pm, and the show starts at 6pm. Mon, 07 May 2007 14:15:02 PST Please join us for the last PTA meeting of the 2006/7 school year. Potluck is at 5:30pm, and the meeting starts at 6:00pm. Childcare is available. And thanks to all the parents who have given time to make the many events we do at McKinley successful. Tue, 01 May 2007 13:12:34 PST Sophia Mire, McKinley second grader was the winner of the San Francisco Zoo's Grand Prize for the 2nd grade entry for the Bear Necessities Art Contest. Sophia and her classmates visited the zoo on Thursday April 26th for a special tour, lunch and the award ceremony. Dale Melvin, McKinley fourth grader received special recognition for his submission as well. Congratulations Sophia and Dale!Also, a big round of applause for all our students who worked their hardest to submit wonderful pieces of art to be judged among the 1,800 entries from 49 grade schools! Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:01:09 PST Due to the effort of McKinley parent Beth Grady, McKinley has been awarded $2,100 in a grant from Lowe's Home Improvement through their Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program for McKinley to plant a native plant garden. The garden is currently under design by Thomas Y. Wang of City College of San Francisco and his students in the Department of Environmental Horticulture and Floristry. Work on the garden will begin in the fall. Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:04:01 PST Books Inc. at 2275 Market Street will donate 20% of the proceeds from pre-order and Midnight Release Party sales of the newest, and last, Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling to McKinley and Sanchez Elementary Schools. Call (415) 864-6777 or visit www.booksinc.net for details. The Midnight Release Party for the book will be held on Friday, July 20th at 11pm at Books Inc. Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:05:41 PST All first graders and their family members are invited for a potluck dinner, get acquainted activities, and (of course) family BINGO! Thursday, April 19th from 5:30 – 7:30pm in the McKinley Cafeteria. More information and a potluck signup sheet is in the Wednesday folder. Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:31:54 PST McKinley 3rd grade teacher Richard Swerdlow is a contributor to public radio KQED's Perspectives, a series of daily commentaries by KQED listeners. His latest broadcast, on an anonymous benefactor who offers to help McKinley, can be heard at the KQED website: “An anonymous benefactor offers to help Richard Swerdlow's elementary school.”: You can hear more of Mr. Swerdlow's pieces, including others on McKinley, here in the KQED archives. Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:43:35 PST A big congratulations to Lisa Schiff and her recruitment committee--also the many parents who helped out with tours for kindergarten fall enrollment. Our hard work has paid off! We received 146 requests in first through seventh choice, up from 108 last year. The most important fact is that 200 families toured, and 146 put us on their list!The five year trend for McKinley looks incredible. For the 2003/04 school year, McKinley had ­ 40 requests, for 2004/05 McKinley had 73 requests, for 2005/06 - 100 requests, for 2006/07 -­ 108 requests. The full enrollment report is available from the SFUSD site: Highlights of Round 1: 2007-08 School Year Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:51:19 PST Welcome to all the new families! On Thursday, March 29 from 8:15am - 9:15am we'd like to invite you to come to McKinley for refreshments, Q&amp;A with staff and parents, and activities for your children to meet current kindergarteners. We look forward to meeting the entire family! Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:44:39 PST The lost and found is overflowing in the main hallway. Is your child missing a sweater? Sweatshirt? Coat? Hat? Please check for lost items. When you attend your child's conference, please stop and go through the containers. Any clothes remaining after Parent Conference week (March 19 - 23) will be donated to Community Thrift. Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:44:39 PST Please join us for our annual family night with hands-on activities. Fun for all family members! Starts at 6pm and lasts until 7:30 on Tuesday, March 13. Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:32:45 PST Watch the video of the McKinley Elementary School Drum Ensemble, performing at the SFUSD PTA Awards dinner. Recorded Feb. 9 2007 San Francisco, CA. Musical Director / SF Arts Ed. Project Alfie Macias. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:51:53 PST The March elementary school lunch menu is available.They're listed on the Student Nutrition Services (SNS) page on the SFUSD site. Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:21:34 PST Kindergarten, first grade, second grade classes will be taking a field trip to Davies Hall to hear the San Francisco Symphony perform. The Symphony has a special website for kids, too, that teaches the instruments of the orchestra, the basics of reading music, and has an online radio to listen to some classical music's greatest hits. Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:52:42 PST Our second performance is February 28. (This will be for rooms 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 18). We will have a potluck dinner beginning at 5pm, and the show will be at 6pm. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:30:36 PST Families at McKinley are looking into establishing a food box program for staff and students. Local organic farm Eatwell could deliver boxes here filled with a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. For more information, contact Eatwell Farms directly at (800) 648-9894. Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:18:39 PST Our annual meeting to gather input from parents and others in our school community is February 6. We will discuss programs, priorities, and the budget for the School Site Plan. It is very important that we get input from all community members. We look forward to seeing you Tuesday, February 6, 2007. Dinner will be provided at 5:30pm and the meeting starts at 6:00pm in the McKinley school auditorium. There will be childcare available. Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:11:31 PST Click here for the February 2007 Lunch Calendar on the SFUSD website. Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:35:34 PST McKinley 3rd grade teacher Richard Swerdlow is a contributor to public radio KQED's Perspectives, a series of daily commentaries by KQED listeners. Early in the school year, KQED broadcast his thoughts on a new teacher at McKinley, which you can listen to via the KQED archives: “At Richard Swerdlow's school, a newly minted but not exactly young teacher brings new energy to the job.”; Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:33:38 PST The art team from Urban High School is completing the mural on the upper yard--the theme is 'Explore'. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:34:44 PST Don't miss this event! 75 2nd and 3rd graders on stage plus the debut of our newly-formed Performing Percussion Group of 4th and 5th graders. Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:03:15 PST Two corporate donors have contributed funds to send our entire school to Marin Headlands Environmental Education Center this year. Our PTA and several staff members have been working diligently to raise funds for this new program. Dates for grade/class trips coming soon. Sat, 30 Dec 2006 23:39:05 PST School begins on Tuesday January 2, 2007. Parents and students, don't forget to turn in all your pledges for the Read-a-thon. You can fulfill your pledges by clicking on a PayPal button to donate directly, visit the Readathon website.