August 28, 2018
"BE YOURSELF. TRY YOUR BEST. NEVER BE AFRAID TO DREAM."
-SHARON CHRISTA MCAULIFFE
Dear McAuliffe Parents and Families,

Thank you for another great week at McAuliffe Middle School! This week we continued our Step it Up Fundraising efforts and recognized kids who have gone above and beyond for our school! Today was also Club Rush Day and a great opportunity to get connected to McAuliffe.

At McAuliffe we believe that student success is directly tied to their connectedness at school. Clubs are one way we seek to connect a student's education with their outside interests. For a complete list of our clubs, click here . Thank you for supporting our efforts to find meaningful connections with students! We hope you join a club!

Keep dreaming big, Eagles!

Dr. Ryan Weiss-Wrighte
Thank you, Mrs. Reilly! Welcome, Mrs. McCulloch!
The time has come, Eagles. It is very bittersweet to share with you that our beloved Mrs. Barbara Reilly is retiring after serving the McAuliffe community for almost 20 years, and 26 years in the district! Mrs. Reilly will be missed for her kindness to all!

We would like to welcome Mrs. Mary McCulloch as our new School Office Coordinator. Mrs. McCulloch will start on Tuesday, September 4th--please join us in welcoming her to the team!
Highlights

Homework Club meets after school for 45 minutes Monday through Thursday in the Media Center

Monday, 8/27 : Shrek Auditions, 7:45 in the MPR, Step it Up! fundraising continues all week

Tuesday, 8/28: Shrek Auditions, 7:45 in the MPR, CLUB RUSH at lunch. For complete list of clubs, click here

Wednesday, 8/29 : 2:05 Dismissal, 5:45 Science Olympiad Parent Meeting

Monday, 9/3: Labor Day Holiday, no school

Tuesday, 9/4 : PEACE WEEK begins (more info below)

BYOD Parent Info Night, 6:00pm at Los Alamitos High School Performing Arts Center (more info below)


For complete 18/19 School Year Calendar, click here .
STEP IT UP!

Our fitness fundraiser, STEP IT UP! got off to an amazing start last week with an inspiring kick off assembly. Thank you to our students for being such a great audience!

We are collecting funds through September 5th! Remember students, this money all goes toward OUR SCHOOL! You won't want to miss the Day of Awesome!

This entire fundraiser can be completed in TEN MINUTES OR LESS. Yes, really!


CLICK HERE FOR THE PARENT WELCOME LETTER
CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBSITE WITH COMPLETE RULES AND GUIDELINES
Club Day!
Club Day was this Tuesday, August 28th and it was a huge success! Thanks to all our teachers for stepping up and finding exciting ways to support our students. Clubs will start next week after the Labor Day holiday. If you didn't sign up during Club Day--that's okay! You can still join a club, just attend a meeting.

The complete schedule of clubs, advisors, meeting dates, and locations will be posted starting Tuesday, September 4th in your classrooms.

PEACE Week at McAuliffe
PEACE Week stands for People Exhibiting Appreciation and Compassion for Everyone. At McAuliffe we will be promoting random acts of kindness, important character traits, and spirit days.

Tuesday, 9/4: Team Up to Stop Bullying! (Wear sports related clothing, jerseys, hats, etc.)

Wednesday, 9/5: Go USA! (Students wear patriotic themed clothing)

Thursday, 9/6: PEACE Day! (Students wear hippie related attire, Tie-Dyes)

Friday, 9/7: School Spirit Day! (Students wear McAuliffe spirit wear, school colors!)
Science Olympiad at McAuliffe!
Do you think your child might be interested in Science Olympiad? This is open to all grade levels.

We’re starting up this year’s team of the finest and brightest. We are limited to only 15 team members. We will begin to meet Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:15 to 4:00 and Wednesday mornings from 8:00 to 8:40 am. We will continue to meet until the competition which is February 9th at UCI.

Please come to our first Parent Meeting on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 5:45 PM in Room 14. The meeting should only be about 30 minutes.

For more information on Science Olympiad go to the national website: www.soinc.org.
Looking forward to seeing you,

Coaches: Kathy Lewis
Sydnee Favilla

We need parent volunteers who have a background in Engineering or Science who would be willing to come after school (3:15-3:55) at least one of our meeting days each week to help prepare students for the competition. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested. Leave your name, phone #, and area of expertise.

PTA Update
  • Our next PTA meeting is Tuesday, September 11th at 8:50am

  • Parent Ed Night coming on Thursday, September 13th. 1 Night, 2 events:
  • First, all new McAuliffe parents are invited to join us from 5:30-6:15 to learn about all things McAuliffe. We will have rotating stations and you will learn everything from Middle School Organizational skills to Math Pathways, and more!
  • Then, please we will open the evening up to all McAuliffe parents for “Parenting in the Digital and Vaping World” presented by Total Safety Solutions at 6:30pm in the McAuliffe MPR. For more info on this company and their presentation, please visit this website


  • REFLECTIONS COMING SOON! This year's Reflections theme is "Heroes Around Me"--we will have more detailed info coming out soon. For now, you can visit the website for more information.
CALLING ALL DANCERS!
Calling all DANCERS!  McAuliffe is excited to partner with LAEF and the Los Alamitos High School (LAHS) Dance Program to offer Eagles the opportunity to register for a 6-week zero period dance class . The class will be taught by LAHS Dance Program faculty and will take place on the McAuliffe Campus during a modified zero period. 
 
The class is open to all level of dancers , from beginning to advanced, and will culminate with McAuliffe dancers performing in the LAHS Dance show in November. Dancers will come dressed to school each day in their dance attire and will have an opportunity to change before first period. T he class will run Monday-Friday from September 24 - November 2, from 7:45am-8:30am. The cost of the dance class is $50 and includes six weeks of dance instruction, a LAHS Dance Show t-shirt and a trip to LAHS to dance on campus with LAHS dance program students. 
 
This is a great opportunity for students to start or continue their love of dance and have an opportunity to work with the LAHS dance program faculty and students.  For more information please see the attached flyer . Dancers can register for the class at  www.laef4kids.org .  Space in the class will be limited so please register as soon as possible. If you have additional questions you can email Rikki Jones, LAHS Dance Program Director at  [email protected] .
 
Los Alamitos High School Dance Intensive at McAuliffe Middle School
September 24 - November 2
7:45am - 8:30am
Register at  www.laef4kids.org

Make a Wish
 Click this link to celebrate your child’s birthday on the school marquee. For only $20, you child’s name will be on the marquee the entire week of their birthday. At the bottom of the birthday wishes information page, click donation and your donation will go directly to the Make a Wish Foundation. It’s a win-win! Celebrate your child’s birthday and help grant the wish of a critically ill child. McAuliffe has granted three wishes and with your help, we will be granting a fourth wish this school year. Need more information? Contact [email protected]
8th Grade East Coast Trip
8th grade students will be given priority on the trip and spaces are limited.  Click on this link for more information about the trip and how to sign up. Contact [email protected] if you have questions!


LAEF Classes
  • Do you wish your child had a zero period? Thanks to the Los Alamitos Education Foundation we are now offering a zero period in health and fitness--read the attached flyer for more information
  • LAEF also offers a variety of after school classes: Japanese, Girl Self Defense, and Public Speaking. See attached flyer for more information.
Thank you for our $10,000, LAEF!
On Wednesday, LAEF donated $30,000 to support STEAM programs at secondary schools, which means $10,000 was donated to McAuliffe! We are so grateful for their ongoing support! The funds will be put to good use through our science implementation of NGSS, our Project Lead the Way STEM and Robotics instruction, our Science Olympiad, and materials and supplies! Last year, LAEF donated $22,500 toward secondary STEAM ($7500 per school). These donations are made possible due to the community’s support of LAEF’s King & Queen of Hearts campaign.
Buy a Yearbook!
Don't miss out on sharing & reliving the big events that will make this year special!  

Order your 2018-2019 McAuliffe yearbook today. Yearbooks are $35 each and can be personalized for $6 .

Go to  Jostensyearbooks.com  to order yours today.

Orders are due 9/28/2018.



The Counseling Corner is a spotlight on resources and information for parents who have adolescent children! Check back often for updates and helpful tips!
GET INVOLVED IN CAREER CAFE!
Volunteers Needed!

Career and college readiness is part of our vision in Los Al. It is our goal to prepare students for their future employment by providing awareness and skills training.  At McAuliffe we offer Career Cafe monthly as a way for students to learn about the careers performed by individuals within our community .  Speakers will share their career journey with a group of 25-35 students at both lunches. Speakers will share:  
  • Their interest in their current field
  • Their education and training needed for their job
  • What a typical day is like for someone in this field
  • Advice to students looking to pursue a career in this field  
Speakers will speak to students for about 20 minutes each session including time for questions and answers.   If you are interested in sharing your career, or know of anyone within the community that would be willing to share, please complete the google form here .  

This section is for all important reminders from the District and McAuliffe Middle School
College Days
College Days: The first Wednesday of every month is an opportunity to wear college spirit clothes! See attached flyer. Our first one is Wednesday, September 5th.

Parking Tips at McAuliffe
Bloomfield Lot:
  • AM drop-off between 8:10 and 8:40 AM is recommended. You may experience some delay exiting the lot onto Bloomfield due to the signal light at the Bloomfield/Cerritos intersection.
  • PM pick-up between 3:10 and 3:25 PM is busy. If you arrive early to park in a stall, you may find your exit blocked by a waiting vehicle. If you arrive closer to 3:25, you will find less traffic. Again, exiting the lot onto Bloomfield may be slow due to the light at the intersection. It is our hope that courtesy and patience will carry the day. An alternative pick-up location is the church parking lot east of the school.
Cerritos Lot:  
  • To ensure student safety, AM drop-off in this lot is prohibited between 8:15 and 8:45. The Cerritos curb is “white” and vehicles may drop off and pick up there at any time. Staff members will be on duty at 8:30 to assist students when crossing the lot to enter the campus. Handicapped parking will be available, and vehicles may park in visitor spaces and along the Cerritos white curb.
  • PM pick-up is prohibited between 3:00 and 3:25 PM or until all buses have exited the lot to permit bus entry and exit. Handicapped parking is available, and vehicles may park in visitor spaces and along the Cerritos white curb. The church parking lot to the east of the school is also available for pick-up. 
  • Traffic seems to be the busiest the first two weeks of school until ALL figure out how things work. Please be patient and courteous.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Parent Education Night
Please join McAuliffe admin team at the BYOD Parent Education Night on September 4th at 6 pm . The event is  open to parents of all grade levels  and will be hosted in the  Performing Arts Center at Los Alamitos High School. 

The night will include:
  • A brief overview of the BYOD program and the updated supports that are available. 
  • We will then highlight the importance of digital citizenship and safety in developing 21st-century skills for college and careers, as well as the resources available to support parents. 
  • Finally, we will share about the latest update that supports students and parents, the Securly Web filter. We will explain how Securly works to protect students, and most importantly, how protection extends to home by working 24-7 on @golosal.net accounts and allowing parents to log in and view their student's activity.


Click the image to watch the first week video!
Great 1st Week of School!
Hello, Los Al,
 
Our first full week of school was fantastic! From classrooms, to activities, to Back to School Night at our elementary and middle schools, I am inspired by everything I saw and heard about. Thank you for your love of children and your excellent work with them, their families, and each other.  The quick, video below highlights some of our amazing students and staff members:
I hope you have a lovely weekend!

With gratitude,


Sherry Kropp, Ed.D., Superintendent
Los Alamitos Unified School District

McAuliffe Middle School | losal.org/mcauliffe | 714.816.3320 | 4112 Cerritos Ave, Los Alamitos, California