George McVey Elementary

Egypt Exploration in First Grade

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the first grade was learning all about Egypt, so they completed a grade-wide project to celebrate it. Instead of teaching about Egypt individually in their own classes, the teachers decided to explore it together as a whole grade. Each class represented a different part of Egypt and displayed it in their classrooms.

One of the first-grade teachers said, “Designing and teaching it was really fun! The kids really enjoyed getting to look around and see what Egypt actually looked like.” Some unique items they made were King Tut, Egyptian jewelry, mummies, and more! So, would you want to see their creations?

By: Udita Sen and Olivia Basta
The Publicity Club

Thanksgiving Day Parade with our Pre-K!
Our little learners proudly marched the halls, parading their colorful balloons. The smiles and excitement filled the building as our Pre-K students brought the magic of a Thanksgiving parade right to our school!

The PTA is proud to announce and celebrate the winners of this year’s Reflections Award Contest! Congratulations to all of our talented students who participated and shared their creativity. We are incredibly proud of all our winners and participants.

Corey the Dribbler Visits McVey!

On November 10, 2025, Corey the Dribbler visited McVey for an exciting assembly. Corey has been performing for ten years and said he loves playing basketball and showing off his tricks to audiences. During his visit, he spoke to us about showing respect when talking to others and giving them the attention they deserve.

Corey also called up around ten students to participate in a fun game called “You’ve Been Tricked!” This activity helped everyone understand the importance of grit and never giving up when faced with challenges.

The assembly reminded all McVey students to support one another, show kindness, and always do their best.

Written by: Alexandra Klin, Alessandra Estrella, and Paige Teemsma
The Publicity Club

McVey Book Fair

From November 5th–7th, the whole school got the chance to attend the Book Fair! This event is always a lot of fun because you get to explore books, learn about different genres, and decide which ones you’d like to read!

According to one of the PTA members, “The Book Fair has been going on for many, many years. A few years ago, they only had six bookcases, and now they have nine!” She also mentioned, “It took about two hours to set everything up.” Isn’t that cool?

There are three cashiers: Allison Vardikis, Lily Chang-Yeung, and Jess Shea. The other helpers are volunteers and PTA members. The books come from Scholastic, and the fair receives about 3,000 books each year—wow, that’s crazy, right?

Did you know that in the spring, instead of taking a profit, the PTA chooses to give the children of McVey a Buy-One-Get-One-Free Book Fair? Another fun fact: Mr. Minerva said he can’t even remember when the fair first started, but he knows it was before he came to McVey in 1997!

The Book Fair has been a McVey tradition for many years and continues to be a huge success!

Written by: Olivia Basta & Udita Sen
The Publicity Club

McVey Holds Student Council Elections

This Monday, November 3, 2025, the fourth and fifth graders at McVey participated in Student Council Elections, where everyone in those grades got the chance to vote. Voting in fourth and fifth grade is mandatory because it is a right as a student of McVey Elementary School.

“The students that ran for a position were taking an extra step forward,” said Ms. Dunne, McVey’s Principal. All of the students did an extraordinary job. None of the fourth graders ran for secretary, so the runner-up for treasurer was offered the position.

The election takes a lot of courage, and students need to be brave to prepare and deliver a speech in front of an audience. In the end, the winners of the election were fifth graders Matty Mazzello as President and Sophia Vardikis as Vice President. The fourth-grade winners were Hope Bong as Treasurer and Adam Philip as Secretary.

Great work to everyone who participated!

Written by: Maggie Shea, Paige Teemsma, and Reagan Leake
The Publicity Club

On October 29, the Kindergarten students participated in the Pumpkin Patch. This event was so much fun because they got to pick pumpkins right in front of McVey and enjoy activities, too. One kindergartener we spoke with, Bella, said her favorite part was when she got the beanbag into the witch’s cauldron.

If you’re wondering why we do this event, Ms. Volpe from the Pumpkin Patch Committee explained, “It is a wonderful event where students spend time with friends and get pumpkins to decorate and paint.”

Written by: Maggie Shea and Reagan Leake
The Publicity Club

The Halloween Howl took place on Monday, October 27. The event was filled with excitement and happiness, with a wide variety of costumes on display. Loud music and flashing lights filled the gym, along with lots of laughter, different types of costumes, and all kinds of dance moves.

There were raffles, and if you were lucky enough, you might have won a prize! The Halloween Howl was also a great place to meet up with friends, eat snacks, and dance. The scariest part of all was the spooky walk. Teachers dressed up as frightening characters and tried to terrify the kids. Some students recognized their teachers right away, while others screamed their lungs out!

The photo booth was another favorite, a great way to make memories with family and friends. The Halloween Howl is truly a fun time to enjoy all the activities and remember the exciting moments you had. We hope you had fun!

Written by Maliha Chaudhry, Alessandra Estrella, and Rania Ahmed
The Publicity Club

On October 21st, McVey Elementary had a Fire Prevention Day. This day was all about learning how to prevent fires. The fire department came to teach us important safety tips and also showed us their fire gear. After the lesson, we went outside to see the fire truck up close—it was really cool and awesome! Some of the fifth-grade teachers even went up in the fire bucket. Overall, this event was amazing, and we learned many important things.

By Reagan Leake, Neel Reilly, and Riley Walsh
The Publicity Club

💗 McVey Faculty and Students are Mighty Kind: “Pink-Out” for Breast Cancer Awareness! 💗

The McVey community came together in a wave of pink to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Faculty and students alike joined the “Pink-Out” spirit day, wearing pink to honor survivors, remember loved ones, and raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. This powerful display of unity and kindness showed once again that the McVey family truly is Mighty Kind!

Medical Day in First Grade! Last Friday, October 17th, the first graders had a special day to learn all about the human body—and they had a blast! Students moved from classroom to classroom, taking part in fun, hands-on activities. We spoke with first grade teacher Mrs. Shappert and asked, “What is this event about?” She explained, “Today, the first grade students are learning about the human body and how to become doctors.” The students had a great time learning, exploring, and creating crafts to take home and share with their families.

Written by: Reagan Leake and Maggie Shea, The Publicity Club

McVey recently celebrated Unity Day! We wore orange to show that we stand together against bullying. “Unity” means coming together as one, and “Day” means… well, just one special day to show it! So many students and staff wore orange—it showed how much we care about McVey, about kindness, and about each other. McVey has always been a bully-free school, and Unity Day was a great reminder of how strong we are when we all stand together. Did you celebrate Unity Day?

From : Udita Sen, Olivia Basta, & Penelope Vidlas.
( from the Publicity Club )

McVey Elementary School’s 75th Anniversary continues with a special theme: "McVey Today!" The school was bursting with spirit as students wore their McVey gear, along with our school colors — blue and yellow — to show their pride and love for our amazing school community. The energy and excitement were felt throughout the hallways, as the spirit of McVey was truly alive! One of the highlights of the celebration was a walk through the "McVey Museum," where students traveled through time — from the early days of the school to the present. They explored old photographs, classroom tools, and unique gadgets from each era, discovering how much McVey has grown and changed over the decades. It was a fun and meaningful way for students to connect with the school's rich history while celebrating the vibrant McVey of today. Here’s to 75 years of learning, growing, and making memories — and many more to come!

McVey's 75th Anniversary continues! Students and teachers embraced an exciting 1980s theme—honoring the decade when McVey proudly became the Mustangs. The school was buzzing with retro energy as everyone joined in the fun, with vibrant 80s fashion on full display. Adding to the spirit, many wore red to represent the original school colors of the McVey Mustangs.

McVey Elementary School kicked off its 75th anniversary celebration with a spirited tribute to the "Nifty Fifties," honoring the decade the school first opened its doors in 1950. Students and teachers dressed in classic 1950s attire—think poodle skirts and leather jackets,—bringing the era to life with enthusiasm and style. Adding a special touch to the celebration, some participants wore green to honor the school's original name, Meadowlawn Elementary.

Welcome Back! The hallways are once again alive with laughter, chatter, and excitement — and we couldn't be happier to see our students! After a refreshing break, it's amazing to watch our school come back to life with smiling faces and eager minds. Let’s make it a year to remember — filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable moments. Here is to 75 years of McVey!

We had a "sweet" start to the school year with our annual Welcome Back Social! Students were all smiles as they enjoyed delicious ice cream, played games, and caught up with friends they haven't seen all summer. Laughter filled the air as families mingled, teachers greeted their new and returning students, and everyone shared in the excitement of a new school year. The event was full of warmth, joy, and community spirit—setting the perfect tone for a fun and successful school year ahead!

At McVey Elementary, learning took flight—literally—during an unforgettable, action-packed day outdoors! Excitement filled the air as students watched a real police helicopter descend and land right on the school field, its blades whirring and drawing cheers from the crowd. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Lining the street was an incredible showcase of vehicles: towering fire trucks with ladders and hoses, a flashing ambulance, a mighty payloader, a roaring garbage truck, a buzzing street sweeper, a tactical SWAT vehicle, sleek police motorcycles, and a heavy-duty dump truck. Community heroes were on hand to explain how each vehicle helps protect and serve the neighborhood. Students also got to meet gentle police horses and were wowed by a talented police dog showing off its amazing skills. It was a day of high-energy learning, hands-on exploration, and memories that will last a lifetime! Written and Photographed by: Gianna Randazzo and Lekha James The Publicity Club

First grade students brought their learning to life as they explored the world of money in an exciting and interactive way. The first-grade hallway was transformed into a vibrant Shopping Plaza, complete with a variety of themed “stores” where students could spend, save, and even donate their coins. Students had the chance to visit and shop at several stores, including a Craft Store, Post Office, Game Zone, Movie Theater, 20 Cents Below, Electric Slide Disco, and a Fitness Center. Each spot offered either fun items to purchase or engaging activities for entertainment. As part of their experience, students also had the opportunity to give back by donating coins to help save the sea turtles, learning the value of charity and the impact their generosity can have on the world around them. It was a fun-filled day full of learning, laughter, and life lessons about money management and giving. Way to go, Mighty Minds!