Wow! Middleton families, when you show up, you show up big! Thank you so much for your generosity and support of the PTO Niles Township Food Pantry Donation Drive at Middleton. We collected 3 carloads full of donations that will go to support local families in need.

Congratulations to Ms. Ellis’s class for winning the PTO donation drive raffle, and $100 for your classroom! Thank you to the PTO!

We’re excited to introduce our new Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Corner, a space dedicated to supporting the well-being and growth of our students. In each Weekly, you’ll find helpful tips, simple strategies to try at home, and information about the SEL focus areas we’re working on at school. Our goal is to partner with families in nurturing skills like empathy, resilience, and problem-solving—so students feel confident and connected both in the classroom and beyond. We look forward to learning and growing together!

In the weeks leading up to winter break, we’ll be focusing on how Bulldogs can BE RESPONSIBLE members of our school community. One way we practice responsibility is by helping students learn to manage their feelings and actions. This includes calming themselves when upset, handling stress, setting simple goals, and following through on tasks. We teach students to recognize and name their emotions, and to show honesty, responsibility, and perseverance. These skills support our 1st–5th graders as they handle classroom challenges, work well with others, and grow confidence in making positive choices.

A STRATEGY TO PRACTICE: "PAUSE, NAME, CHOOSE"

To help students manage frustration—whether it’s working through a tricky math problem, a disagreement with a friend, or a challenging transition—here is one simple strategy you can try at home:

1. PAUSE
   Take a slow breath to give your body and brain a moment to settle.
2. NAME THE FEELING
   “I feel frustrated.” “I feel stuck.” “I feel nervous.”
   Naming a feeling helps students recognize what is happening inside them.
3. CHOOSE A HELPFUL ACTION. Examples include:

• trying the problem again
• asking for help
• using a classroom calm-down tool
• taking a short break and returning to the task

By practicing these skills each day, our students are building the foundation they need to be thoughtful decision-makers and responsible classmates. We are excited to continue partnering with families as our learners grow in confidence, independence, and resilience!

We follow the Child Weather Watch system when deciding whether to have outdoor recess, and we will sometimes be outside in cold and snowy weather. Please make sure your child wears warm winter gear to school, including a hat, gloves, scarf, coat, and snow pants and boots if they want to play in the snow. We also encourage sending a complete extra set of clothing to be kept in lockers in case something gets wet. Winter play can be fun…and messy! Thanks!

Please join Middleton’s Student Council in a SNUGGLY STUFFY DAY to celebrate Winter Break on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19th! Stuffies should be able to fit in backpacks!

COLD WEATHER IS HERE TO STAY! Please make sure your middle school students are dressed for the weather conditions each school day. Students may need to wait outdoors for a short time during arrival and dismissal and any extracurricular activities. When we experience extreme temperatures with below-zero wind chills in the morning we will bring students into the building starting at 7:30 a.m. (band students enter at 7:00 a.m. on rehearsal days). Students remain in the lobby and Learning Center until the 7:50 a.m. bell rings. Students who participate in extracurricular activities indicate they will take the bus, walk home, or get picked up. Please ensure that you discuss and clearly communicate those transportation plans and arrive promptly to pick up your child, especially during winter weather conditions. Students are not allowed to remain inside the school building after school hours unsupervised.

Students participate in outdoor recess throughout the school year unless there is a significant weather-related or other external factor that necessitates an indoor program. Skokie 73.5 follows the Child Care Weather Watch chart to determine whether the temperature and wind chill are safe for outdoor recess. If the temperature with wind chill feels like 15 degrees or warmer, and conditions outdoors are safe, students will go outside. Thank you for helping to ensure that your child is prepared with appropriate outerwear for recess so that they are comfortable during our outdoor programming! Families in need of outerwear for their child should contact administration for additional resources.

Student Council is sponsoring our upcoming Hornet Hangout student event on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Students were able to vote for their preferred theme, which is WINTER WONDERLAND. Students will be able to play games, listen to music, and hang out with friends during this supervised event. There will be snacks, drinks, and pizza for sale. Admission is $2.00 and students must have a signed permission slip to turn in upon their arrival. Students must be picked up promptly at 8:00 p.m. and cannot walk home. Please review the permission slip for more information!

We will celebrate McCracken student accomplishments during the first trimester at our HORNET HIVE assembly on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19th. Students will be recognized for their academic, behavioral, and extracurricular successes. They will also have the opportunity to participate in grade level staff vs. students competitive basketball activities. Students voted for their preferred activity and basketball was their number one pick! 

As we move closer to winter break, we want to reward students for displaying respectful, responsible, and ready behaviors. Students who do not earn any behavior referrals at McCracken from December 3rd through December 19th will have the opportunity to be entered into grade-level raffles with fun prizes, which will be distributed at our Hornet Hive assembly! Please reinforce the importance of following behavior expectations at school with your child, contributing to a safe and positive learning environment.

We believe that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at school. Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment is essential and includes maintaining learning spaces free from hate speech and bullying. When students feel safe, they are better able to focus on learning, build positive relationships, and thrive academically and socially. Preventive programming is in place at McCracken to support positive peer relationships at school. We have listed a few of these programs HERE and ask for your partnership in reinforcing the importance of kindness, respect, and acceptance at home, helping us to ensure that our school remains a place where all students can feel safe and reach their full potential.

Here at McCracken, we are proud to offer a variety of student athletic and enrichment programs. These programs allow students to exercise their strengths, tackle areas of growth, and socialize with peers. Be sure to sign your student up for one of our great extracurricular clubs or activities here at McCracken! Please access the McCracken Extracurricular Brochure HERE.