Mackay Newsletter

Dear Mackay Families,

It is so hard to believe that June is here and the school year is coming to a close! As our summer begins, the staff and I have been reflecting on the amazing school year. I am so proud of all of the achievements and accomplishments of our teachers and students here at Mackay. We have had so many great memories and exciting events to remember. We are so very proud of all of our students and their successes.

We had an amazing field day last week! Even a little rain couldn’t stop us from having fun! Thank you to all of our parent volunteers for your time and flexibility!

I would like to congratulate our 5th graders, who will move up to Tenafly Middle School in the fall. We celebrate them this month with a pool party, yearbook signing, their Promotion Ceremony and more. We wish all of our 5th grade graduates and their families much continued success in the years ahead.

There is still lots of fun to be had here in June! Each day brings another special event including our Art Show this Thursday. The TEF 5K Race is on Sunday and I hope you will join us and support TEAM MACKAY as we go for the Cup! It is a wonderful event and a great way to support our schools! Hope to see you there!

​​A special thanks to our incredible HSA, and the parents who have contributed in small, large and unimaginable ways this year! Thank you for the partnership between home and school, which is so important. We appreciate all that you do each and every day for our school, our staff and our students!

We are busy making plans for the fall. We have lots of exciting things on the horizon. I would like to wish you all a safe, wonderful and memorable summer vacation, and I look forward to welcoming you all back, refreshed, for an exciting, new academic year in the fall.

Until next school year... here’s wishing you love, laughter and learning,

Heidi Chizzik

Principal

Please reach out to Mrs. Bergman, mailto:sbergman@tenafly.k12.nj.us, as soon as possible for assistance with the withdrawal process.

Dear Mackay Families,

As we close another wonderful year at Mackay School, I want to take a moment to thank Mrs. Chizzik, our incredible students and staff, and especially our parent community for such a fun, supportive, and successful year. It has been a joy watching our students grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. The kindness, resilience, creativity, and care shown throughout our school community are what make Mackay such a special place to learn and grow.

As one final project for the school year, the Peace Builders and I are excited to leave our mark on the Mackay grounds in a meaningful way. Students will be creating painted rocks filled with positive words, kind messages, and affirmations that reflect what it means to be “Mackay Kind.” These rocks will be displayed in a special location around the school to serve as daily reminders that kindness matters, words have power, and every person belongs here.

As we head into summer, one of the biggest conversations in Social Emotional Learning continues to center around balance. How do we balance technology use with real-world connection and experiences? Summer is the perfect opportunity to slow down, unplug when possible, and reconnect with the people and places around us.This summer, I encourage families to:

• Take a nature walk and notice the sights and sounds around you
• Read a new book together or start a family reading challenge
• Try a “tech-free hour” each day to connect, play, create, or simply relax
• Practice mindfulness by sitting outside, journaling, drawing, or watching a sunset
• Explore a new place, hobby, park, beach, trail, or adventure together
• Encourage children to spend time with friends face-to-face through playdates, bike rides, sports, or a day at the pool

Most importantly, I hope this summer brings your family time to rest, laugh, reconnect, and make memories together. Whether your adventures are big or small, may they be filled with joy, curiosity, kindness, and sunshine.

Thank you for a wonderful year. Wishing all of our Mackay families a safe, relaxing, and happy summer!

–With Kindness, Mrs. Angerson

Hello everyone!

I can’t believe that we are at the end of our year together! This year has been filled with so much creativity and new and exciting works created by all our students here at Mackay. Words cannot express how proud of all these young artists and what they have achieved in the art room. I have been so blown away with the love and effort they put into everything they have created this year. With that being said I am SO EXCITED to share all this work with all our Mackay friends and family at this year’s art show on June 4th from 6-8 pm. This art show showcases work for EVERY SINGLE STUDENT at Mackay and will feature about 2,000 works of art in total!! This is a great opportunity to come and see all our students’ creativity, hard work, and share the love of art. All Mackay friends and family are welcome to come and experience the world of art.

Some reminders about our art show to follow:

• Work is displayed on our first floor ONLY.
• NO ONE IS ALLOWED ON THE SECOND FLOOR FOR ANY REASON.
• ALL children MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times. No running in the halls.
• DO NOT touch any of the art work regardless if it belongs to you as it encourages others to also touch artwork and things can fall and get damaged if they are touched.

FINALLY, HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!!!

I hope to see you all there! Please see the invitation artwork above created by one of our amazing 5th grade artists, Liwon!

One last thing, have a great summer! Thank you for all the support always and congrats to our graduating 5th graders!!!

See you soon!

Ms. Bracero

In June, students will wrap up the year with an engaging cooperative games unit designed to foster vital teamwork skills through active play. Over the course of the month, our classes will focus on the three C’s of teamwork—cooperation, collaboration, and communication—as they join forces to navigate various group hurdles and interactive tasks. Students will dive into exciting challenges like the parachute, hula hut relays, acid river, and other team-building exercises that emphasize collective problem-solving and mutual support.

These lessons provide a fantastic opportunity for children to practice inclusive play and effective listening while maintaining a respectful and energetic environment. We can’t wait for a final month filled with movement, collaboration, and fun!

Mr. Arias & Ms. Young

PE Teachers

As the school year comes to a close, Mackay School has been filled with music, excitement, and so many special moments for our students. Our 5th grade band students are preparing to perform at a minor league baseball game alongside all the 5th and 6th grade band members across the district. Chorus students will take part in the inspiring American Young Voices Concert at Prudential Center, joining nearly 6,000 student singers for an unforgettable performance. We are also looking forward to the Super Orchestra Concert on June 11, the second grade recorder concert, and the third grade instrument concert. It has been a wonderful year of learning, performing, and growing together through music at Mackay School, and we are so proud of all our students for the dedication and enthusiasm they have brought to every rehearsal and performance.

Musically Yours,

Mr. Fugaban and Mrs. DeJoseph

In June, all students will complete their coding projects using Scratch and Scratch Jr. Through these activities, students have been strengthening their problem solving skills by using Scratch to create or retell stories. Students began planning their coding projects by breaking problems down into smaller steps and organizing events into a sequence.

Fifth graders can look forward to a “Book Tasting,” where they will enjoy a variety of book talks designed to encourage summer reading. Third and fourth graders will participate in read-alouds paired with STEM activities. Students in grades 2 and 3 will explore programming with Ozobot robots. First grade students will learn how the internet and digital devices help connect people around the world while also discussing the importance of media balance and healthy technology habits. Kindergarten students will continue developing their love of literature through read-alouds, as well as learning responsible technology use through unplugged activities.

Welcome to the final month of Spanish class! All grades will be reviewing the vocabulary and topics they learned throughout the year. Students will also participate in fun mini-lessons featuring summer-themed vocabulary and activities to keep practicing their Spanish skills in an engaging way.

Thank you for all your support throughout the school year. I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and relaxing summer! Encourage your children to review some Spanish vocabulary over the break to keep their learning fresh.

¡Que tengan un excelente verano!
Have a great summer!

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