News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
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
Professional Learning Opportunities
Do you want to attend a professional learning opportunity but cannot find the time? There are many pre-recorded resources available on the Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE) website. Check the archive of Virtual Parent Trainings 2020-2021.
There are also several parent learning opportunities available in the month of May through NTDSE. Click the link for more information. NTDSE Family Events
Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Meeting
Please join us for our last BPAC meeting of the year on on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Elizabeth Meyer School beginning at 6:00 p.m. The school is located at 8100 Tripp Avenue in Skokie. Enter through the parking lot door; we will be in the gym! Check the flyer for more information.
Join Middleton staff Immediately BEFORE the BPAC meeting at 5:45 p.m. for a brief presentation about 4th grade preparation for next year's White Pines Outdoor Education trip. Check the Middleton Weekly information below for more information about White Pines and the presentation.
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.
- 1:15 to 1:30 p.m. - Parade. ALL are welcome to join!
- 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. - Booths open for display and food. Music performance by Crossing Borders Music.
The PTO is still 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, Sweden and Pakistan.
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, 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
Elections to be held
Staff Appreciation planning
Around Town
Purple Pride
Purple Pride Week at McCracken is just around the corner! We will be administering the NWEA MAP tests for both reading and math on May 10th and 11th, respectively. We will be following modified schedules on those dates and students will see all of their teachers. Our FastBridge CBM testing for math automaticity and reading will take place on Friday, May 12th. All students will take the very short math assessment in an extended advisory that morning, while some students will take the reading assessment throughout the day. To best prepare your students for all of our assessments, make sure they are getting a good night’s rest the night before testing, a healthy breakfast the morning of testing, and arrive to school on time and with a charged chromebook.
On to 6th Grade and 5th Grade Visit
Current 5th grade parents and guardians are invited to visit McCracken Middle School on Thursday, May 11th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. McCracken administration and 6th grade team members will be present to review important information to support the successful transition of our incoming 6th grade McCracken Hornets. The team will review general information about advisory, student schedules, lockers, August Meet and Greet, PBIS and CHAMPS behavior supports, social and emotional supports, and extracurricular programming. The administration will also lead an optional tour for families at the end of this program. All of this information will also be shared digitally for families who were not able to participate.
We are also looking forward to welcoming 5th grade students visiting McCracken on Thursday, May 18th during the school day! Please review this "On to 6th Grade" event invitation. Families can also visit our website to access the invitation and Frequently Asked Questions in multiple languages.
7th Grade Camp MacLean Forms and Payments
We are still taking forms and payments for this year’s trip to Camp MacLean! Please fully complete and turn in the forms within the Camp MacLean 2023 Family Packet to the main office as soon as possible (there is an online payment link within the packet as well). Please reach out to Marty Behm at [email protected] with any questions about the camp, packet, or payment. Please reach out to Marryann Warda 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 were 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.
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
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 10th-12th
Purple Pride Spring Benchmarking
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 22nd
Cultural Diversity Day
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 Musical: The Little Mermaid Jr.
There's still time to reserve your tickets 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.
Garden Day
Come join together to weed in the Middleton Pollinator Garden. No experience necessary! Please bring your own gardening gloves. We will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5th at Middleton by the front office.
4th Grade Preparation for White Pines Outdoor Education Presentation
Calling all 4th grade families! Our White Pines Outdoor Education overnight trip (2 nights) is a 5th grade district tradition and an exciting trip for many students. We are excited to continue this trip next year and would love to tell you more about it! Please join us before the BPAC meeting (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) from 5:45 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9th at Meyer School to learn more about the trip and to ask questions. ALL families are welcome!
Parent Visit to Mrs. Clark’s Room
Mrs. Shidrukh came in to talk about Eid last week. We learned about the food, traditions, and Eid celebrations.
Welcome to Middleton!
Please join us in welcoming Cassandra Siatos, our new Administrative Assistant. Cassie comes to us with a great deal of experience in leadership and management. She is a community member and parent in the district. Cassie started on April 24th!
Safety Patrol Field Trip
Our safety patrol had their end of the year field trip to celebrate their leadership at Middleton this year. Thanks to all the safety patrol students for their hard work to help keep Middleton safe!
Family Fitness Night
We had a blast at Middleton Family Fitness Night and the turnout was amazing with approximately 500 people in attendance. We participated in various activities such as Cup Stacking, Nuk’em, Gaga Ball, and Zumba. It was a super fun night seeing students and their families playing some Middleton favorites!
More from Middleton
TAP THE SUN FOR SUMMER SCHOOL INFO
Congratulations to our Student Council for a successful smencil sale!
Dates to Remember
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.
Coffee with the Meyer Principal
Please join the Meyer Principal, Dr. Wei, for Coffee with the Meyer Principal on Thursday, May 11th. This will be an informal way for parents/guardians to hear what is happening at Meyer and to provide a space to ask questions. Parents/guardians will have two opportunities to join on May 11th:
- In-person in the morning: 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.
Please have your photo ID ready for check-in at the Meyer Office
- Zoom in the evening: 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.
The Zoom link will be shared the day before
We hope to see you there!
Early Childhood Fun Fair
The Early Childhood Alliance (ECA) is hosting an Early Childhood Fun Fair on Saturday, May 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oakton College Acorn Room, 7701 N. Lincoln Avenue in Skokie. Join us for games, food, crafts, and information on community programs. Please see the attached flyer for more information and the QR code to register. ► 2nd Annual ECA Early Childhood Fun Fair
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
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)
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