It is a year of growth and change here at McNeely. We have welcomed many new staff and an additional division of students and families to the McNeely community this year. We continue to work on our school story focus of building connection and belonging to impact meaningful engagement. 

Through our Family Teams activities, our older students are taking notice of our younger students and connecting with them. Our students worked together to carve pumpkins and our student leaders were kind and supportive to the younger members of their teams throughout the whole process. Student Leaders were mindful and attentive towards their team members. Our younger students felt comfortable to ask their Family Team leaders for help throughout the activity and the atmosphere in the gym was one of joy, shared purpose, and care. 

The growing sense of belonging and school connectedness in our students was also evident in the increase in participation at our Cross Country Running Club and the subsequent representation at the District's Cross Country Fun Run. Students were proud and excited to wear their McNeely Mustang jerseys and take part in this community event. 

Our parent community is engaged and we have a very active PAC at McNeely. Our first school community event was a Costume Carnival and families showed up in record numbers to enjoy the festivities. 

Connections and reconnections are being made amongst our staff members, both returning and new. Mentoring, sharing of ideas and resources, collaboration, involvement in committees and extracurriculars, and offers of support are just some of the ways that our staff is connecting with each other, engaging in our school community, making one another feel welcome, and building team cohesion. The tone being set by our staff is having a ripple effect and impacting the way our students engage with one another.