McCracken Weekly

Feb 22-26, 2016

Everyone, Everyday is Respectful, Responsible & Ready!

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Athletics

Boys' Basketball

Varsity (4:00 p.m.)

• No games scheduled this week

Jr. Varsity (4:00 p.m.)

• Wednesday, February 24: Lincoln Hall @ McCracken

Updated game schedules can also be found online at quickscores.com/little9.

Boys Volleyball Tryouts

7th Grade 

• Tuesday, March 7 (3:45 to 5:15 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 8 (3:00 to 4:30 p.m.)

All interested students must have an athletic participation form on file in order to tryout. Please contact the nurse to make sure you have all necessary forms turned in.

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Camp MacLean

Camp MacLean permission slips and information were distributed during February parent-teacher conferences or mailed home the week of February 15. Forms and payment are due by April 22. Camp MacLean is an outdoor education trip to Burlington, Wisconsin on May 18 through May 20. The purpose of the Camp MacLean trip is to provide our students with an outdoor education experience that promotes team building and independence, aligned with content standards. McCracken staff will facilitate a variety of classes, evening events, and serve as chaperones. The cost of the trip is $178 per student, which includes two nights lodging, seven meals, transportation, and nine classes. Families that are in financial need should contact our main office at 847.673.1220 to request a fee waiver form and Ms. Laura Brogan in the Business Office at 847.676.8313 to establish a payment plan. It is our goal that all 7th graders attend this worthwhile, educational experience! If you have any questions, please contact your student’s advisor or Mrs. Courtney Goodman, Assistant Principal.

District 73.5 2016 Summer School

District 73.5 will offer Summer School for:

• Students entering grades 1-8 who are in need of academic support
• Students who fail a class (attendance is mandatory)

Summer School will be in session from Monday, June 13th through Friday, July 8th (no class on Monday, July 4th) at Oliver McCracken Middle School, 8000 East Prairie Road. The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (times vary according to selected classes). More information regarding tuition cost will be available in the upcoming months. Teachers will be making recommendations for student attendance during conferences in February.

If you are currently planning your child's summer activities and would like to know in advance if your child should attend Summer School, contact your child's teacher.

Bus transportation is available to and from summer school at no additional cost. Parents will identify bus pick-up and drop-off locations once registration is complete. The park district offers a section of Camp Iwannago to align with Summer School. It is the afternoon session 220532-05.  The district bus can pick up and drop off at Oakton Community Center. 

McCracken Learning Center Is Going Green!

All students will now receive notices regarding fines, overdue books, and holds directly to their school email account. There will also be a weekly morning announcement that reminds students to check tharfdffggygjhjjkmkik;;;;;/''eir email for this communication. We hope this will enable our students to be more responsible and independent.

All-School Read

Parents are invited to join us on March 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center to learn more about the top three book choices for this summer's McCracken All-School Read. The novels were selected by a student committee, and these students will share information about the books. After their presentations, we invite parents to read one (or more) of the novels and cast their votes. Questions? Contact Mrs. Courtney Goodman, assistant principal.

From The Health Office

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. here are a few important reminders from the American Dental Association to help your child achieve optimal dental health:

• Brush teeth for 2 minutes 2x per day.
• Clean between teeth with dental floss.
• Drink water instead of soda pop.
• Limit between meal snacks.  Eat sweets sparingly to keep a smile healthy.
• Wear a mouthguard to protect a smile when playing sports.
• Visit the dentist every 6 months.

Proof of a dental exam is required for all 6th grade students by May 15, 2016. If you are unsure as to whether you have met this requirement, or need assistance finding a dentist, please call the nurse, Mary Madigan, at 847.676.8235.

Community Health Survey

The Skokie Health Department is seeking input from anyone who lives, works or attends school in Skokie through a short “Community Health Survey.”  The survey is anonymous and should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes to complete. This is part of a Community Health Needs Assessment conducted every five years to decide which health issues to prioritize in Skokie.  Input from the community is vital to this process. Please click on the following link to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SkokieHealth2016. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, Russian, and Korean. If you would prefer a paper copy or have any questions about the survey please call the Health Department at 847.933.8252. Thank you for helping us to make Skokie a healthier place to live, work, and play.

Winter Screening

District 73.5 students in grades 3 through 8 will be completing a self-report social/emotional screener this fall (10/5/15-10/09/15), winter (1/25/16-1/29/16), and spring (5/9/16-5/13/16). The purpose of this screening tool is to identify and proactively address students’ social/emotional needs. The screener will identify behavioral or emotional strengths and areas for growth. Data gathered from this screener will be used in conjunction with teacher and parent information to identify students in need of additional social, emotional, or behavioral support. If a student self-reports areas for growth, parents/guardians will be contacted by a member of student support services. 

McCracken Yearbooks On Sale

The yearbook staff is hard at work creating a spectacular yearbook. All students will want a copy of this wonderful book of memories. Yearbooks are on sale for $20. All students will receive an order form from their advisor. All orders are due by March 18. Get yours now!

Maker Mondays At McCracken

It’s a new year with new opportunities for students! Starting Monday, January 11, during all lunch periods, students can join Ms. Gammeri and Mrs. Monak for Maker Mondays. These sessions will be a chance for students to explore STEM topics by tinkering, building, and collaborating in a flexible environment. This program hopes to transform our community into “makers” who are agents of change and creation!

Winter Weather

Please make sure your child is dressed for recess in winter weather with a jacket, hat, and gloves or mittens. Students participate in outdoor recess throughout the school year, unless there is a significant weather-related or other factor that necessitates an indoor program. Thank you, in advance, for helping to ensure that your child is prepared for the winter weather so that he/she is more comfortable during outdoor recess!

Middle School Parents Still Make The Difference 

Visit our website to access a monthly parent Newsletter titled, “Middle School Parents Still Make a Difference!” This resource provides tips for helping your student succeed in school, and suggestions for communicating with your young adolescent. Each edition also includes a monthly calendar of ideas for you and your middle school student. Enjoy!

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Skokie District 73.5  Participates In The 5Essentials Parent Survey 2016

Beginning on January 11 teachers, parents, and students across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the fourth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of our schools. 

The Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey will be conducted January 11 through March 11, 2016. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois and click the “Parent Survey” to begin. There are 17 questions and the survey should take approximately 15 minutes. If you have children in multiple buildings please complete one for each school.

Your participation in the parent survey will help us better understand our schools and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. If at least 20% of parents complete this survey, a parent supplement will also be generated. This will allow us to access to your valuable feedback.

Please help us reach at least 20 percent and participate! We will post updated participation rates in our Weekly and on the website during the survey window. Additionally we will have devices available for parents to complete the survey at events such as parent visit day and PTA meetings. Thank you in advance for participating!

Participation Update: At the end of this week, our reports show that 27% of parents have taken the 5Essentials Parent Survey. We've exceeded our goal... thank you for your feedback!

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PTA News & Information

The PTA is live on SD735.org! Look up in the bookmark bar for the PTA link and then click it to get to know your PTA, find out how you can get involved, learn about events, download/print PTA flyers, and more. In the meantime, check out the PTA flyer for this week and be on the lookout for details about these upcoming events...

• PTA Meeting
  Tuesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m.
   
• Adult Dance & Auction
  Saturday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m.
   
• PTA Board Elections
  Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m.
   
• Scholastic Book Fair @ McCracken
  Tuesday, April 12 through Thursday, April 14, 2016

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Community Pages

Visit the Community section of our website for links to Community Pages, an archive of "frequent flyer" handouts shared by our community partners for students to take home in their backpacks and folders. There's a little bit of everything for everyone: park district and public library news, scouts, athletics, community events and services, and more.

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Emergency School Closing Information

In the event of severe weather conditions or a building emergency which necessitate school closings, closings will be announced on the following radio and television stations:

• AM Radio Stations: WGN 720, WBBM 780
• Television Stations: CBS Channel 2, NBC Channel 5, ABC Channel 7, WGN Channel 9, FOX Channel 32, CLTV Channel 41

Listen for "Skokie School District 73½"

In addition, school closings will be posted on the District’s website www.sd735.org. You can also check online at www.emergencyclosing.com.

In the event our schools are closed, the District will activate the District's automated phone messaging system, which will call each family with a recorded message.

Please make sure the school offices have your most current contact information.

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Visitor Reminders:  All visitors must check in at the main office during regular school hours for the continued safety and security of all district students and staff. Valid identification (driver’s license or state I.D.) should be available to present to office staff prior to entry approval. Once you receive your visitor’s pass, please restrict your movement in the building to your pre-arranged purpose. Visitors entering the building after hours must be escorted by a district staff member to and from their meeting location. Also important to remember, is that students have been directed never to open exterior doors for any visitors, known or unknown, during regular or after school hours. This policy is to limit the risk of any individual entering our building without checking in to receive proper approval. We continue to welcome visitors at each of our district buildings, but ask that you respect our safety procedures and policies.

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Outstanding Fees

If a student has any outstanding fees, such as instructional, bus, lunch, library, etc., which are over $6.00, the student will not be allowed to participate in the Athletics/Enrichment/After-School Activities/Swing Choir and any other student paid activities, until these fees are paid. This policy went into effect on Monday, November 30.

Camera Apps Parents Should Know About

Teens can use apps with names such as Private Ninja Cam and Best Secret Folder to ensure privacy and independence from parents who may be monitoring their online behavior. Visit Common Sense Media for information about these and other apps. 

Extended Learning Program 

Our Extended Learning Program provides honors classes for students in math and English language arts in grades 4-8. Students qualify for these classes based on a variety of measures. Families are notified of this information in June (for class placement for the upcoming school year). Parents may complete a Parent Inquiry Form if they believe their child may benefit from a more rigorous curriculum. The window for submitting Parent Inquiry Forms opened October 1 and remains open until April 1. Parent Inquiry paperwork is available in the main office of Middleton and McCracken, or by contacting your school’s Assistant Principal.

Peanut and Nut-Free Classrooms

As part of our ongoing effort to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, classrooms and other learning spaces in our building are peanut and nut free. (Students travel to multiple classrooms each day, so it is not possible to designate only some classrooms as "peanut and nut-free zones.") Therefore, when selecting snacks or meals for your child to eat during activities or events meeting outside of our cafeteria, please send peanut and nut free options. Your child may continue to bring peanut and nut products for lunch in our cafeteria, as we have a peanut and nut free table in that location. Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Reminder: Arrival and Dismissal Safety Guidelines

Ensuring the safety of all students during arrival and dismissal is a collective effort. Please review the Skokie Police ordinances, McCracken Middle School regulations, and safety reminders outlined on the website and distributed to all students on Schedule Pick Up Day so that we may work together toward improved student safety. Please also remember not to block the driveways of homes on East Prairie to ensure that our neighbors may enter and exit safely. Thank you! 

Learning Center

The Learning Center will open for students at 7:30 a.m. every day before school, and remain open until 4:00 p.m. after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. (After 7:40 a.m. students must wait to enter the building until the bell rings at 7:50 a.m.) The Learning Center is closed after school on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria is open at 7:30 a.m. for students to purchase breakfast. (After 7:40 a.m. students must wait to enter the building until the bell rings at 7:50 a.m.) The Learning Center is closed after school on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Early Dismissal

Every Tuesday students are dismissed at 2:00 p.m. so that teachers may participate in professional development and collaborative planning sessions.

Late Bus

We offer late bus service again this year. If your child is a current bus rider and has paid for service, there is no extra cost and he/she may use our regular bus pass to ride the late bus. If your child is not a current bus rider, you may pay a $70 fee in the McCracken office to secure a late bus pass. Students must show the driver their late bus pass to ride this bus. The late bus runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and leaves McCracken at 4:00 p.m.. If you have questions, please call the office.

Student/Parent Email Registration:

To receive alerts via email, please register your email address with the district via PowerSchool.