SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
News and information from our district and schools
Scroll to view District updates and news from Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken!
March 14, 2025
Scan the QR code or text YES to 67587 to receive mobile messages from Skokie73.5
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Our search is underway for the next Superintendent for Skokie 73.5. Senior Associates from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) have begun hosting focus groups this week with our administrative teams and staff. In-person and virtual focus groups for parents and guardians are scheduled this week and next week.
COFFEE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
ALL ARE INVITED!
Join Interim Co-Superintendent Dr. Keely Roberts for coffee and conversation on Thursday, March 20 from 9:30 to 10:30am in Room 110 at Middleton Elementary School.
RSVP is requested. We hope you can be there!
5Essentials PARENT SURVEY
The 5Essentials Parent Survey is open now through March 28, 2025.
Visit the 5Essentials website and click on Parent Survey to begin.
BINGO NIGHT
Bring the family and meet up with friends, neighbors, classmates, and staff for the 2nd Annual Skokie73.5 Equity Committee + PTO Bingo Night on Wednesday, April 2 from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. in the McCracken Middle School Gym.
RSVP is requested to help us plan for seating and snacks. All are welcome and BINGO play is not required. We hope to see you there!
REPORT CARDS
Trimester 2 report cards will be released through the PowerSchool Parent Portal website on Thursday, March 20 by 3:00 p.m. At that time, parents/guardians will receive an email with instructions for how to view, print, and save their student's report card. In the meantime, log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal website to make sure your username and password are working. If you need assistance with your account access, please contact the Skokie73.5 Data Office at 847-676-8326.
ASSESSMENTS
From April 2 through April 7, students in 3rd through 8th grade will participate in the ILLINOIS ASSESSMENT OF READINESS (IAR).
The IAR is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards (which include the Common Core Standards). It is designed to provide teachers and families with information about student progress in Mathematics and English Language Arts. Additional information about IAR testing is available on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) IAR website.
To provide flexibility, each school will develop its own testing schedule. Our test coordinators are working diligently in preparation, and we anticipate a smooth testing experience. Please keep an eye on the Middleton and McCracken sections of The Weekly over the coming weeks for school-specific information.
Beginning April 14, students in 5th and 8th grade will participate in the ILLINOIS SCIENCE ASSESSMENT (ISA).
The ISA is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science (which include the Next Generation Science Standards). It is designed to provide teachers and families with information about student progress in their learning of science concepts and skills. Additional information about IAR testing is available on the ISBE IAR website.
To provide flexibility, each school will develop its own testing schedule. Our test coordinators are working diligently in preparation, and we anticipate a smooth testing experience. Please keep an eye on the Middleton and McCracken sections of The Weekly over the coming weeks for school-specific information.
STUDENT SERVICES
A message from NTDSE for families who have chosen to privately place their students in non-public schools OR families who have chosen to home-school their students...
NTDSE letter
PTO NEWS
The Superintendent Search is on, and your input is requested! Please join the PTO for a virtual focus group with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the firm leading the Superintendent Search, on Monday, March 17. The focus group will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The regular PTO agenda will follow on Google Meet.
- 7:00 to 7:40 p.m. – Superintendent Search Focus Group on Zoom
- 7:40 to 8:30 p.m. – Regular PTO Meeting on Google Meet
This is one of several in-person and virtual focus groups.
The PTO welcomes the community to TASTE OF 73.5 on Sunday, April 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 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. Registration ends Wednesday, April 2.
Email [email protected] if you would like to help plan the event. Meetings will be held on Zoom.
Content posted on the PTO website is managed by the PTO
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
DISTRICT DATES
AROUND TOWN
Skokie Public Library newsletter
NTDSE Family Events and Community Events
Oakton College Youth STEAM Program for ages 8 to 14
2025 SUMMER REGISTRATION
Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on Monday, March 17 for students NEW to Meyer. Current preschool students RETURNING for kindergarten next year will NOT need to complete any forms. Please watch for an email that was sent from our registrar, Gay Kanda, on March 11 with next steps. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Kanda at [email protected].
WE READ TOGETHER
Thank you to the Meyer families who came to our We Read Together Night last week at Skokie Public Library! Meyer staff members who read stories included Ms. Moshi, Ms. Mullins, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Kelley, and Dr. Wei. What a great way to share our love for books!
PRESCHOOL FAIRY TALE PERFORMANCE!
SAVE THE DATES! KINDERGARTEN MUSIC "INFORMANCES"
What is an Informance? An informance is a way to inform parents of what a typical music class is like. It is similar to a performance in that there is an audience, but instead of rehearsing set pieces, the students demonstrate what they do during music class. The setting is smaller and more intimate than a larger performance. Parents see firsthand how their child experiences music at Meyer School.
Informances are scheduled for Wednesday, May 14. Each Informance will last approximately 25 minutes. Seating is limited so we ask that each child invites a maximum of 2 adults. View the Informances flyer for classroom performance times. We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Castellini at [email protected].
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION & SCREENINGS
Preschool registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open. Our preschool classrooms are almost full! For more information about our program, please see our PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE SLIDESHOW.
Meyer School is offering preschool developmental screenings for the 2025-2026 school year on April 22 and April 23, for District 73.5 families only. If you are interested in having your child considered for the Discount Preschool Tuition Program, or if you have concerns about your preschool-aged child’s development, please sign up for a screening appointment or scan the QR code on the flyer.
PBIS FAMILY CONNECTION
At Meyer, we learn about the ZONES OF REGULATION, a program designed to help children identify and self-regulate their emotions. We learn about four different zones: blue, green, yellow, and red:
- When you are in the blue zone, you may feel sad, bored, tired, or sick.
- When you are in the green zone you feel calm and happy. When you’re in the green zone, you do your best learning.
- When you are in the yellow zone you might feel scared, silly, worried, excited, or frustrated.
- When you are in the red zone, you might feel mad or out of control.
We also teach students to pick a calm down strategy to help them get back to the green zone, so that they are calm and ready to learn.
It is important to note that everyone experiences all of the zones and that the blue, red, and yellow zones are not “bad” zones. All of the zones are expected at one time or another.
At home, you can help your child gain awareness of his or her zones and feelings by pointing out when you see them experiencing feelings at home. “It looks like you are feeling sad and in the blue zone because you are frowning.” You can also have your child choose a strategy that they can use at home to return to the green zone, if they are ever in the blue, yellow, or red zone.
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Ms. Huynh's & Silberman's Kindergarten Superstars
Ms. Uyeno's AM Preschool Superstars
MEYER DATES
AROUND TOWN
The 2024-2025 Middleton Yearbook pre-order will close on Sunday, March 30. Pre-ordering the yearbook now guarantees that a copy is reserved for your family. Additional copies of the yearbook will be very limited after the pre-order closes.
Place your orders online through the Lifetouch website. The Middleton Yearbook ID Code is 13556525.
Don't miss out! Pre-order your yearbook by March 30.
RUNNING CLUB
Calling all 1st and 2nd graders who love to work hard and run! Join the Middleton Running Club!
Running Club will meet on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. beginning April 3 through May 15. The Running Club will have a mini 5K at the McCracken track on Saturday, May 17.
PLEASE NOTE: There is NO LATE BUS available for this Running Club.
QUESTIONS? Reach out to the coaches:
- Sarah Hampton at [email protected]
- Diane McWherter at [email protected]
- Katie Chalmers at [email protected]
MUSICAL FUNDRAISER
WALL OF FAME
HEY BULLDOGS! Do you want to be on the Middleton P.E. Wall of Fame? It's easy! Just bring in a printed photo of YOU being active and doing something awesome–whether it's rollerblading, biking, swimming, crushing it on a sports team, dancing, showing off your martial arts moves, or anything else that gets you moving! Bring a printed photo to one of your P.E. teachers and we will post it for everyone to admire!
SUMMER FUN
Oakton College Youth STEAM Program for ages 8 to 14
2025 SUMMER REGISTRATION
Calling all McCracken students! Please join us for a fun-filled night at the McCracken Hornet Hangout on Friday, March 14 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This exciting event, sponsored by the Student Council, offers a great opportunity for students to enjoy dancing, games, and food/drink for sale. It’s a perfect evening for kids to come together, have fun, and make memories. Admission is $2 at the door (exact cash is appreciated) and all food and drink is either $1 or $2. Students MUST bring a signed permission slip with them to the Hangout for admission. Students present in school for at least half of the school day may attend the Hangout.
Students are expected to adhere to all school rules and policies when attending any school-sponsored functions. Students are allowed to bring cell phones, but they may only be used for photos during the Hangout. Videos or social media posts are not allowed during the Hangout. Students must have a plan for how they will get home: a ride home with a parent/guardian, family member, or another known adult. Due to how dark it will be, students are not permitted to walk home. Please arrive promptly at 7:00 p.m. for pick-up.
McCracken Student Council students also voted on spirit days leading up to the Hornet Hangout. Check the Hornet Hangout Spirit Week poster below!
CAMP MacLEAN
We’re getting excited for Camp MacLean! The Camp Teaching Team has begun planning for the May 14-16 trip to Burlington, Wisconsin. Seventh grade families, remember to complete the Participation/Medication Form and submit the $195 fee via RevTrak by Monday, April 21. Families in need of financial assistance or fee waiver information should contact Karen Hayes at 847-676-8317 or [email protected].
SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUB FUNDRAISER
In honor of Women's History Month, McCracken student leaders are teaming up with Niles Township to End Period Poverty. Members of the Social Justice Club will be selling handmade patches and bracelets and collecting donations of feminine hygiene products during the week of March 17–21. All proceeds will go to the Niles Township Food Pantry.
IAR ASSESSMENT
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) for math and English language arts will take place at McCracken from April 2–April 7. IAR is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. Students will learn more about their daily schedules and testing locations from their teachers and we will follow modified schedules on all of the testing days. Most students will test in their advisory classrooms. Students are encouraged to get a good night’s rest on the nights before testing, eat a healthy breakfast on the mornings of testing, and, very importantly, bring a charged chromebook to school each day. We are excited for our students to show what they’ve learned!
McCRACKEN BAND & CHOIR
Seventh Grade Singers, 8th Grade Singers, and Hornet Harmony all earned a Division 1 rating from their performances at the Illinois Grade School Music Association contest (IGSMA) on March 8. Special congratulations go to the 8th Grade Singers and Hornet Harmony for scoring "perfect 7s" from all three judges on the panel. Congratulations to the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for their Division 1 rating at the 2025 Illinois Grade School Music Association District Contest. The Symphonic Band performed The Klaxon by Henry Fillmore, An Irish Rhapsody by Clare Grundman, and Tales of the Emerald Isle by Douglas Akey, receiving perfect scores from all three judges! The Symphonic Band, 8th Grade Singers, 7th Grade Singers, and Hornet Harmony all received an invitation to perform at the IGSMA State Festival on Saturday, April 26.
Our Concert and Intermediate Bands performed for families and friends Wednesday evening. Students from McCracken and Middleton performed a diverse set of musical pieces to showcase all of their hard work and effort this year. Special thanks to Cesar Mendoza for conducting this amazing concert and thank you to families and the school community for supporting our fine arts programming!
The McCracken 8th Grade Singers impressed the Northwestern University students and faculty in their masterclass on Tuesday, March 11. They had fun singing (and even dancing a bit!) to a Brazilian song, and we explored the music building and a bit more of Northwestern's lovely campus. Throughout the day the students showed a positive attitude, respectful behaviors, and really represented McCracken beautifully. They've had a BUSY few months with choir lately, and we're grateful for all the work they've done! Thank you to choir director Amy Keipert for coordinating the trip.
ALL SCHOOL READ VOTING
Students from the All School Read committee kicked off the final round of voting with an evening presentation of the two final books, It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levy and The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Everyone is encouraged to vote! Whichever book wins will be read by the entire McCracken community.
McCRACKEN 2024-2025 YEARBOOK
The 2024-2025 McCracken yearbook is on sale NOW! The yearbook staff has been working hard to create a fun and unique yearbook for our students and families. The cost of the yearbook is $20 and orders can be placed online using Yearbook ID Code 13556325. Orders are due by March 21, 2025. Get your copy today!
8th GRADE INFORMATION
UPDATED MARCH 14, 2025
McCracken shared a letter with 8th grade families in January regarding graduation plans for our Class of 2025! The link to the letter is here as well as due dates (below) 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:
- Niles North High School Spring Sports & Activity Night: Monday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. at Niles North
- Incoming Freshman Dance: Friday, April 11
- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration: Friday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m.
- 8th Grade Graduation: Wednesday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m.
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.
McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
McCRACKEN GARDEN
Attention families and community members! The NEW McCracken Garden needs your expertise! Learn how you can help our 6th graders create a new International Garden. If you are interested in being a community expert, please complete this form.
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.
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.