McCracken Weekly

Oct 19-23, 2015

Everyone, Everyday is Respectful, Responsible & Ready!

Students with McCracken tshirts

October 2015

Sunday, October 18

  • Explore Makeups at Niles North

Monday, October 19

  • Eighth Grade Field Trip

Friday, October 23

  • End of Quarter 1
  • Buzz Buck Bonanza (2:00 p.m.)
  • PTA/Student Council Dance (7:00-8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, October 27

  • Committee of the Whole (7:00 p.m.)

Sunday, November 1

  • Daylight Savings Time Ends

Tuesday, November 3

  • Institute Day (No school)

Friday, November 6

  • Honors Assembly (8:10 a.m.)

Tuesday, November 10

  • Board of Education Meeting (7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, November 11

  • Veterans Day (No school)

Saturday, November 14

  • ILMEA District 7 Band Trip

Athletics

Girls' Volleyball

  • Varsity
    • Saturday, October 17 - Tournament (8:00 a.m.)
       
  • Jr. Varsity
    • Saturday, October 17 - Tournament (8:30 a.m.)

Girls' Basketball Tryouts

  • Varsity
    • Monday, October 19  (5:30-6:45 p.m.)
    • Tuesday, October 20  (4:00-5:00 p.m.)
       
  • Jr. Varsity (4:00p.m.)
    • Monday, October 19  (3:00-4:15 p.m.)
    • Tuesday, October 20  (5:00-6:00 p.m.)
       
  • 6th Grade
    • Monday, October 19 (4:30-5:45 p.m.)

All interested girls 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. Please contact Ms. Simon or Mr. Gormley if you have any questions.

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

McCracken Band Fundraiser

Order forms for the McCracken Band Pie Fundraiser were distributed during band this week. Return forms to the school office. The final deadline is Friday, November 13. Contact Dana Dorais at 847.204.1393 with questions.

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.

PTA

Calling all Volunteers! Be on the lookout for more information from the PTA about volunteer opportunities! We are creating an online sign-up sheet and will pass along all links as soon it is up and running. Opportunities include committee chairs, volunteers for school events, helpers in the school, and more. With your help, we know it will be a great year.

Registration for 8th Graders

D219 has sent letters to 8th grade families regarding registration for next year at Niles North. The letters included a link (web address) for parents/guardians to use for the purpose of registering their child. Parents/Guardians should follow these registration instructions. The registration window is October 1 through November 19. If there are questions regarding registration, the high school should be contacted directly.

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!

Orchestra

McCracken is pleased to host an after-school orchestra program for students in grades 6-8. Please review the attached flyer for more information.

Center for Adult Learning LogoEnglish Classes

Once again, free English classes are being offered to district parents and grandparents on Saturday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m (note new time) in the Meyer Multi-Purpose room. There is free child-care. Interested parents must complete the registration form at the bottom of the attached flyer (Urdu translation). Slips can be sent to your school office. The first class is scheduled on Saturday, September 12.

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!

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.

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.

PTA Pumpkin LogoPTA News & Information

Join the Pumpkin Volunteer Corps and be part of District 73.5 history! Don't miss your chance to be a Pumpkin Wrangler at our upcoming Meyer and Middleton Pumpkin Nights on Wednesday, October 21 and Friday, October 23! Click through to sign up for a volunteer shift at one or both events: http://goo.gl/tV6w6u. Come to help out and then stick around for the fun with family and friends. We'll have fall crafts, games and prizes, hay rides, a balloon artist, and caricatures by the artists from Skokie's own Aw Yeah Comics.

International Night is Friday, November 6 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at McCracken Middle School

"Many Cultures, One District" Travel the world without leaving Skokie! Discover many cultures through food, traditional dance and music, games, and artifacts. Children are invited to dress in the traditional attire of their culture and join the parade! Sign up to be an International Night Ambassador! Click through to choose a volunteer slot to help out or host a table: http://goo.gl/qRo8jN.

Check out the PTA Weekly Flier for more information about Pumpkin Nights and International Night!