News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
APRIL 7, 2023
Updated January 26, 2023
DISTRICT NEWS
Coffee with the Superintendent
Save the dates and join Dr. Hightower for coffee and conversation in the McCracken Board Room!
- Tuesday, April 18th from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
OR
Monday, April 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. RSVP for either date is requested by April 17th at 3:00 p.m. Tap the attached flyer and snap the code or jump to https://forms.gle/xHHS8HXQVV3jmSE4A to let us know you're coming. - Tuesday, May 9th from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., followed immediately by the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting. – RSVP information coming soon!
Watch your email and our website for more information.
Summer School will be in session from Wednesday, June 7th through Thursday, June 30th at Middleton Elementary School, 8300 St. Louis Avenue. The program is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday through Thursday (no classes on Fridays). The ELA/Reading class runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and the Math class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Tuition for this year’s summer school will be free. If you are the parent or guardian of a student who has been recommended for summer school and is entering grades 1-8 in the fall, you have received an email with registration information. Please reach out to one of our Summer School contacts with any questions:
- Marty Behm at 847-676-8234 or [email protected]
- Stephanie Larenas at 847-676-8085 or [email protected]
All registrations are due no later than May 12th.
Department of Student Services
April is Earth Month
Celebrate with these activities and check the Village of Skokie News Flash for more!
Earth Day Celebration
Sunday, April 23rd from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Emily Oaks Nature Center
Celebrate Earth Day along the Nature Center trails. Native plants and earth-friendly foods will be available for sale. FREE for all ages. Visit the Skokie Park District website for more information.
Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony
Friday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m.
Elizabeth Meyer School
The entire community is invited to the annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony!
Taste of 73.5
School District 73.5 PTO Invites You to the Taste of 73.5
Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Oliver McCracken Middle School
Individuals and groups are invited to register for booths to showcase displays and/or food samples that represent the cultural backgrounds they were born into or have joined that share common experiences. This is an opportunity for the SD73.5 community to celebrate our diversity by sharing our heritage and culinary expertise with others. Register your cultural group(s): https://forms.gle/1euLmJYeXV29wbsg6.
If you would like to help plan for the Taste of 73.5, please email Lyla Nissan at [email protected] or Odessa Molina at [email protected]. Meetings will be held on Zoom at 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, April 10th
- Wednesday, April 19th
- Wednesday, April 26th
- Wednesday, May 3rd
- Wednesday, May 10th
Fee Waivers
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.
SD73.5 Priorities
Welcoming Environment. All students, staff, parents, and community members will feel welcome in our District.
Hiring & Retention. Our community's diversity will be represented in our staff and we will create systems to ensure we retain our staff.
Instruction. We will accelerate learning for all students through a strengths-based approach to grow each student from where they are.
Get the (TEXT) Message!
PARENTS, GUARDIANS & STAFF! Snap the QR code or text Y or YES to 67587 to authorize SMS text messages from SD73.5 to your mobile device!
PTO News
PTO SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, April 17th
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
The PTO has called a special meeting to review and amend bylaws, discuss open board positions, and conduct business.
Around Town
Tap the banner for complete information and course list
Student Council Spring Hangout
The Student Council hosted a Spring Hangout after school on Thursday, April 6th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.! There was an open gym for basketball and volleyball in addition to music, food, games, and more set up in the hallways! The snack table raised money for the 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration! We had a great turnout! Thank you to Ms. DiZillo and Student Council members for organizing the event, chaperones for supervising, and students for participating!
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing for Math and English Language Arts will begin at McCracken on April 10th and continue daily through April 13th. The IAR is the state assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in a public school district. IAR assesses the New Illinois Learning Standards incorporating the Common Core and will be administered in English Language Arts and Mathematics to all students in grades 3-8.
As with all testing days, students are encouraged to get a good night's rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive to McCracken on time with both a charged Chromebook and, if possible, earbuds. Students will learn more about their daily schedules from their teachers closer to the testing dates.
7th Grade Camp MacLean Information
We're on our way to Camp MacLean! Students and parents both received the Family Packet today. This packet should be completed and turned in with payment no later than Monday, April 24th. Please reach out to Marty Behm at [email protected] with any questions about the camp, packet, or payment. Reach out to Marryann Warda at [email protected] with any questions about the medical form and medication.
8th Grade Graduation Ticket Order Form
The 2023 McCracken Middle School Graduation Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Niles North High School. Each graduate is given up to five (5) tickets for family members/guests to attend the graduation ceremony. In addition, each graduate can request up to two (2) additional tickets using a lottery system. Please complete this form by Friday, May 5th. You will be asked to identify the number of tickets you need and any additional tickets you are requesting. There is no guarantee additional ticket requests will be granted. Tickets will be distributed to students at school on Wednesday, May 24th. More information will be shared with 8th grade families next week by mail and email and will be available on our school website.
Social Justice Club
Students can join Social Justice Club to work toward a Clean Green Skokie! Protecting our planet for future generations is a crucial part of social justice! Show some respect for the earth by cleaning trash around the school as part of the Clean Green Skokie movement. Student volunteers will meet Ms. Gammeri on Thursday, April 13th from 3:05 - 3:55 p.m.
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).
More from McCracken
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
STOCK THE STAFF LOUNGE!
Drop off bagged snacks, drinks, K-Cups, tea, hot chocolate packets, candy, mints, and more to the school office throughout the year so we can show staff our support.
Dates to Remember
April 10th-13th
IAR Testing
April 12th
Grecian Kitchen 8th Grade Dine Out Fundraiser
April 13th
Social Justice Club Clean Green Skokie
3:05 to 3:55 p.m.
April 17th
ADL Changemaker Series
3:05 to 3:55 p.m.
April 20th
Crafternoon Activity during recess
and
Poetry Craft
3:05 to 3:55 p.m.
May 8th-12th
Staff Appreciation Week
May 17th-19th
7th Grade Camp MacLean Trip
May 20th
8th Grade Graduation End of the Year Celebration
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
May 24th
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
Please check our public calendar on the district website for athletic game times and locations.
Feedback for 2023-2024 Class Placement
I can’t believe it is that time of year again… If you have feedback you would like the administration to consider for your student's 2023-2024 classroom placement, please complete the Parent Feedback Form. You can email it to [email protected] or send it to school with your student in an envelope to my attention.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (Grades 3-5)
Students in grades 3-5 will be taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) after spring break. This IAR is federally mandated assessment that helps us gain more insight into how students are performing overall.
This year, our 3rd and 4th grade students will test on April 11th-13th. Our 5th grade students will test on April 11th, 13th, and 14th. To be prepared for testing, students are encouraged to:
- Bring headphones or earbuds to school
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast
If you have any questions, please reach out to Middleton Assessment Coordinator Ms. Stephanie Larenas.
Classroom News!
Mrs. Domingo’s class had a special visitor from one of our parents, Mrs. Gavin-Smyth. She is a botanist and a plant scientist and the class is learning about plants. She shared a new impatiens plant found in the mountain tops of Tanzania. Mrs. Domingo’s class voted on the name of this new plant species. They chose the name Impatiens Blood Red and in Swahili it is "impatiens damu-ya-mzee." How fun!
Attendance Reminder
As you know, students can’t learn if they aren’t in school. PLEASE ensure your child arrives to school on time. Students begin entering the building at 8:25 a.m. and the tardy bell rings at 8:30 a.m. Students should only be absent from school if they have a fever, diarrhea, or have vomited within the last 24 hours. Otherwise students should be in school each day. Thank you for your support with this!
Attention Middleton Families!
The Physical Education Department is hosting our annual Family Fitness Night on April 20th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Students must be accompanied by an adult. This is a free event with a chance to win some raffle prizes. There will be many activities to choose from including some Middleton P.E. favorites! ALL family members are encouraged to join in on the fun. Come in your gym shoes and dressed ready to move and play! We hope you can join us!
From the Middleton Drama Room
Students in Mrs. Anderson's Drama class are creating a tableau to show their characters, setting, and action...
More from Middleton
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
Dates to Remember
April 11th-13th
3rd & 4th Grade IAR Testing
April 11th, 13th & 14th
5th Grade IAR Testing
Meyer Parent Leaders Green Initiative
The Meyer Parent Leaders support an ongoing GREEN INITIATIVE to help the Earth! The MPL are collecting items to be repurposed for Meyer students.
- We are collecting items for our TREASURE BOX COLLECTION. These are UNUSED and NEW "treasures" (pencils, erasers, bubbles, stickers, goody bag leftovers, etc.). The treasure box is filled with fun items that our Meyer staff and educators will use as prizes and rewards for our children.
- We are accepting LEGO of all kinds, from Duplo blocks down to the smallest pieces. We will take any LEGO blocks you're looking to get rid of (gently used or new).
Please place your items in a bag and label it "treasure box" or "LEGO." Students can bring the bag to school in their backpacks or families can drop them off at the main office. See the Meyer Parent Leaders Green Initiative flyer for details.
Questions? Please email us at [email protected].
Save the Dates: Kindergarten Music “Informances” in May
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 first-hand how their child experiences music at Meyer School!
WHEN:
- Ms. Solomon’s class: Tuesday, May 2nd at 11:00 a.m.
- Ms. Cruz and Ms. Douglas’ class: Tuesday, May 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
- Ms. Huynh’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 9:00 a.m.
- Ms. Siegler’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
- Ms. LaBarbera’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 12:00 p.m.
Each Informance will last approximately 25 minutes. Seating is limited so we ask that each child invites a maximum of 2 adults. We hope to see you there!
Please see the Kindergarten Music Informance flyer for more information.
Meyer Moments
More from Meyer
TAP THE SUN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SCHOOL
Dates to Remember
April 11th
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
April 20th
Meyer Parent Leaders Meeting
7:00 to 8:00 pm
April 27th
Meyer Family Sing-Along with Miss Carole
6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
May 2nd
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
May 2nd-3rd
Kindergarten Music Informances
May 8th-12th
Staff Appreciation Week
May 13th
PTO Taste of 73.5
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
May 15th-17th
Meyer Spring Book Fair
May 17th
Meyer Showcase
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
May 24th
On to Kindergarten
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