Mountain Lion Memo

At Mackeben Elementary, we believe that a positive school culture begins with shared expectations and strong partnerships between school and home. Each day, our students recite the Pledge of Allegiance along with our Mountain Lion Pledge: "We promise to be respectful in all that we do. We're ready to learn and be responsible too. Always be safe and involved each and every day by following the Mackeben way!"

Throughout the year, we will celebrate students who consistently demonstrate these expectations while also embracing teachable moments when students need additional guidance and practice. Learning appropriate behaviors is an important part of growing, and our staff is committed to teaching, modeling, and reinforcing these skills with consistency and care.

When additional support is needed, we will communicate with families and work together to develop strategies that help every child succeed—both academically and socially-emotionally. By partnering together, we can ensure every Mountain Lion feels supported, confident, and ready to thrive.

Establishing a consistent routine is one of the best ways to help children transition successfully into the school year. Predictable morning habits—such as waking up at the same time, eating breakfast, laying out clothes and backpacks the night before, and following the same sequence of getting ready each day—reduce stress and help children become more independent. Families can also use strategies like timers or educational shows to make mornings smoother and reinforce routines. As children adjust to school, they benefit from the structured schedules used in the classroom, and parents can support their success by staying informed about the school day, communicating with teachers, and addressing challenges such as hunger or fatigue. Balancing structured evenings with time to relax, read together, and maintain a consistent bedtime routine helps children feel prepared, confident, and ready for each new school day.

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/setting-a-routine-for-success-at-school

Vehicle Procedures for the Morning Arrival

• Enter the parking lot off of Dr. John Burkey Drive (Please do not block the bus entrance)

• We will have 2 lines of traffic. This will be marked with cones. Please choose a line and stay within the cones. We will have people directing these lines once we begin unloading cars.

• Pull all the way up behind the vehicle in front of you. The very first car should pull all the way to the very last cone.

• Be sure to stay in line and in your vehicle

• Students are required to exit the car by themselves CURB SIDE - PASSENGER SIDE only.

-Staff members will be on duty to escort the students into the building and will help guide them to their class once inside.

• If you feel like your child needs your support walking up to the building then please do not use the car line. You can park in the lot and walk across using the crosswalk.

• After the first two weeks of school, ALL families will use the car rider or bus services. The crosswalk can get congested and delay student drop off and arrival.

Vehicle Procedures for the Afternoon Dismissal

• Enter the parking lot off of Dr. John Burkey Drive (Please do not block the bus entrance).

• We will have 2 lines of traffic once you enter the lot. This will be marked with cones. Please choose a line and stay within the cones. We will have people directing these lines once we begin loading cars.

• Pull all the way up behind the vehicle in front of you. The very first car should pull all the way to the very last cone. We will load the cars in groups of 10-12.

• Be sure to have visible the hang tag with your child’s number on your rear view mirror. This tells the staff on duty who you are authorized to pick up and helps our staff member quickly call the numbers in the walkie in order to get students outside and loaded and keep the line moving.

• Students will be loaded CURB SIDE - PASSENGER SIDE only

• Students are required to enter the car by themselves CURB SIDE - PASSENGER SIDE only. Staff members will be on duty to support students as needed.

• NOTE: If your child requires assistance with buckling a seat belt, please allow your child to enter the car and then pull into a parking spot to assist them.

All changes in transportation arrangements should be submitted in writing by the parent to the main office. You can do this in an email but please do so before 2:00pm that day as teachers are not checking their email while they are teaching. You can also call our main phone number at 847-659-3400. Please make every attempt to notify us of any changes prior to 2:00pm that day so that we can ensure that communication occurs and we can keep children safe.

As our kindergarten students begin to learn their colors, we also encourage our 1st & 2nd grade students to participate in our color weeks. Please see the dates and designated colors for you to choose to wear throughout the first full two weeks of school.

MEET THE 2026-2027 BOARD/COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Meet the Board 2026-27

MEETINGS: We would love for you to join our monthly meetings! As we plan for the upcoming year, we welcome your input on meeting dates, times, and childcare needs. Please share your preferences using the link below. PTA Meeting Preference Survey

MEMBERSHIP: We invite you to become a member of the SBPTA and join us in making an even greater impact together than we could individually. Joining the PTA is an easy way to support our school community. There is no volunteer requirement and no obligation to attend meetings. Your membership helps strengthen our PTA, keeps you informed about school events and initiatives, and gives you access to exclusive PTA member benefits.

Please use the link or the QR code to become a member! We look forward to welcoming you as a member! Givebacks Membership Link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jRdChUdqLbRCKppZ-eD4RKuZIUFJR6tA/view?usp=drive_link

QR Code to membership website

WEBSITE: Our website is currently being updated for the 2026–2027 school year. Please check back often, as additional information and resources will be added throughout the year as plans are finalized. Square Barn PTA Website

Administration/Office Staff

Attendance

Calendar

Menus

Newsletters (archived)

Staff Directory

Student Handbooks

Address - 800 Dr. John Burkey Dr. Algonquin, IL 60102

Main Office Phone Number - 847-659-3400

Attendance Number - 847-659-3411

Marcie Marzullo - Principal

mmarzullo@district158.org

847-659-3401

Katie Aumann - Assistant Principal

kaharris@district158.org

847-659-3402

Jamie DeYoung - Special Services Coordinator

jdeyoung@district158.org

847-659-3573