Mackay

Dear Mackay Families,

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break. It was such a pleasure seeing so many of you at the Turkey Trot! Thanks to your generosity, we collected 133 turkeys for the Center for Food Action—an incredible achievement. Thank you for your support!

It’s hard to believe December is already here. Our teachers are putting the final touches on progress reports and preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to learn more about your child’s progress, ask questions, share concerns, and receive feedback. I encourage you to review your child’s report card and the accompanying rubrics before your scheduled conference so you can make the most of your time with the teacher. As a reminder, report cards will be available on the Genesis Parent Portal on Wednesday, December 3 at 3 pm.

The holiday season brings a special energy to our halls, and it is wonderful to see the joy on our students’ faces. Concerts, celebrations, family visits, and many other events fill our days. Our upcoming band and chorus concerts offer a chance to slow down and enjoy some holiday cheer. Students and staff have been working hard, and we hope you will join us on December 11—all are welcome!

During the week of December 8, we will once again celebrate Mackay Gives Back, a schoolwide week of service and kindness. Each student will focus on spreading joy to others. We look forward to talking with students about gratitude and how giving is one of the greatest gifts of all.

Please help us collect new hats, mittens and warm socks for the Food Pantry of Englewood. We will have large bins outside the office beginning this week.

Speaking of warm weather gear, as the weather becomes colder, please make sure your child comes to school with a warm jacket so they are comfortable during outdoor recess. This time of year also gives us a special chance to thank you—our parents and guardians—for all you do. Thank you to our volunteers who dedicate countless hours to making Mackay a wonderful place to learn and grow, and thank you for the love and support you give your children each and every day.

I wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a very happy new year. May the weeks ahead bring plenty of smiles and special memories with your amazing children. We can’t wait to see you in 2026!

Mrs. Chizzik

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Dear Mackay Families,

As we wrap up 2025, I’m grateful for all the growth and connection I’ve seen in our classrooms. Over the past several weeks, I have visited every class to teach character education lessons centered on the theme of “treating others the way you want to be treated.” Students have been learning about kindness, empathy, being an upstander, while recognizing and appreciating the value in themselves and others.

I have also begun introducing Restorative Practices in some classrooms, starting with restorative circles. These circles help students and teachers come together, reconnect, and build strong, supportive classroom communities. I look forward to expanding this work across all classrooms in the New Year.

Our Peace Builders, who serve as our student climate team, are busy preparing special activities to spread joy and positivity throughout Mackay School. Their enthusiasm and leadership continue to inspire me.

As 2025 comes to a close, I want to thank our staff, students, and families for your ongoing support and partnership. There is so much to be proud of and even more to look forward to in 2026. I am excited to continue growing, learning, and building a caring school community together.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a bright, hopeful New Year!

Warm Regards, Mrs. Angerson

Happy Holidays from Nurse Helen!

As we head into the winter season, I’d like to share a few important health reminders to help keep our students feeling their best.

We are in the midst of flu season- it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. The flu shot is an effective way to protect both your child and our school community from seasonal flu viruses.

If your child tested positive for COVID, the Flu, or another respiratory illness:

• Record in on Genesis as normal.

• Monitor symptoms at home and contact your PCP or family health provider with specific questions or concerns.

• Students can return to school when fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) and when they are well enough to participate at school.

• When your student returns to school, please send them in with a note for the days that they were absent.

Additional actions you can take to help protect you, your household, and your community:

• Stay up to date on vaccinations

• Stay home when sick

• Hand hygiene

• Cover coughs

• Cleaning and disinfection

Hand hygiene is especially important this time of year. Please remind your child to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly to help prevent the spread of germs.

Winter nosebleeds: If your child experiences nosebleeds during the winter months, dry indoor air may be the cause. Using a cool-air humidifier at night can help add moisture back into the air. Saline dose drops may also provide relief. If nosebleeds become severe or frequent, please consult your child’s pediatrician.

Stay Hydrated: Even in colder weather, it’s crucial to stay hydrated. Encourage your child to drink water regularly throughout the day. Cold temperatures, dry air, and indoor heating can all contribute to dehydration!

Dry skin: Remember to nourish your skin with lotion to prevent dryness and itching!

Dress appropriately: As temperatures continue to drop, dressing in warm layers is key to staying comfortable throughout the school day. Please have your child dressed prepared for the cold weather and outdoor recess.

Chapped lips: Many of us have probably noticed our lips becoming chapped as the weather turns colder and indoor heat becomes more frequent. It’s a great idea to send in a ChapStick or lip balm that your child can keep in their desk for personal use throughout the day. Aquaphor and individual-use lip balms are always available in the Nurse’s Office whenever needed.

Wishing all our families a warm, healthy, and joyful holiday season!

Hae Youn (Helen) Lee, BSN, RN

Mackay School Nurse

hlee@tenafly.k12.nj.us

201-816-7703

This month in the art room we shift focus for a few weeks on creating art that spreads some color and cheer for the winter season around Mackay. We will be working with various mediums to create three dimensional art that will also serve as decor for the winter concert! This is always a very exciting month as students love to see their contributions displayed around school!

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season!

Until the new year,

Ms. Bracero

In December, all students will focus on computer science and coding units. K–2 learners will explore Scratch Jr., while grades 3–5 will create projects using Scratch and Code.org.

Students across all grade levels will participate in unplugged activities that build skills in digital citizenship, source selection, and understanding the parts of a computer. Students can also look forward to folktales, seasonal read alouds, crafts, and STEM activities throughout the month.

I invite everyone to explore a collection of resources I put together for students and teachers. The Elementary School LibGuide provides a range of resources, including research databases, creative platforms, reading suggestions, and more!

In Spanish class, Kindergarten through third grade are learning the days of the week and reviewing numbers 1–10 and 1–20. Third graders are counting up to 31 and learning how to say “first” when stating the date. They are also beginning to work with simple sentence structures using verbs such as juega (plays), mira (looks at), and come (eats). Soon, third graders will start their weather unit.

Fourth and fifth graders are reviewing how to write the date in Spanish. Fourth grade will begin the Birthday unit, while fifth graders are learning how to describe others using physical and personality characteristics.

Across all grade levels, we will also explore how different Spanish-speaking countries celebrate December holidays and compare these traditions to our own.

Our K–2 students are continuing to build and refine their manipulative skills. We’ve already seen impressive progress with both underhand and overhand throwing, and we’ll keep strengthening these skills as we introduce rolling. Students will also enjoy a variety of engaging games designed to practice and apply their rolling techniques.

In grades 3–5, we are moving forward with our team sports unit. Up next is team handball, a fast-paced game that emphasizes teamwork while reinforcing throwing and catching skills.

We’re excited to see students collaborate, compete, and grow throughout the month!

We have a fun and busy music season ahead! Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade are getting ready for our Winter Sing-Along, a favorite tradition where we celebrate the season with songs and smiles.

Be sure to mark your calendar for our school concert on Thursday, December 11 at 7 PM, when students will take the stage to share the music they’ve been working on in band, chorus, and orchestra.

Our 4th graders are also preparing for a special trip to the local senior center. They’re excited to bring music to the community and brighten the day for the residents with a few cheerful tunes.

Every grade has been working hard, and the energy in the music room is amazing. We’re looking forward to a joyful season of singing, sharing, and celebrating together. We hope to see you at the concert!

Happy Holidays from the Mackay Music Teachers,
Mr. Fugaban, General/Vocal Music
Mrs. DeJoseph, Instrumental Music

Mackay's Annual Turkey Trot, run by our Student Council, was a super fun & festive event!

We did lots of laps in our trot with family and friends, old & new!!

In more turkey news...how special it is to say that our Mackay community collected 133 TURKEYS for the Center for Food Action for Thanksgiving! Gobble - Gobble!!

Our amazing Korean Parent Association arranges a beautiful luncheon full of delicious food for our Mackay Staff. We always look forward to it and getting to see all the parents. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!