News and information from our district and schools
Scroll to view District updates and news from Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken!
JANUARY 31, 2025
Scan the QR code or text YES to 67587 to receive mobile messages from Skokie73.5
DISTRICT UPDATES
This past week, Skokie School District 73.5 sent two letters to families and staff about preparation for potential mass deportation and district practices for immigration warrants, including how the district will respond if ICE or CBP officials come to one of our buildings. These letters, and additional information including how you can help, are available in the Immigrant Protection Resources section of our website.
In accordance with federal law, Skokie School District 73.5 protects the right of ALL students to a safe, free, and appropriate public education, regardless of their or their families’ immigration status.
As members of our Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken school communities, one way we can continue to “build a foundation for learning, leadership, and life” is to carry ourselves with integrity and respect. We do that by teaching, talking about, and insisting that we treat all members of our community the way we want to be treated. We are kind, we are inclusive, and we embrace differences. We will continue to lean into kindness and inclusivity in the coming months.
COFFEE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
Mark your calendar, save the date, and join Dr. Hightower for coffee!
The next Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent is Monday, February 3 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the McCracken Board Room. RSVP is requested. Please complete this short form to let us know if you will attend.
Click the flyer to open the image, then right-click on the image to translate.
RSVPs for additional coffee meetups will open individually in advance of each date. We look forward to seeing you!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Online registration for February Parent-Teacher conferences opens on Tuesday, February 4 at 7:00 a.m. and closes on Tuesday, February 11 at 3:00 p.m.
Be prepared! Sign in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account now to make sure you can connect to PowerPTC before registration opens. Check the PowerPTC Parent/Guardian Guide and visit our Parent-Teacher Conferences page at www.sd735.org/ptc for instructions and more information.
STUDENT SERVICES
The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) serves as a liaison between Skokie73.5, parents, and the community. All parents of students enrolled in our Bilingual Education Program are invited to become members. The BPAC meets four times a year. The next meeting is on Wednesday, February 5 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Middleton Elementary School. The meeting topic is Assyrian Literacy.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AT HOME
Please make sure your family has created and discussed emergency plans so your child knows what to do in an emergency. A plan could help ensure the safety and well-being of all family members in a crisis. For consideration:
- Does your child know where to find emergency contact numbers?
- Does your child know what to do if they arrive home and you are not there?
- Does your family have a meeting location in the case of a fire?
- Does your family have an emergency kit? If so, does your child know where it is located?
Visit www.ready.gov/plan for planning steps and preparedness materials available in several languages.
NTDSE FAMILY EVENTS: FEBRUARY 2025
Register for the following events on the NTDSE Family Events calendar.
- Legal and Financial Planning for the Special Needs Family
Wednesday, February 5 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Register HERE.
- Parent Night Out (NTDSE families only)
Friday, February 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register HERE.
- Parent Group – Resource Fair
Tuesday, February 11 from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. Register HERE.
Check the NTDSE Community Events list for more activies in the community!
GET TO KNOW THE PTO!
Thank you to wonderful volunteers Annie Widlicka, Katherine van der Vliet, and Mindy Perry who provided popcorn during the Middleton Cozy Family Reading event on January 23. We appreciate you!
The PTO still needs VOLUNTEERS for the Middleton Book Fair! Sign up HERE!
- Setup: Friday, February 7
- Sales: Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14
- Teardown: Tuesday, February 18 (new date)
Help the PTO fund future events and projects for our schools! Dine out at Portillo’s at 9400 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie on Thursday, February 13 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mention "District 73.5 PTO" or show our flyer and Portillo’s will donate 20% to the PTO. We appreciate your support!
The PTO welcomes the community to TASTE OF 73.5 on Sunday, April 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at McCracken Middle School. Cultural groups are invited to fill out this Google Form to register for a booth to showcase displays and/or food samples that represent their cultural backgrounds.
Click or tap the flyer to open and translate in Canva
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
DISTRICT DATES
AROUND TOWN
Village of Skokie newsletter
Skokie Public Library newsletter
NTDSE Community Events newsletter
The Meyer Parent Leaders (MPL) invite all Meyer families to the Meyer Movie Night on Thursday, February 6 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Meyer Gym. Bring the whole family! Meyer Shining Stars voted for the movie, Toy Story.
- Bring a sleeping bag or blankets and wear your best PJs!
- Popcorn will be served
- Bring a water bottle to fill up at the drinking fountain
- Students must be accompanied by an adult
- Please use Door #6 (by the parking lot) to enter the event
We hope to see you there!
Click or tap the flyer to view and translate in Canva.
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE FOR NEW FAMILIES
Meyer School will host a Preschool Open House for new families interested in the 2025-2026 school year on Sunday, February 23 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Teacher presentations about our preschool program are scheduiled in the classrooms on the half-hour, at 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m,, 11:00 a.m., and 11:30 am.
If you have neighbors and friends with children turning 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025, please help us spread the word! See the FLYER for details.
Preschool registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens on Monday, February 24 for District 73.5 residents and on Thursday, February 27 for non-residents. Returning students who will be in PreK 4 for the 2025-2026 school year should have received an email from Bethany Mullins regarding your plans for the 2025-2026 school year. Please feel free to contact Ms. Mullins with questions at [email protected].
SKOKIE PARK DISTRICT PROGRAMS AT MEYER 2025-2026
We are pleased to share that the Skokie Park District will run three programs at Meyer during the 2025-2026 school year:
- AM SPACE: 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., before-school care (replaces Skokie73.5’s "Early Bird")
- Learn & Play SPACE: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (AM class) and 11:00 to 2:30 p.m. (PM class). Formerly named "Extended Preschool SPACE"
- PM SPACE: 2:30 to 6:00 p.m., after-school care
Registration information will be shared at a later date. We value our partnership with the Skokie Park District in providing the best care for our Shining Stars!
PBIS FAMILY CONNECTION: KIND TONE OF VOICE
This week we are working on “using a kind tone of voice.” We can use the same words spoken in different ways, and it sounds differently. When we use a kind tone of voice, we use a level 2 talking voice. An unkind tone of voice is a level 3 yelling voice.
At home, you can practice using a kind tone of voice to ask for help, talk to family members, and play with others. Consider starting a “kind tone of voice” jar at home for the week to see how often you can use a kind tone at home. To help your child learn about “using a kind tone of voice,” you can watch these Tone of Voice and Loud and Quiet videos together.
KINDERGARTEN MATH
MEYER DATES
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Ms. Solomon & Hallerduff's Kindergarten Superstars
Ms. Marisol's Preschool Superstars
Middleton had over 300 participants at the Cozy Family Reading Night last week. Thank you to the families and staff who chose to spend Thursday night together!
Special shout out to Annie Widlicka, Katherine van der Vliet, Mindy Perry, and Margaret Page and the PTO for making and serving popcorn all night!
WINTER/SPRING ENRICHMENT
Enrich MD Winter/Spring registration opens soon! Please be on the lookout for the Middleton Winter/Spring Enrich MD brochure that will be sent home with students on Monday, February 3. Registration will open February 3 and close on Tuesday, February 18 at 12:00 noon. PLEASE NOTE: Registration will be completely online and directions for registration will be in the brochure. Questions? Reach out to Middleton Enrichment coordinator Sarah Hampton at [email protected].
MIDDLETON BOOK FAIR
Mark your calendars for our annual school book fair which will be held from Monday, February 10 through Friday, February 14! Proceeds from the fair directly benefit Middleton school and classroom libraries. The fair will be open for families to shop during conferences on February 13 and 14:
- Thursday, February 13 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
All students will preview the fair and make a wish list during their Library class. Additionally, 4th and 5th grade students will have the opportunity to purchase from the book fair during their Library time the week of the fair. If you are sending your 4th or 5th grader with money, please send cash and 10% extra for tax.
Thank you for supporting Middleton and the joy of reading!
PBIS FAMILY CONNECTIONS: KINDNESS & EMPATHY
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of someone else, and it is a critical skill for all of us – kids and adults alike. Check out some of these PBS Kids resources to support building care and empathy. This book list is also a great start for picture books that celebrate diversity.
DISMISSAL CHANGES
Please make sure all dismissal changes go through the main office, in addition to your child’s classroom teacher. The office is responsible for making changes to students dismissal on our dismissal lists, and if the office does not know your child’s dismissal is changing, we end up looking for students at the end of the day. Thank you for doing your part to keep our dismissal systems running smoothly.
STUDENT DEVICES
Students should not be using their personal devices during the school day unless granted permission by a teacher for an educational purpose. If students need to contact home for any reason, they must first talk to their teacher and then call from the nurse’s office, main office, or classroom phone depending on the reason for contact. Please see the Health and Safety : Personal Possessions and Devices section of the Student/Family Handbook for more information.
MIDDLETON DATES
TENNIS, ANYONE?
The Middleton P.E. department recently received a Net Generation grant for tennis equipment. This is the first time in Middleton history that students can play tennis in school! A group of 3rd graders were the first to participate in Middleton's new tennis unit.
Congratulations to all of our talented and courageous McCracken student participants in this week’s Spelling Bee!
Students all did an amazing job spelling a variety of challenging words in front of peers, staff, and families. Our student spectators are also to be commended for their focus, attention, and respectful behavior during this special assembly. Congratulations to our student winner and runner-up! The winner will go on to represent McCracken Middle School at the North Cook Regional Spelling Bee at Lincoln Hall on February 25.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING CORNER
Students across grade levels will be covering a variety of Digital Citizenship topics over the next month. They include digital footprints, online identity, relationships and communication related to online social media presence, and safety. Our district uses the Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship curriculum. Families can access additional information and resources below and on their website.
- Digital Footprint & Identity — English | Spanish | More languages: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese
- Family Activities: Digital Footprint & Identity (Grades 6-8) — English | Spanish
- Relationships & Communication — English | Spanish | More languages: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese
- Family Activities: Relationships & Communication (Grades 6-8) — English | Spanish
8th GRADE INFORMATION
UPDATED JANUARY 31, 2025
McCracken shared a letter with 8th grade families this week regarding graduation plans for our Class of 2025! The letter includes a QR code for language translation options and information about due dates for both the graduation gown orders and diploma names.
Please see the following updates to the important dates to remember for our 8th grade families:
- Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser: Wednesday, January 29 through Sunday, February 2 -- 8th Grade parents/guardians, please see THIS LETTER for information about the fundraiser and how to set up your own Double Good Popcorn Pop-Up Store.
- Student Counselor Appointments at Niles North High School: Thursday, February 6
- Diploma Names & Gown/Tassel Orders Due: Friday, February 7
- 8th Grade Graduation Picture Retakes: Thursday, March 13 (Photo proofs for the pictures taken on January 30 will be distributed to students when delivered.)
- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration: Friday, May 16
- 8th Grade Graduation: Wednesday, May 28
McCRACKEN ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL SAFETY
Parents and guardians who drive their student(s) to or from school must use the Circle Drive off of East Prairie Road.
Parents and guardians must enter the Circle Drive near the south entrance on East Prairie Road staying on the right side of the drive for pick up or drop off (leave the outside lane open to exiting cars at all times). Do NOT drop off or pick up your student in the left lane.
The Drive-Thru is for right lane drop off and pick up only. Do not park in the Drive-Thru lane. Please help to keep our students and staff safe at all times!
Drivers should NOT enter the Circle Drive coming north off East Prairie. Please enter the drop off or pick up line driving south on East Prairie.
Drive SLOWLY and carefully, watching for both students and cars at ALL times!
Students may NOT walk through the back parking lot for any reason, due to traffic.
Students must exit school property immediately following dismissal and may not stay to congregate with peers outdoors unless involved in an extracurricular activity.
Crossing guards are available to assist students crossing Oakton Street and Crawford Avenue and also on East Prairie Road and Warren Street.
Students may NOT cross the street at East Prairie Road and Oakton Street unless accompanied by a parent/guardian. There is no crosswalk or crossing guards and there is a high volume of traffic.
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
Did you know that missing two days of school a month, over the course of a school year, can affect a student's academic success? Please help us make school attendance a priority! This McCracken Attendance Reminders sheet provides information about the importance of consistent school attendance and keeping your child engaged in school. If you know that your child will be absent for the day, please call our school nurse, Ms. Warda, at 847-676-8235 by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Please review the McCracken Attendance Reminders for more information.
OUTDOOR RECESS REMINDERS
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. Please send your child to school with appropriate outerwear. For winter weather, students will need a warm coat, hat, gloves, and winter snow boots when necessary. Families in need of outerwear for their child should contact school administration for additional resources.
In general, students go outside for recess as long as it “feels” like 15 degrees or above and it is not raining or snowing. See the Child Care Weather Watch chart that we use to guide our decisions.
McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
District Priorities
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. We will welcome and engage staff, students, families and community members in our schools.
HIRING & RETENTION. We will recruit, hire, and retain a diverse workforce and improve our human resource processes, procedures, and materials.
INFRASTRUCTURE & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. All financial decisions and investments will meet the needs of our diverse learners and staff and promote academic and social growth. We will provide a safe, inclusive, flexible, and innovative space for teaching, learning, and growing.
TEACHING & LEARNING. All students will engage in learning experiences that are cohesive and articulated across PreK-8, flexibly designed to engage all learners and leading to rigorous outcomes for all. We will be a future-focused, real-world learning environment that is responsive, accessible, and meaningful for all. We will become a model district on the use of data for making instructional, curriculum, and programmatic decisions.
Equity Mission Statement
WE BELIEVE that inclusivity and belonging is the foundation for equity.
ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN, at high achievement levels, when equity is infused into every aspect of education.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE the systemic inequities present in school systems and recognize the impact they continue to have on marginalized communities.
WE COMMIT to teaching, learning, and growing in order to identify and dismantle inequitable systems and to create a community where barriers are removed so that everyone can reach their full potential.
WE BELIEVE that students succeed when they can see themselves represented in our staff, curriculum, opportunities, and our shared environment. We accomplish this through professional development, curriculum revision, community engagement, and systems evaluations.
WE RECOGNIZE the need to teach our students to identify the origins of unjust systems and empower them to use their critical thinking skills and agency to responsibly disrupt the policies and practices that perpetuate inequalities.
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.