News and information from our district and schools
Scroll to view District updates and news from Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken!
DECEMBER 20, 2024
The Weekly will take a break on Fridays, December 27 and January 3. We'll be back in the new year on Friday, January 10. Have a warm and wonderful winter break!
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DISTRICT UPDATES
FOOD PANTRIES & PROGRAMS DURING WINTER BREAK
The Greater Chicago Food Depository maintains a database of food pantries and programs in Cook County and the Chicago area. The following locations are within 5 miles of zip code 60076, serve Skokie/Niles Township, and are available during winter break. Check this quick list for hours and additional information.
Food Pantry/Grocery Distribution
- Niles Township Food Pantry
- Rahmah Halal Food Pantry
Hot Meals
- First Presbyterian Church of Evanston
- Ebenezer AME Church
- United Church of Rogers Park
Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food to search for additional locations that offer free groceries or a hot meal at a food pantry, soup kitchen, shelter, or mobile distribution.
DISTRICT & SCHOOL OFFICE HOLIDAY ACCESS
District and School office staff will be working remotely during winter break to allow space for our Buildings & Grounds and PureBrite cleaning teams to work uninterrupted on preventive maintenance and deep cleaning in our buildings. During this time, office staff can be reached as follows:
- DISTRICT OFFICE: Call 847-676-8317 or send an email to [email protected].
- MEYER, MIDDLETON, McCRACKEN: Call the school's main office phone number to leave a message. Staff will check voicemail periodically on Monday, Thursday, and Friday of each week.
All District and School offices will be closed on the following dates:
- Tuesday, December 24
- Wednesday, December 25
- Tuesday, December 31
- Wednesday, January 1
GET TO KNOW THE PTO!
Get your Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken gear! Enjoy a limited-time savings of 25% during the holiday sale – there’s something for the entire family! A portion of sales go to the PTO to help fund events, equipment, and wish-list items for our schools. Click the button link for each school....
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
AROUND TOWN
SKOKIE WARMING CENTERS
Visit the Village of Skokie website for hours, addresses, phone numbers, and a map.
DISTRICT DATES
HAPPY WINTER BREAK! Meyer families, thank you for your partnership and support! The Meyer Staff wishes you a happy, healthy, and safe Winter Break and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing our Meyer Shining Stars back at school on Monday, January 6, 2025.
MEYER MART
Meyer had another successful Meyer Mart on Tuesday, December 17. Kindergarten classrooms visited the Meyer Mart with their classes, and “purchased” gifts for Meyer families needing a little support this winter. Preschool classrooms then wrapped the gifts with much love and care.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to Coins for Kindness and the Meyer Mart! Everyone made a difference! Special thanks go to the volunteers who helped shop for items for the Meyer Mart: parent/guardians Odessa Molina, Molly Domingo, and Melissa Sumulong; and staff members Derek Hasenstab and Bethany Mullins. Thank you!
KINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT
Meyer Winter Enrichment classes for kindergartners will run from Tuesday, January 28 through Thursday, March 20, 2025 (8-week session). Enrich MEYER brochures were sent home in backpacks today, December 20.
Registration is due by Wednesday, January 15 (paper or online), and confirmations will be sent by Tuesday, January 21. If you have any questions, please contact our Enrich MEYER Coordinator, Rachel Douglas, at [email protected].
PBIS FAMILY CONNECTION: REVIEW OF BEING SAFE
When we return from Winter Break, we will review how to be safe and reminding ourselves to practice “body is calm,” “personal space bubble,” and “walking feet.” Check out the last few issues of The Weekly for how to practice these three things at home.
NOV 15, 2024
DEC 6, 2024
DEC 13, 2024
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Ms. Solomon & Hallerduff's Kindergarten Superstars
Ms. Sanfilippo's Afternoon Preschool Superstars
MEYER DATES
Meyer School will host Family Fun Night on Thursday, January 16 from 6:00 to 7:15 pm. Meyer staff will lead fun learning activities you can do as a family. Bring the whole family for an art/craft, literacy/math activity, and a family project. Please see the FLYER for details. We hope to see you there!
HAPPY WINTER BREAK! The Middleton Staff wishes you a safe and happy Winter Break and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your partnership in caring for and educating your children. We look forward to welcoming our Middleton Bulldogs back to school in the new year on Monday, January 6, 2025.
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED!
Middleton hosts many evening events. We’d love to hear from you about what you like and what else you’d like to see.
Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think on this 5 question survey! Thank you!
WARMING HEARTS THANK YOU
Middleton’s Warming Hearts hot chocolate celebration and winter clothing drive was a success. We send a BIG thank you to all of you for making that happen!
Thank you for donating hot chocolate, cups, and marshmallows.
Thank you for donating your time and volunteering to serve hot chocolate and visit classrooms.
Thank you for donating new and gently used winter clothing.
All clothing donations, including unclaimed lost and found items, will be donated to the Niles Township Food Pantry. All cards will be dropped off at several local nursing homes.
Please save the date! Middleton’s Literacy Night is scheduled for Thursday, January 23 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. We hope you can join us!
Students and staff at McCracken had two busy and productive weeks leading up to winter break. Students participated in winter benchmark testing to allow teachers to check in on progress toward meeting academic goals and standards. In addition, our successful winter season of girls’ basketball concluded. Cheerleading tryouts/clinics and boys basketball tryouts will be held the week we return from winter break. McCracken's Winter Orchestra, 7th/8th grade Choirs, and Symphonic Band concerts were held at Niles North High School this week, and we celebrated trimester one student accomplishments at our Hornet’s Hive assembly on Friday.
We are so proud of all of our students' efforts at the beginning of the school year and grateful to our amazing staff for their dedication and commitment to providing an inclusive and rigorous learning environment. Please encourage your students to get involved in the many extracurricular clubs and activities McCracken offers throughout the year. We wish your family a safe and joyous winter break and Happy New Year and look forward to students’ return on January 6!
MLK JR. DAY OF SERVICE & FOOD DRIVE
On Monday, January 20, McCracken will hold the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and Food Drive. This is an opportunity for students to honor the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering their time to help our school and community. Participants will complete various service projects in the school as well as facilitate a food drive to benefit the Niles Township Food Pantry. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, and cleaning products can be dropped off in the circle drive in front of McCracken on January 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Students who are volunteering need to complete a permission slip which they can pick up outside room 222. Bus transportation will not be provided for this event.
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! This McCracken Attendance Reminders sheet provides information about the importance of consistent school attendance and keeping your child engaged in school. 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.
8th GRADE INFORMATION
Please see the following updates to the important dates to remember for our 8th grade families:
- 8th Grade Graduation Pictures: Thursday, January 30, 2025 (Graduation gowns for the photos will be provided for pictures by Lifetouch. Students take one photo in the graduation gown and one photo without the gown.)
- 8th Grade Curriculum Night at Niles North High School: Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (Niles North will share more information about this event with families.)
- Student Counselor Appointments at Niles North High School: Thursday, February 6, 2025 (Parents and guardians will receive their appointment information from Niles North after winter break.)
- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration: Friday, May 16, 2025
- 8th Grade Graduation: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
8th grade parents and families are invited to attend Niles North Curriculum Night on Thursday, January 16 at 6:00 p.m. Students and families can learn more about academic programming available to incoming freshmen as they prepare to transition to high school next year. Individualized student packets will be distributed to students and families which will include 2025-2026 freshman course recommendations and PSAT score information. PSAT scores are also available to access on the College Board website. Please reach out to Niles North High School with any questions related to PSAT scores, counselor appointments, and course recommendations. Eighth grade students and a parent/guardian will be expected to participate in counselor appointments on February 6 at Niles North High School. Families will receive their individual appointment times from Niles North after winter break. Please note that Niles North is planning to host an athletic and activities fair for incoming freshman in the spring.
CHEERLEADING CLINIC & TRYOUTS
Cheerleading tryouts are open to ALL students in 7th and 8th grade. Students must have a current physical form on file with the nurse in order to attend clinic and tryouts. Students should wear comfortable clothes and gym shoes.
Cheerleading Clinic (must attend one)
Monday, January 6 and Wednesday, January 8
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
in the MPR
Cheerleading Tryouts
Friday, January 10
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
in the MPR
BOYS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS
Students interested in trying out for McCracken's boys 6th, JV, and Varsity basketball teams should pick up a permission slip from one of the coaches or the front office, get it signed by an adult, return it to the front office or one of the coaches. Tryouts will be held once we return from winter break break. All students planning to try out must have a current physical form on file. Tryout dates and times are below:
Boys Varsity Basketball
Wednesday, January 8
Thursday, January 9
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
(both days)
Boys JV Basketball
Wednesday, January 8
Thursday, January 9
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
(both days)
Boys 6th Grade Basketball
Friday, January 10
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 14
4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
OUTDOOR RECESS REMINDERS
Students participate in outdoor recess throughout the school year, unless there is a significant weather-related or other external factor that necessitates an indoor program. Please send your child to school with appropriate outerwear. For winter weather, students will need a warm coat, hat, gloves, and winter snow boots when necessary. Families in need of outerwear for their child should contact school administration for additional resources.
In general, students go outside for recess as long as it “feels” like 15 degrees or above and it is not raining or snowing. See the Child Care Weather Watch chart that we use to guide our decisions.
McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
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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