Learning Fun in December at McKay Creek Elementary
During December, several McKay students’ classes embarked on fun learning units and projects to celebrate the holiday season and winter.
The two 1st Grade classes worked on creating a calendar to give to their parents – each calendar featured 12 pieces of amazing art (one for each month) created by the individual student. Wendy Phillips, 1st Grade Teacher, said, “Our Christmas Calendar project is 12 months of amazing art wrapped into one special gift. This has been a traditional project at McKay for many years, and it’s been great this year to continue this tradition.”
First graders also began their Reindeer Unit. Phillips said some of the interesting things they have learned together are:
- Caribou means “snow shoveler”
- Arctic Tundra has permafrost; the climate is never warm enough to melt the frozen ground
- Moss, lichen, shrubs, and short grasses grow in the tundra
- One animal adaptation there is hollow fur to help them float
- Animals have huge nostrils to warm air before breathing
- Cow, bull, and calf communicate through snorts and grunts
Second graders in Shelby Spriet’s classroom were busy with their “Around the World” unit during December. Spriet said the class “flew” to Australia, England, France, China, and Israel. They also will be going to Germany and Russia.
To make the world traveler experience as authentic as possible, Spriet dresses up as a pilot, and the class watches a video of an airplane taking off. Then they go to “baggage claim” each day to grab their “luggage,” and they have passports where students place country stamps each time they travel to a new country.
“The kids love it! When we go to each country, we learn about the holidays they celebrate this time of year and how they celebrate. We learn the foods they eat and the traditions they have,” Spriet said.
McKay’s two fifth-grade classes, taught by Linzie Noble and Cathy Walters, got into the holiday spirit by creating multimedia pictures of tree boughs with watercolor ornaments.
Pesticide Application Notification
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgPendleton School District will be applying pesticides on the school district properties March 20 – October 31, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 am – 2:30 pm, weather dependent. See the list of pesticides on the Facilities Page.
Superintendent Message – Snow Make Up Day
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgHello PSD Families,
The Pendleton School District will be conducting school as normal on Friday, May 12th. This day was originally put on our 2022-2023 Calendar as a “snow make-up day.” It’s hard to believe, but we have had six late starts and two full “snow days” this school year. Each of these days represents lost instruction for our students. The state requires a minimum number of instruction hours each year, and when we fall below this number, we find ways to make up for the lost time. As a result, we create our yearly school calendar with at least one “snow make-up day.” If we don’t need to use it, great. If we need to make up instructional hours, as we do this year, we use it without adding days to the end of the year. So again, there will be school on Friday, May 12th, so please plan accordingly. Here is the link to the updated school calendar.
Sincerely,
Kevin Headings
Superintendent
Superintendent Video Message – February 2023
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgMcKay Creek Elementary Wax Museum
/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburgAfter a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, McKay Creek Elementary announces the return of the 4th Grade Wax Museum.
National School Counseling Week – February 6-10, 2023
/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgNational School Counseling Week 2023 (Feb. 6-10), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Every student deserves a school counselor to help with academic achievement strategies, managing emotions and applying interpersonal skills, and planning for postsecondary options. School counselors are #HelpingStudentsDreamBig. Take a moment to thank your local school counselor(s).
Message from Superintendent Headings – January 12, 2023
/in News - District & All Schools /by rthornburg1/12/2023 @ 10:45 am
This morning across the street from McKay Elementary School a power pole “transformer” blew and set off the fire alarms at the school. Students were safely evacuated and the fire department was dispatched. The building was checked inside and out by the fire department and once deemed safe, students were allowed back into the school and will continue with classes.
McKay Creek Elementary Learning Fun in December
/in District Site News, McKay Creek School News /by rthornburgLearning Fun in December at McKay Creek Elementary
During December, several McKay students’ classes embarked on fun learning units and projects to celebrate the holiday season and winter.
The two 1st Grade classes worked on creating a calendar to give to their parents – each calendar featured 12 pieces of amazing art (one for each month) created by the individual student. Wendy Phillips, 1st Grade Teacher, said, “Our Christmas Calendar project is 12 months of amazing art wrapped into one special gift. This has been a traditional project at McKay for many years, and it’s been great this year to continue this tradition.”
First graders also began their Reindeer Unit. Phillips said some of the interesting things they have learned together are:
Second graders in Shelby Spriet’s classroom were busy with their “Around the World” unit during December. Spriet said the class “flew” to Australia, England, France, China, and Israel. They also will be going to Germany and Russia.
To make the world traveler experience as authentic as possible, Spriet dresses up as a pilot, and the class watches a video of an airplane taking off. Then they go to “baggage claim” each day to grab their “luggage,” and they have passports where students place country stamps each time they travel to a new country.
“The kids love it! When we go to each country, we learn about the holidays they celebrate this time of year and how they celebrate. We learn the foods they eat and the traditions they have,” Spriet said.
McKay’s two fifth-grade classes, taught by Linzie Noble and Cathy Walters, got into the holiday spirit by creating multimedia pictures of tree boughs with watercolor ornaments.
Letter to Families – Illness and Staying Home
/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgDecember 9, 2022
Dear Pendleton School District Families and Guardians –
There is a lot of illness going around our community and our schools. We hope your family is staying well, and we wish you the best. However, if your student is displaying symptoms of illness, please keep them home until they are better. To see the different symptoms of the illnesses going around, see the attached list.
PLEASE KEEP ILL STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL
Thank you,
Kevin Headings
Superintendent
Pendleton School District
Principal Message from McKay Elementary
/in District Site News, McKay Elementary /by rthornburgA video message from Principal Sherri Kilgore.
NEW! Bus Tracking App – ParentView
/in District Site News, News - District & All Schools /by rthornburgPendleton School District, along with First Student, is excited to announce the launching of ParentView, a bus tracking and parent communication app.