William McKinley Elementary
349 West Valencia Avenue (Get Map)
Burbank, CA 91506
Telephone: (818) 558-5477
Fax: (818) 558-5485
Principal: Mrs. Bobbie Kavanaugh
Welcome to the William McKinley Elementary School web site. Our school was built in 1928 and has a strong tie with the community. We have students whose parents and even grandparents attended McKinley. Staff members are faithful McKinley supporters with long, dedicated tenures. Two of the instructional assistants have served the school for almost thirty years and a third of the staff have worked at the school for 10-20 years. McKinley serves 530 children, kindergarten through fifth grade. McKinley's school population of 530 students is comprised of a rich mixture of language and cultural backgrounds. Sixty percent of our students are bilingual or English language learners. Within that 74%, the largest language group is Spanish. Our staff values language diversity and speaks many languages. Many members of our staff speak two or more languages. McKinley is a Title I school with approximately 55% of our families receiving free or reduced lunches. McKinley's mission "We Deliver" grew from the diverse backgrounds and needs of our students. Budgets and programs reflect these special needs
All kindergarten through third grade classes enjoy a student/teacher ratio of 20:1. We have two after school child care programs. One is run by the Burbank Children's Center and the other is a partnership with the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department.
McKinley was honored as a California Distinguished School in 1997 and Title I Achieving Schools in 2004. Our school has a reputation for excellence and has shown exceptional academic progress. A strong and caring staff provides a rigorous standards-based curriculum as well as leadership training through Student Council and Panther Peace Patrol. Parents and families support the school and children through volunteering in classrooms and for field trips, by assisting with homework, and participating in parent groups (School Site Council, PTA, and English Learner Advisory Committee). A weekly bilingual newsletter keeps parents informed of special events such as PTA Family Nights, Halloween Mask Parade, and the Family Award Breakfast Program. The business community provides broad support. We have received trees on the playground from Warner Brothers, weekly tutoring from the Walt Disney Company and the LA Times, school supplies and encouragement from Providence St. Joseph employees, award breakfast from the Burbank Community Federal Credit Union and grants from the city of Burbank to improve the playground with new equipment and a grass field.
McKinley students are well behaved and demonstrate respect for each other and for adults who are assisting them. Many special opportunities are available for McKinley students: English Language Development, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, vocal music for primary students, instrumental music for intermediate students, Outdoor Science School for fifth grade, a new PC computer lab for all students, the Accelerated Reader Program, Olympics, Spring Dance, Patriotic and Holiday Performances and a Preschool Parent and Child Library Program.
We have a great school. Visitors are welcome to attend Back to School Night in October, Open House in March, and our Kindergarten Round-Up in April.
Sincerely,
Bobbie Kavanaugh, Principal
School Background
McKinley, a K-5 school located in Burbank, California, is a "family tradition!" The school was built in 1928 and has been a "second home" for many children. Second and third generation students whose families have remained in the area because they love the community and school attend McKinley. Small businesses, a shopping mall, homes and apartments surround us.
Staff members are faithful McKinley supporters with long, dedicated tenures. Two of the instructional assistants have served the school for almost thirty years and a third of the staff have worked at the school for 10-20 years. "The staff here is the best!" "I love the McKinley families" are what staff members say when asked about why they stay at McKinley. Five staff members have chosen McKinley for their own children's education.
McKinley's school population of 530 students is comprised of a rich mixture of language and cultural backgrounds. Sixty percent of our students are bilingual or English language learners. Within that 74%, the largest language group is Spanish. Our staff values language diversity and speaks many languages. Many members of our staff speak two or more languages.
McKinley is a Title I school with approximately 55% of our families receiving free or reduced lunches. McKinley's mission "We Deliver" grew from the diverse backgrounds and needs of our students. Budgets and programs reflect these special needs: Adaptive Physical Education, English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and Primary Academic Cognitive Enrichment (PACE), Guidance, Resource Specialist Program, and Speech and Language Development. With a school-wide collaboration, McKinley proudly delivers comprehensive education to each student.
Communication and planning time are among the critical aspects of our school. Communication among staff is accomplished through representation at weekly steering meetings, through weekly bulletins and a daily message sign-in board. On Tuesday shortened days staff work in grade level teams and in cross-grade groups to plan and evaluate student work.
The governance of the school is marked by extremely high parent/staff participation. School Site council has 12 members with the English Language Learners Committee holding two of the six parent seats. SSC has been extremely active in the decision making of the school and are involved in the evaluation, modification of school programs, development of budget and in lively thought-provoking discussions.
Parents and staff worked hand-in-hand to develop a school vision for the School Site Plan and chose the areas of writing and math for focus in the next five years.
The entire McKinley community shares in its vision for all students and families. McKinley serves as a "hub" for school-wide services and community referrals. Education of our youth is the focus of all the groups who work with the school.
Homework
A way for parents to help their children to build good work habits and responsibility. Give you child a place and time to work each evening. Homework is assigned four nights of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) to be returned the next day. Please help your child and reinforce his/her learning, but please do not do the work for your child.
Report Cards
Report cards are given three times a year (November, March, and June) and a parent conference is scheduled the first two times.
Family Award Breakfast
Students are chosen by teachers to be honored at a Family Award Breakfast for excellent achievement, strong work habits, and good citizenship. Parents receive invitations to accompany their children to school for a continental breakfast and the award ceremony. We call this a "Family" award to recognize the team parents and teachers play in the lives of children. Each child honored receives a photo of himself with his teacher, the principal and his parents.
Accelerated Reader Program
Students are encouraged to read, read, read. The school library is full of wonderful books that are designated as part of the Accelerated Reader Program which is a computer program with comprehension tests on thousands of books. After a student reads a book, (s)he takes a test. Any score over 80% results in a number of points. Students receive incentives such as pencils, certificates, their name in the McPanther Press, an hour in the principal's office reading her great books, recognition on the library Wall of Fame.
News
Grades 4-8 Student Participate in LA County Math Field Day Competition
News for District Staff and the School Community
Last updated: 10/9/2009 11:34:16 AM