News and information from our district and schools
MEYER. MIDDLETON. McCRACKEN. Games. Meal Menu.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
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DISTRICT NEWS
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Teachers will be available for your choice of in-person OR video conferences on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, October 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m
- Friday, October 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Online registration for October conferences opens on Monday, September 25th at 7:00 a.m. and closes on Monday, October 2nd at 3:00 p.m.
Please visit SD735.org/ptc for complete conference information, step-by-step instructions for scheduling a conference, and other features to help you plan for conferences.
Be prepared! Sign in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account NOW and log in to PowerPTC to view your dashboard before registration opens on Monday morning.
STUDENT SERVICES
If you or your family are in need of resources, please consider visiting this list of Community Resources for Skokie73.5 families. The Niles Township Clothing Center is also available to provide assistance with clothing. Please fill out this form to request clothing for families in need.
If you are experiencing housing insecurities and/or homelessness, please contact the Skokie73.5 McKinney-Vento liaison, Angela DeMay, at [email protected]. Additional information is available on the SD735.org website about our families' rights.
PTO NEWS
THE PTO NEEDS YOUR HELP! Volunteers are needed to support the Middleton Book Fair from October 2nd-6th. Sign up for a shift on SignUpGenius.
Visit the SUPPORT THE PTO page on the newly updated PTO website to purchase spirit wear, shop book fairs, stock staff lounges, and to donate directly to the PTO.
AROUND TOWN
Bring the family to the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park between Dempster and Main for ART IN THE PARK!
Meet up with classmates and friends for this family-friendly event on Sunday, October 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Stop by and stay a while... you might see someone you know!
"Let's take art class to the park! Please join me at Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park to enjoy the colors and textures of the season. We will sculpt small Model Magic pumpkins and enjoy time well spent with one another. I hope to see you Sunday, October 1st!" ~Ms. Beatrice, Middleton Art Teacher
ART IN THE PARK is brought to the Village by the Skokie North Shore Sculpture Park and is one of the events included in the October Arts and Humanities Month calendar sponsored by the Skokie Fine Arts Commission. There's something for everyone!
DISTRICT DATES
Our summer school program runs from June 4-27, Monday through Thursday (no school on Fr...
Jump to BoardDocs for meeting agenda and livestream: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/sd735/...
The Meyer Parent Leaders (MPL) are hosting a FAMILY MEET-UP on Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the Meyer Playground. Join other Meyer families to play and connect! Please see the FLYER for details. Questions? Email the Meyer Parent Leaders at [email protected].
PBIS KICK-OFF. On Tuesday we kicked off Meyer’s Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program with a Mr. Mac Dance Party. Meyer Shining Stars follow Mr. Mac rules that help us to Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Ready. Classrooms may earn a Meyer red star when the class is showing positive behaviors and following school and/or classroom rules. At the end of each week, we count up the Meyer Stars earned in every classroom and one preschool and one kindergarten classroom earns the Meyer SuperStar to keep in their classrooms for the week. We are currently practicing being Ready with “eyes are watching.”
RUN, HIDE, SURVIVE. During the week of September 25th, Meyer students will participate in a teacher-guided classroom discussion on our “Run, Hide, Survive” procedures. Elements of the drill will be reviewed so that in the event of an intruder in the building or within the community, students know how to proceed. The focus of these classroom discussions will be reviewing options available in the event of a crisis. We will not be practicing the drill. View Meyer’s teacher talking points. At home, you can reinforce the importance of following adult directions and making safe choices in the event of an emergency. If you have questions, please contact the Meyer principal, Dr. Helen Wei, at [email protected].
OCTOBER is SOCK-tober! During the month of October, Meyer School will celebrate Socktober. We will be collecting new socks to be donated to the Niles Township Clothing Closet. Students can bring in new socks of any size, which will be donated at the end of the month. Last year, we donated over 1,000 pairs of socks! We want to show our Meyer Shining Stars that even the smallest acts of love, like donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.
Students can also show their support by celebrating Wacky Socks Wednesdays and wearing wacky socks every Wednesday in October.
PARENT LEADERS
Snap to stay in touch with the Meyer Parent Leaders!
MEYER DATES
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH. Our focus at Middleton will be on INCLUSION of all students. Staff will lead students to engage in restorative circles around inclusion, our school Buddy Bench, and ways to invite others. October 2nd is also World Day of Bullying Prevention and we invite students to wear Middleton BLUE to honor the importance of Middleton being a No Bully Zone!
In an effort to be inclusive of all cultures, Skokie73.5 does not celebrate Halloween. While we understand that many families celebrate Halloween, we have found that this is not welcoming to all students and we ask that students not wear any part of a Halloween costume to school on October 31st. Thank you for your support of this decision.
On November 17th all classes will celebrate fall fun with games and activities that are culturally responsive to all Middleton students. Please watch for information from your classroom teacher!
Middleton 4th and 5th grade classrooms are working on math tasks this year. Here, Ms. Kinsella's 4th Grade students work together to complete a math problem and go on a silent gallery walk, observing their classmates' varied solutions.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Middleton's annual school book fair! This year's fair will be held from September 29th through October 6th. Online shopping is also available from October 2nd-6th on Middleton's Literati Book Fair website. See Ms. Glaser's letter to Middleton families for more information about the book fair and shopping hours.
Middleton’s Running Club had their first practice of the season in late August. More than 85 students are training with 4th Grade teacher Ms. Hampton and the Middleton P.E. team to run a 5K on Saturday, November 4th. Coaches and students are excited for a fun and challenging season! Photos courtesy of @SHamptonSD735
GARDEN NEWSLETTER
Learn about Middleton's Pollinator and Gilbert Gardens in the GARDEN NEWSLETTER!
MIDDLETON DATES
SYMPHONIC BAND RECOGNITION. McCracken's 2022-2023 Symphonic Band submitted recordings for consideration to the Foundation for Music Education's National Wind Band Honors Mark of Excellence Award. The program has been DOMINATED by Texas bands for the last 16 years in both the high school and middle school awards.
Congratulations to the 2022-2023 McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band for being selected as a National Winner of the 2023 Mark of Excellence Award! Full results are available on the Foundation's website.
NILES NORTH HIGH SCHOOL TUTORING CLUB. Attention 3rd-6th grade students and families! Niles North High School is extending their tutoring program to include 6th grade feeder schools. Niles North students will provide tutoring services to students in reading, writing, math, science, and more on Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. beginning October 2nd. A one-time registration is required; check this flyer from Niles North for more information and a link to the registration form. Thank you to Niles North High School for including our 6th graders in this great program!
ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE VISIT. This week we were fortunate to host a visit from our local Illinois State Representative Kevin Olickal. He was accompanied by Superintendent Hightower and Board of Education Secretary Bushra Amiwala.
The first stop was our Learning Center with Ms. Gammeri and some members of our Social Justice Club and Student Council candidates. Olickal was also able to view a Symphonic Band sectional practice with Band Director Chip De Stefano, and an 8th grade ELA classroom with Ms. Joy DiZillo. We also explored the possibility of a new rooftop garden in collaboration with 6th grade science and social studies teacher, Ms. Carrie Eccleston. A rooftop garden would replace some of the outdoor garden space lost to the construction of a new district garage.
We were so proud of our McCracken students who were able to ask thoughtful questions and interact confidently with our visitors! We will share additional opportunities for students to participate in a local Youth Advisory Council if interested.
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! 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 about the importance of consistent school attendance and keeping your child engaged in school.
GIRLS WHO CODE. Oakton College will offer a Girls Who Code meeting on Zoom from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. from September 19th through December 5th. Students who identify as female will be able to engage in fun and basic online coding, build community through interactive activities, and learn about inspiring role models. Students will also work in teams to design and build a Girls Who Code Project that solves real-world problems. Please view this FLYER for more information and a link to the sign-up form.
The NILES NORTH FEEDER BASKETBALL PROGRAM launched their open gyms on September 10th for interested student-athletes. These open gym sessions will run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. every Sunday evening. Participants should enter through Door 12 and inform security that they are there for open gym basketball. See this flyer for more information.
8th GRADE PSAT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION. The PSAT 8 assessment for our 8th grade students will be administered at Niles North High School on Saturday, October 28th (specific times will be communicated by Niles North in the near future).
- All 8th graders planning to enroll at Niles North High School are expected to take the PSAT 8, the first high school-level exam in the SAT Suite of Assessments.
- Students with IEP/504 testing accommodations will start at 8:00 a.m. (end times will vary and will be communicated by Niles North)
- Students without accommodations will start at 12:00 p.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
- The PSAT 8 establishes a baseline measurement for college and career readiness as a student enters high school. The exams in the SAT Suite of Assessments measure a student's strength in reading, writing/language, and mathematics. Assessing these same skills at different grade levels allows students, parents, and educators to monitor a student's progress.
- This assessment is free of charge and given to junior high (middle school) students in the fall of the year prior to high school registration. Results from this test, along with other metrics, will be used for proper 9th grade course placement.
- The College Board website has several resources about the PSAT 8. Should you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to Christine Gonzales, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, at [email protected] or 847-626-3870.
- More information will follow in the near future! Please check email and mailings from NNHS.
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
Please help us keep our students, staff, families, and visitors safe by following our arrival and dismissal safety reminders.
SPECTATOR GUIDELINES
We are excited to host and participate in Little 9 Conference sporting events! Please review behavior expectations for students, families, and visitors.
McCRACKEN DATES
Whole Grain Muffin, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Bagel & Cream Cheese, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Breakfast Bar, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Yogurt & Graham Crackers, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Cereal Bowl, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Whole Grain Muffin, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Bagel & Cream Cheese, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Halal meals available on request: Meatball and Rice Bowl, Cheese Sandwich. Kosher meals available upon request: All Beef Hot Dog, Cheese Sandwich
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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