THANK YOU to families who joined us for Parent-Teacher Conferences this week. Staff appreciate the opportunity to connect with you to share students’ strengths and discuss opportunities for growth. We appreciate your partnership!

FEBRUARY 20th is Kindness Day. All the students will be spreading kindness. Every class is going to be doing a kindness bingo activity. They will be creating a paper chain. A chain will be added after students cross off something on their bingo card. Then, when the chain is completed, it will be hung in the front office. One reason to be kind is to spread inclusivity and make people feel good inside. If you throw a stone in the water, it makes a ripple, and if we spread kindness, that kindness will have a ripple effect.

Join the 5th Grade MATH FAMILY CHALLENGE! It’s as easy as… 1, 2, 3! All entries are due by FRIDAY, MARCH 20th.

STEP 1: Scan the QR code to SOLVE the Math Word Problem with your family!

STEP 2: Take a picture of your work and of your family who helped you solve the problem.

STEP 3: Email the picture to Mrs. McWherter at [email protected].

** 4 WINNERS will be picked at random. The challenge ends FRIDAY, MARCH 20th, and those students will get 3 chances to make the legendary IMPOSSIBLE SHOT! **

At McCracken, we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH in meaningful ways throughout February and continue to honor cultural identity and diversity all year long. Inclusive and culturally sustaining practices are embedded into our instruction to ensure that every student feels seen, valued, and represented in their learning.

Across content areas, teachers intentionally select diverse reading materials so students can see themselves and others reflected in the curriculum. During February, our library highlights books written by Black authors, and we feature these titles through our daily announcements to encourage exploration and learning.

Volunteers from McCracken’s Social Justice Club and Picture Book Appreciation Society joined Mrs. Gammeri to visit Meyer School for World Read Aloud Day on February 4th. Our middle school students did a wonderful job reading inspiring picture books to eager preschool and kindergarten classes. Thank you to Mrs. Kelley and the Meyer staff for welcoming us for this joyful celebration of literacy and community!

The Social Justice Club is busy planning their upcoming McCracken Market fundraiser! Students will hold two sales in the coming months: a used book sale in March and a handmade craft sale in April. Proceeds from this fundraiser will help the club support our community through partnerships with three local organizations: The Niles Township Food Pantry, District 73.5 Community Safe Passage & Mutual Aid, and Connections for the Homeless. Any students who would like to be involved are encouraged to connect with Mrs. Gammeri. We are also accepting donations of gently used books. Stay tuned for more McCracken Market updates!

The SD73.5 PTO and 8th Grade Parent Committee will be hosting an 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration on FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McCracken.

To make the end-of-year festivities memorable for every student, we’re inviting our parent community to partner with the SD73.5 PTO and 8th Grade Parent Committee in one (or more!) meaningful ways. See this letter from the PTO for more details!

Our McCracken 8th grade Class of 2026 families recently received communication regarding graduation activities and events. We hope families and students were able to attend the Niles North Curriculum Night event. Please watch for further communication from both McCracken Middle School and Niles North High School throughout the school year. Below you will see a copy of the letter we sent home and some important dates and events.

REMINDER: Please submit the required information and orders for your child's graduation this year. If you have already completed the registration, you may disregard. This information is due by FEBRUARY 26, 2026. (Click here to submit).

► 8th GRADE GRADUATION PARENT/GUARDIAN LETTER JANUARY 2026

Upcoming 8th Grade Important Dates

• 8th Grade Graduation Picture Retakes ~ THURSDAY, MARCH 12th
• 8th Grade End of the Year Celebration ~ FRIDAY, MAY 22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• McCracken 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony ~ THURSDAY, MAY 28th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Niles North High School. We expect the ceremony to start promptly at 6:00 p.m. and last approximately 1–1 1/2 hours.

Consistent attendance to school is directly linked to higher academic achievement and high school graduation rates. Students can begin to struggle academically when they miss several days of school. Learning continues within the classroom across content areas. Although teachers do their best to help support students catch up when they return, there is no substitute for instruction and learning experiences inside the classroom. Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation. We understand students and families experience illness as well as unexpected emergencies, which qualify as excused absences. Please review the difference between excused and unexcused absences and do your best to promote the importance of showing up to school on time each school day with your child.

What can families do to support good attendance?

Promote healthy student behaviors

• Maintain a regular bedtime and morning routine throughout the week.
• Ensure students eat a good breakfast every morning. McCracken serves breakfast for students beginning at 7:30 a.m.
• Ensure your children get regular check-ups with their medical provider.
• Practice thorough handwashing, particularly before and after eating, and after using the restroom.
• Reinforce the importance of avoiding close contact with individuals who are sick, and not sharing cups and/or utensils with others.
• If your children seem anxious about going to school, ask teachers or administration, the school nurse, a member of the Student Support Team (SST), and/or your medical provider for advice.

See additional McCracken Attendance Reminders HERE!

COLD WEATHER IS HERE TO STAY! Please make sure your middle school students are dressed for the weather conditions each school day. Students may need to wait outdoors for a short time during arrival and dismissal and any extracurricular activities. When we experience extreme temperatures with below-zero wind chills in the morning we will bring students into the building starting at 7:30 a.m. (band students enter at 7:00 a.m. on rehearsal days). Students remain in the lobby and Learning Center until the 7:50 a.m. bell rings. Students who participate in extracurricular activities indicate they will take the bus, walk home, or get picked up. Please ensure that you discuss and clearly communicate those transportation plans and arrive promptly to pick up your child, especially during winter weather conditions. Students are not allowed to remain inside the school building after school hours unsupervised.

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. Skokie 73.5 follows the Child Care Weather Watch chart to determine whether the temperature and wind chill are safe for outdoor recess. If the temperature with wind chill feels like 15 degrees or warmer, and conditions outdoors are safe, students will go outside. Thank you for helping to ensure that your child is prepared with appropriate outerwear for recess so that they are comfortable during our outdoor programming! Families in need of outerwear for their child should contact administration for additional resources.