McKinley Elementary School                    

   Watertown, South Dakota

   "Enabling All Students to Succeed in an Ever-Changing World"

 

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Programs and Opportunities

Activities - McKinley Elementary School Activities - McKinley Elementary School Activities - McKinley Elementary School Activities - McKinley Elementary School
       

Band

Students in grades 5 and 6 are eligible to take part in band. Lessons are given once each week at McKinley Elementary. Students have the opportunity to advance at their ability level.

Orchestra

Students in grades 5 and 6 are eligible to take part in orchestra. Lessons are given once each week at McKinley Elementary. Students have the opportunity to advance at their ability level. 

Girls'/Boys' Basketball

The sixth grade basketball program is sponsored by the school district in the winter quarter for both girls and boys. Students practice and play games after school. WE EMPHASIZE DEVELOPING BEGINNING SKILLS, PARTICIPATION BY EVERYONE, AND FUN! 

Girls’ Volleyball

Girls in 6th grade can participate in girl's volleyball in the fall quarter.

Flag Football

Sixth grade students may participate in this activity during the fall. Practices are held at McKinley with games at the Middle School.

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Wrestling

Wrestling is a district sponsored program for students in grades 3-6 during the month of February. The students practice at the school and finish the season with a citywide tournament at the Senior High. 

Field Day

Fifth and sixth grade students take part in track and field events during the last week of school. Each student may participate in three events. Students prepare for this during the track unit in physical education class scheduled each May.

Accelerated Reader (AR) Program

McKinley School has adopted and utilizes the Accelerated Reading Program. Children check out library books from our school or the Watertown Regional Library.  The student then take a computerized comprehension test over the book they read. With the Accelerated Reading program, children develop a love for reading and improve reading skills while earning points for each book they read.

At-Risk-Kindergarten (ARK)

The At-Risk-Kindergarten Program is for students who need additional development in motor, concepts, and language skills.  The students are provided with a variety of opportunities to strengthen these skills.  Students in the ARK program attend kindergarten at their neighborhood school in the morning before going to the ARK classroom at Jefferson School from 12:20 PM to 3:20 PM each school day.

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Born to Learn

Born to Learn is a program designed to involve parents with their children for one and one-half hours a night, one night a week for a six-week session.  There are two six-week sessions available during the school term.  During each session the children will interact with Born To Learn teachers and staff for forty-five minutes while their parents are involved in a discussion group.  The last forty-five minute period will be set aside for parents to interact with their children in various learning activities.

The purpose of the program is to strengthen families, to help parents provide for their children’s learning and development and to help young children develop their potential.  For more information on Born to Learn, contact McKinley School.

Boys’ & Girls’ Scouts

The McKinley PTO sponsors Boys’ and Girls’ Scout troops which meet regularly at McKinley.

Breakfast Program

McKinley School is one of only two elementary schools in Watertown to serve breakfast to students.  Breakfast is served daily from 8:00-8:30 AM and each meal costs 75 cents.  Families may qualify for free or reduced meals by completing an application form.

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Common Sense Parenting

Common Sense Parenting offers logical, sensible techniques and skills to improve the parent/child relationship in a respectful way.  Classes meet for 6 weeks, each 2-hour class provides instruction and the opportunity to try out new skills.  For more information, contact McKinley School. Childcare is provided for children of parents enrolled in the course.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

Sixth graders participate in the DARE Program once a week for 17 weeks.  Project DARE is a cooperative program being conducted by law enforcement and the schools to prevent drug abuse in young people and to promote understanding concerning their present and future roles as productive members of their community.  DARE is about “being all you can be, and doing it while being drug and violence free.”

District Preschool

Watertown School District Handicap Preschool is housed at Garfield Elementary School. Handicap Preschool serves the Watertown community and assists with helping children who have a wide range of disabilities. Many of the children serviced through the program need assistance with speech difficulties and physical handicaps. Mrs. Donna Howard is the Handicap Preschool teacher and Mrs. Cheryl Knudson is the Handicap Speech Therapist. For more information on this program, please contact Garfield Elementary School

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English As A Second Language (ESL)

The Watertown School District employs an ESL instructor who is available to assist McKinley Elementary students who have limited proficiency in English.

Fit For Life

McKinley Fit for Life program is an opportunity for children, parents and staff to participate in a healthy lifestyle. Those who participate fill out a monthly calendar indicating the types of physical fitness activities they have done. McKinley Health and Fitness Instructor, Mr. Anderson, hands out the forms and collects them each month. Points are totaled and participants have a chance to earn t-shirts, shorts and other neat prizes sponsored by McKinley PTO. For more information, please contact Mr. Anderson (sanderson@wtn.k12.sd.us).

Foster Grandparents

McKinley School is proud to sponsor the Foster Grandparent Program. We currently have three Foster Grandparent Volunteers who work daily from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon assisting in classrooms. Their main function is working with children on reading, language arts or math skills. They do this either individually with children or in a small group setting. We appreciate our Foster Grandparents and thank them for sharing their talents with our students. If you would like to be a Foster Grandparent Volunteer, please contact the Watertown Volunteer Center at 886-5270.

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Kidscope After School Care

The Kidscope After School Care Program provides nutritional snacks, homework help, and learning activities to each school day from 3:20 PM to 6:00PM.  Some of the activities include guitar lessons, pottery classes, and computer time.

Kidscope Summer Program

McKinley is one of two sites to host the Kidscope Summer Program which is run by the Boys’ and Girl’s Club.  Kidscope is a childcare program that plans and supervises a variety of fun, learning activities and field trips.  Enrichment opportunities such as guitar lessons, computer lessons, food classes, Spanish lessons are also offered.  The summer program is open from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM during the summer.  For more information, please contact the Boys’ and Girls’ Club at  886-6666.

Learning Center

McKinley Elementary houses two fully-staffed learning centers to meet the needs of children with special needs.

Occupational Therapy

The Watertown School District employs an occupational therapist who is available to work with elementary special education and classroom teachers on setting up programs for children with occupational therapy needs.

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Parent Teacher Organizatio

McKinley School Parent Teacher Organization is an active group of parents who work hard to provide parental involvement in our school. McKinley PTO consists of parents appointed to serve on the McKinley PTO board for a specific term limit. The PTO meets monthly to plan for family night activities and to act as a sounding board for parents. McKinley PTO prides itself on acting on the best interest of our school, staff, students and parents. Parental involvement is the true key to a child's success in school. 

Some of the events planned by the McKinley PTO include:

  • Back to School Open House Picnic

  • Turkey Bingo

  • Fundraisers

  • Sock Hop

  • Family Night at the Movies

In addition to these evens, the McKinley PTO also sponsors the McKinley Homecoming Parade Float and a Former Student Scholarship given to a graduating senior who attended McKinley Elementary.

RS&VP (Retired Senior & Volunteer Program)

The RS&VP program is a chance for retired senior citizens to volunteer to assist students  as they work to improve reading, math and/or language arts skills. RS&VP volunteers can choose the days and amount of time they wish to spend helping students.  If you would like to be a RS&VP volunteer, please contact the Watertown Volunteer Center at 886-5270.

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SAFE  (Student Assistance for Education)/Guidance Counselor)

McKinley Elementary has a guidance counselor in the building for 2 1/2 days per week.  The counselor visits each classroom to present lessons that are preventative in nature.  Some of the topics that are covered include peer relationships and conflict resolution.  The counselor also meets individually with students and/or families who are experiencing difficulties.

Social Worker

McKinley Elementary is one of two elementary schools who have a social worker in the building to support families who are in need of food, clothing, or shelter.  The social worker is funded by a grant from the Department of Social Services.

Speech Therapy

McKinley has a speech therapist on staff that meets with students on an individual and group basis to develop proper speech skills.

Student Assistance Program

McKinley School has a student assistance team that is available to assist at-risk students who are experiencing difficulties in the areas of academics, attendance, health or behavior.  The Student Assistance Program is a confidential place to turn for help and support.  For more information contact McKinley School.

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Student Council

McKinley School is proud to sponsor a student council made up of children in grades 1st-6th. Classroom representatives are elected from each classroom.  Children in grades 4-6 have an opportunity to campaign to be elected to a student council office.   The student body of McKinley School votes a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The student council assists McKinley School with special projects during the school year and by helping in the community. For more information on McKinley student council, please contact Mr. Arnold (darnold@wtn.k12.sd.us).

Summer Enrichment

McKinley School offers Summer Enrichment opportunities for children in grades 3-6. Last summer children participated in trips to the Sioux Falls Zoo and to 2 state parks. The children also did craft activities and outdoor cooking.

Big G Box Tops for Education

McKinley has participated in this General Mills sponsored fundraiser for the past 5 years. McKinley receives $.10 for each box top collected.  In the past money from collecting Big G Box Tops has been used to purchase playground equipment, Accelerated Reader (AR) books, fund school improvements, or other student incentives that are above what the school budget will allow.

Box Tops can be saved year-round and turned in to McKinley at any time throughout the school year.

Campbell’s Soup Labels

McKinley School participates in the Campbell’s Soup Label Program.  Students collect and bring Campbell’s Soup labels to the school.  McKinley school receives a variety of playground equipment for the labels that are redeemed.

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Econofoods Receipts

Every year McKinley Elementary participates in the Econofoods Save Our School (SOS) program. This program will award our school with $1000 if we can save and collect $150,000 worth of receipts from their store. With this money, we are able to buy computers, software, playground equipment and improvements, or other student incentives that are above what the school budget will allow.

Students may bring their receipts to school at any time throughout the school year. Enlist your neighbors, friends, and relatives to save receipts to help McKinley.

Pop Tabs

McKinley School collects the tabs from pop cans.  These are given to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides temporary housing for parents with children in the hospital.

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