The Messenger

Spring Fever is in the air! As we head into May, the halls are buzzing with energy. Our students and teachers are marking the culmination of a year's hard work with field trips and end-of-year festivities.

This week is particularly special as we recognize our incredible team during Staff Appreciation Week. We want to extend a special thank you to the McKinley PTO and our generous families for their support and donations that will make this week a special experience for our staff.

While we enjoy these weeks of the year, we are also diligently preparing for the 2026-2027 school year. One significant task we undertake each spring is finalizing our staffing. Unfortunately, we will feel the impact of district budget cuts next year, and we are saddened to share that several of our talented educators will be moving on from our school. Mr. Schaub, Mrs. Tangren, Mrs. Roberts-Carlson and Mrs. Burrows will be moving on to new adventures next year. Mrs Harvey will be staying home next year and after many years of dedicated service at McKinley, Mrs. Fries-Siow, will be also be leaving us at the end of the school year.

We are also experiencing some shifts within our current team. Next year, Mrs. Swanson and Mrs. Hemmelgarn will both be teaching first grade.

Finally, we have a very special retirement to announce. The "voice and face" of McKinley, Michele Brese, is retiring. Many of you interact with Michele daily and know firsthand how helpful and kind she is to everyone who walks through our doors. We will miss her warm, welcoming and enthusiastic personality. We are going to miss all of these talented staff members dearly and wish them the very best in their next chapters.

Track and Field Day

Track and Field Day is Friday, May 15. Continue reading for more details.

Thank you for your continued support of our staff and students. Please continue reading this edition of the McKinley Messenger for more information on everything happening this spring!

Get ready for a day of excitement and fun! Our annual Track and Field Day is just around the corner on Friday, May 15.

The day will kick off outside at 10:00AM. We welcome visitors to join us at their student's first event of the day. Volunteers should arrive for an orientation meeting at 9:25AM in the gym.

To help you navigate the day's activities, you can access the Track and Field Day Schedule here and the Track & Field Day Map. These documents will also be available at the nurse's table located on the playground on the day of the event.

Want to join in the fun? If you are interested in volunteering and traveling with your student during the day, please reach out to your student's teacher or contact our Volunteer Services Coordinator, Natosha Hanson, at Natosha.Hanson@ahschools.us.

Important Reminders for Students:

• Please have your student(s) dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather.
• Tennis shoes are a must for all activities!
• Don't forget to send a water bottle clearly labeled with your child's name.
• Hats and sunscreen are also highly recommended to stay comfortable throughout the day.
• Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing their class t-shirts. Here is a reminder of this year's colors by grade:
  • Kindergarten - Safety Yellow
  • First Grade - Purple
  • Second Grade - Green
  • Third Grade - Red
  • Fourth Grade - Orange
  • Fifth Grade - Blue

Important Information for Parents:

If you plan to take your student(s) home before the regular dismissal time, you MUST sign them out in their classroom. Please plan for the parking lot to be congested. Also, please keep in mind that dogs are not allowed on school property.

We are looking forward to an exciting day where our students can showcase their talents and enjoy friendly competition. Our McKinley staff is dedicated to fostering the principles of respect, teamwork, and good sportsmanship throughout all the day's events.

Adult Lunch Options on Track and Field Day

Visitors and guests may purchase a school lunch. The meal will include a corn dog or PB&J, veggie, fruit, chips and a cookie. The cost for an adult meal is $5.15. Please bring cash (exact amount) or you may write a check. Credit and debit cards will not be accepted.

New this year: Visitors and adults may purchase a meal from one of the food trucks that will be on site. Route 65 will be offering a variety of burger options and D & D Goodies Food Truck will be selling jumbo egg rolls, chicken dumplings, garlic wings, gluten free spring rolls, and more. The trucks will be located on the east side of the school just off Hastings Street.

We are thrilled to announce that McKinley will be hosting visiting educators from Jamaica during the week of May 11 as part of the JET (Jamaican Exchange in Teaching) program. Grounded in the philosophy of "one goal, one passion," this global exchange provides a transformative opportunity for teachers from both Minnesota and Jamaica to immerse themselves in different educational systems and cultures. By working side-by-side and sharing evidence-based practices, our educators are building a sustainable partnership that enriches their professional growth and brings a global perspective directly into our classrooms. We look forward to the lasting impact this exchange will have on our students and the entire McKinley community!

At the end of the month, your student will be bringing home their artwork in a special portfolio. This is a wonderful opportunity to see all of the creativity, growth, and hard work they have put into art class this year! I encourage you to take some time to look through it together. Ask your student to share what they created, the techniques they used, and what they learned along the way. You might be surprised by how much they remember and how proud they are of their work! You could even turn it into a mini art show at home—lay out the artwork, invite family members to “visit,” and let your child be the artist and guide. It’s a fun way to celebrate their creativity and build confidence. It is a joy and privilege to be their art teacher. ~Mrs. Thomsen

Book-O-Rama is back!

It's time for spring cleaning and we want your books! We are collecting gently used children’s books to help students build their home libraries for summer reading.

Please send donations with your student by May 22, or drop them off during Track & Field Day on May 15. Students will shop the collection from May 27–29, with all proceeds funding reading tags and backpack rings to encourage literacy. Thank you for helping us make this event a success!

Throughout the month of May, McKinley Bulldogs will learn all about creativity! Creativity is “using your imagination to create something new or solve a problem.” Opportunities to be Creative are all around us! How can you find ways to be Creative as a family this month?

We will be highlighting the Creativity of some of our Bulldogs who displayed their art at the Northtown Art Show on our Morning Show. We have also been treated to many performances for McKinley's Got Talent. McKinley is bursting with Creativity!

Summer will be here before we know it! Anoka Hennepin participates in the USDA Summer Food Service Program throughout the summer. Breakfast and lunch will be served at no cost to all student under the age of 18 at various sites throughout the district. For more information and for updated locations as they are established, please visit https://www.ahschools.us/services/nutrition/cnp/~board/services-nutrition/post/summer-meal-services.

Wishing you a marvelous May!

Jessica Ness-Manary, LSW

McKinley Elementary School Social Worker

763-506-3479

Fifth Grade

Fifth graders have been working on 1/8 and 2/16 notes. They’re learning a song called “Bumps in the Night” with this rhythm. They’ve started using ukuleles and have learned how to hold and strum the instruments as well as the C major chord. They’ll be introduced to the A minor chord soon.

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders have learned B, A, G, and E on the recorders and are continuing with the Recorder Karate Unit. They’re learning a lot of recorder techniques including how to hold the instrument, how to cover the holes, soft breathing, and how to read pitches on the staff. Students are using their rhythm knowledge to play many different songs.

Third Grade

Third graders are learning about Polyphonic music and have been working on the song “Fish and Chips.” They’ve also been studying compound time and Do, Re, Mi, So, and La. They’re learning the song “Dreamland” on the barred instruments.

Second Grade

Second graders are studying two tied quarter notes and Mi, So, and La. They have beautiful singing voices and know a lot of songs. They just played “Doggie, Doggie” on the barred instruments.

First Grade

First graders are studying So and Mi. They’re getting very good at reading those pitches on the music staff. They’re also clapping, writing, and reading quarter notes and two-eighth notes. Quarter rest will be introduced soon.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students are learning about High and Low as well as Walk and Jogging. Every music time they practice their vocal exploration, learn new songs with high and low, sing, read walk and jogging patterns, and play games.

Kindergarten News

Our students have learned about how shade cools the ground, and how the sun heats things up. We will now be getting ready for our umbrella test–looking at which umbrellas make the best shade! We have also been looking at weather patterns throughout the day and the year, and we will be ending our unit with learning about various types of severe weather–super cool!

First Grade

Students just bought home their shadow puppets! Ask your child what he or she learned about making shadows bigger or smaller (a flashlight will be needed for your child to demonstrate this!)

We are now moving on to investigate light and darkness. We will explore questions such as: What can you see in the dark? Which materials let light through? Which materials reflect light? These questions will be investigated with some very fun hands-on activities. Ask your child what they are learning in Explorations each week!

Second Grade

Students have learned a lot about the awesome process of pollination. They will now be applying that knowledge to designing a “model pollinator” for a certain flower. These will be made and used in class, and your child will also be bringing their model home to share with their family. Please let them know that you are excited to hear their pollination presentation!

We will wrap up our unit with a garden plan. This group of students are really interested in gardening. Even a few pots at home would be super exciting for these students to have in the summer!

Third Grade

Students are enjoying observing our live painted lady butterfly caterpillars, and have lots of learning to share if you ask them about these insects! We are also talking about how inherited traits help animals and plants to survive. How does the awesome camouflage of the leaf-tailed gecko help it to survive in the rainforest? It is so amazing to learn about plants and animals, each perfectly designed to survive in their many different environments.

The McKinley Carnival highlighted our final major PTO event of the year. Our classrooms were filled with games and prizes, our pod and outdoor area with face painting and crazy hair, and our gym with great food and treats!! It was a fun time with families and our Bulldog community. Thank you to the many volunteers who made the night a huge success!

The PTO will be assisting in thanking our McKinley staff during Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you to all who have donated items, food, and gift cards for the breakfast the PTO will be hosting on Wednesday, May 6. Thank you also to Mickman Brothers in Ham Lake for the flower pots and to Caribou Coffee for fueling our staff.

Please join us on Monday, May 11, for our last PTO meeting of the year. We will recap the year and plan for next year. We would love to have you.

Make sure to follow us on social media (McKinley PTO) to see photos of our events and stay up to date!

Pre-K to Grade 3 parent educators are available to support families as they navigate a child’s journey from preschool through their early elementary years.

Sibling Rivalry: Did you know?

• It’s normal for brothers and sisters to argue sometimes.

• Kids fight more when they feel things are unfair.

• Teaching kids to share and take turns can help stop fights.

• Staying calm during an argument helps kids calm down too.

• Giving each child one-on-one time can help them feel special and fight less.

Want to learn more? Sign up for our online workshop on May 19 or check out this printable resource.

Get information about Pre-K to Grade 3 Parenting Education online or contact a parent educator at prektograde3@ahschools.us.

4 - 8 - Staff Appreciation Week

6 - School Patrol Field Trip

11 - PTO Meeting

11 - 15 - Jamaican Exchange Teachers at McKinley

15 - Track & Field Day

21 - Grade 1 Field Trip

2 - Grade 1 Field Trip

3 - Grade 2 Field Trip

3 - Grade 4 Field Trip

4 - Kindergarten Field Trip

4 - Grade 3 Field Trip

5 - Grade 5 Field Trip

5 - Last Day of School