News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
APRIL 21, 2023
Updated January 26, 2023
DISTRICT NEWS
Coffee with the Superintendent
There's still time to RSVP for coffee and conversation with Dr. Hightower on Monday, April 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the McCracken Board Room. Tap the attached flyer and snap the code or jump to https://forms.gle/xHHS8HXQVV3jmSE4A to let us know you're coming. RSVP is requested by 12:00 noon on April 24th.
Save the date for coffee on 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.
Take Your Child to Work Day
Thursday, April 27th is Take Your Child to Work Day (officially named Bring a Kid to Work Day). This annual observance inspires children to learn about future job opportunities and celebrates the significance of education. Our teachers have been invited to bring their children to work, so your child might see some new faces in their classrooms.
Students who accompany their own parent or guardian to work on April 27th will be marked Excused Absent for the day. Please be sure to contact your child's school if they will be accompanying a parent or guardian to work on April 27th.
2023-2024 School Registration for Returning Students
Parents and guardians! Check your inbox for an email sent on April 13th about renewing student enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year. The email includes a link to the Re-Enrollment for Returning Students 2023-2024 form. If you haven't already done so, please complete the form as soon as possible to let us know if your child(ren) currently in grades PK4-7 will be returning to a Skokie 73.5 school for the 2023-2024 school year.
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
"Sesame Street" Adds To Autism Initiative
The Disability Scoop website announced earlier this month that "Sesame Street is ramping up its focus on autism with a collection of new resources and additional efforts at its theme parks." Read the full story on the Disability Scoop website and then visit Sesame Workshop for parent resources.
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
The PTO is excited to invite community members to come together and learn about each others' cultures, religions, foods, history, and practices. The PTO is looking for groups to host a booth where they can create a display of artifacts, offer interactive activities to teach and engage others, or simply share food samples. So far, booths are planned to represent the cultures and countries of Nigeria, Mexico, El Salvador, Philippines, and Sweden. If you are interested in hosting a booth, please fill out the TASTE of 73.5 form at 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.
- Wednesday, April 26th
- Wednesday, May 3rd
- Wednesday, May 10th
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 REGULAR MEETING
Monday, May 1st
7:00 p.m.
McCracken Middle School
Around Town
Social Justice Club
Social Justice Club students recently wrote a letter to Mayor Van Dusen and the Skokie Village Trustees regarding the use of an indigenous stereotype on the Village seal. The students were excited to receive a response from Trustee James Johnson that shared the news that the Village of Skokie now has official plans to eliminate the problematic seal throughout our community! This is an important step in helping Skokie become as welcoming as possible, and we are proud of our students for their civic engagement.
Hands-On Book Club
After discussing Hands by Torrey Maldonado, students in the Hands-On Book Club had the chance to experience the world of boxing through a field trip to FitBox 45 in Evanston with Mr. Wash, Ms. Magnuson (both pictured here), and Ms. Gammeri. They worked with professional trainers to learn some techniques and run through some exercises like they read about together in the book. It was such a fun way to bring an awesome book to life!
7th Grade Camp MacLean Information
The deadline to submit forms and payment for the 7th grade trip to Camp MacLean on May 17-19th is fast approaching! Please have the completed permission form and medical forms from the Family Packet turned in no later than Monday, April 24th, along with the $211 camp fee. If you have questions about whether you qualify for a fee waiver, or wish to set up a payment plan, please contact Karen Hayes at [email protected]. Students, parents, or guardians can also pick up hard copies of all of the forms in the McCracken main office. Please reach out to Marty Behm at [email protected] with any questions about the camp, packet, or payment. Please reach out to Marryann Warda, R.N. at [email protected] with any questions about the medical form and medication.
8th Grade Graduation Parent/Guardian Information
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. 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. Please complete this form by Friday, May 5th. 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.
A letter was shared with families on April 13th which includes important graduation information. Please review this letter with your graduate to plan for the many ways in which we are celebrating our Class of 2023! Students are expected to follow all academic and behavioral expectations through the end of the year to fully participate in events. You can also access this letter by visiting the McCracken Graduation Information page on our website.
McCracken Seedling Sale
Thinking of planting a garden this year? The 6th graders and McCracken Garden Club have been raising seedlings to sell at our annual plant sale. They are the smartest seedlings on the market (having spent their formative weeks in the 6th grade science classroom).
Stop by the McCracken School Garden on Saturday, May 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to see what's sprouting. If it rains, we'll be under the awning at the front door. Click or tap the flyer for details!
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. No student drop off or pick up from the left lane of the Circle Drive.
- 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 FOR SUMMER SCHOOL INFO
Dates to Remember
April 25th
Skokie Unite Against Racism
April 27th
"What Every 8th Grade Parent Needs to Know"
6:30 p.m.
Niles North High School
May 8th-12th
Staff Appreciation Week
May 10th
Choir Concert
6th-7th Grade: 6:45 to 7:30 p.m.
8th Grade: 8:00 to 8:30 p.m.
May 11th
On to 6th Grade Presentation
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
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.
Middleton Enrichment Leaders
Do you have a talent you want to share? Are you interested in leading an after-school Enrichment session during the 2023-2024 school year? We are looking for parents to teach sports clubs, chess club, cooking club, knitting club, etc. We look forward to meeting you and providing students with new and different enrichment opportunitites. Please contact Mrs. Tammaru at [email protected] for more information.
Feedback for 2023-2024 Class Placement
It's 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 Mrs. Tammaru's attention.
Middleton All-School Musical Preview
On Thursday, April 27th, all Middleton students will have the opportunity to go to McCracken to see a preview of The Little Mermaid Jr. performed by our own 4th and 5th grade students. First through 3rd grade students will take buses to McCracken; students in 4th and 5th grades will walk to McCracken. If you do not want your child to participate, please contact your child’s teacher.
Reserve your tickets now for the evening and afternoon performances of The Little Mermaid Jr. on Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th. Check this flyer for details, ticket price, and a link to buy tickets online.
Middleton Fish Tank
We are very excited to reveal our new fish tank! The first fish were introduced on Friday and the students all had an opportunity to stop by and greet them.
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)
Students in 5th grade will take the Illinois Science Assessment next week on Monday and Wednesday. This assessment helps us better understand our progress as a whole and allows us to see data around each student’s progress in science. You can support your child prepare for this assessment by having them get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast.
Bulldog Best Weeks: Spring Benchmark Assessment Window
Our spring assessment window is May 1st through May 12th. Similar to the fall and winter, students in grades 1-5 will take assessments that provide their teachers with important academic information about their progress. These assessments include Fountas & Pinnell (F&P), FastBridge Math Auto, FastBridge CBMr Reading Fluency, and MAP (grades 2-5).
Busy Days in the Middleton Library
More from Middleton
TAP THE SUN FOR SUMMER SCHOOL INFO
Fourth grade students took a field trip to the Shedd Aquarium this week. What a great opportunity for them!
Dates to Remember
April 24th & 26th
Illinois Science Assessment (5th grade)
April 28th
Middleton Musical
7:00 p.m.
April 29th
Middleton Musical
2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
May 1st-12th
Bulldog Best Weeks: Spring Benchmark Assessments
May 8th-12th
Staff Appreciation Week
May 17th
4th & 5th Grade Niles North Orchestra Concert
10:50 a.m.
Meyer Family Sing-Along
Miss Carole of Macaroni Soup! is coming to Meyer School!
Bring the whole family to the Meyer Family Sing-Along on Thursday, April 27th from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in the Meyer Gym.
Please bring a blanket or beach towel to sit on. Enter through Door #6 by the parking lot.
We can't wait to sing and dance together! Please see the FLYER for details.
Meyer Parent Leaders Green Initiative
The Meyer Parent Leaders have 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 the Meyer Parent Leaders 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 9:30 a.m. (REVISED TIME)
- Ms. Siegler’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
- Ms. LaBarbera’s class: Wednesday, May 3rd at 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Music/Art Room (Room 73) at Elizabeth Meyer School. Please check in with your picture ID at the Meyer office. Plan to arrive approximately 10 minutes before to allow time for check in. Thank you!
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 FOR SUMMER SCHOOL INFO
Dates to Remember
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's Spring Book Fair
May 17th
Meyer Showcase
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
May 24th
On to Kindergarten
(incoming Kindergarten parent/guardians)
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.