Mackenzie Elementary School

The Beginning Buzz is a wonderful initiative that has truly transformed into a platform for student leadership and empowerment. Launched as part of the Leader in Me program and spearheaded by the Culture Team, this school-wide meeting brings the entire school community together every Monday. It provides a platform for students to receive important weekly updates, learn about the Leader in Me habit of the month, discover fun facts, and celebrate AOK (Acts of Kindness) awards.
This year, the transformation is complete, as our 6th graders have taken the reins entirely. They not only present the content but also create the media presentations with enthusiasm and creativity. Every Friday, the media production group meets in Mrs. Gallo's office to prepare for the upcoming meeting. This initiative not only fosters a sense of belonging but also develops essential leadership skills in our students, making us immensely proud of their achievements.

Hockey for the holidays! Hockey tickets make great gifts! Join the GRM PTA for their annual hockey fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Puck drops at 6:05 p.m. Our section is 217 and tickets are $23 each ($4 from every ticket goes to our PTA).
**Beware of scammers! Be sure to ONLY purchase tickets through the WBS Penguins' ticket office** A flyer will be coming home with Mackenzie students but anyone is welcome to support this fundraiser, order details are on the flyer below.

Students in kindergarten through second grade had their own early Thanksgiving Day parade. After reading the story, "Balloons Over Broadway ", the students decorated their own balloons to parade through the school. The other students and staff members lined the halls to celebrate their creations. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Books make great gifts!
The annual GRM PTA Scholastic Book Fair will be in the Mackenzie maker space from December 1-5, 2025. It will be open for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday, December 1. The book fair will be staffed by volunteers for students to shop during the school day on Tuesday, 12/2, Wednesday 12/3 and Friday 12/5.
Instructions for setting up an eWallet can be found at this link:
https://account.scholastic.com/my-scholastic/profile/create-ewallet.html?fair ID=6049289&sUCN=600162917.
eWallet is a cash-free digital payment option that lets families add money to an account so kids can shop the book fair independently. Any questions should be directed to the PTA by email: mackenziepta@gmail.com

On November 11th at 11 am, some of our GRM student leaders, community club members, and their families attended the annual Veterans Day Honor Ceremony organized by the Tusten-Highland-Lumberland VFW Post 6427 and Sylvan-Liebla American Legion Post 1363. Our students and families thanked those who served by passing out thank-you crafts made by the GRM students in the Community Club. Ms. Wyss and Mrs. Hunt co-advise the Community Club, and both are members of the Leader in Me Culture Team. Our Student Council President also handed out American Flag pins to attendees.

Our recently elected student council officers and classroom representatives in grades 3-6 are working closely with Ms. Kurtzman, Student Council Club Advisor and member of the Leader in Me Leadership team, to promote student leadership and to build community connections. This was their first community connections event of the year.

The Mackenzie Elementary School Leader In Me Culture Team hosted a Veterans Day event this afternoon in our building. We welcomed veterans from the community into our school to have an opportunity for our students to thank them for their service. The cafeteria was thoughtfully decorated including our Veterans Wall of Honor that we add to every year was on display. Our 3rd & 4th grade students performed a song and our 5th grade students had thoughtfully prepared questions for the veterans to answer. Our family and consumer science classes at the JSHS provided the fresh baked goods served as refreshment. We would like to thank all who made today's event successful and especially our local veterans for their service and the time they were able to offer our faculty, staff and students today.

The Mackenzie PTA's online school spirit-wear storefront is OPEN! Order deadline is November 30 and items will be delivered before the winter break. https://d2kgraphics.chipply.com/ELDRED/?action=viewall

Mrs. Knight's photography club at GRM has been working on perception. They really enjoyed capturing these dramatic photographs of each other.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, the Leader In Me Culture Team has cooked up something extra fun-Thanksgiving Grateful & Giving Spirit Week November 17-21. Join in on the festive vibes and show your school spirit each day!

Mackenzie Elementary School picture retakes are Thursday, November 20. Pictures will be taken in the morning. If your child was absent on the original picture date please send them dressed to have their portrait taken on Thursday, November 20. You can send the picture day envelope in with payment or select your package online www.mylifetouch.com using Picture Day ID EVTNNK73S. If your child had their picture taken on the original picture day and you are unhappy with the portrait you MUST return your original portrait package to the photographer. A new photo will be taken and you will receive the same package with the new picture.

On Thursday, November 6th, 4th graders listened in awe as a Mystery Reader read aloud the picture book, “Dragons Love Tacos 2, the Sequel,” demonstrating how listeners will fully engage with reading when the reader becomes one with the characters and the book. The reading was enjoyed so much, the children begged for another story and our mystery reader was ready with a second book “The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors”.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner 2025

When: Thursday, November 27, 2025

Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Where: Lumberland Town Hall

Fall activities are in full swing at Mackenzie Elementary School from Halloween themed word games to math with pumpkin seeds. Decorative bulletin boards showing off our student's cause and effect writing and festive door decorations. Learning and fun go hand-in-hand!

Please consider a food donation to GRM's 8-weeks of giving campaign to help restock our pantry shelves in support of our back pack program. Any questions should be directed to our school nurse, Tracy Whitney, whitneyt@eldred.k12.ny.us or our school counselor, Michelle Gallo, gallom@eldred.k12.ny.us

Yulan Fire Department and Can't Hurt Steel Community Foundation is sponsoring
Spaghetti Dinner Benefit To Support the Giglio Family

Saturday, November 1, 2025
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Yulan Fire Department - 216 Airport Road

Dine In or Take Out
$15 Adults
$10 Children

All proceeds benefit the Giglio family.

Eldred JSHS Student Council - Thanksgiving Food Drive
Friday, October 31st at the Varsity Football Game
Please drop off your donations at the concession stand

5th grade students participate in a "get to know you" learning center.

During their studies of cell structure, 6th grade students had the opportunity to create a model of an animal cell and a model of a plant cell out of Play-Doh. The students had great fun creating these study tools.