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. Huynh’s class: Monday, May 13th at 11:00 a.m.
• Ms. Solomon’s class: Monday, May 13th at 12:00 p.m.
• Ms. Mpistolarides and Ms. Zaccone’s class: Monday May 13th at 1:00 p.m.
   
• Ms. Lancioni’s class: Tuesday, May 14th at 9:30 a.m.
• Ms. LaBarbera’s class: Tuesday, May 14th at 10:30 a.m.

Each Informance will last approximately 25 minutes. Seating is limited so we ask that each child invites a maximum of 2 adults.

Please check in with your ID at the Meyer office. Plan to arrive approximately 10 minutes early to allow time for check in. Thank you!

See this FLYER for information. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Castellini at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

Please join the MEYER PARENT LEADERS for this month's Zoom meeting. We will be planning the Meyer End-of-the-Year Bash. All parents and guardians are welcome!

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Zoom link will be sent to Meyer families through Seesaw the day before the meeting.

The Meyer Parent Leaders are hosting the MEYER END-OF-THE-YEAR BASH and they need volunteers to help make the bash a success. Please sign up HERE or scan the QR code on the FLYER.

Join us for the bash on Friday, May 24th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the field by the Meyer parking lot. There will be fun activities, food, music, and crafts. See the FLYER for details.

MIDDLETON FAMILY FITNESS NIGHT IS TONIGHT! Please join Middleton staff, students, and families from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to play some Middleton favorites and get ACTIVE!

The P.E. Staff and teams will be encouraging everyone to play, so ALL participants are asked to dress in active wear with gym shoes. All students who attend must be accompanied by an adult. We look forward to a FUN and ACTIVE night! See you there!

MIDDLETON FIELD DAY (for students only) is the morning of Friday, May 31st. Students should wear gym shoes, dress appropriately for weather conditions, and apply sunscreen before they leave for school that morning. This is also the last day of school; students will be dismissed at 3:00pm.

SAVE THE DATE! Help us celebrate the accomplishments of our 5th grade students! Join us in the Middleton gym on Wednesday, May 29th from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. for a reception featuring student poetry and art. Help us wish the 5th graders a fond farewell as they prepare to move on to 6th grade.

Middleton CLASS PLACEMENT and back to school letters will be sent by email in August. Information about ELP and new information for students who newly qualify for ELP will go out over the summer.  

Congratulations to the McCRACKEN SYMPHONIC BAND for their outstanding performance and recognition at the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival on Friday, May 3rd at The University of Illinois in Champaign. McCracken received the highest honor of being the only middle school invited back to perform at the 2025 SuperState Festival. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and accomplishments this year! Special thanks to McCracken Band Director Mr. Chip De Stefano for his leadership and commitment to the McCracken band program.

Just a few more days until we leave for Camp MacLean! We depart on Wednesday, May 15th and students should plan on arriving at McCracken no earlier than 7:15 a.m. with their belongings. Students will deposit their bags in the MPR upon arrival. We'll be on the road by 9:00 a.m. after our advisory period and a quick meeting. As a reminder, please check that your students pack accordingly for warm, cold, and wet weather and please, please make sure they leave the cell phones at home. We'll arrive back at McCracken on Friday afternoon at approximately 2:00 p.m. Students will be dismissed upon arrival at 2:00 p.m. and all families should arrive on time to pick up their students. Students cannot take the bus with their luggage. If you haven't contacted our nurse, Marryann Warda, about needed medications already, please do so immediately. Students not attending the field trip will follow a special schedule for the three days with members of the 7th grade staff.

Thank you to 5th grade parents and guardians who were able to visit McCracken Middle School on Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. McCracken administration and 6th grade team members reviewed important information to support the successful transition of our incoming 6th grade McCracken Hornets. The team reviewed 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 hosted an optional tour for families at the end of the program. You can find the links to the On to 6th Grade presentation and Frequently Asked Questions on our website. We also look forward to welcoming 5th grade students for a visit to McCracken on Thursday, May 16th during the school day!

Please review recent communication to families regarding important graduation events coming up at the end of the school year to celebrate our McCracken 8th 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 the 8th grade parent committee about our 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. Please consider making a donation now using THIS LINK to give our students a great sendoff!

McCracken Middle School has been recognized as a 2023-2024 PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) Distinguished School. This honor is given to a select number of middle schools across the U.S. for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Gateway, a grade 6-8 STEM curriculum. Research shows that the middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, it’s crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that expose the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. Whether designing an automated robotics system or exploring aerospace by creating designs and prototypes, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop confidence in STEM subjects. Thank you to Ms. Lisa Repp for for her continued commitment to STEAM programming at McCracken Middle School.

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.