News and information from our district and schools
MEYER. MIDDLETON. McCRACKEN. Games. Meal Menu.
APRIL 19, 2024
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DISTRICT NEWS
BRING A KID TO WORK DAY
Thursday, April 25th is 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 25th 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 25th.
Summer School will be in session from Tuesday, June 4th through Thursday, June 27th at Middleton Elementary School. Summer School meets Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (no classes on Fridays). The ELA/Reading class meets from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and the Math class meets from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There is no Summer School on Wednesday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth.
Tuition for this year’s summer school is free. If you are the parent or guardian of a student who has been recommended for summer school, check your email inbox on the morning of Monday, April 22nd for a registration letter. Please reach out to Marty Behm at [email protected] or Stephanie Larenas at [email protected] with any questions.
STUDENT SERVICES
PARENT UNIVERSITY FOR APRIL. Please join Dr. Donna Smith and Heather Milligan, both NTDSE occupational therapists, as they lead our next Parent University topic on how to facilitate independence for your child. The parent training will look at how to help your child develop strategies for engagement, attention to task, following routines, navigating transitions, and building executive functioning skills. Join us on Tuesday, April 23rd between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. in the Meyer Library. We hope to see you there!
Explore ways to bridge the gap between parenting knowledge and practice.
Sign up for the Bridge the Gap Parenting Seminar on Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Elk Grove Township. Check the FLYER for details.
Registration deadline is May 3rd.
COFFEE IN THE COMMUNITY
Thank you to everyone who stopped by Will's Place this past Wednesday morning for coffee and treats with Board of Education President Emily Miller and Superintendent Zipporah Hightower!
On Friday, April 26th our Student Services Team leaders will be guest baristas from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Stop by for coffee and say hello to Lyla Nissan, Riley Hoerner, and Angela DeMay!
ABOVE: Will's Place team with Dr. Emily Miller and Dr. Zipporah Hightower during their guest barista shift.
BELOW: Upcoming guest baristas Lyla Nissan, Riley Hoerner, and Angela DeMay
Will's Place is a non-profit cafe in the heart of Downtown Skokie that creates meaningful employment and vocational training opportunities for adults with disabilities.
GET TO KNOW THE PTO!
Volunteers are needed to support the McCracken Book Fair beginning Monday, April 22nd through Friday, April 26th. SIGN UP HERE!
WE NEED YOU! The PTO needs new board members for the 2024-2025 school year! To learn more, please e-mail the PTO at [email protected].
Thank you to the community for being part of the Taste of 73.5 celebration. We are especially thankful to the volunteers that made the event happen.
The PTO extends a special shoutout to Odessa Molina, Sally Alvarado, Margaret Page, Portia Bamgbose, and Karen Hayes for all their work with the Taste of 73.5.
Enjoy this video highlight reel from the festivities!
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
DISTRICT DATES
Policy Committee
Wednesday, May 1st
5:00 p.m.
Equity Committee
Monday, May 6th
5:30 p.m.
Board of Education
Tuesday, May 14th
7:00 p.m.
Finance Committee
Wednesday, May 22nd
7:00 p.m.
AROUND TOWN
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 hosted our first Meyer Family Fun Night on Thursday, April 11th. Meyer staff members led Meyer families in fun learning activities such as a fine-motor craft activity, a literacy read-aloud activity, and a science activity making calm-down glitter bottles. Many thanks to staff members for helping to make the evening special: Candice Amelio, Iida Borges, Rachel Douglas, Joann Eisenstein, Derek Hasenstab, Melissa Humble-Sage, Jenny Huynh, Torrie LaBarbera, Lauren Lancioni, Kristen McCann, Ashtar Nahhas, Katie Orleans, Hannah Saibert, Aasia Shahid, and Heena Shaikh. Thank you to the Franco-Charoenrath Family and Nguyen Family for donating snacks for the event! We had a great turnout, with over 240 people attending!
MEYER SHOWCASE & BOOK FAIR
Mark your calendars! We are excited to invite Meyer Families to the MEYER SHOWCASE on Thursday, May 2nd from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Meyer School. Students will share their hard work and learning with their families in their classrooms. Feel free to come by anytime between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Please use the main entrance. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
The Meyer School SPRING SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR will be open Monday, April 29th through Thursday, May 2nd from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Meyer Library. Please bring a photo ID to check in at the Meyer Office by Door #1.
The book fair will be open in the evening during the Meyer Showcase on Thursday, May 2nd from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
You can also shop the book fair online at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/meyer from April 29th through May 12th and receive 25% off your online purchase.
All purchases through the Book Fair will benefit our school. Thanks for supporting our kids! Check the FLYER for more information
AUTHOR VISIT HIGHLIGHTS
Author and illustrator COZBI CABRERA visited Meyer School on Friday, April 12th and led a very interactive author’s visit with our preschool and kindergarten students. She read her book Me & Mama and engaged students with singing, chanting, and clapping rhythms along with the story and a partner activity. Thank you to the Meyer Librarian, Amy Kelley, for helping to coordinate this fun event for our students!
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! Please see the FLYER for information on the importance of showing up for school on time for preschoolers and kindergartners.
Please remember the following drop-off times for students:
- AM & Full-day Preschool: 8:25-8:30 a.m.
- PM Preschool: 11:55 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Kindergarten: 8:30-8:40 a.m.
(Click or tap the flyer to make it bigger.)
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Kindergarten Superstars
Preschool Superstars
MEYER DATES
Tap the sun for information about Summer School
It's that time of the year for Middleton CLASS PLACEMENT reflection. If you have feedback you would like administration to consider for your child's 2024-2025 classroom placement, please complete THIS FORM or email your feedback to [email protected]. You can also send your feedback to school with your child in an envelope addressed to Ms. Larenas's attention.
AUTHOR VISIT HIGHLIGHTS
Middleton 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students enjoyed an incredible visit with award-winning author COZBI CABRERA on Friday, April 12th! She had the kids reading, laughing, and even singing as she shared about her life as an author and illustrator.
LITERACY NIGHT
SAVE THE DATE for MIDDLETON LITERACY NIGHT! Each of our three schools hosts a spring event to invite parents/guardians into the building. This year, Middleton is hosting a Literacy Night on Wednesday, May 1st from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Join the entire Middleton staff for interactive literacy activities to enjoy with your children.
Middleton's Literacy Night will also include a BOOK SWAP! Families, friends, and neighbors are invited to donate books of all reading levels. Drop them off at the Middleton front office or with any Middleton teacher from now until Wednesday, May 1st. Each student who attends Literacy Night will be invited to select two books to take home. See the Book Swap Information FLYER for details!
We hope to see you at Literacy Night!
MIDDLETON DATES
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, May 10th
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Middleton Fitness Night
Tap the sun for information about Summer School
ON TO 6th GRADE & 5th GRADE VISIT. Current 5th grade parents and guardians are invited to visit McCracken Middle School on Thursday, May 9th 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 the 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 who will visit McCracken on Thursday, May 16th during the school day! Please review this "On to 6th Grade" parent/guardian event invitation (available in multiple languages).
ILLINOIS SCIENCE ASSESSMENT
McCracken 8th grade students will take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) during their science classes next week. The ISA is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The assessment will take place over three days and students should remember to bring a charged Chromebook to school each day.
McCRACKEN BOOK FAIR
THE McCRACKEN BOOK FAIR NEEDS YOUR HELP! Volunteers are needed to manage short shifts at the Book Fair. Please sign up HERE if you are available to help with book purchases during Book Fair hours.
The SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR is coming to McCracken Middle School during the week of April 22nd! All McCracken students will have an opportunity to visit the book fair during the school day with their ELA classes, and families are invited to shop during the April Show-ers Spring Open House on April 25th. Purchases can also be made online.
Proceeds from the McCracken book fair and online sales will benefit our students by allowing us to purchase more books for the McCracken library. Thank you to the PTO and Mrs. Gammeri for organizing and hosting this event.
APRIL SHOW-ERS
Save the date for McCracken's APRIL SHOW-ERS SPRING OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, April 25th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at McCracken Middle School. The purpose of April Show-ers is to share our students’ learning, connect with members of our school community, and promote community engagement and Hornet pride! Please see this April Show-ers Program Schedule for more information. We look forward to welcoming you!
CAMP MacLEAN
We’re getting excited and have started planning for CAMP MacLEAN! 7th grade families, remember to submit all of your forms and payments by this Monday, April 22nd for our May trip! Carefully complete the permission slip and medication form and submit them with the $190 payment. Families in need of financial assistance or fee waiver information should contact Karen Hayes at 847-676-8317 or by email at [email protected].
GRADUATION INFORMATION
8th GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN GRADUATION COMMUNICATION. Please review recent communication to families regarding important graduation events coming up at the end of the school year to celebrate our McCracken eighth grade class of 2024. We communicate information by email, postal mail, and through our Weekly newsletter.
- March Graduation Parent/Guardian Letter (graduation ceremony, yard signs, t-shirt orders, graduation rehearsal, 8th grade end-of-year celebration, and more!)
- April Parent Reminders: 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Communication (April 12, 2024)
Please see the message below from our 8th grade parent committee about our end-of-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!
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
APRIL ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE. McCracken students will have the opportunity to be entered into a monthly attendance raffle recognizing students who are on time to school and those who miss no more than one day per month. Each student who achieves 95% attendance will be entered into this raffle and those who have 100% attendance will be entered twice. There will be three prizes distributed to students in each grade level. We are excited to welcome students to school each day for a full day of learning. Please note that religious holidays will not count toward any absences.
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
Tap the sun for information about Summer School
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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