The Lion's Roar
Principal's Weekly Newsletter-October 4, 2026
Monday, October 5
- Fall Interim Assessment Window Opens
Reading Difficulties Screener (1-2) Opens
Semester 1 ELOP 3rd, 4th, 5th Soccer begins with Ms. Peper, 3:00-3:30 PM, Big Yard
Folklorico Practice begins, 3:30-5pm, Rm 208
- Santa Monica Fire Department Visit, 7:45am-8:30am, Arizona Gate
- 3rd Grade Reading Support Class Begins, 3-3:45pm, Rm 207
- 4th Grade Math Support Class Begins, 3-3:30pm, Rm 220
College Shirt Day
PTA Exec 6:30-8:00pm, Zoom
Thursday, October 8
Spanish Book Club, 9-10am, Community Room
Dance Team Practice, 3-4pm, Auditorium
Folklorico Practice, 3:30-5pm, Rm 208
- McKinley Spirt Day - Wear Your McKinley T-Shirt
- Reflections Art Deadline
Hispanic Heritage Assembly
Bike it Walk it Bus it
Good morning, McKinley!
It’s hot out there! I hope you found a way to cool off this weekend. I spent yesterday at the beach, and although the waves were big, the water was cool and refreshing, and the sunset was out of this world. We are so lucky to live where we do!
This week is SMEF Pledge Week, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting this incredible, equity-minded organization. SMEF does centralized fundraising for our district to help ensure that every child has access to a top-notch education. When I talk about educating the whole child, SMEF helps make that possible by funding STAFF, like our instructional assistants, music and visual arts programs and providing McKinley with additional funding that we use this year for theater, garden, and STEM classes. And this is the week to give: all donations to SMEF are matched by a generous community member, up to $50,000! Come by the Arizona Gate on Tuesday, October 6, from 7:45–8:30 a.m., where the Santa Monica Fire Department will be joining us with a firetruck! Meet the crew, take pictures, learn about Fire Prevention Week, and make your SMEF pledge.
But great schools need more than staff. We need STUFF, too! And that’s where our McKinley PTA comes in. PTA fundraising helps pay for the experiences and extras our kids love, including field trips, assemblies (we have a special Hispanic Heritage Month assembly coming up this Friday!), community events like the upcoming Harvest Festival, and so much more. Just as importantly, PTA is a child advocacy organization that pays attention to the policies and laws affecting our children and uses its collective voice on their behalf. And, quite simply, our PTA is cool! It’s a welcoming, kind, inclusive group of people who care deeply about our kids and our school, and I really encourage you to join. If two adults from your household join, you’ll get a cool McKinley PTA yard sign—I have one!
Stay cool and see you on Monday!
In partnership,
Principal DW
Folklórico Dance Open Enrollment!
Does your child love to dance or want to try something new? Folklórico Dance is now enrolling students in grades 3–8, with or without previous dance experience! Students will celebrate Mexican culture, learn vibrant traditional dances, and have fun with students from across SMMUSD. McKinley students are invited to participate!
Scan the QR code on the flyer to sign up today. ¡Inscríbete hoy!
TK Parent Connections Group! - 10/6
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Oct 6th at 8:30-9:30 AM for our very first TK Parent Connections Group!
Ms. De Santis (school counselor) and Ms. Andrea (bilingual community liaison) are leading our very first TK Parent Connection Group. We plan to meet once a month to offer a space for learning and connection for our new families.
What you can expect from this group:
- Presentations on topics like social emotional development and well-being, McKinley's instructional approaches, and reflective parenting strategies
- Special guests and experts in early childhood
- Opportunities to build community through activities and conversation
We will meet at McKinley in the Community Room
We look forward to connecting with you!
Walk, Bike or Bus to School — Help Us Earn a Popsicle Party!
Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! is Friday, October 9! Our goal is 80% participation, and if we make it, the whole school gets a popsicle party!
Join one of our Walking Buses and walk to school together:
26th & Broadway: Meet at 8:00 AM
Broadway & Cloverfield: Meet at 8:05 AM
Arizona & 23rd: Meet at 8:20 AM
Arizona & Yale: Meet at 7:45am (early bus for breakfast)
Bike Train: Euclid & Arizona: Meet at 8:00 AM, depart at 8:10 AM
Bike Train: Arizona & Centinela: Meet at 8:00 AM, depart at 8:10 AM
Want to lead a walking bus or bike train of your own? Contact Ryan Dinshaw, PTA Sustainability and Beautification Coordinator at ryan.dinshaw@gmail.com to sign up!
SAVE THE DATE: Family Literacy Night - 10/14
Come celebrate the joy of reading at McKinley’s Literacy Night! Enjoy an evening filled with:
Meet & Greets with Real Authors
Free Book Giveaways
Engaging Literacy Activities for Families
All of this will take place in the beautiful courtyard setting, making it a night to remember. We can’t wait to see you there!
***This event is for all students and their families***
2 Volunteers for LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Needed
There are ONLY 3 virtual meetings from 4:00–6:00 PM on the following dates:
- October 21, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM
- January 20, 2027 | 4:00–6:00 PM
- May 19, 2027 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Parent/Guardian Access to Score Reports
Score reports for CAASPP, ELPAC and Star Renaissance are available to parents in the Aeries Parent Portal. Hard copy score reports are NOT mailed home. These videos help explain to parents/guardians on how to access their portals. View this video to access your Parent Portal and this video on Parent Portal: Test Scores [Aeries]-attachment. how to locate Test Scores and State Test Scores Reports
VISITOR SIGN-IN REMINDER
Harvest Festival + Haunted House Planning is Underway!
Save the date! Harvest Festival + Haunted House is Friday, Oct. 23! And we still need volunteers to help with decorations, set-up, and more.
Our next Zoom planning meeting is this Thursday, October 8 at 7 PM.
More info on our website HERE
And sign up here for the HARVEST FEST or HAUNTED HOUSE.
5th Graders: We Need You!
This year, 5th graders get the chance to be part of the Haunted House as student haunters! Think you’ve got what it takes to give your fellow McKinley students a good scare?
5TH GRADERS: SIGN UP TO HAUNT HERE!
Reflections Art Contest: Enter by October 9!
There’s still time to enter the PTA Reflections Art Contest! And Reflections isn’t just for visual artists. Students can enter in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, and Accessible Arts.
We had amazing participation in our Reflections tile workshops, led by our talented McKinley mom, Jordana Haspel! If your child created a tile, we’d love for them to formally enter their artwork in the contest. Just be sure to complete the entry form. Link below!
Entries are due Friday, October 9. ENTER HERE
PTA Membership Drive: Help Us Reach 250!
We’re at 128 PTA members and counting! Help us unlock schoolwide rewards for ALL students at 150, 200, and 250 members, with the rewards getting better at every milestone!
Join by October 29 to help us reach 250.
And families who purchase two memberships receive a McKinley yard sign, while supplies last.
Santa Monica Education Foundation’s Pledge Week
Join me in celebrating Santa Monica Education Foundation’s Pledge Week that starts today! I'd love for our McKinley community to show up in a big way for our students!
Here's what makes this week special: all donations to the Ed Foundation are matched by a generous community member, up to $50,000! That means whatever you give this week goes twice as far for our students.
Every day, I see what these gifts make possible. The Ed Foundation helps fund the staff, academics and arts that our students love. These programs are a big part of what makes McKinley feel like McKinley.
To celebrate this week and build excitement, the Santa Monica Fire Department will be at McKinley’s drop-off on Tuesday October 6 from 7:45am-8:30am at the Arizona gate and want to meet you! Come and see the firetruck, visit with the crew, take pictures, learn about Fire Prevention Week and PLEDGE with our amazing community!
If you would like to donate now, you can do so here: HERE.
SAMOHI Fall Orchestra Concert- 10/10
Experience the amazing Samohi Orchestras at this year’s fall concert, Magic of Disney, on Saturday, October 10. Under the Direction of Jason Aiello and Emily Taylor, the Sinfonia, Intermezzo, Philharmonic, and Symphony Orchestras will perform pieces from Disney's popular movies.
Bring the whole family to hear these iconic melodies as movie clips are projected above stage! Concessions open at 3:00pm, with tacos and baked goods for sale. Dress as your favorite movie character and join in the costume parade prior to the show at 3:45pm. The concert begins at 4:00pm and will end early enough for even our littlest audience members to stay for the whole show. This event sells out, so buy your tickets now at www.samohi orchestras.org, $10 students/$20 adults.
Serie GRATUITA de 3 talleres para padres y cuidadores
Ser padre o madre no siempre es fácil. Cada familia tiene sus
propias experiencias, retos y formas de relacionarse. Estos talleres
ofrecen un espacio acogedor para reflexionar, aprender y descubrir
nuevas maneras de fortalecer la relación con sus hijos y crear un
ambient familiar más positivo.
A traves de conversaciones y ejercicios guidos, aprenderemos
herramientas que pueden ayudarnos a fortalecer la comunicación,
comprender mejor a nuestros hijos y crear relaciones familiares
más positivas y saludables.
Childcare Programs
TK/Kindergarten
- SMMUSD School Age Programs (SAP): Before- and after-school childcare is located in the Preschool Building. Visit the SMMUSD School Age Programs website for more information.
- CREST Enrichment Classes: Families may register TK/K students for after-school enrichment classes through City of Santa Monica CREST.
1st–2nd Grade
- Right At School (RAS): Before- and after-school childcare is located in Room 209. Visit the Right At School website for registration and program information.
- Boys & Girls Club Playground Club: After-school care is available on the McKinley playground. Visit the Playground Club website to register.
- CREST Enrichment Classes: Families may register students for after-school enrichment classes through City of Santa Monica CREST.
3rd–5th Grade
- CREST: The CREST program is located in Room 210. CREST Club after-school childcare is available for third, fourth, and fifth-grade students, and enrichment classes are available for students in grades TK–5. Visit the City of Santa Monica CREST website for details and registration.
- Boys & Girls Club Playground Club: After-school care for students in grades 3–5 is available on the McKinley playground. Visit the Playground Club website to register.
Additional Programs for Grades 1–5
- Boys & Girls Club Sports: Families may register students for after-school sports through the Boys & Girls Club.
