OCTOBER 19, 2021
"BE YOURSELF. TRY YOUR BEST. NEVER BE AFRAID TO DREAM."

-SHARON CHRISTA MCAULIFFE
Photo of the McAuliffe and Oak Middle School WellSpace Grand Opening!
Dear McAuliffe Parents and Families,

Each week I continue to be impressed by the positive engagement I see at McAuliffe Middle School. This week our intramural football teams enter the playoffs, our Drama Program will put on their first LIVE show in 19 months, our students were able to celebrate their success together at our Eagle Carnival, and our instructional programs continue to thrive from full day instruction. Thanks for all you do to support our students and school community!

In this issue:
  • Pickleball Club is Up and Running!
  • PTA Membership Drive!
  • Student Learning Opportunities
  • Red Ribbon Week and Halloween Costume Contest and 7/8th Grade Dance
  • Kona Ice Truck for Make a Wish
  • Upcoming performances in Drama and Choir!
  • Fall FUN-Raiser update and Eagle Carnival
  • East Coast Trip Opportunity
  • Make a Wish Birthday on the Marquee
  • Stay Connected: Teacher Instagram Pages


Keep dreaming big, Eagles!

Dr. Ryan Weiss-Wright
This Week at McAuliffe
Please note that school dismisses at 2:05 on Wednesdays for ALL students.

Weekly Schedule

Monday, October 18th
Regular Schedule

Tuesday, October 19th
Coffee Connection and PTA Meeting 

Wednesday, October 20th
2:05 Dismissal
3:30 and 6:30 Drama Performance

Thursday, October 21st
Regular Schedule
Great American Shakeout at 10:21am
3:30 and 6:30 Drama Performance

Friday, October 22nd
Regular Schedule








McAuliffe Pickleball!
McAuliffe fundraising efforts in conjunction with a USA Pickleball grant allowed us to purchase nets, paddles, balls as well as have our courts painted! Eagle students are excited to play with their peers after school on Tuesdays!
Declaration of Independence
Spotlight on student Michael Wu, 8th grade history student who created this Declaration of Independence artistic close read/summary!
Have you been to Homework Club?
Homework Club is offered Monday-Friday from 7:45-8:30 in room 24. If your student needs assistance with their homework, please consider having them attend our daily Homework Club.

We also offer after school Homework Club Monday through Thursday in the Media Center.

Conference Time!
Parent Teacher Conferences 10/26, 10/28, 10/29
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences are Tuesday, October 26th; Thursday, October 28th; and Friday, October 29th. Students will be dismissed at 12:10pm.
Conferences will be held in person, on zoom, or via phone. Parents may choose when scheduling their conference how they would like to meet.

How to Schedule a Conference:

All families may call our school office between the hours of 9:00am and 3:30pm beginning Wednesday, October 20th. 714.816.3320
Speak to the McAuliffe Office staff about which teachers you would like to conference with. Conferences at middle school are not mandatory and you may select which specific teachers you would like to see, you do not need to see every teacher--but you may if you’d like!
McAuliffe Office Staff will schedule your conference(s) based on teacher availability.
Please note that conferences must be scheduled by 2:00pm the day prior to your desired conference day. (For example, if you would like a conference on Thursday, October 28th, you must schedule the conference prior to 2:00pm on Wednesday, October 27th).
Conferences will be held in one of three ways: in person, via Zoom, or on the phone.
Phone conferences are also available and parents may indicate their preference when they call.
If all appointments are booked, or there is a scheduling conflict. You may email your child’s teacher(s) to schedule based on all parties’ availability.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student’s success!

Halloween Dance and Costume Conts
Halloween Costume Contest and 7th/8th Grade Dance is October 29th
On Friday, October 29th we will host a costume contest for ALL students, grades 6-8 in the ODAT from 12:15-12:30
After the contest, the 7th and 8th grade students are invited to stay for the Halloween Dance in the MPR from 12:30-1:45
Dance tickets will go on sale on Monday, October 25th for $3 and require parent permission to attend.
School Councils
McAuliffe 2021/2022 School Site Council
Thank you to our volunteers who have been voted in for the 21/22 McA School Site Council:
Autumn Bignami
Jennifer Dodson
Brittany Holler
Susan Hsieh
Violeta Kim

McAuliffe Representatives for District Advisory Committee
Thank you to our volunteers who have been selected to serve as McAuliffe representatives on the District Advisory Committee:
Natalie Chang
Cynthia Avila
Violeta Kim
Md Arifujjaman
Mitch Hoffman
Olaina Anderson
Drama Performance: The Day the Internet Died

Check out our commercial for our upcoming show: The Day the Internet Died
Dia De Los Muertos
The Staff at St Isidore Historical Plaza are extending an invitation to the Staff, Students and Parents of McAuliffe Middle School to the Dia de Los Muertos Event being held at St Isidore Historical Plaza on October 23rd from 2:00pm – 9:00pm. This is a rich cultural event that we feel that all would appreciate and enjoy. Read the attached Letter for more information
AAC Month!
Let's Celebrate AAC Awareness Month this October! Everyone has something to say. AAC gives students their voice! 

We have EAGLES on campus who communicate in a variety of ways! You may communicate with your mouth, but does everyone else do that? No! Our students may use verbal speech, speech generating devices, gestures, writing, typing, echolalia, sign language, or communication boards. Even though we all communicate differently, we are all EAGLES!

What Is AAC?
Augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, is a term that's used to describe various methods of communication that can help people communicate. AAC methods vary and may be personalized to meet each individual's needs. A major advantage of SGDs is that these devices allow an individual to say and play with words. By doing this, learners can acquire new words and language and the listener is able to understand exactly what is being expressed.

What is an SGD?
Speech-generating devices produce electronic voice output. The communicator selects the letters, words and messages, alone or in combination, to be spoken aloud in a pre-recorded or computer-generated voice (text-to-speech). Again, depending on the communicator, if selecting keys via touch isn't possible access to the device may be dependent on external aids including eye gaze, head pointing, joysticks, switches or even a combination of these.
International AAC Awareness Month is celebrated around the world each October. The goal is to raise awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and to inform the community about the many different ways in which people communicate using communication devices! Join us at MCA as we celebrate all the ways our Eagles communicate!

East Coast Trip Opportunity
Dear New 8th Grade Families, 
We are still taking registration for 8th grade students to attend the 2022 Spring Break Washington DC/NYC trip. Click on this link for a slideshow with information about our upcoming trip. And click on this link if you would like to register for the trip: School Tours of America. Trip #9838; Date:4/16/22.  $99 will reserve your spot on the trip. We are close to a full trip and have limited capacity. There will be an information meeting after Back-to-School Night with more information to follow. Email me if you have any questions, vmiller@losal.org
Make-A-Wish Birthday Messages!
Don't forget to add to your Back-to-School List: Celebrate your child's birthday at any time during the school year AND support the Make a Wish Foundation at the same time!  Click this link to submit your request. Complete the information on the form and then click on "Donate to this fundraiser." Suggested donations are $20.00 for one week on the school marquee. You can make this request at any time during the school year. Any questions, email vmiller@losal.org. And Thank You for you great support!!

Next PTA Meeting is
Tuesday, November 9th at 6:30pm via Zoom.
Reflections Opportunity!
JOIN PTA!
Our PTA Membership is an essential part of our success at McAuliffe! By joining our PTA you are not only supporting our school, but a national effort to advocate for parents and students!

TO JOIN: 
Go to www.mcauliffepta.org to check out the website and to make donations in addition to the membership.
TO SPONSOR:
We are also looking for sponsors and the information can be found on our website. 
School News Digital Issue
Click the image to download!
McAuliffe Middle School | losal.org/mcauliffe | 714.816.3320 | 4112 Cerritos Ave, Los Alamitos, California