Mackay Newsletter

Dear Mackay Families,

It has certainly been a long winter and we could really use some warmer weather. Spring is almost here…hopefully!

We continue to be really busy here at Mackay School. Last week we had an abbreviated International week where we learned all about Chile and its culture! We listened to music, saw art, tasted sweets and more! On Friday, we had an amazing Share-A-Culture Day where we traveled all over the world visiting different countries that represent our Mackay community. Thank you to all of our incredible parent volunteers who joined us.

This week we are gearing up to celebrate Read Across America Week with theme days, fun contests and activities and reading galore! We will once again participate in a school wide quiet reading time (Drop Everything and Read- DEAR time). I am excited to visit some of our classrooms to share some of my favorite books. We have our Author’s Day with author Wendy Mass this week as well. We also have a special new contest this year…stay tuned for fun photos and more!

March also brings our annual Mackay Talent Show…one of my favorite events of the year! In just a few weeks our second semester will come to a close, progress reports will be completed and you will once again have the opportunity to meet with your student’s teachers about their growth and progress. The report card criteria and comments are designed to give you a clear picture of your student’s progress in each area. You can access the student rubrics on our website. Spring conferences are a wonderful opportunity to work together as a team to help your child succeed and end the year on a high note. We are so proud of our students and their progress! The school year is really flying by!!!

Have an amazing March with your fantastic families,

Heidi Chizzik

Principal

Hello Mackay Families! We are moving mindfully into March.

Our Mackay students are wrapping up lessons on effective communication and problem-solving, and beginning to shift toward building a positive mindset, learning how our thoughts influence our feelings, behavior, and ability to learn.

We are excited to bring back our Midweek Mindfulness Moments! Students have been asking for this activity to return. It’s been a tradition we have practiced over the past few years following Wednesday morning announcements. These brief guided mindfulness pauses help students reset their minds and bodies for the day ahead. Research shows that short mindfulness practices can reduce stress, improve focus, and support emotional regulation by helping the brain shift out of “reaction mode” and back into “learning mode.” Even a minute or two of slow breathing or noticing the present moment can improve attention, mood, and readiness to learn. The best part about it, is that these mindfulness moments will be "student-lead" by some of our 5th grade Peace Builders.

Try it at home:
Ask your child to take 5 slow breaths with you before homework or bedtime. Breathe in through the nose for 4 seconds, hold for 2, and breathe out slowly for 6. You can say, “Let’s reset our brains together.” Doing it alongside your child helps them learn that calming strategies are for everyone and can be done at any time.

—Mrs. Angerson

This month, all students will join in the library’s March Madness reading challenge. Each week, two recently published books will compete, and students will vote for their favorite until a winner is selected! This challenge encourages students to explore new stories and discover different authors.

March 2-6 is Read Across America Week. To celebrate, Mackay staff will participate in a masked reader activity.

If you would like to follow along, please view these slides.

We are also pleased to welcome author WENDY MASS on March 5th!

Happy reading!

-Keryn Brenzel

Library Media Specialist

In March, our K–2 students will continue building and refining their movement and coordination skills through an exciting scooter unit. Students will practice safely riding, steering, stopping, and maneuvering scooters while developing balance, spatial awareness, and control. They will participate in a variety of fun, age-appropriate activities and obstacle courses designed to help them apply their scooter skills in engaging and active ways. In grades 3–5, we will be diving deeper into our scooter unit.

Students will focus on control, agility, and safe riding techniques while navigating more advanced challenges and team-based activities. They will also learn the importance of awareness, cooperation, and strategy as they participate in partner tasks and modified games. Through different collaborative activities and games, students will have plenty of opportunities to work together, problem-solve, and continue growing as confident, responsible movers throughout the month.

This month in the Art Room, students are exploring new and exciting worlds through a variety of mediums and subject matter. Several grade levels are working with mixed media, combining different materials and techniques to create unique works of art. All students will create a digital art piece this year, and some classes are beginning theirs now using our classroom iPads, Apple Pencils, and the digital art making app, Procreate. Digital art has quickly become a favorite! If you have the appropriate technology at home, I encourage you to support your child in exploring digital art as a creative and positive way to use technology!

Until next time!

Ms. Bracero

March is Music in Our Schools Month! Our students are having a blast exploring movement, discovering the joy of playing instruments, and lifting their voices in song. This special month is a wonderful reminder of how important music education is in the lives of our children.

In addition to the fun and creativity happening in our classroom, students are building important skills that support learning across all subject areas. Through music, we strengthen math skills by learning rhythm and patterns, enhance reading and language development through lyrics and notation, explore history and culture through diverse musical traditions, and develop focus, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that carry into every classroom.

As we prepare for upcoming performances, timeliness and responsibility are especially important. Being on time for rehearsals and lessons ensures that every student can fully participate and contribute to the success of the group. Consistent at-home practice is also key. Even just a few focused minutes each day reviewing songs, practicing instrument techniques, or going over choral parts makes a tremendous difference in building confidence and readiness.

Music helps spark creativity, boost confidence, and strengthen academic skills. Thank you for continuing to support your young musicians by encouraging regular practice and punctuality.

Happy New Year,
Mr. Fugaban, General/Vocal Music (Gr. 2-5)
Mrs. DeJoseph, Instrumental Music (Gr. 3-5)

During the month of March, students will continue building on the Spanish language skills we began developing in February. Each grade level will reinforce vocabulary and concepts through engaging activities, games, and oral practice.

Here is what students are learning by grade level:

Kindergarten: Shapes and expressing likes and dislikes
1st Grade: Animals and animal families
2nd Grade: Weather and habitats
3rd Grade: Weather and clothing
4th Grade: Food vocabulary, including likes and dislikes
5th Grade: Classroom objects and school classes

We look forward to a wonderful month of learning, practicing new vocabulary, and building confidence in Spanish. Thank you for your continued support at home—it truly makes a difference!

Warm regards,
Claudia Guerrero
Spanish Teacher

This month we are hosting our biggest event of the year! The Mackay School Talent Show! This exciting event will take place on March 26, 2026. During this month and until the talent show comes up, Student Council members will be working very hard to prepare for the big show! We are looking forward to it and we hope you are too!

Until next month!

Student council representative,

Netta Rosenfeld

If you are looking for info related to Nurse Helen's office, please click the link below for the Health Office section of our Mackay website. Here you can find necessary forms, health guidelines and more.