News and information from our district and schools
MEYER. MIDDLETON. McCRACKEN. Games. Meal Menu.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
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DISTRICT NEWS
COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
Mark your calendars and save the dates for Dr. Hightower's 2023-2024 series of Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent.
Tap the flyer to view all dates, then click the yellow RSVP if you can join Dr. Hightower for Coffee & Conversastion on October 16th.
RSVPs for additional dates will open individually in advance of each date. We look forward to seeing you!
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 opened 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.
STUDENT SERVICES
DID YOU KNOW? The Student Services Department supports any child with differentiated learning needs. This includes students that are English Learners (ELs) and students that have identified disabilities. Students with identified disabilities are often referred to as Neurodivergent, a term coined by sociologist Judy Singer.
What does it mean to be neurodivergent? This article from Very Well Minds helps us to better understand the term and, relatedly, the scope of work supported by the special education division of the Student Services Department.
The Student Services Department also supports families and students experiencing homelessness. If you have any questions, please reach out to Angela DeMay at [email protected].
PTO NEWS
The next regular meeting of the PTO is on Monday, October 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the McCracken MPR and on Zoom. The meeting agenda is available on the PTO website.
FALL FEST is on Sunday, October 15th. The PTO needs YOU to help us celebrate the season with the Skokie73.5 community. Sign up for volunteer shifts before, during, and after the event.
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
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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.
The Meyer Parent Leaders will host Socktoberfest on Thursday, October 26th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. More details will be sent home soon. We hope you can join us!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES will be held in person or by Zoom on Thursday, October 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, October 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please visit SD735.org/ptc for complete conference information and reach out to your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions.
Our Physical Education teacher Ms. Iida Borges and our Art/Music teacher Mrs. Castellini will also be available to with parents/guardians in person or by Zoom on Friday, October 6th from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Please contact Mrs. Borges at [email protected], Mrs. Castellini at [email protected], or either teacher through Seesaw.
Please help us keep the Drive-Thru running smoothly with these KINDERGARTEN DRIVE-THRU REMINDERS...
- Enter the Drive-Thru going north on Kildare. If you need to, circle around the block to go north on Kildare, so that you are taking a right turn into the Drive-Thru (and not a left turn).
- Stay in your cars at all times, so we can keep the line moving. There is no parking in the Drive-Thru lane.
- Do not pass other cars in the Drive-Thru unless directed by a staff member to do so. The Drive-Thru is one way (going east) and one lane.
- Teach your child to buckle and unbuckle themselves on their own. If your child still needs your help, please park your car and walk to the door, instead of using the Drive-Thru.
- In the morning, please have your child wait in the car until a staff member comes to open the car door. Do not have students exit the car on their own.
For more information:
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US KEEP OUR SHINING STARS SAFE!
PRESCHOOL ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Please park in the slanted parking spots on Kildare Avenue. These spots are especially reserved for preschool drop-off and pick-up at Doors 2 and 3.
- If you park on the street, do not block any driveways, even if it is for a few minutes.
- If you park on the street, do not double park or block in other parked cars, even if it is for a few minutes.
- There is no parking on the east side of Tripp Avenue. Cars may be ticketed.
Please see our Preschool Arrival & Dismissal Procedures for more information.
CHICAGO FREE MUSEUM DAYS. Take advantage of the wonderful museums we have in Chicago! Many of our museums have "free" admission days for Illinois residents. Check the Choose Chicago website for more information about free museum days at the Adler Planetarium, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, and more!
PARENT LEADERS
Keep 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!
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.
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!
Mrs. Domingo and Ms. Eshaya's 2nd Grade students read from the book, Nami's New Friend, to practice retelling essential information. The book was written by a former Skokie73.5 teacher!
GARDEN NEWSLETTER
Learn about Middleton's Pollinator and Gilbert Gardens in the GARDEN NEWSLETTER!
MIDDLETON DATES
We were excited to plan and participate in our ALL SCHOOL READ events this week to celebrate When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed! Activities kicked off with our trivia raffle giveaways leading up to Thursday morning's virtual author visit with both Victoria and Omar in an extended advisory. Students were able to interact directly with the authors, who shared their graphic novel development process as well as answered thoughtful student-generated questions. Omar shared how his refugee experience influenced him becoming an author and the humanitarian work he continues to focus on today. On Friday afternoon, we brought our students to the gymnasium to participate in literacy based games and activities designed around the novel. Thank you for encouraging your students to read and for supporting All School Read! A special thanks to our All School Read committee as well as Ms. Tori Gammeri for arranging the author visit!
PICTURE DAY IS COMING! Fall Picture Day for all McCracken students is scheduled for October 5, 2023. Lifetouch picture day information was sent home with all students on Thursday, September 28th. Families may pre-purchase picture packages online until the day of pictures by going to mylifetouch.com and entering the Picture Day I.D. code EVTKRW9MF. Students may also bring the provided form and payment on the day of pictures. Please check THIS FLYER for information and QR code.
Picture retakes will take place on November 16th. As a reminder, 8th grade students will also take graduation pictures on January 31, 2024.
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!
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.
NILES NORTH FEEDER GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM. Niles North is very excited to announce that they will have Jr. Viking Girls Basketball team(s) this winter! All girls in grades 5-8 interested in playing on the feeder team should scan the QR code on the flyer available in the McCracken office, on the daily announcements slide, or complete this form. The cost is $100-150 for registration. Students, parents, and guardians can reach out to Coach Leah Czuhajewski at [email protected] with any questions.
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
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
Breakfast Bar, Fresh Fruit & Milk
Halal meals available on request: Meatball and Rice Bowl, Chicken Sandwich, Cheese Sandwich. Kosher meals available on 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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