McKinley Dragon Tales
December & January 2024-2025
Principal's Corner
Happy New Year, McKinley families! 2025 is off to a fantastic start, and we have so many exciting events to look forward to in the coming months. From special celebrations to fun-filled activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. As we continue to grow and learn together, we’re also looking forward to the warmer days ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support—let’s make 2025 an amazing year!
Mr. Daniel Oldham, Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
February
- Black History Month
- Kindergarten Registration Opens
- Feb 3-7: Souper Bowl Food Drive
- Pretzel Sale - weekly on Fridays
- Feb 13: VIP Dance - 6 - 8 pm
- Feb 14: NO SCHOOL
- Feb 17: NO SCHOOL
Feb 26: HEART Magic Assembly provided by the PTO
March
- Women's History Month
- March 6: PTO Meeting 6:30 - 7:30
- March 28: Race for Education
April
- Arab American Heritage Month
- April 2: Paraprofessional Day
- April 2: Class Group Pictures
- April 3: Spring Picture Day
- April 3: 5th Grade Class Picture
- April 3: PTO Meeting 9:30 - 10:30
- April 4: School Librarian Day
- April 7: National Assistant Principal Week
- April 10: Kindergarten Orientation
- April 11: Author Visit - Aram Kim - Grades K - 2
- April 14: Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal 12:20
- April 15: Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal 12:20
- April 16: Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal 12:20
- April 17: NO SCHOOL - Spring Recess
- April 18: NO SCHOOL -Spring Recess
- April 21: NO SCHOOL - Spring Recess
- April 22: Bus Driver Appreciation Day
- April 23: Administrative Assistant Day
**All events are subject to change. Additional events may be added
to the calendar, as safety regulations permit.
50th Day of School
Mrs. Hayes' kindergarten class celebrated their 50th day of school with a fabulous throwback to the 1950s! The students donned poodle skirts, leather jackets, and plenty of retro flair as they grooved to 50s music and danced the day away. This fun-filled milestone was a fantastic way to combine learning and laughter, creating memories that will last a lifetime. What a "rockin'" way to mark this special day!
Therapy Dogs visit the Library
Take a look at these adorable photos from December’s therapy dog visit! Remy and Beau, along with their amazing handlers Stephanie and Mark, spent time with Mrs. Hayes's Explorations Class. They joined us as part of our unit on Community Heroes & Helpers, showing how therapy dogs bring comfort and joy to those around them. It was a paws-itively wonderful experience!
Winter Parties
Students had a blast at the winter parties held in their classrooms before the break! The celebrations were filled with laughter, games, and festive treats, creating a joyful atmosphere to close out the year. From decorating cookies to exchanging small gifts and enjoying holiday music, the parties were a perfect way for everyone to relax and enjoy time with friends before heading into the winter holidays.
Winter Concert
Our talented musicians wowed the audience at the winter concert! Under the direction of Mr. Frueh and Mr. Ford, the band and strings delivered outstanding performances, showcasing their hard work and dedication. The evening was capped off by the incredible voices of the chorus, who brought the audience to their feet with their amazing singing. It was a night of music, joy, and community spirit!
Holiday Shop
The Winter Holiday Shop was a huge success, thanks to our amazing parent volunteers! They helped create a magical winter wonderland and made shopping a breeze for our students. The kids had a blast picking out thoughtful gifts for their family and friends, spreading holiday joy throughout the school. A big thank-you to everyone who made this special event possible!
Raffle Winners for December & January
Congratulations to our December and January raffle winners! These students earned dragon tickets by showing HEART behavior and were rewarded with some awesome prizes. Keep up the great work and continue demonstrating honesty, excellence, awareness, respect and teamwork—it could be your name drawn next month! Keep those dragon tickets coming!
Martin Luther King Assembly and Peace Awards
Our school gathered for a meaningful MLK Assembly to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students reflected on his message of equality, kindness, and peace through inspiring performances and speeches. The event featured some very special performances, including our talented 5th-grade singers performing a heartfelt rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" and a beautiful solo by Aria Coates from Mrs. Flint's 1st-grade class, who sang "What a Wonderful World." You can see the video by clicking on the button below. We also celebrated students who exemplify Dr. King's values with our annual Peace Awards, recognizing their efforts to make our school and community a better place. It was a powerful reminder of the impact we can all have when we work together with compassion and respect.
Hot Chocolate Party
Our PBIS program continues to encourage positive behavior through monthly incentives, and this month brought a sweet treat! Students earned dragon tickets by showing HEART behavior and had the chance to spend them on a cozy hot chocolate party. It was a delightful way to reward their kindness, effort, and respect while warming up the winter days. Keep up the great work, dragons!
Neon Dance Party for Grades 4 & 5
The 4th and 5th graders lit up the night at their very own Neon Dance Party! With a DJ spinning the tunes, glow sticks lighting the way, and students rocking amazing neon outfits, the event was an absolute hit. Laughter, dancing, and glowing fun filled the room, making it a night to remember for everyone involved!
Family Fun Night at Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe
School Counselor Appreciation Week
School Counselor Appreciation Week is the first week of February, and we can’t wait to celebrate the incredible Dr. Johnson—affectionately known as Doc J! His kindness, patience, and unwavering support make a world of difference to our students and staff. We are so lucky to have such a great human here at McKinley. Thank you, Doc J, for all that you do to help our school thrive!
McKinley School Musical - Little Mermaid, Jr.
McKinley proudly presented The Little Mermaid Jr., a magical production brought to life by a talented group of students and some amazing McKinley parents who directed and guided the show! These dedicated parents worked tirelessly on performances, practices, line rehearsals, and choreography, ensuring every detail was perfect. The students’ hard work and talent were on full display, creating an unforgettable performance that had everyone singing along under the sea. Bravo to the entire cast, crew, and parent team!
January PTO Meeting with Dr. Fecher
We were honored to have our superintendent, Dr. Fecher, join the January PTO meeting! Dr. Fecher took the time to listen, share insights, and collaborate with McKinley families, fostering meaningful conversations about our school and community. Thank you, Dr. Fecher, for your dedication and support—it’s always a pleasure to have you with us!
Fourth & Fifth Grade December Pledge of Character Winners
The month of December, our Abington Pledge of Character focused on the character trait of Gratitude, and we are excited to recognize the students who were voted by their peers and teachers as shining examples of this important value. These students consistently demonstrate gratitude in their actions and attitudes, both in and out of the classroom. Congratulations to Lia Zielenbach/ Hagstotz, Mia Bongard/Curran, Charlotte Farina/Moffett, Andrew McLaughlin/Wenc, Evelyn Freivogel/Dietrich. As part of their recognition, they had the honor of speaking on the announcements and having their picture displayed in the main hallway. We want to celebrate them every day for the amazing examples they set for all of us! Keep up the great work! We’re so proud of you!
During the month of January we focused on the trait of Helpfulness. These students consistently demonstrate helpfulness both in and out of the classroom. Congratulations to Samantha Mykhnyak/Bunjun, Charlotte Hulshizer/Goldstein, Joey O'Neil/Newman, and Emma Radtke/Smith for being excellent role models of helpfulness. As part of their recognition, they had the honor of speaking on the announcements and having their picture displayed in the main hallway. We want to celebrate them every day for the amazing examples they set for all of us! Keep up the great work! We’re so proud of you!
Best Buddies Program
The "Best Buddies" program has been spreading joy and teamwork this winter! In December, buddies teamed up to decorate snowflakes, showcasing their creativity and cooperation. January brought even more fun with a parachute game and a lively round of "Pin the Nose on the Snowman." Through these activities, students worked together, built friendships, and shared plenty of laughter. "Best Buddies" continues to foster strong connections and a sense of community among our students!
Pretzel Sale
The McKinley Fifth Grade Pretzel Sale is Back!
Pretzel Sale Flyer and Order Form Link
Starting January 3rd through May 30th- Preorder to receive a pretzel every Friday starting January 3rd through May 30th! Pretzels will not be delivered on February 14th of April 18th. Return this form with $20 cash or check in an envelope marked “Attention: 5th Grade Pretzel Sale” by Thursday December 19th. Please note: There will be a limited number of pretzels for sale after school every Friday in the lobby for those who do not preorder pretzels but they will be first come, first serve and there is no guarantee that we will have enough for everyone who wants one. It is preferred that you preorder your pretzels.
Important Notes:
All proceeds benefit the 2024-2025 McKinley 5th Grade Class.
There will be no refunds for absences or cancellations of pretzel day.
Attention 5th Grade Families: We need several volunteers to help sort pretzels on Fridays. If you are able to extend your support, or have any questions, please feel free to email or call Erica at ericasingleton13@gmail.com (215)908-9518
Lost and Found
McKinley's Lost & Found
There are three ways to claim your student's missing item from our Lost & Found!
1) Check out our NEW virtual Lost & Found https://photos.app.goo.gl/rByCD2d4WYavaXjL9.
2) Remind your student to go to the Lost & Found during school to claim their item.
3) Parents/Guardians can go to the Lost & Found in the school's vestibule during school hours.
Please remember to label your student's belongings! Lost & Found items that are labeled are delivered to students.
At the end of each month items that are not labeled or claimed will be donated. Thank you!
MySchoolBucks Cafeteria Payment Options
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we return to school for the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to provide you with several resources related to our food service program, provided by Chartwells School Dining Services.
Nutrislice Menus
Daily breakfast and lunch menus are available to view via the Nutrislice website.
MySchoolBucks Online Payment System
Abington School District partners with MySchoolBucks, an online service where you can easily and securely pay for school meals using a credit/debit card or electronic check.
Using MySchoolBucks you can:
● Add funds to your student’s meal account
● View meal balances & cafeteria purchases
● Receive low balance alerts
Get started in 4 easy steps:
1. Download the mobile app or visit myschoolbucks.com
2. Create your free account
3. Add your student
4. Add funds to your student’s meal account
If you have any questions about getting started with MySchoolBucks, call (855) 832-5226.
Free / Reduced Meals
Your child may be eligible to receive free/reduced school meals, based on your income or state benefits received. In order to be eligible for free or reduced meals, you will need to complete an application, unless you are directly certified through your benefits program.
Complete the application and submit it to the main office, or apply online.
Contact the Student Services Department at 215-881-2505 if you need assistance. (Please note that free breakfast will be available to all Abington School District students for the duration of the 2024-2025 school year.)
McKinley HEART
Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (SPWBIS) / HEART at McKinley is a program to promote and maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. As part of the SWPBIS program, we have several clear rules for the behavior we expect in all areas of our school (e.g. classroom, hallways, playground, cafeteria, gymnasium, etc.). We explicitly teach our students our expectations of Honesty, Excellence, Awareness, Respect, and Teamwork. We will also reward them frequently with positive notes and prizes for their great behavior. You will be able to ask your child, What are the rules in your school? How do you follow those rules? What happens when a teacher sees you following the rules?
School Information
SCHOOL HOURS
Arrival 8:30-8:50 AM
Dismissal 3:20 PM
The school campus (including fields and playgrounds) is closed to the general public during school hours.
If a child is absent, parents must report it. An absence can be submitted on Skyward (see directions linked at the bottom of this newsletter) in advance of the date for appointments, or can be submitted on the day of the absence. Submitting an absence on Skyward is the recommended way of alerting the school of your child’s absence and removes the need for you to call the Child Check line.
If you do not report your child’s absence on Skyward, you must contact the Child Check phone or email line prior to 8:30 AM on the day of the absence: 215-663-0430 option#2. Please provide the following information: Child’s name, your name, teacher’s name, date(s) of absence, and the reason for the absence. Note: “Vacation” is not considered an excused absence in Abington School District, as per the district’s attendance policy.
Families can retrieve transportation information via Skyward.
Log into the Skyward information system using your assigned login name and password. You may need to click “Open Family Access” after logging in.
Select the “Busing” tab on the left-hand side as shown below. Your student’s busing information will be shown on the right-hand side.
During the first few weeks, expect bus schedules to fluctuate as everyone adjusts to the new bus routes. If your concern is about the location of a bus stop or driver, you will need to contact the Abington Transportation Department at 215-884-0421. If your child is experiencing a problem with other students, please contact our Asst. Principal, Ms. Corbett.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS
Suggested supply lists are posted on ASD’s Family Resources page. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle, and we have water refilling stations in the building. Cell phones are not necessary, but students who bring cell phones to school must keep the phones off and in their backpack throughout the school day.
K-2 Students Only: Please consider (optional) sending in a labeled bag with a spare set of clothing including a shirt, underwear, pants, and socks in the event of an emergency.
MEDICINE
The administration of medicine to students by the nurse may be authorized only in emergency cases and only upon the completion and submission of the Medication Form as well as documentation from the doctor. All medicines must come to school in the original container and be kept in the nurse’s office. It is the parents’ responsibility to bring medication to school. No medication should be sent into school with a student.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
Parents and guardians have the option to purchase private student accident medical insurance. Please inquire with the Business Office at 215-881-2541 to obtain a brochure regarding the available coverage and enrollment/purchase information.
During the day, all exterior doors are locked, and everyone enters via the main entrance. To maintain building safety, a limited number of essential visitors will be allowed. Visitors must present a photo ID or wear an ASD-issued volunteer badge. Parents and guardians interested in volunteering at the school will need to obtain volunteer certifications in order to be approved to volunteer.