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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 Organization
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:
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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