Miss Carole from Macaroni Soup! visited Meyer on Thursday, to lead a fun and interactive sing-along with our Shining Stars. Students had fun singing, dancing, and throwing “snowballs” on a beautiful, sunny day. Many thanks to the PTO for treating Meyer students to this wonderful way to celebrate the end of the school year! 

Thank you so much to Odessa Molina and the PTO’s Meyer Parent Leaders (MPL) for volunteering at the MPL End-of-the-Year Bash. We value our partnership with you and are thankful for your help in making Meyer a welcoming and special place!

As we approach the end of the school year, Meyer’s Student Support Services team would like to share a list of social/emotional resources that your child can access over the summer. These resources can help to support your child's continued social/emotional growth through engaging activities, and the community agencies listed may benefit your family. Please click HERE to view the social/emotional resources.

As we head into the summer, we can continue using the Zones of Regulation to help our children with emotional regulation. The summer may bring fewer routines and predictability, which for some children can also bring on bigger feelings. Remember, all feelings are okay, it’s a matter of how we respond to them and get through them. 

There are a few ways you can continue to help support your child in learning how to regulate their feelings.

First, let them know that you’re there to help them move through it. Try saying:

• "I can see you’re having a hard time. I’m here."
• "That’s a big feeling. Let’s sit with it, together."
• "It’s okay to feel bored AND I’m confident you can find something to do."

Second, help your child recognize their feelings. Try saying: 

• "I notice your body is moving fast. What Zone do you think you’re in?"
• "You’ve been really quiet today. Want to check in and talk about your Zone?"

Third, give your child structured choices to give them a sense of control and trust. Focus on guiding them toward options that support regulation. Try saying:

• "I wonder if a tool might help. Would it help to use a fidget or listen to music for a few minutes?"
• "I’m going to take some deep breaths to help me care for my Zone. Do you want to try a tool too?"

These small, consistent steps, along with modeling how we deal with our own emotions, can help support our children over the summer and into the school year.

(Source: Walz, Emily. “Emotional Regulation for Kids This Summer: 3 Tips for Parents and Caregivers — the Zones of Regulation.” The Zones of Regulation, 8 July 2025, zonesofregulation.com/blog/emotional-regulation-for-kids-this-summer-3-tips-for-parents-and-caregivers. Accessed 21 May 2026.)

Returning Middleton families, please mark your calendars with these important dates:

• WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026
  • Welcome to Middleton: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. — This event is for all incoming 1st grade students and their families, as well as new-to-Middleton students and their families.
  • Popsicles on the Playground: 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. — This event is for ALL Middleton students and their families
• FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2026
  • Supply Drop Off — This event is for students to drop off their school supplies, meet their teacher, and see their classroom the Friday before school starts! We can’t wait to welcome students back! 
    • Last Names A-L: 2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Last Names M-Z: 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
• MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026
  • First day of school for Middleton students

Middleton class placement and back-to-school letters will be sent via email in AUGUST.  

Thank you to our parent volunteers for their help during the Chicago Bears Mini Monsters event! A special thank you to OrganicLife for providing lunch for our volunteers. We truly appreciate everyone who helped make this event a success!

PLTW LAUNCH designation is awarded for elementary STEM curriculum that helps students develop transferable skills needed to succeed in an evolving future.

Our last day of school for 6th and 7th grade students is WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd. Students will participate in a variety of fun teamwork activities during our Field Day event in the morning hours. Students should dress appropriately for the weather as many of the Field Day activities are outdoors on the soccer field. Please consider applying sunscreen before school if needed, wearing light colored and lightweight clothing in warmer temperatures, and bringing water bottles. Students may also wear hats to further shade their faces from the sunlight. They will also meet several 7th and 8th grade teachers to hear about next year’s programming and participate in our final Hornet’s Hive Assembly recognizing third trimester accomplishments and enjoying a special performance funded by our PTO!

Please access all of our On to 6th Grade digital resources on our school website at SD735.org/mccracken/on-to-6th.

Save the date for the 6th Grade Meet and Greet on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., when students and parents/guardians can set up student lockers, meet their advisory teacher when possible, and go on a journey to find their classrooms using their new schedule. Stay tuned for more information over the summer!

The 6th grade team is seeking feedback about our On to 6th Grade Family Information Night in order to plan for next year’s programming. Please complete this SURVEY to help us meet your needs for this event!

We are getting closer to the end of the school year and we want to reward students for displaying respectful, responsible, and ready behaviors. Students who do not earn any behavior referrals at McCracken from MAY 9th through the end of the school year will have the opportunity to be entered into grade-level raffles for fun prizes! Please reinforce the importance of following behavior expectations at school with your child contributing to a safe and positive learning environment. Consistently following behavior expectations will result in students' ability to participate fully in end-of-the-year activities!

PLTW GATEWAY designation is awarded to a select number of middle schools for increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in career-connected learning.

Summer is fast approaching! The McCracken Garden Club will be meeting over the summer on select dates. Please see the attached form for details, activities, and field trips.

Summer Garden Club is free and open to all McCracken students, including incoming 6th graders! It is a great opportunity to learn about plants, cooking, and art! You do not have to attend each session, just come when you can!

Complete the form to be on our summer mailing list. This summer we will be taking 2 field trips — one is to The Talking Farm in Skokie and the other is to Millennium Park. Students who attend Garden Club at least 4 times will be able to attend the field trips.