November 1, 2024 Newsletter

School Board Summary for the October 28th Meeting

Each month, after our board meetings, McKinney ISD will provide our community with a brief summary of events and items covered during the session. Visit the Board of Trustees page for more information.

Reminder: Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences are Nov. 5

We are excited to announce that McKinney ISD's elementary parent teacher conferences will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. These conferences play a vital role in enhancing communication between parents and teachers, fostering collaboration that supports student success, and encouraging greater parental involvement.

Click here to download the flyer!

McKinney ISD Earns Overall ‘A’ Grade from Niche, Recognizing Academic Excellence and Community Commitment

MISD Logo

McKinney Independent School District (McKinney ISD) is proud to announce that it has received an overall grade of ‘A’ from Niche, a trusted school and district rating platform. This recognition reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student support, and community engagement.

The ‘A’ grade from Niche is based on a comprehensive analysis of academic performance, student and parent reviews, and various measures of quality, including teacher qualifications, resources, and extracurricular activities. McKinney ISD’s outstanding performance in these areas demonstrates the district’s dedication to fostering a positive learning environment where every student can succeed. 

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from Niche,” said Shawn Pratt, Superintendent of McKinney ISD. “This grade is a testament to the hard work of our teachers, staff, and administrators, as well as the support of our families and community members. Our focus remains on providing a high-quality education for all students. I am thankful for this incredible honor for our district.”

Click here to learn more.

The Broadway Broncos Present: The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

McKinney Boyd High School Theatre is proud to present Disney's The Little Mermaid. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. This fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World."

Showtimes: Thursday, November 14 at 7p.m., Friday, November 15 at 7p.m., Saturday, November 16 at 7p.m.

Click here to buy tickets.

Sensory Friendly Performance

The Broadway Broncos are also offering a sensory friendly performance on Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m.

A sensory friendly performance is a theater production that is modified to be more welcoming and comfortable for people with sensory sensitivities, autism, or other social, learning, or cognitive disabilities. These performances are designed to be a judgment-free experience for all audience members, and are also suitable for young children or first-time theatergoers.

Click here to buy tickets.

Skydiving Principals – Webb & Frazier Elementary

“What are you doing if you’re NOT jumping out of a plane?” Is this a dare? Is this a challenge? Or is this just what Karime Terrazas asks herself every morning? Karime serves as principal for Webb Elementary, and Amy Holderman serves as principal for Frazier Elementary, and they both found a courageous way to fundraise for their campuses AND prove their dedication to their school communities. October is Principal Appreciation Month, and it’s the month when two McKinney ISD principals jumped out of a plane because…well, they said they would.

WFAA Scholar Athletes

WFAA Scholar Athletes Sabine Brown and Brady Stangl

WFAA Channel 8 choose two McKinney North High School swimmers as Scholar Athletes of the Week to be highlighted during Joe Trahan’s sports segment on the 10 o’clock news. Sabine Brown, senior, was highlighted on September 22nd.   Brady Stangl, senior, was highlighted on October 22nd.  Congratulations to these two wonderful MISD athletes.

View Sabine Brown's highlight segment.
View Brady Stangl's highlight segment.

MISD Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, McKinney ISD created and posted several engaging videos on the district’s YouTube channel. We invite everyone to learn more about the vibrant heritage that enriches our schools and community.

Visit McKinney ISD's YouTube channel to learn more.

2024 Fall Community Resource Night

The 4th annual Fall Community Resource Night was held at the McKinney ISD Community Event Center on Thursday, October 17th. The purpose of this event is to connect community resources with families in need in order to help improve and sustain the quality of life for the students and families of McKinney ISD.

McKinney North Punkin' Chunkin'

physics students

The seasonal activity and competition known as "punkin chunkin" is a great exercise in the physics of projectile motion, so McKinney North science teacher Allison Jester brought it down to a more manageable classroom scale as her students built popsicle catapults to hurtle candy pumpkins across the room. The launch results ranged from the tiny pumpkins flipping backward to soaring across 21 meters! Either way, it was an engaging, fun application of physics!

Click here to learn more.

Student Transfer Petition Timeline Oct. 21- Nov. 22

Transfer petitions for the current academic school year and the 2025-26 school year will be accepted through November 22, 2024. The transfer petitions for the current school year will be considered by district's review team and processed within 30 business days of their receipt, and the 25-26 school year petitions will be processed within 60 business days.

All student transfer requests should be emailed to: studenttransfers@mckinneyisd.net. The completed document can also submitted at the reception desk Central Office administration building located at 1 Duval Street, McKinney, TX 75069.

For more information about student transfers in McKinney ISD please see the transfer documents online: View documents

MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt Accepts Toys for Tots Challenge as Monument Realty PGA District Hosts North Texas Kickoff

toys for tots logo

As the holiday season approaches, the dedicated volunteers of Toys for Tots are working to ensure that every child in North Texas can receive a new gift during this season of giving, and McKinney ISD has taken up the challenge to do its part to support this worthy cause.

MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt and Frisco ISD Superintendent Dr. Mike Waldrip are calling on their respective school districts to pull out all the stops to help make this the most successful year ever for Toys for Tots in North Texas as the two superintendents entered into a friendly competition Thursday to see which school district can bring in the most toys. Waldrip issued the challenge—which Pratt and Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca accepted—during the Toys for Tots kick off event in Frisco on Thursday. In this challenge, ultimately, it’s the kids who win.

Click here to learn more.

Special Education Evaluations

Free statewide webinar on November 6, 2024, at 12:15 p.m. (CT). Mandy Young, Special Education Technical Assistance Manager at the Texas Education Agency will join us for an informative presentation on Special Education Evaluations, designed specifically for parents navigating this complex process. We will begin with an introduction to the importance of understanding special education, followed by an overview of the legal framework and rights of parents and students. The session will review the evaluation process, including where to find eligibility criteria, categories of disabilities, and the essential steps involved. A case study will provide real-world context, highlighting a student's journey through the evaluation and emphasizing parent advocacy. Finally, we’ll provide answers to frequently asked questions and valuable resources and support options for parents to empower them in advocating for their children. Click here to register.