IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! As a reminder, we use the Child Care Weather Watch, the daily wind chill, and AccuWeather.com to determine if students go outside each day. In general, students go outside for recess as long as it “feels” like 15 degrees or above and it is not raining. Please ensure your child wears a zippered warm coat, gloves, hat, and brings extra layers to school on very cold days during the winter months. When it snows, students can play in the field with boots. Snowpants are optional but highly recommended.

All children should have a change of clothes in case they get wet or extra dirty while playing outside. Clothes should be labeled with your child’s name in case the clothing is lost.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore will be delivering a Building Healthy Relationships program at Middleton this year. This program is meant to deliver basic information to support the prevention of child abuse as required by an Illinois state law called Erin’s Law. The program will be delivered in one session per grade in all grades.

While a facilitator from the YWCA is leading the discussions, school social workers and other mental health providers will be in the room to support students who are uncomfortable or need to make a report. The sessions will be provided during the school day from MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd through FRIDAY, MARCH 6th. If you feel it would be best to remove your student from this session, please let your child’s teacher know this, or you can call Middleton Social Worker Erin Gregg at 847-676-8056.

Visit the Middleton website for more information.

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.

► 8th GRADE GRADUATION PARENT/GUARDIAN LETTER JANUARY 2026

Upcoming 8th Grade Important Dates

• 8th Grade Yearbook Baby Pictures due WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th
  • Send a digital picture to [email protected] OR
  • Send a physical copy of the picture with your child to hand in to their advisor. The picture will be scanned and returned to your child the next day.
• 8th Grade Graduation Pictures ~ THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th (retakes Thursday, March 12th)
  • Students take one picture in dress clothes and one in a gown provided by Lifetouch.
• Niles North High School Counselor Appointments ~ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th at Niles North High School (individual appointment times are communicated to families by Niles North)
• 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.

On January 19th, McCracken held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Organized by 6th Grade Social Studies teacher Laura Williams, this is an opportunity for students to honor the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering their time to help our school and community. Ms. Williams was joined by 6th Grade Science teacher Carrie Eccleston, Learning Center Director Tori Gammeri, Multilingual teacher Sally Alvarado, and fine arts teacher William MacBeth.

Check the MLK DAY OF SERVICE GALLERY for photos and a summary of all the projects students completed around school!

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.

We believe that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at school. Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment is essential and includes maintaining learning spaces free from hate speech and bullying. When students feel safe, they are better able to focus on learning, build positive relationships, and thrive academically and socially. Preventive programming is in place at McCracken to support positive peer relationships at school. We have listed a few of these programs HERE and ask for your partnership in reinforcing the importance of kindness, respect, and acceptance at home, helping us to ensure that our school remains a place where all students can feel safe and reach their full potential.

Here at McCracken, we are proud to offer a variety of student athletic and enrichment programs. These programs allow students to exercise their strengths, tackle areas of growth, and socialize with peers. Be sure to sign your student up for one of our great extracurricular clubs or activities here at McCracken! Please access the McCracken Extracurricular Brochure HERE.