McCornack Family Week at a Glance

                                                                              September 15-19, 2025

This Week:

Coming Soon:

McCornack Parent/Family Handbook:  We strongly recommend families review and reference this handbook (Spanish) which is full of important information about McCornack.  Please click on this link once you have read/reviewed the Handbook.

Welcome to our McCornack school community! The Parent/Family Handbook is here to help us all understand the guidelines, procedures, and shared values that keep our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We kindly ask that you take some time to read through the handbook together, so we can all be on the same page and work towards a wonderful school year.

By signing this form, you’re showing your support for our community’s efforts to create a positive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. We’re grateful for your partnership in making our school a place where everyone feels valued and respected.

Thank you for being a part of our school family.

Yellow Curbs: Thank you for NOT parking along the yellow painted curbs on Brittany.  Keeping these areas clear helps ensure the safety of our students and crossing guards!

PTO Board Elections:  Our nominating committee has prepared the following slate of candidates for the 2025-26 PTO Executive Board. Please review the list and vote by September 19th. Thanks for your input!

President - Sydney Mills

Vice President - Eleesia Keuhn 

Secretary - Alex Hailey

Treasurer, - Chelsea Mills

Ways and Means Coordinator - Anna Shea 

Volunteer Coordinator - Mary Phelps 

 Please vote here!

ParentSquare:

Please sign up for ParentSquare if you have yet to do so. IMPORTANT: If you prefer to get information via text message, be sure to click on the 3 lines at the top left of the app, select “account”, select “notifications, and enable text notifications.

Get Started: Log in to ParentSquare TODAY!

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information

• Share pictures and files

• See calendar items

• Sign up to volunteer

• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents—Getting Started Video

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text, depending on your preference. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free on the Apple/Google app stores for iOS and Android devices).

5th Grade Outdoor School: 5th Grade Outdoor School is October 15-17.  This is an overnight camp located on the shores of Dark Lake in the Deschutes National Forest.  Students should arrive at school ON TIME on the morning of the 15th.  The students will arrive back on campus early afternoon on the 17th.  A text message will be sent to families when the students arrive at McCornack.

Permission forms will be sent home with students next week. Parents/Guardians - an informational meeting will be held on September 25th at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.  Click HERE to join the meeting.

For this year’s Outdoor School, we won’t be needing parent volunteers to attend. We appreciate your understanding and support.

Standard Response Protocol: The safety and security of your child are our top priority.  McCornack, along with all 4J schools, is working with the "I Love You Guys" Foundation to follow Standard Response Protocol (SRP).  For the next five weeks, we will use this Family Week at a Glance, to educate families about each response. Learn more about the Standard Response Protocol at https://iloveuguys.org/The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html      

SHELTER Protocol:  Shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard. Training includes response to threats such as tornado, earthquake ,

hazardous materials situation or other local threats.  Most commonly, we practice sheltering for an earthquake.  Students and staff drop, cover, and hold on.

Gate Timers are Set! We are pleased to share that our gate timers are set.  Families will be able to access our campus before school to drop off students each morning until 8:30 a.m. when they will lock for the school day.  Families will again be able to access campus 15 minutes prior to the end of each day to pick up students. The gates will then lock until 6:00 p.m. when our after school programs finish for the evening.  Similar to all building exterior doors, we will teach students that during school/program hours, only adults may open the gates (signage is in the works!).

Gates will also be unlocked over weekends so families and community members can access our playgrounds. Thank you for your support of this safety measure and for your patience! 

Visitors: The safety and security of our students and staff are of utmost importance. McCornack DOES NOT allow students to bring school-age guests to school during the day. Students are encouraged to invite friends and/or relatives to after-school events, school-wide fairs, activities, or concerts. 

• All adult visitors must have a reason for being in the building that directly supports an individual student, the educational program, or school operations.  Pre-arranging is best!

• Visitors must enter the school building through the main office entrance to sign in on the Raptor System.

• Upon signing in, visitors will receive a visitor's badge, which must be worn at all times while on school property, and all visitors must be accompanied by a staff member while in the building (this does not apply to volunteers who have completed the 4J volunteer process - including fingerprinting).

• For classroom/grade/school-wide events (e.g., assemblies, performances), visitors must still sign in and follow any additional instructions provided by the school for that specific event.

• The administration reserves the right to deny or limit access to any visitor if it is deemed in the best interest of the school community.

Volunteers: McCornack is excited to welcome volunteers for field trips, in classrooms, in the library, and more! 

Requirements Applicable to All Volunteers

Volunteers must be cleared annually through the district’s volunteer criminal history process and approved by the Office of Public Safety before interacting with students or volunteering in other capacities. In order for a volunteer to be approved, every year they must have completed required Safe Schools trainings and have a criminal records check. Volunteers are required to undergo background checks based on fingerprints. See  Policy GCDA/GDDA for further information.

All approved volunteers must enter through the main office and sign in/out using our Raptor System. 

Math and Reading Assessments: The Eugene 4j School District administers both Reading and math assessments to each of our students three times a year—fall, winter, and spring. Students scoring below the 20th percentile may be recommended, by the building-level team, to receive instructional interventions in reading and/or math. Students receiving interventions will have their progress monitored during regular intervals. At our school, all students receive 90 minutes of reading instruction and 70 minutes of instruction in the area of mathematics, each day. Parents/guardians will be notified if their child is recommended to receive additional reading and math instruction.

Library Corner: Welcome back! ~ I am so excited to have readers return to the library! Look back here for updates and inside scoop for all the library happenings. Click on the image below for our first library newsletter of the year:

Jasmine Castigliano

McCornack Elementary Librarian

Character focus for the month of September:  Friendship - I treat others like I want to be treated. We work together as a team.

The Bee Jamboree choices this month will be: Otter Pop Party vs. Extra Recess

People who Are Good Friends:

• Are good listeners

• Have empathy for others

• Respect your emotional, mental, and physical safety needs

• Respect your differences

• Think about others' points of view

• Is someone you like to be around

• Accept others for who they are

• Listen and consider others points of view

• Celebrate others' successes

• Is trustworthy

• Encourage each other

Operation School Bell:  Operation School Bell is a community program that provides

students with the opportunity to shop at Fred Meyer for clothing. Families who would benefit from this program will have the opportunity to sign up on a space available basis.  Please contact the front office at 541-790-5800 to be added to the list.

Come Join the Unicyle Club at McCornack!!

Click HERE to learn more!!!

Safe Routes To School: Get Support for the School Commute!

• Fun Routes to School (BROKEN URL FIXED) Do you think your elementary student might walk, bike, or bus at least some days? Sign up at https://forms.gle/Ncfv8zmDgKybJ69F7 for free gifts, maps and other support for your active and shared travel!

• Click here for general tips on safety and route planning for active travel to school.

• Visit your school office to request a free Lane Transit District annual pass for your student. It's usable year-round and is not just for school travel.

• All ages, free, learn-to-ride a bike event for not-yet-riders, Tues, Sept 30th, 4:30-6:30pm, 4J Education Center, 200 North Monroe St. 
  Flyer here. Facebook event here.

• Free Confident Cycling For Families Class!  New Date!

Tuesday, October 14th, 6-7:30 pm

Adams Elementary School - open to all families

Pizza for dinner! RSVP requested.

Sign up here for our fun and informative Confident Cycling for Families class if you'd like to bike with your student, but could use some expert advice on safety and more.

LTD Bus Passes for Students: Do you need a bus pass for your child?  You can request one by sending an email to Julie Whittlesey @ whittlesey_j@4j.lane.edu

YMCA Before/After School Care: The YMCA offers before and after school care here

at McCornack. At this time, the McCornack programs are full, and if you are in need of

care, we encourage you to get on their waitlist. FOR MORE INFORMATION:

youth@eugeneymca.org / 541-686-9622

McCornack String Academy: Registration for McCornack String Academy is now OPEN! Dear Friends at McCornack Elementary –

We are pleased to announce that SA1 registration is now available!

Click HERE to learn more.

Click HERE to fill out the interest form.

Warmly,

 ESYO Teachers and Staff

 --
Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras (ESYO)

541-484-0473 (office)

541-579-4606 (cell)
esyorchestras.org/

 Registration is open for String Academy at many Eugene schools for the 2024-25 - spread the word! (and click here to sign up)

Community Posts:

Dear B.L.A.Q. Youth Families & Community,

SOULFUL STORIES
 When: Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
 Springfield Public Library, 225 5th St., Springfield, OR 97477

A vibrant reading celebration for youth and families featuring Kicks in the Sky by C.G. Esperanza!

Event Highlights:

•  Read-Aloud session

•  Hands-on craft activities

•  Snacks provided
   FREE book for every child

•  Resource Guide for parents
  
  

Register today to reserve your spot:  Soulful Stories Registration Link

Events are FREE and open to families in our community. We look forward to sharing these joyful, empowering experiences with you and your children!