October 21, 2022

Department of Student Services

Here is a presentation given at the PTO meeting last Monday evening regarding neurodiverse learners in Skokie 73.5. What is a neurodiverse or differentiated learner? Structural Learning defines it below.

The term Neurodiversity indicates the viewpoint that brain differences are normal and acceptable, rather than deficits. In other words, the natural neurological difference between how a person's brain functions and processes information represents neurodiversity.

Neurodiverse people may interpret, interact with, and experience the world in unique ways. The concept of neurodiversity helps to reduce stigma around how different people learn and think differently from others.

The majority of humans are neurotypical, and typically human brains interpret the world how society might expect. They express the typical cognitive, intellectual and developmental abilities expected for an individual of their age.

The Department of Student Services supports any child with differentiated learning needs. This includes students that have identified disabilities and students that are English Learners (ELs).

It is also important to note the importance of inclusion for all students, especially our differentiated learners. This is why Skokie 73.5 has moved to a push-in model of support this year where special education and/or multilingual services are delivered in the general education setting to the greatest extent possible.

Paula Kluth, author of Inclusion Rules, has some "rules" for inclusion, listed below. This aligns with our Skokie 73.5 Welcoming priority.

Student Council Fall Hangout

Our newly elected Student Council members are busy planning a fun Fall Hangout event for our McCracken Hornets on Friday, October 21st. Students are welcome to attend to enjoy music and a variety of games and activities with peers from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Students must have a signed permission form to attend and are expected to be picked up by a family member or trusted adult promptly at 8:30 p.m. in the Circle Drive. Please review behavior expectations with your student as well as confirm transportation plans. Students are not allowed to walk home after the event for safety. We are looking forward to a fun and safe event with our students!

Student Arrival and Dismissal Reminders

Please drive slowly and carefully when picking up or dropping off students.
6th Grade parents dropping off by Door 12 should pull all the way over to the curb on the right and quickly and safely allow their child to exit the vehicle so other cars can continue to Circle Drive. Please use your hazards to alert cars behind you.
Please do not make U-turns on East Prairie. Use the McCracken Circle Drive to turn around.
Students cannot cross the Circle Drive in front of cars to get into a vehicle parked on the street. Drivers must pull into the Circle Drive to maintain safety and drop off in the right lane only.
Students must cross the intersection of Crawford and Oakton assisted by our crossing guards for their safety. Students are not allowed to cross East Prairie and Oakton without an adult before or after school.
Please be sure to communicate with your child about their after-school plans before school. Are they walking home, taking the bus, or staying after school for sports or a club?

Outdoor Recess Weather 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. Here at McCracken, we use the Child Care Weather Watch system to determine students’ participation in outdoor recess. This guide uses a combination of temperature and wind speed to calculate year-round weather safety for our students. Thank you, in advance, 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.

McCracken Musical Performance

Rehearsals are underway for our 2022 McCracken musical, Mary Poppins Jr.! Forty-one talented cast members have been rehearsing their scenes and songs since early September.

Mary Poppins Jr. transports us to London in 1910, telling the story of the Banks family and the valuable lessons they learn from their mysterious new nanny.

Performances will be held on Friday, November 11th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 12th at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Ticket information is coming soon, and a livestream option will also be available. All are welcome to enjoy this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious show!

8th Grade Futures Unlimited Field Trip

Our 8th grade female and gender expansive students will be eligible to attend the Futures Unlimited field trip on Thursday December 15th. Futures Unlimited is a one-day educational program that provides 8th graders with exciting opportunities to explore diverse careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This free program includes sessions with role models composed of women who have achieved success in a variety of non-traditional careers; hands-on workshops led by Oakton Community College faculty, staff, and graduate students; and breakout sessions introducing STEM programming at area high schools. Permission forms were handed out through 8th grade advisories and are due back no later than Wednesday, October 26th.

McCracken Fall Band Concert

Our McCracken Symphonic and Concert Bands performed for families and friends on Tuesday, October 18th. Special thanks to our band directors Mr. Chip De Stefano and Mr. Cesar Mendoza for their hard work and preparation in getting our students ready for this special performance. Our students should also be commended on their dedication and effort as well as families for their ongoing support of our music program. We have added some photos below highlighting the successful evening filled with amazing music!

Fall Celebrations

As you know, the district will no longer be celebrating Halloween in an effort to be more inclusive and so that all students may participate in our celebrations. Students should NOT wear costumes of any sort on Halloween. If they do, they will need to change out of them. Our McCracken students have the opportunity to attend our Fall Hangout event on Friday, October 21st to enjoy music, games, and activities with peers. Thank you for your understanding as we strive to provide an inclusive and culturally responsive school environment.

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMING

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 up your student for one of our great extracurricular activities clubs or activities! Review the Fall 2022 Extracurricular Slideshow (with videos and important links) and Brochure for information, registration links, and the payment link (for a small number of activities).

Monday, October 3rd - Friday, November 18th

Niles North High School Online Registration (current 8th grade)

D219 Parent/Guardian Registration Letter

Friday, October 21st

Student Council Fall Hangout

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 26th

Choir Concert

7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 28th

Institute Day

No school

Tuesday, November 8th

Election Day

No school

Friday, November 11th

Mary Poppins Jr. Musical Performance

7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 12th

Mary Poppins Jr. Musical Performance

2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 17th

Picture Retakes

Wednesday, November 23rd - Friday, November 25th

Thanksgiving Break

District closed

Reinventing Halloween

As you know, the district will no longer be celebrating Halloween in an effort to be more inclusive. This means that students should NOT wear costumes of any sort on Halloween. If they do, we will ask that they remove them. We still want to provide students with a celebration in their classrooms so we have designated November 22nd as a day where each Middleton classroom will have a party that will include culturally responsive games and activities. Your individual classroom teachers will be providing more information about their plans for this celebration as the date approaches.

Dressing for Outdoor Recess

As we head into colder temperatures, please send your child to school with appropriate outerwear, such as a warm jacket or coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. We will go outside for recess as long as it is not raining. In general, we will go outside if it "feels" like 15 degrees or above and it is not raining/snowing. Please see the Child Care Weather Watch chart that we use to guide our decisions.

You may want to start looking for winter boots and snow pants for your child if you don’t have them yet. We will continue to go outside in the winter whenever we can.

Also, please send a new set of cold-weather emergency clothes in a bag labeled with your child’s name. We will store these in their lockers in case they get wet or extra dirty while playing outside.

Fall Celebrations

As you know, the district will no longer be celebrating Halloween in an effort to be more inclusive and so that all students may participate in our celebrations. Students should NOT wear costumes of any sort on Halloween. If they do, they will need to change out of them. Meyer students will have a fall celebration in their classrooms on November 22nd. Your individual classroom teachers will be providing more information about their plans for this celebration as the date approaches.

Preschool Arrival / Dismissal Reminders

Arrival for the preschool AM class is 8:25-8:30 a.m. Dismissal is at 11:00 a.m.
Arrival for the preschool PM class is 11:55 a.m-12:00 p.m. Dismissal is at 2:30 pm.
Please park in the slanted parking spots on Kildare Avenue. These spots are especially reserved for preschool drop-off and pick-up at Door 2.
If you park on the street, do not block any driveways even if it is for a few minutes.
If you park on the street, do not double park or block in other parked cars even if it is for a few minutes.
There is no parking on the east side of Tripp Avenue. Cars may be ticketed.

Thank you for helping us keep our Shining Stars safe! Please see our Preschool Arrival / Dismissal Guide for more information.

Kindergarten Drive-Thru Reminders

Please remain in your cars at all times so we can keep the line moving. There is no parking in the Drive-Thru lane.
The Drive-Thru is one way (going east) and one lane. Do not pass other cars in the Drive-Thru. Please enter the Drive-Thru going north on Kildare. If necessary, circle around the block to go north on Kildare so that you are taking a right turn into the Drive-Thru (and not a left turn).
Please teach your child to buckle and unbuckle themselves on their own. We are not able to buckle your child. If your child still needs help, please park your car and pick them up at Door 6 or 7.
In the morning, please have your child wait in the car until a staff member comes to open the car door. Do not have students exit the car on their own.