News and information from our district and schools
Scroll to view District updates and news from Meyer, Middleton, McCracken, the PTO, and around town!
May 8, 2026
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SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE
On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our teachers and staff for their hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our students, families, and the Skokie 73.5 community.
In my first year as Superintendent, I have been incredibly proud to lead this district. I’ve witnessed countless examples of staff going above and beyond to ensure our students learn, remain safe, supported, and successful.
Resilience and creativity have been the driving force behind our progress this year. Whether in the classroom, the front office, or throughout our facilities, your efforts create an environment where our students feel seen and valued. It is the collective passion of our teachers and staff that transforms our schools into true communities of learning, and for that, you have my deepest respect.
Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism for what we will continue to achieve together. Thank you for your patience, your partnership, and for making my first year as Superintendent so incredibly rewarding. I am honored to work alongside such a dedicated team as we continue to champion the success of every student in Skokie 73.5.
Dr. Charles Kyle
Superintendent
CONGRATULATIONS to Middleton and McCracken for their 2025-2026 PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) Distinguished School designation! PLTW Distinguished Program Recognition celebrates districts and schools committed to helping students own their education by increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs.
PLTW LAUNCH designation is awarded for elementary STEM curriculum that helps students develop transferable skills needed to succeed in an evolving future.
PLTW GATEWAY designation is awarded to a select number of middle schools for increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in career-connected learning.
Please join us in celebrating our students for their hard work and our STEAM educators for leading the way: Middleton STEAM teacher Nate Pratt and McCracken STEAM teacher Lisa Repp.
SCHOOLKIDZ SUPPLY KITS
The Skokie73.5 Caring Hearts Classroom Grants Committee invites all Skokie73.5 families to pre-order school supply kits for the 2026-2027 school year. Ordering is open until FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026. Late orders cannot be accepted. Click or tap a link below to view the lists and more information. Follow THIS LINK for more information, lists, and ordering information.
THANK YOU families for all of your generous donations, shout-outs, notes and flowers/gifts for our wonderful teachers and staff this week. We were able to provide donuts on Monday to staff at each school, and the school snack bars this week were awesome — filled with so many amazing goodies donated by families. Teachers and staff were impressed. Thank you all, and once again thank you to our teachers and staff — you are the heart of our schools, and we appreciate all that you do!
TASTE of 73.5 HIGHLIGHT REEL
The Skokie 73.5 PTO hosted another amazing TASTE of 73.5 this spring. This celebration of culture and diversity is a special annual tradition that brings together people, performances, and food from around the world. Check this short video for highlights from the event!
Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
The next regular PTO meeting is MONDAY, MAY 18th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
(rescheduled from May 4th). Click HERE to join via Google Meet.
Board member elections will occur; contact [email protected] if you are interested in becoming a PTO Board member.
5th GRADE FAREWELL AT MIDDLETON
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th at 6:00 p.m.
The 5th GRADE TEAM is arranging an event and cultural feast to celebrate our 5th graders moving from Middleton to McCracken. We need supplies (utensils, heavy-duty plates, etc.) and some volunteers to make this celebration a success. Sign up HERE — THANK YOU!
CHICAGO STARS GAME
Join the PTO on SUNDAY, MAY 31st for the SKOKIE 73.5 x CHICAGO STARS FC OUTING! Watch the Chicago Stars soccer team take on the San Diego Wave at Evanston's Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium — right on the lake! Game time is 12:00 p.m. and all Skokie 73.5 students and families are invited. We will have our own seating section to cheer on the Chicago Stars. Purchase tickets HERE! Parking in the garages surrounding the stadium is $25; the North garage is the closest option. Parking can be purchased on the day of the game or in advance HERE. See you there!
SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR
The PTO partners with 1st Place Spiritwear for print-on-demand merchandise. Click a button below to shop the spiritwear stores and watch for sales! Every purchase supports the PTO and our schools!
Content posted on the PTO website is managed by the PTO
Visit district735pto.org and get to know your PTO!
Questions about this calendar or events? Please email [email protected].
AROUND TOWN
SPACE REGISTRATION UPDATE
Skokie Park District will no longer offer a priority registration date for the SPACE program.
Registration for ALL FAMILIES for the 2026-2027 School Year will open on WEDNESDAY, MAY 6th at 12:00 p.m.
Families will need to create a Skokie Park District Household on the WebTrac website to register. Families will have until JULY 31st to submit their SPACE registration. Any registrations made on or after SATURDAY, AUGUST 1st will be placed on a waitlist that will be assessed in late September.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
DISTRICT DATES
ELL CENTER PROGRAMS
ELL PARENT CENTER
ELL CENTER CLASSES
THANK YOU, MEYER FAMILIES, for celebrating STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK with us this past week! You made Meyer staff feel extra special!
Many thanks also go to the PTO for organizing all the thoughtful shows of appreciation for our staff members throughout the week. We are grateful for your partnership and support, and we appreciate YOU!
MEYER SHOWCASE
Thank you to all our families who came to the Meyer Showcase and Book Fair last week! Our Shining Stars were so proud to show off their work and all the growth they have made over the course of the school year. We appreciate your partnership and ongoing support! Enjoy a preview of student work here and then follow THIS LINK for more!
MEYER EOY BASH: Calling All Volunteers!
The Meyer Parent Leaders group is planning an END OF THE YEAR BASH and needs YOUR help! We need parent/guardian volunteers to help make the bash a success! Please sign up by using the QR code or clicking HERE to help with set-up, tickets, concessions, face painting/temporary tattoos, arts and crafts, or clean-up. Thank you!
All Meyer families are invited to the Meyer End-of-the-Year Bash! Meet us on FRIDAY, MAY 29th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the FIELD BY THE PARKING LOT. There will be lots of fun activities, food, music, and crafts.
MEYER's COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER
It’s hard to believe, but the end of the school year is soon approaching! We will be celebrating the countdown to summer as a school this year, with a slight variance between preschool and kindergarten’s schedules the last two days of school.
Meyer’s Countdown to Summer will begin on WEDNESDAY, MAY 20th! Please see the schedules for preschool students and for kindergarten students.
ON TO KINDERGARTEN
All incoming kindergartners and their parents/guardians are invited to attend ON TO KINDERGARTEN on WEDNESDAY, MAY 20th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Meyer School. Please enter at Door 6, by the parking lot.
On to Kindergarten will provide incoming kindergarten parents/guardians with the opportunity to hear more about our kindergarten program, meet other incoming kindergarten parents/guardians and Meyer staff, and see a kindergarten classroom. Incoming kindergartners will also be screened in a classroom by Meyer teachers during this time, to help us get to know our incoming kindergartners.
FAMILY CONNECTION: Flexible Thinking
At Meyer, we learn about being flexible, as part of having a growth mindset. Flexible thinking is when children can think about things in a new way and adapt to change. This helps them deal with disappointment, shifts in routines, and big feelings.
At home, you can model working through disappointment for your child, and talk out loud about your feelings and how you are dealing with them. When your child encounters uncertainty, you can also help them brainstorm different ways to deal with possible changes. For example, if it rains and you can’t go to the park like you had planned, talk about other fun activities you can do instead.
To learn more about flexible thinking, you can also watch these videos with your child:
MEYER DATES
KINDER SUPERSTARS
PRESCHOOL SUPERSTARS
SPIRIT WEAR
CLICK A BADGE TO ORDER!
Join the Middleton Bulldogs on SUNDAY, MAY 17th at 1:00 p.m. at the McCracken field for the Middleton Running Club’s 5K(ish) race!
Come cheer on our amazing 1st and 2nd grade runners as they cross the finish line!
Enjoy music and grab a treat from the Kona Ice Truck (available for purchase).
Friends and families are encouraged to attend and support our runners! Bring signs, noisemakers, and your loudest cheers to help create an energetic and motivating atmosphere.
We hope to see you there!
MIDDLETON MUSICAL
Congratulations to Mrs. Anderson, Ms. Sylvester, Mrs. Lowery, and the entire "Frozen Jr." cast and crew for an unforgettable and magical performance!
DATES TO KNOW
SPIRIT WEAR
CLICK A BADGE TO ORDER!
McCRACKEN STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK GRATITUDE
Thank you to our PTO and the many families who generously donated snacks and sweet treats for our McCracken teachers and staff this week. Your thoughtfulness and support are truly appreciated, and your kindness made a meaningful impact as we celebrated all that our staff does for our students each day.
SYMPHONIC BAND AT SUPERSTATE
BREAKING NEWS! The McCracken Symphonic Band earned HONOR BAND at today's SuperState Festival. Congratulations to the band and director!
The McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band performed on Friday morning at the 2026 Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival at the University of Illinois. Congratulations to Bands Director Chip De Stefano and our students for their participation in the festival and all they have accomplished! The performance was streamed live at 10:00 a.m. (however, it may no longer be available after the Festival).
McCRACKEN MARKET FUNDRAISER
Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, the Social Justice Club's McCracken Market was an amazing success! The group was able to raise over $800 to support our partnerships with Safe Passage Mutual Aid, Connections for the Homeless, and the Niles Township Food Pantry. By selling used books and handmade crafts, students funded service projects to create Birthday Kits for the food pantry and pack lunches for distribution through local shelters, as well as offering a monetary donation to assist our neighbors through Safe Passage Mutual Aid.
Social Justice Club celebrated the success of the McCracken Market fundraiser at their May meeting. They welcomed representatives from Safe Passage Mutual Aid and Niles Township Government to tell us about the ways that our donations will have a direct impact on the well-being of our community. We are very proud to support organizations that uplift and protect our neighbors. Our students are changemakers! We are so proud!
NILES NORTH ATHLETIC SUMMER CAMPS
Niles North High School has shared its upcoming youth camp opportunities for incoming 6th through 8th grade students. This is a great opportunity for our current 8th grade students to get acclimated to sports, new teammates, athletic coaches, and facilities. Check THIS LINK for more information about Niles North summer camp registration.
7th GRADE CAMP MacLEAN TRIP: It's Almost Time!
Just a few days away! Some reminders and a couple of packing notes:
- Student Drop Off on May 13th: Students can be dropped off as early as 7:15 a.m. on WEDNESDAY, MAY 13th with their luggage. You can label their bag and sleeping bag at home, or we will have markers and tape in the MPR where they will store everything. Students should have all of their belongings packed in one carry-on suitcase or duffle bag. Sleeping bags and/or blankets and pillows should be separate.
- Weather? Looks to be warm, but with a chance of rain. Bring layers and rain gear (ponchos).
- HERE is the packing list we’ve shared with students! As you can see from the forecast above, it will be cool at night and in the mornings, so bring layers. Be sure to pack rain gear!
- IMPORTANT: In addition to the no cell phones note below, please do not have your campers pack energy drinks or any other beverages besides water for the trip. If we have to take them, we’ll simply pour them out.
- Please note that cell phones and Apple watches are not allowed. Digital cameras are allowed, however.
- All medication that students take at camp and the required paperwork (including over-the-counter medication) should be in by now. If you have a last-minute medication question or update, please contact Marryann Warda as soon as possible. Just a reminder that students cannot carry their own medication (outside of an inhaler) and we cannot dispense any medications to students (even over-the-counter medications like Claritin, Benadryl, or Tylenol) without a physician’s consent form.
- Transportation Home on May 15th: Buses arrive back at McCracken at approximately 2:00 p.m. on FRIDAY, MAY 15th and students should have their transportation arriving at that time to pick them up (unless parents are consenting to students walking home). Parents will pick up in the Circle Drive on East Prairie Road at 2:00 p.m. There is no double-parking and parents should remain in their vehicle until students come out of the main doors. A staff member will come to your car to ask for the name of your child. Students cannot wait to ride the 3:00 p.m. bus home with their luggage.
- Students who are not going to camp are expected to attend school every day and will follow a special schedule that mixes academic and team-building activities. That schedule will be shared with students on Wednesday, May 13th. Students who do not attend camp will be dismissed on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
FUTURES UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY
Oakton Community College is sponsoring a STEM career exploration conference for 7th grade students who identify as female on THURSDAY, MAY 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is an all-day program that exposes students to career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Mr. Gormley will be reviewing the trip with students in 7th grade science classes and interested students should complete a form shared in advisory classes as soon as possible as space is limited.
8th GRADE END-OF-YEAR CELEBRATION PTO FUNDRAISER
The Skokie 73.5 PTO and 8th Grade Parent Committee will be hosting an 8th Grade End-of-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 Skokie 73.5 PTO and 8th Grade Parent Committee in one (or more!) of the following ways. See this letter from the PTO for more details!
8th GRADE GRADUATION INFORMATION
We are getting closer to celebrating our McCracken Class of 2026. Our 8th grade families recently received updated communication regarding graduation activities and events. Below you will see a copy of the letter we sent home in April.
► 8th GRADE GRADUATION PARENT/GUARDIAN LETTER APRIL 2026
Upcoming 8th Grade Important Dates
- Graduation items distributed to students ~ THURSDAY, MAY 21st
- 8th Grade End-of-Year Celebration ~ FRIDAY, MAY 22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Complete and return the End of Year Celebration Permission Form by MAY 4th
- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration Starry Night Flyer
- 8th Grade Class Clap-Out ~ WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th
- Graduation Rehearsal ~ THURSDAY, MAY 28th (Students attend school for 1/2 day and travel to Niles North High School to practice the ceremony and speeches)
- 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.
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Students must arrive at Niles North High School no later than 5:30 p.m.
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McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
SPIRIT WEAR
CLICK A BADGE TO ORDER!
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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