iGNITE: Field Trips & Enrichment

Support programs for your children through iGNITE

All grades have 10 - 12 activities per year, including 1 – 2 off site field trips. Kindergarten has 7 activities per year, partially because kindergarten students do not start enrichment until November, after they have settled into their classroom routines.  This is a cost of ~$10 per activity.

The iGNITE program’s core focus areas are to:

  • Enhance curriculum-based learning.

  • Build skills that drive characteristics of successful learners.

  • Promote social and emotional awareness.

Why support iGNITE?

Experiences funded by iGNITE are an integral part of educating the whole child and your contributions go right back to your kids. iGNITE is McKenzie PTA’s fundraising initiative dedicated to enrich the learning experience at McKenzie. Each year, students benefit from enrichment programs such as field trips, speakers, and performances that enhance the curriculum taught in the classroom and build skills integral to future success.

What you might not know is that these programs are NOT paid for by the school district – they are solely funded by McKenzie families through this annual iGNITE fundraising initiative.

Suggested Fee Per Student for 25/26:

  • 1st – 4th Grade: $100

  • Kindergarten: $80

$
3% Cover the Fee

Activities we have planned for this year:

Kindergarten

  • Author Visit

  • Science Experiment: Sounds Like Fun

  • Activity tied to 25-26 Current Event (‘24-’25 Programming was the McKenzie Mock Election)

  • Peggy Notebart: Plant Detectives

  • Emily Oaks Nature Center

  • Mindfulness Lessons

  • Wilmette Public Library Visit: Cozy Reading Celebration

  • Garden Seed Planting

1st Grade

  • Author Visit

  • Science Experiment: Earth’s Harsh Environments

  • Activity tied to 25-26 Current Event (‘24-’25 Programming was the McKenzie Mock Election)

  • Peggy Notebart: Reptile Roadshow

  • Kohl Children’s Museum: Vibrations Explorations

  • Mindfulness Lessons

  • Wilmette Public Library Visit: Cozy Reading Celebration

  • River City Puppet Show

  • Science Experiment: The Power of Light

2nd Grade

  • Author Visit

  • Science Experiment: Types of Matter

  • Activity tied to 25-26 Current Event (‘24-’25 Programming was the McKenzie Mock Election)

  • Science Experiment #2

  • Theater Performance

  • Mindfulness Lessons

  • Wilmette Public Library Visit: Cozy Reading Celebration

  • Wilmette Historical Museum

  • Chicago Botanic Garden: Anatomy of a Flower

3rd Grade

  • Author Visit

  • Peggy Notebart: Reptiles Close Up

  • The Grove Field Trip: Animal Adaptations

  • Flamenco Dance Performance

  • Activity tied to 25-26 Current Event (‘24-’25 Programming was the McKenzie Mock Election)

  • Artifact Discovery with Winnetka Historical Society

  • Mindfulness Lessons

  • Polar Explorer Annie Agnes

  • Wilmette Public Library Visit: Research

  • Theater Performance: Fairy Tales

  • Native American Museum

  • Tenement Museum Virtual Visit

4th Grade

  • Author Visit

  • Science Experiment: Extreme Weather

  • Lincoln Park Zoo

  • Activity tied to 25-26 Current Event (‘24-’25 Programming was the McKenzie Mock Election)

  • Reporter Visit: Real Life Writing

  • Mindfulness Lessons

  • Wilmette Public Library Visit: Research

  • WWII Themed Event

  • Museum of Science and Industry or Shedd Aquarium

  • Ranger Ryan: Birds of Prey

  • Mousetrap Magic Show (Featuring Simple Machines)


*Events in italics are offsite field trips.