Beginning of the Year FAQs

Some Beginning of the Year FAQs

1. Does McMillan have a Spirit Store for T-shirts and other swag?

Not anymore. Our principal, Dr. Dolata, generously purchases a shirt for every McMillan student once a year for them to wear on Fridays! We love having the chance for every child to have a shirt to show off their Might Mite pride and felt like offering an additional shirt was not a helpful use of volunteer time or resources.

2. Is the Chromebook Insurance actually worth it?

YES! The vast majority of parents agree that a $25 insurance policy has been worth it for the times when their child's computer has needed servicing.  Go to the Murray City School District website for more information on how to purchase it if you haven't already.

3. How do I put money into my child's lunch account?

You can send money in with your child to school. They will be asked to take the money to the front office where they will fill out an envelope with their information to then be added to their account.  You are welcome to stop in and do the same thing! You can also access your child's lunch account information through Aspire and add funds by following the link there.  

3. When are school pictures done and how do I order them?

This year Picture Day is on September 18th. A flyer will go home with each student. You are NOT required to purchase a picture packet, but you are welcome to if you would like to have them! You can order them online or follow the directions on the packet if you plan to send it in with your child. 

On picture day, each child is called down to the lunchroom one classroom at a time where they have their pictures taken one by one.  Photographers are professionals from Lifetouch. Volunteers are there that day to make sure your child feels safe and ready for their best picture! 

Retakes will take place at a later date if you or your child would like to take advantage of that, especially if they happened to be sick or travelling on Picture Day.

4. What procedures are helpful if/when my child is sick and/or needs to miss a day of school?

A call or email to our wonderful secretary at the front office, Mrs. Bigelow, is very helpful when you know your child will be missing school.  You may call or email her the day of, or even earlier if you know an absence will be upcoming.  It is also very helpful for teachers to have you contact them through Parentsquare, email, etc to let them know when your child will be absent. 

5. Can I volunteer in the classroom and/or attend field trips?

Please check with your child's teacher about volunteer opportunities and read through their weekly newsletters for more information on upcoming chances to help in the classroom and/or field trips.  Teachers will clearly outline their procedures for field trips, volunteering, etc in their newsletters.  Watch carefully, some volunteer opportunities get signed up for FAST!

6. Is there a student/parent directory?

Sadly, no. In the past, the McMillan PTA had created a directory for the school. This was done by asking parents what information they would like shared in order to facilitate inter-parent communication about play dates, birthday parties, etc. Unfortunately, there were instances of inappropriate and hurtful uses of that information and now a school or even a grade-level directory is not allowed.

7. What is the Back to School BBQ? 

The Back to School BBQ has been a tradition at McMillan for years. In order to help build a feeling of community and connection, all parents are invited to come and eat with their child at lunch.  We love to do this closer to the beginning of the school year so that you can meet up with other parents (and maybe exchange your information since a directory is not an option). It is also a fun way to see your child in a school setting.  This is NOT easily accomplished by having parents eat inside, so the idea of a BBQ was created to facilitate an outdoor food option.  In all my years of attending there has never been a rainy day, so we will be looking into options on what to do if there in inclement weather that day.  Stay tuned!  

Traditionally, many parents opt to bring lunch for themselves and their child that day.  It is common to see pizzas from Little Caesars, bags of Chick-Fil-A or McDonalds, home prepared meals in small coolers, or even parents sitting with their child while they eat the lunch they chose to bring or purchase at school.  It is equally likely to see parents purchasing a meal for themselves and going through the lunch line with their child. If you would like to do this, please note that we can ONLY accept cash in order to give you a voucher for the school lunch(es) you plan to purchase that day.

We will have more information on the typical procedures in a separate post soon.  Please feel free to share our blog address with others if they have questions, too!

mcmillanpta.blogspot.com

Thank you for making time to read through this!  We hope you are already having a wonderful school year!