FAQS

Can my child take medicine at School?

If at all possible, it is recommended that parents give medication to students outside of school hours. If it is necessary for the medication to be given during school hours, certain guidelines must be followed. No medication can ever be transported to school by students and cannot be accepted from them. The parent/guardian must complete and sign the appropriate form BEFORE medication can be given at school. Prescription medicines must be in the original bottle and prescribed to the student. Over the counter medications cannot be given by school personnel without a doctor's signature on the form. Some of the items covered by this include aspirin, antacids, Tylenol, cough drops, anti-itch creams, to name a few.

How much school can my child miss?

School attendance is a very important factor for the academic success of your child(ren). STATE LAW requires enrolled children to have regular compulsory school attendance.  A student is considered truant if they miss more than 10 days during the school year.

Should your child need to be absent from school, please call the school office as soon as possible to report the absence and reason.  If your child's absence is due to an extenuating circumstance like a medical appointment, please provide a doctors note when your child returns to school.

When do we stay inside for recess?

Michigan weather is never the same from one moment to the next.  Students will go outdoors for recess every day unless the weather poses a health or safety risk for them.

It is important to remember that students need to come to school with the proper clothing for the season. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather and consider the fact that your child may be outside for about 20 minutes at lunchtime.

During the Fall and Spring students will remain indoors if the temperature is above 90 degrees (w/ heat index).  Students cannot wear shorts, short sleeves or flip-flops outdoors if the temperature is below 55 degrees.

During the Winter months, students will go out for recess when the air temperature (w/ wind chill) is above 10 degrees. If either the wind chill or actual air temperature is below 10 degrees, students will stay inside.

We gather weather-related information from the websites of local tv stations and weather-related mobile apps.

FAQs continued

Can I volunteer at school?

We love our volunteers!  Parents, guardians, relatives, and friends are encouraged and welcomed to volunteer. There are many ways to get involved including helping teachers in the classroom or chaperoning some of our field trips, assisting in the Media Center/Library, popping popcorn on Popcorn Friday, Mackensen events (Field Day, Trunk or Treat, End of Year Celebration) among many others. For more information about how you can become a volunteer at Mackensen,please contact us here at school. You could also fill out this VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM to tell us a little more about yourself and how you would like to get involved.

Please note: All volunteers need an approved volunteer application on file. Click HERE to complete the form.

Do you offer programs to assist students academically or social-emotionally?

  • Special programs are offered to students who qualify for specialized services.  Among these programs are:-1

    What items should my child NOT bring to school?

    In the interest of keeping students focused on learning and to insure student safety while they are here, we ask that students not bring toys, glass items, sharp objects, or electronic equipment to school. We will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items.

    Who can pick up my child from school?

    Please update your child's emergency contacts regularly by contacting our records associate in our school office.  Students will only be released to people identified by parents in our student records database.

    How is progress monitored and communicated?

    Your child's progress is communicated online throughSkyward Family Access (daily, mid-term and Semester grading). *Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled twice a year. If, at any time, you are concerned with your child's academic or social-emotional progress, or if you have any questions, you can always call your child's teacher to discuss your concerns and work together to find solutions.