Mackay Newsletter

Dear Mackay Families,

I cannot believe it is already November!!!! We had a wonderful Halloween here at Mackay, and we are already feeling thankful! It was great to see so many of you last week at our Trunk or Treat and our Halloween parade. Special thanks to our HSA and all of the parents who were involved in the planning and preparation, decorated a car, and came to support the HSA! Thank you all for your flexibility with the weather and our shift to our Saturday Trunk or Treat. November is a great month for family time and reflecting on how lucky we are to have such an amazing Mackay family.

November is one of my favorite months of the year at school because we are in full swing with our curriculum, our classroom communities and students are growing and thriving. Students are working hard in small groups, and having amazing classroom discussions about everything from current events to science hypotheses and the characters they are reading and writing about. I am amazed by their accomplishments each and every day and am in awe of the teachers’ hard work and dedication.

I hope you will join me for our first Mrs. Chizzik’s Chat and Chew of the year on November 11th at 8:45 A.M. in the library. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about curriculum, Mackay happenings, etc.

I hope you enjoy both the Teachers’ Convention days off as well as the Thanksgiving holiday with your wonderful families. Happy November everyone!

It's a great month to have a great month!

Heidi Chizzik

Principal

Tuesday, November 11th

9-10 AM in the Mackay Library

Come ask questions, express concerns, and chat with our school principal! Please enter through the main entrance.

Happy November, Mackay Families!

We had a wonderful October filled with meaningful activities and community spirit! We kicked off the month with the Week of Respect, featuring fun theme days and important lessons about kindness and empathy. We also launched Walk & Bike on Wednesdays and enjoyed an inspiring visit from the Mini Misfits Theater Group.

Students in grades K–2 watched a performance about what it means to be a good friend, while students in grades 3–5 learned about the importance of standing up to bullying. Both shows reinforced our message of treating others the way you want to be treated.

On that same theme, our 5th Grade Peace Builders have been hard at work welcoming new students to Mackay! Over the past few weeks, they hosted “Meet and Greets” for students in grades 1–5 who are new to our school. Each session included fun get-to-know-you activities designed to help everyone feel connected and supported. I’m so proud of our Peace Builders for their leadership and kindness!

Here’s a picture of our amazing 5th Grade Peace Builders!

Wishing you all a November to remember!

With Gratitude, Mrs. Angerson

In November, students will begin their STEM, Literature, and Informational Text units in Library. Kindergarten and first grade students will learn about the characteristics of fiction and nonfiction stories. Second and third grade students will explore digital citizenship, focusing on safe and responsible behavior online. Fourth and fifth grade students will strengthen their digital literacy skills by reviewing how to select and evaluate sources.

I would like to thank all the families who encouraged their children to participate in the pumpkin decorating contest. We had so many wonderful entries this year, and I am amazed by the creativity of our Mackay students and families!

Best,
Ms. Brenzel

Our Winter Concert is just six weeks away!

Students are encouraged to practice their music at home regularly, arrive on time for lessons and rehearsals, and come prepared with their instruments and materials. Consistent effort and focus will help everyone shine on stage and make our concert a memorable celebration of music, teamwork, and creativity!

In general, music classes, students are diving into traditional folk songs from around the world, learning through interactive games, singing activities, and rhythmic challenges that strengthen their listening and performance skills. They are also exploring the fascinating history, cultures, and stories behind each piece of music—helping them understand how songs connect people and traditions across generations.

Parents & Guardians,

Grades K–2, students are developing their manipulative skills—including rolling, catching, and both underhand and overhand throwing. They’ll get plenty of chances to practice with partners and apply these skills in fun games and activities that build coordination and teamwork.

Grades 3–5 students are focusing on refining their overhand throwing skills and beginning our flag football unit. Throughout the unit, students will learn and practice the fundamentals and rules of the game, and it will all come together in small-sided games where they can apply what they’ve learned in real game situations.

Hello everyone!

This month in the art room we are deep into creating art! From Pop Art inspired by Andy Warhol to clay works inspired by Van Gogh we are learning new techniques and building our skills in all different kinds of mediums.

Looking ahead this month, some of us are continuing current projects and some of us are moving on to new works. Just a reminder, I keep all of our major art pieces until the end of the school year where all of it will be displayed around the halls of Mackay for our annual Mackay Art Show!!

Until next time!

-Ms. Bracero

Students learned a great deal about the cultures of Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Mexico during Hispanic Heritage Month, thank you to the wonderful parent visits to our classrooms

In November, Grades K to 3rd will explore fall colors and basic weather expressions in Spanish. 4th Graders will begin a new unit on birthday vocabulary, and 5th Graders will start learning how to describe themelves and others in Spanish.

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