News and information from our district and schools
MEYER. MIDDLETON. McCRACKEN. Games. Meal Menu.
MARCH 22, 2024
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DISTRICT NEWS
The Weekly will take a spring break on March 29th. We'll be back on April 5th.
SPRING BREAK OFFICE AVAILABILITY
All Skokie73.5 district and school offices will be closed during spring break. Staff will be working remotely from Monday, March 25th through Friday, March 29th to allow our Buildings & Grounds Team to work uninterrupted on special projects. During this time, office staff can be reached as follows:
- DISTRICT OFFICE: Call 847-676-8317 or send an email to [email protected].
- MEYER: The office will be closed and staff will not be available until school resumes on Monday, April 1st.
- MIDDLETON: Staff will check voicemail periodically on remote work days. Messages received when offices are closed will be returned on the next business day.
- McCRACKEN: Messages received when offices are closed will be returned as soon as possible.
Teachers, families, and students across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of our schools.
The Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey will be administered through March 29, 2024. Your participation in the 5Essentials survey will help us better understand our schools and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. The State of Illinois now uses the results of the survey to determine the official school designation for Middleton and McCracken, which is reported on the yearly Illinois School Report Card.
Thank you to all who have completed the 5Essentials Parent Survey! We're at 22% participation with one week to go. There's still time to submit parent feedback if you haven't done so already!
To take the survey please visit survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois and click the "Parent Survey" to begin. There are 21 questions and the survey should take approximately 10 minutes. If you have children in multiple buildings please complete the survey for each school.
SUMMER SCHOOL
Summer is right around the corner, and it is time to begin thinking about summer school! Summer school will run from Tuesday, June 4th to Thursday, June 27th (there will be no summer school on Wednesday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth). Classes will meet Monday through Thursday; there will be no classes on Fridays.
The daily schedule for summer school is as follows:
- 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. — English Language Arts
- 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Mathematics
Summer school enrollment is determined by invitation. Families of invited students should expect to receive summer school mailings beginning March 18th. Bus transportation information will be provided at a later date.
COFFEE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
Please join Dr. Hightower for coffee and conversation on Monday, April 8th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the McCracken Multipurpose Room.
RSVP is requested. Click or tap the flyer and then the RSVP link to let us know you're coming.
All are invited to stay for the regular monthly PTO MEETING immediately after coffee at 7:00 p.m.!
REPORT CARD DELIVERY INFORMATION
Trimester 2 report card notifications were emailed to parents/guardians on Wednesday, March 20th at 3:00 p.m. Please check your inbox or our website for an email from your child's school with more information, including instructions for How to View Report Cards Online.
If you need translating or interpreting support with your child's report card, please contact Lyla Nissan at 847-676-8210 or by email at [email protected].
Check the NTDSE Parent Events information for APRIL!
Do you homeschool your child(ren)? If so, please consider attending the Timely and Meaningful Consultation (TMC) meeting with NTDSE to see if your child may qualify for proportionate share funding for special education services. If you would like to attend, you will need to register HERE and NTDSE will send you the virtual attendance link.
The Illinois Resource Center, in cooperation with the Illinois State Board of Education-Multilingual Department, will present present the Eighteenth Annual Statewide Summit for Bilingual Parents: A Conference for Members of Bilingual Parent Advisory Councils (BPACs) and Parents of English Learners (ELs). This in-person event is on Saturday, May 4th at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center. If you would like to attend, please contact Lyla Nissan at [email protected].
GET TO KNOW THE PTO!
WE NEED YOU! The PTO is looking for new board members for the 2024-2025 school year! To learn more, please e-mail the PTO at [email protected].
The PTO invites us all to TASTE OF 73.5 on Sunday, April 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at McCracken Middle School.
Click or tap the flyer for more information on the PTO website!
The Skokie73.5 community is invited to share their heritage, culinary expertise, and celebrate our diversity. Sign up here: forms.gle/XWAUp1Qi45Knh7Vp6.
Email [email protected] if you would like to help plan the event. Meetings will be held on Zoom. Check the PTO website for dates.
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
DISTRICT DATES
AROUND TOWN
Student Outstanding Artist Recognition (SOAR) exhibit through March 31st at Oakton College ► TAP FOR DETAILS
Check the SkokieNews for information and updates from the Village of Skokie.
Scroll the Skokie Public Library Newsletter for information about library events and services for all ages and abilities.
Meyer will host our MEYER FAMILY FUN NIGHT on Thursday, April 11th from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. at Meyer School. Meyer staff will lead fun activities you can do as a family. Bring the whole family for an evening of learning. Please see the FLYER for details. We hope to see you there!
The SPRING SESSION of Enrich MEYER after-school enrichment classes for kindergartners will run from Tuesday, April 9th through Thursday, May 16, 2024. Enrich MEYER brochures with program and class details were sent home in backpacks this week.
Registration forms are due by Tuesday, April 2nd and confirmations will be sent by Friday, April 5th.
If you have any questions, please contact our Enrich MEYER Coordinator, Mrs. Rachel Douglas, at [email protected].
Congratulations to our Meyer artists who have their artwork displayed at this year's SOAR ART EXHIBIT. Thank you to Mrs. Castellini for her hard work with our Meyer Shining Stars. We hope you can stop by to admire all the wonderful artwork from Meyer and all the other participating Skokie schools!
Check the Village of Skokie website for exhibit location and hours!
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for the 2024-2025 school year has begun for NEW students to Meyer. Current preschool students who are RETURNING for kindergarten next year will not need to complete any forms. Please watch for an email with next steps that was sent from Joann Eisenstein on Tuesday, March 12th.
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION & SCREENING 2024-2025. Preschool registration for the 2024-2025 school year has begun! For more information about our program, please see our PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE SLIDESHOW.
We are offering preschool developmental screenings for the 2024-2025 school year on Monday, April 15th and Tuesday, April 16th for Skokie73.5 families only. If you are interested in having your child considered for the Discount Preschool Tuition Program, or if you have concerns about your preschool-aged child’s development, please click HERE or scan the QR code to sign up for a screening appointment.
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Kindergarten Superstars
Preschool Superstars
KINDER MATH & DAILY 5
MEYER DATES
SPECIAL EVENT: Meyer + Middleton Author Visits!
Meyer AND Middleton will host in-school visits with award-winning author Cozbi Cabrera on Friday, April 12th! Cabrera will visit with Meyer students in the morning and then head over to Middleton to visit with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students.
Cabrera is a 2021 Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Book Awards honoree. Her picture books include Me & Mama, My Hair is a Garden, Chef Edna, and Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks.
Families can order signed copies of Cabrera's books from local seller Booked Evanston at 10% off the list price (some as low as $10). Order books at www.bookedevanston.com/cozbi-cabrera and they will be delivered during the author visit. Orders are due by Friday, April 5th.
The 2023-2024 MIDDLETON YEARBOOK pre-order is coming to a close on March 28th. Pre-ordering the yearbook now guarantees that a copy is reserved for your family. Additional copies of the yearbook will be very limited after the pre-order closes. Place your orders online through the Lifetouch website at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The Yearbook ID Code is 13556524. Don't miss out! Pre-order your yearbook by March 28th!
Middleton will practice a lockdown drill after spring break. Parents and guardians, please check your inbox for an email that was sent from Skokie73.5 to all families on Monday, March 18th with detailed information and a lockdown drill opt-out form. If you would like your child to opt out of the scheduled lockdown drill, please complete the form and return it to the school office or your child's teacher by Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Our 5th grade students will participate in the CogAT assessment from Wednesday, April 3rd through Friday, April 5th. This assessment helps us better understand students' critical and creative thinking skills and is part of the Skokie73.5 matrix to determine student qualification in our Extended Learning Program (ELP). As with all assessments, it’s important for students to get a good night’s sleep on these days and eat breakfast each morning.
Superintendent Hightower was in attendance at the 3rd Grade Spring Music Concert on Thursday evening. She shared a short video clip of the performance!
With this concert, students experienced a fun new collaboration between drama and music, performing a mini-musical under the direction of Angela Sylvester and Stephanie Anderson. Thank you to all for attending!
INVITATION FROM THE ART ROOM!
Middleton artists currently have a very special art exhibition on display at Skokie Public Library. The artwork is inspired by the upcoming solar eclipse and will be on display in the library's Activity Room through April 18thth. Most 5th grade students, along with select 3rd and 4th graders, currently have artwork on display—over 100 pieces of art!
Special shoutout and thanks to Middleton librarian Beth Glaser for collaborating and providing a virtual reality (VR) experience to inspire our students.
Please see the attached invitation for more information.
Ms. Michelle Beatrice
Middleton Art Educator
The McCracken ALL SCHOOL READ COMMITTEE presented the final two books to families last week in the McCracken Library and the polls were opened for the final round of voting. The links to two student-made presentations and the voting form are available in the All School Read section of the McCracken Library website. Ms. Gammeri is also connecting with the Middleton librarian to provide an opportunity for 5th grade students to vote in the final round as well! The final All School Read voting results will be shared after spring break!
NEW 8th GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN GRADUATION CEREMONY/EVENTS COMMUNICATION. Check the NEW Graduation Parent/Guardian Letter for information about securing tickets for the ceremony, yard signs, t-shirt orders, graduation rehearsal, our 8th grade end-of-year celebration, and more!
Please see the message below from the 8th grade parent committee about the end-of-the-year celebration:
Help our 8th graders celebrate their year-end in style! Please consider making a donation to fund food, decorations, and a DJ for the 8th grade end-of-year celebration. Use THIS LINK to donate online and give our students a great sendoff!
The 2023-2024 McCRACKEN YEARBOOK is now on sale. The yearbook staff is working so hard to create a fun and unique book for our students. The cost of the yearbook is $20. Students received an order form from their advisor during the week of March 4th. Orders can be placed online:
- ybpay.lifetouch.com
- Yearbook ID Code: 13556324
- Orders are due by Monday, April 1st
Order your yearbook TODAY!
CAMP MacLEAN SAVE THE DATE! McCracken 7th graders will take our annual 3-day trip to Camp MacLean in Burlington, Wisconsin from Wednesday, May 15th through Friday, May 17th. The purpose of the Camp MacLean trip is to provide our students with an outdoor education experience that promotes both team building and independence. It is our goal that all 7th grade students attend this important trip.
Parents and guardians should complete this digital form by Friday, April 5th to indicate their student's interest in attending Camp MacLean OR complete and return the print form passed out in Bethany Fagan’s social studies class for students to bring home. If you have already made the decision for your student to attend, you can make payment online HERE!
We will share additional information with families about this trip soon. Ms. Fagan and Mr. Behm will host an informational night on Wednesday, April 3rd. Get excited for Camp MacLean 2024!
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS. Did you know that missing two days of school a month, over the course of a school year, can affect a student's academic success? Please help us make school attendance a priority! If you know that your child will be absent for the day, please call our school nurse, Ms. Warda, at 847-676-8235 by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Please review the McCracken Attendance Reminders for more information about the importance of consistent school attendance and keeping your child engaged in school.
Arrival & Dismissal
Please help us keep our students, staff, families, and visitors safe by following our arrival and dismissal safety reminders.
McCRACKEN DATES
Spectator Guidelines
We are excited to host and participate in Little 9 Conference sporting events! Please review behavior expectations for students, families, and visitors.
Halal meals available on request: Meatball and Rice Bowl, Cheese Sandwich. Kosher meals available on request: All Beef Hot Dog, Cheese Sandwich. Due to supply chain delays, Halal chicken sandwich is temporarily unavailable. Monthly meal menu at-a-glance is available HERE.
District 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.
Equity Mission Statement
WE BELIEVE that inclusivity and belonging is the foundation for equity.
ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN, at high achievement levels, when equity is infused into every aspect of education.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE the systemic inequities present in school systems and recognize the impact they continue to have on marginalized communities.
WE COMMIT to teaching, learning, and growing in order to identify and dismantle inequitable systems and to create a community where barriers are removed so that everyone can reach their full potential.
WE BELIEVE that students succeed when they can see themselves represented in our staff, curriculum, opportunities, and our shared environment. We accomplish this through professional development, curriculum revision, community engagement, and systems evaluations.
WE RECOGNIZE the need to teach our students to identify the origins of unjust systems and empower them to use their critical thinking skills and agency to responsibly disrupt the policies and practices that perpetuate inequalities.
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