January 13, 2023

Department of Student Services

Welcome back! The executive functioning strategy/skill highlighted this week is METACOGNITION. Below are some strategies from thepathway2success.com that parents can use at home to help their children build skills.

Metacognition is thinking about your thinking. Using metacognition skills helps us consider what we know about a topic before we learn, check in with ourselves while we’re learning, and reflect on how to grow our skills. Some strategies for working on metacognition skills at home include:

Talk, read, discuss. Choose a book (non-fiction books are the best for this). Talk about the topic and list off things you know about it. For example, if you are reading a book on airplanes, list off everything you know about airplanes. Then, read. Afterward, discuss what you’ve learned. Note that this same process can be done for any non-fiction videos, too!
Circle share. Choose any topic. Starting with one person, list off one thing you know. For example, if your topic is plants, you might list off that you know plants start as a seed. Then, go to the next person and have them list off something they know. Continue this for as long as you can to help create shared knowledge on a topic.

► ACCESS Testing begins at the end of this month. Please ask your child about their testing schedule. Please also make sure to talk to them about how they can show their English Language skills by thinking about their answers and giving thoughtful details when responding to questions. Also remember to have your child get enough sleep and have a good breakfast the night before testing. Please reach out to your child's EL teacher or Lyla Nissan with any questions.

► Parent Training Opportunity: My Child Qualifies for ESL / Mi Hije Califica Para ESL

Not sure what English Language Services are, or how they may help your child? Come find out! All families are welcome!
¿No está seguro de qué son los servicios del idioma inglés o cómo pueden ayudar a su hijo? ¡Ven a descubrirlo! ¡Todos bienvenidos!

► If your family is experiencing financial hardship, including homelessness, please contact Angela DeMay at [email protected]; the District may be able to provide resources and/or support. If you would like to explore resources on your own, please visit our Student Services web page.

Fee Waiver Information

Skokie School District 73.5 waives school fees for eligible families. A "waiver" means that students will not be charged registration fees, school activity/club fees, or field trip fees. A fee waiver application must be completed to receive a waiver, and only one application is required per year. If you have any questions concerning fee waiver eligibility or the application process please contact Karen Hayes in the Business Office at [email protected] or by phone at 847-676-8317.

MLK Jr. Day of Service and Food Drive

On Monday, January 16th, McCracken will hold the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and Food Drive. This is an opportunity for students to honor the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering their time to help our school and community. Participants will complete various service projects in the school as well as facilitate a food drive to benefit the Niles Township Food Pantry. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, and cleaning products can be dropped off in the circle drive in front of McCracken on January 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Students who are volunteering need to complete a permission slip which they can pick up outside room 222. There will not be bus service.

Registration Appointments with Niles North Counselors

Niles North counselors will meet with students and parents to review class placement for the upcoming school year. Placement is based on PSAT scores and teacher recommendations. Families of students who receive Special Education services or English Language services may have alternate appointment dates for more individualized support. Your child’s appointment date and time will be shared with parents and guardians by Niles North High School.

8th Grade Graduation Pictures

Our 8th grade students will have their graduation pictures taken on Wednesday, February 1st at McCracken. One photo will be taken in a purple graduation gown (provided by Lifetouch) and the other in the student's chosen dress clothes. When the photos have been processed, Lifetouch will then send the proofs to the school to be distributed to students and families. Parents/guardians will have an opportunity to review the pictures and order any preferred photos from the delivered proof package. There is no money due on Picture Day. Payment will be due to Lifetouch when families select their preferred photos online. Please see this flyer from Lifetouch for more information.

8th Grade End of the Year Event

McCracken PTO, in collaboration with parents and staff, will host an 8th grade end of the year event at McCracken Middle School on Saturday, May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please complete this form if you are interested in helping to plan this fun celebratory event with other 8th grade parents and guardians. We need assistance with decorations, food, games, supervision, fundraising, and more. Thank you in advance for helping to make sure our graduates receive the sendoff they deserve!

8th Grade Baby Pictures

It has been a tradition at McCracken Middle School to include 8th grade baby pictures in the yearbook. We need YOUR help securing these pictures for the yearbook. If you and your 8th grade student are interested in having their baby picture included in the yearbook please submit your student’s digital baby photo to [email protected]. Students can also bring a physical picture to school and give it to their advisory teacher. We need all the pictures by January 13th!

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.

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?

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING

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 2022 Extracurricular Slideshow (with videos and important links) and Brochure for information, registration links, and the payment link (for a small number of activities).

January 16th

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

No School / District Closed

► McCracken MLK Jr. Day of Service & Food Drive

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

January 17th

8th Grade Niles North High School Curriculum & Activities Night

6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

February 1st

Graduation Picture Day

February 3rd

Graduation Diploma Name and Gown/Tassel Forms Due

February 9th & 10th

8th Grade Niles North High School Counselor Appointments

Week of February 13th

McCracken Book Fair

February 16th & 17th

Parent Teacher Conferences

February 20th

Presidents' Day

No School / District Closed

School Movie Night and Dance

On January 27th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. we will have a School Movie Night for grades 1-3 and a School Dance for grades 4-5.

All 1st-3rd grade students must be accompanied by an adult to attend Movie Night. No permission slip is necessary. You can find more information here.
All 4th and 5th students are required to turn in their permission slips upon entry to the building.

Do you want to volunteer to help chaperone this event? Please complete this survey!

Bulldog Best Weeks: Benchmark Assessment Window

This week began our benchmark assessment window. Students take a variety of assessments over a short period that provide us with information about their progress and learning. Students take the following assessments during this window:

Grade 1: Math Automaticity, CBM Reading Fluency
Grade 2: Math MAP, Reading MAP, Math Automaticity, CBM Reading Fluency
Grade 3: Math MAP, Reading MAP, Math Automaticity, CBM Reading Fluency
Grade 4: Math MAP, Reading MAP, Math Automaticity, CBM Reading Fluency
Grade 5: Math MAP, Reading MAP, Math Automaticity, CBM Reading Fluency

Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) reading assessments took place at all grade levels before the winter break.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Middleton’s Assessment Coordinator and Assistant Principal, Mrs. Stephanie Larenas.

Meyer Movie Night

Meyer Parent Leaders invite all Meyer families to the Meyer Movie Night on Friday, January 20th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Meyer Gym. Bring the whole family and kick off the weekend with a fun family movie night! Students are currently voting on the movie choice, and a flyer will be sent home with students on Tuesday.