AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

McNear has a robust After-School Enrichment Program featuring classes such as Archeology, Robotics, Jewelry Making, Chess, Tennis, and much more. There are three 6-week sessions throughout the year, and each session differs in its offerings. Prices average around $85/session, and scholarships are available.

CARING SCHOOLS COMMUNITIES

The Caring Schools Community program includes schoolwide community-building activities, classroom meetings and lessons, a home-school connection, buddy activities, and more. This program enables partnering with McNear families to support our students’ academic, social, ethical, and emotional growth.

FALCON PRIDE FRIDAYS

Students show their school spirit each Friday by dressing in school colors: blue and gold. If a class has at least 50% participation, they are included in a drawing to keep one of the Falcon Pride Plaques in their classroom! Go Falcons! Show your Falcon Pride!

T-shirts and sweatshirts with the McNear logo are available. Sales are organized and coordinated by the PTA. Email mcnearpta@gmail.com for more information.

GARDEN EDUCATION

McNear has an active Garden Education program. Each Fall and Spring the garden turns into a rotating outdoor classroom for students K-5 that consists of science and hands-on gardening. Parent volunteers are a huge part of keeping our garden as beautiful as it is today.

HOLIDAY GIVING PROGRAM

Each December this program provides opportunities for McNear families to support others in our own school community by anonymously donating gifts and cards.  Detailed information is sent home with students in December.

MAKERS LAB

The Falcon Makers Lab incorporates both hands-on activities, technology, and art into everyday learning. All McNear students have a chance to work in the lab and take part in school-wide engineering design challenges. The Falcon Makers Lab is an extension of the McNear Art and Science Center. We are always taking donations and we have an Amazon Wish List.

MCNEAR ART AND SCIENCE CENTER (MASC)

Through the support of the PTA and PEF grants , in the summer of 2017 McNear turned its dated computer lab into a vibrant space that supports the exploration of science and art. Teachers utilize the space for coding practice, textile exploration and art docent lessons. Additionally, enrichment classes are held after school in areas such as robotics and art; future offerings will span to fashion design, cartooning and life sciences.

PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts is a volunteer-run after-school drama program designed and run by McNear parents for McNear students. Please consider taking advantage of this fabulous confidence and character-building experience.

Our program has become so popular with the McNear community that enrollment numbers are very high. Because of this fantastic participation level, the program has been split into Primary (1-3 graders – Spring Show) and Secondary (4-6 graders – Fall Show).

Rehearsals typically begin for the Fall show shortly after school starts. The Spring show rehearsals start shortly after the Winter break.

Thank you for your interest and participation in our all-volunteer program. We COULD NOT do it without you!

SONOMA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE

McNear School was chosen as one of two pilot schools in Petaluma for SEEC’s Environmental Learning Pathways Program. This collaboration will provide McNear students with the opportunity to become leaders on the cutting edge of science learning. Learn more about this exciting new program on the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative website.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Students from grades 4-6 are elected two times a year to the Student Leadership Council. This teacher-led council advises the principal, organizes special events, creates fundraisers, and works at solutions regarding student issues.

TOOLBOX BY DOVETAIL LEARNING

TOOLBOX is a research-based, community-tested Kindergarten through sixth grade social and emotional learning (SEL) program. This program of 12 “tools” strengthens students’ self-mastery, resilience, and empathy.  

VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIES

Thanks to special funding from 2016′s WISH Benefit, many McNear teachers went through training for Visual Thinking Strategies in Summer 2016. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a method initiated by teacher-facilitated discussions of art images. This method can help develop key behaviors such as “thinking skills that become habitual and transfer from lesson to lesson, oral and written language literacy, visual literacy, and collaborative interactions among peers.” Learn more about VTS here.