McDonald News!

Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful holiday season. As we begin the second half of the school year, we are energized and excited about the months ahead and continuing to support each child’s learning and growth.

Be Bright, Be Kind, Be You
Our school theme remains at the heart of all we do at McDonald. We encourage students to celebrate who they are, show kindness to others, and give their best effort each day. These values guide our classrooms, our interactions, and our school community as we move into the new year.

Winter Reminders

• Dress for the Weather: Please be sure your child comes to school each day with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and boots for snowy conditions. We continue to go outside when temperatures are 15 degrees or above. Snow boots are great for getting to school—please also pack indoor shoes to change into once inside so we can keep our classroom carpet and hallways clean, dry, and safe.

• School Closures: Weather-related updates will be shared through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media. Please check that your contact information is current in the parent portal.

• Arrival Time: School begins at 8:00 a.m., with the tardy bell ringing at 8:05 a.m. Morning porch supervision is provided at 7:30 a.m. to help ensure a smooth start to the day.

• Dismissal Time: Students are dismissed at 3:20 p.m. daily, with early dismissal on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. We appreciate your promptness during pick-up.

Thank You, Parents!
Your ongoing support plays a vital role in our school’s success. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or partnering with us at home, your involvement helps create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

If you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas, please feel free to reach out. Together, we continue to make McDonald Elementary a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Until next month,
Mrs. Kim Flanders

January 5th - School Resumes

January 9th 2nd Qtr. Assembly 2:30 p.m.

January 13th - PTO Meeting 5:30 in Library

January 29th - PTO Bingo for books 6:00 p.m. in the gym -Come join us for this free family event!

February 13th - Valentine's Day classroom parties 2:45 p.m.

February 16th - No School Professional Development

March 6th - 3rd Qtr Assembly 2:30p.m.

March 10 - PTO Meeting 5:30 in Library

March 16th -17th - Parent Teacher Conferences

Our holiday stations were a success. Thank you to all of the volunteers and PTO for all of your help to make this celebration so much fun. We had a great time celebrating together!

North Platte Public Schools believes in the importance of children being in school. McDonald Elementary monitors building, grade level, and individual students' attendance. We celebrate students who maintain fewer than five absences for the school year. (We STRIVE to go 5 or Below) We also recognize students each quarter with outstanding attendance.

If your child will not be in school, please call the office before 8:00 am. If students are seen by a medical professional, please provide a note to the office to excuse the absence. Students who miss more than 10 days are required to have an attendance meeting with the counselor, principal, and parents. As required by state statute, chronically absent students will have a referral sent to the county attorney.

Below is the Counseling Corner flyer for the month of January, a Circle of Security parenting class flyer, and some community food resources. Please take a look!

Here at McDonald Elementary, we are committed to supporting our school community by offering resources and assistance to families in need. Whether it’s clothing, food, ties to local counseling resources, we strive to ensure every student and family has access to the support they need to thrive. If anyone has any questions, please reach out to Mr. Blumanthal!

Behind every successful student is an amazing staff member—this month, we celebrate those everyday heroes in our Bright Spots! Whether it’s a joyful classroom moment or quiet dedication behind the scenes, their impact is felt by everyone. Congratulations to our December BRIGHT SPOTS - Mr.Cortney, Mrs.Anderson, Ms. Brinegar, and Mrs. Berol!

Please have your student bring or wear tennis shoes everyday for PE. Sandals, crocs and boots are not ideal and create safety issues. Thank you for your help!

Are you looking for things to do with your family or for your student/s? North Platte Public Schools has one place to find events going on in North Platte and the surrounding communities. This will include things like sports signups, camps, kids festivals and so much more. The link will be at the bottom of every monthly newsletter. You will also be able to access it at www.nppsd.org. Check often as we will update and share new opportunities often!

Please join us at 5:30 p.m. in the library for PTO meetings. Zoom links are available if you cannot attend. Each meeting is usually less than 30 minutes. We need help planning family friendly events, supporting our teachers, enhancing the learning environment and encouraging community within the school.

Upcoming Meeting Dates: January 13th, March 10th, March 31st, and April 28th

Zoom Link

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86456466080?pwd=G43NbXxW0zVSmx7tbUKruciehvztYF.1

Meeting ID: 864 5646 6080

Passcode: 1weZf8

Got questions? Feel free to email mcdonald.pto.69101@gmail.com

Officers are:

Kayla Thurman, President

Sage Anderson, VP

Sarah Nichols, Treasurer

Aspen Painter, Secretary

Melissa Robinson, member at large

Stay up to date and join our Facebook Page

Email: kflander@nppsd.org
Website: www.nppsd.org/o/mcdonald
Location: 601 McDonald Road, North Platte, NE, USA
Phone: (308)535-7140
Facebook: facebook.com/McDonaldElem