News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
Taste of 73.5
The PTO would like to thank the community for attending the Taste of 73.5. Your attendance and engagement helped to make it a success. We hope that you found the event informative and enjoyable, and that you were able to connect with others in our community. We are especially grateful to those who volunteered to represent their cultures. It was great to see families and community members celebrate our district's diversity. Thank you for being part of the celebration!
Department of Student Services
School Supply Kits
Pre-order school supplies for the 2023-2024 school year now through June 18th! Organized by the District 73.5 Caring Hearts Classroom Grants Committee. Kit lists and more information are linked below.
SD73.5 Priorities
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. We will welcome and engage staff, students, families, and community members in our schools.
HIRING & RETENTION We will recruit, hire, and retain a diverse workforce and improve our human resource processes, procedures, and materials.
INFRASTRUCTURE & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. All financial decisions and investments will meet the needs of our diverse learners and staff and promote academic and social growth. We will provide a safe, inclusive, flexible, and innovative space for teaching, learning, and growing.
TEACHING & LEARNING. All students will engage in learning experiences that are cohesive and articulated across PreK-8, flexibly designed to engage all learners and leading to rigorous outcomes for all. We will be a future-focused, real-world learning environment that is responsive, accessible, and meaningful for all. We will become a model district on the use of data for making instructional, curriculum, and programmatic decisions.
Summer Reading Kickoff
PTO News
PTO SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, May 23rd
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
Planning for 2023-2024 school year
Project Lead The Way Distinguished School
McCracken has been designated as a 2022-23 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Gateway Distinguished School. This award recognizes schools across the U.S. for their commitment to providing broad access to transformative learning experiences and increasing student access, engagement, and achievement through their PLTW programs.
The McCracken Middle School STEAM program is taught by Ms. Lisa Repp. We are incredibly proud of her commitment to our students' learning experiences, and the efforts of our students to participate actively in the program.
Visit the Project Lead the Way website at pltw.org for more information about PLTW’s recognition program.
7th Grade Camp MacLean Trip
Our 7th grade students boarded buses and arrived at Camp MacLean on Wednesday, May 17th. Check out some photos from their camp life!
8th Grade Graduation Reminders
- Our 8th Grade End of Year Celebration takes place on Saturday, May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Students must have a signed permission slip to attend and a transportation plan for dismissal. STUDENT PERMISSION 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. Students are expected to arrive at Niles North through Door 19 no later than 6:30 p.m.
- Niles North is under construction. Please see this map for parking and door entry.
- Each graduate is given up to five (5) tickets for family members/guests to attend the graduation ceremony. In addition, each graduate was able to request up to two (2) additional tickets using a lottery system.
- Student graduation gowns, yard signs, and t-shirt orders will be distributed to students on Friday, May 19th at the end of the school day.
- Yearbooks will be distributed to students during advisory on Wednesday, May 24th
- Graduation tickets will be distributed to students at school on Wednesday, May 24th with a parking and entry map.
- Students must attend graduation rehearsal on the morning of Thursday, May 25th. Students will be dismissed directly after rehearsal at McCracken upon return from Niles North at approximately 11:00 a.m. GRADUATION REHEARSAL BUS FIELD TRIP FORM
- Students are expected to follow all academic and behavioral expectations through the end of the year to fully participate in graduation end of the year events.
- Families can also access graduation information by visiting the McCracken Middle School Graduation page on our website.
More from McCracken
COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER STUDENT COUNCIL SPIRIT DAYS (tap to embiggen)
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?
Dates to Remember
May 20th
8th Grade Graduation End of the Year Celebration
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
May 22nd
Cultural Diversity Day
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Orchestra Concert
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
May 25th
8th Grade Graduation Rehearsal
8:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Students will be dismissed after they return from Niles North High School at approximately 11:30 a.m.
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
Students must report to Niles North no later than 6:30 p.m. Families will gain entry into the auditorium at approximately 6:45 p.m.
June 2nd
6th & 7th Grade Field Day & Hornet's Hive Activities
Last day of school for students
Please check our public calendar on the district website for athletic game times and locations.
Dinner is Served!
The Student Council is is raising money to purchase a gaga ball pit for Middleton students. Grab lunch or dinner at Dengeos on May 31st, show the attached flyer, and 20 percent of your meal price will go right back to Middleton!
The Middleton greenhouse is in need of some repairs, so we are having a Portillo’s fundraiser on May 24th to raise funds for those repairs! Grab lunch or dinner at the Skokie Portillo's, show the attached flyer, and 20 percent of your meal price will be donated to Middleton.
Middleton Garden Update
The next time you're in the neighborhood, stop by Middleton's Gilbert Garden to see what's in bloom!
More from Middleton
END OF YEAR COUNTDOWN
Middleton’s end of the year countdown begins on May 19th. Please encourage your students to join in on the fun! VIEW THE LIST OF FUN ACTIVITIES
POPSICLES WITH THE PRINCIPALS
Save the date and come join us for some summer fun! Meet us on the Middleton playground on August 8th from 10:00 to 11:00 am. MORE INFORMATION
Staff Appreciation Week: Thank You, Families!
Thank you to all the Meyer families who helped us celebrate Staff Appreciation Week last week and helped us feel extra special! Many thanks also go to the Meyer Parent Leaders who brought us coffee and pastries, “Chalked the Walk,” and arranged for a barista and coffee cart.
Meyer Showcase & Spring Book Fair
Thank you to all the families who came to the Meyer Showcase and Book Fair. We loved seeing everyone and being able to celebrate the growth of our Meyer Shining Stars over the course of the school year. We appreciate your partnership and ongoing support!
Skokie Public Library Bookmobile Visit
The Skokie Public Library Bookmobile came to visit Meyer School last week on May 9th. The librarians read aloud a book to each class and highlighted great books to read that students can find at the library and on the bookmobile. Thank you to Mrs. Kelley for coordinating this special visit!
Meyer Parent Leaders End of the Year Bash
Inviting all families to celebrate the end of the school year!
Friday, May 26th from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the field by the parking lot
- Purchase tickets for food, crafts, and tattoos/face painting (cash only)
- Bring a refillable water bottle and picnic blanket or chairs
Be sure to get in on the action and volunteer to help make the End of the Year Bash memorable! Please snap the QR code or tap the link below to sign up.
Soul Good Coffee Truck: Thank you, Board and District Admin Team!
Meyer Superstars
Dates to Remember
May 24th
On to Kindergarten
(incoming Kindergarten parent/guardians)
May 26th
MPL End-of-Year Bash
3:0 to 5:30 p.m.
May 29th
Memorial Day
No School
May 31st
Summer Reading Kickoff
5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Near the Meyer Drive-Thru
June 1st
Preschool Play Day
June 2nd
Kindergarten Plan Day
Last Day of School for Students
Mark Your Calendars for 2023-2024
Returning Meyer families, please mark your calendars with these important dates:
August 9th-11th
Notification of Classroom Placement
Thursday, August 17th
Party on the Playground
6:30 to 7:30 pm.
Wednesday, August 23rd
Student Classroom Visit Day
Thursday, August 24th
First Day of School for Kindergarten Students
Monday, August 28th
First Day of School for Preschool Students
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