BUILDING 73.5
News and information from our district and schools
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Building 73.5
Help us set the course for the future.
The average age of our school buildings is 56 years. More than half a century of use has taken its toll. We need your help to address the facility challenges facing our schools and to ensure our students have access to classrooms that best prepare them for the future.
Join us from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 for our second Community Engagement Session to learn about and share your thoughts on challenges such as safety and security, aging buildings, outdated classrooms and changing learning needs.
Oliver McCracken Middle School
8000 East Prairie Road
Skokie, IL 60076
Learn more and RSVP today at SD735.org/Building735.
Follow Building 73.5 on Instagram for info & updates
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY: #ChromebookChallenge
Please be advised of a new social media trend called the #ChromebookChallenge (also known as the #ChromebookDurabilityTest). Students insert paper clips, pushpins, and other metallic objects into school-issued Chromebooks to force an electrical short circuit and potentially start a fire. The trend is currently being reported in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
There has been one incident of a student engaging in the #ChromebookChallenge in our District and we are concerned that students might try this dangerous trend at home. Students who intentionally damage Chromebooks may be subject to consequences outlined in the Student & Family Handbook.
This article on the Parents.com website provides some information about the #ChromebookChallenge, what might be motivating students to engage in such risky behavior, and how parents can be proactive about this dangerous trend.
SUMMER SCHOOL
REMINDER: Summer School registration closes Friday, May 23. Letters were emailed to the families of all students who were recommended for Summer School.
Reach out to Summer School Coordinator Maggie Price by email at [email protected] and visit the website for more information.
SchoolKIDZ SUPPLY KITS FOR 2025-2026
The Caring Hearts Classroom Grants Committee invites all Skokie73.5 families to pre-order school supplies for the 2025-2026 school year. All proceeds from purchases of SchoolKidz supply kits will be returned back to the Caring Hearts Classroom Grants Committee to support classroom projects, equipment, class trips, and other specialty educational items.
Ordering is open until Friday, June 13, 2025. Late orders cannot be accepted. Click or tap a button below to view the lists and more information.
MULTILINGUAL PROGRAM NEWS
Skokie 73.5 Receives Bilingual Education Award
We are proud to share the news that Skokie 73.5 has received the 2024–25 Bilingual Education Award (BEA) in recognition of our support for English Learners (ELs).
This statewide award honors school districts that show a deep commitment to bilingual education and real progress in helping English Learners succeed. The award is based on several important factors, including:
- Smart and effective use of Title III funding in the 2025 school year
- Progress made by EL students on the 2024 ACCESS English language test
- Data showing how EL students moved toward English fluency in 2023
- Responsible planning for unused Title III funds from 2024
- Previous recognition for excellence in bilingual education
This award reflects the hard work of our teachers, staff, and school community in creating a supportive and successful learning environment for all our students, including those learning English and those from immigrant families. The award funding will help us continue and expand programs such as:
- Support for newcomer students
- Social and emotional support for English Learners and immigrant families
- Teacher training and curriculum improvements for bilingual and dual language education
We will share our plan for using the funds with district leaders, following state rules. All funding must be used by August 31, 2025.
Thank you for supporting bilingual education in our schools. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with all of you—our students, families, and community.
PROJECT LEAD THE WAY DESIGNATIONS
Congratulations to Middleton and McCracken for their recent Project Lead the Way (PLTW) recognition!
PLTW recognizes schools across the U.S. for their efforts to provide broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through the PLTW Launch and Gateway programs.
Middleton has received the 2024-25 PLTW Distinguished Launch School
Congratulations to Middleton students and STEAM teacher Nate Pratt!
McCracken has received the 2024-25 PLTW Distinguished Gateway School
Congratulations to McCracken students and STEAM teacher Lisa Repp!
PTO NEWS
Thank you everyone for an awesome Staff Appreciation Week! Thanks to all for donating time, tasty treats and drinks, and funds! Thanks to all who participated in the social shoutouts, and to kids and families who provided thank you notes, flowers, messages on the sidewalk, etc., for our wonderful staff. We have an amazing school community here and this was a very special week — thank you kids, parents, and families! THANK YOU teachers, staff, administration, social workers, behavioral health professionals, business office, paraprofessionals, librarians, buildings and grounds team, food services, nurses, student services, technology department, and SPACE staff — you are the heart of our District and we appreciate all you do every day for our students!
Check out the 73.5 PTO album HERE for photos of Staff Appreciation events this week!
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].
DISTRICT DATES
THE MAY 13 BOARD MEETING WILL NOT BE LIVESTREAMED
AROUND TOWN
NTDSE Family Events & Community Events
Thank you to all our families who came to the Meyer Showcase and Spring 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!
You can still shop the Spring Book Fair online at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/meyer through Sunday, May 11 and receive 25% off your purchase. All purchases through the Book Fair will benefit Meyer school.
KINDERGARTEN MUSIC "INFORMANCES"
What is an Informance? An informance is a way to inform parents of what a typical music class is like. It is similar to a performance in that there is an audience, but instead of rehearsing set pieces, the students demonstrate what they do during music class. The setting is smaller and more intimate than a larger performance. Parents see firsthand how their child experiences music at Meyer School.
Informances are scheduled for Wednesday, May 14. Each Informance will last approximately 25 minutes. Seating is limited so we ask that each child invites a maximum of 2 adults.
Please remember to bring a photo ID to check into the Meyer office before the performance.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Castellini at [email protected].
Click or tap the Informances flyer below for classroom performance times. We hope to see you there!
ON TO KINDERGARTEN
Incoming kindergarten parents/guardians are invited to attend ON TO KINDERGARTEN on Wednesday, May 21 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Meyer School. "On to Kindergarten" will provide parents/guardians the opportunity to hear more about our kindergarten program, meet other incoming kindergarten parents/guardians and staff, see a classroom, and tell us more about your child.
"On to Kindergarten" is for parents/guardians to have a preview of our school and to get to know one another. Therefore, this is an adults-only meeting. Current preschoolers returning for kindergarten in the fall will visit a kindergarten classroom during the school day in coming weeks. We will also have opportunities in August for our incoming kindergartners to meet their teachers and see their classrooms before starting the school year.
Childcare will be available for children one year old or above. Reservations are required. Scan the QR Code on the flyer to make a childcare reservation by Friday, May 16.
MEYER PARENT LEADERS
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! The Meyer Parent Leaders invite all Meyer families to the Meyer End-of-the-Year Bash! Join us on Friday, May 23 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the field by the parking lot for fun activities, food, music, and crafts.
MPL needs volunteers to help make the Bash a success! Scan the QR code in the flyer or CLICK HERE to sign up.
FAMILY CONNECTION: GROWTH MINDSET
At Meyer, we learn about having a “growth mindset.” Carol Dweck, an educational psychologist, was the first to talk about a growth mindset, comparing it with a fixed mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe that people are born with certain skills and knowledge, and that some people are just good at some things and some are just bad at other things. It has little to do with practice and perseverance.
A growth mindset is the belief that a person’s brain is always growing, and that people can learn new things and improve at them. People grow their brains with practice and effort, and through learning from their mistakes.
A growth mindset can help children become more persistent, more resilient, and better learners. A child with a growth mindset is able to work through things that are challenging or hard, instead of giving up.
We can help our children develop a growth mindset by praising them for their hard work and encouraging them to try again and again, to get better at things. When they make a mistake, we can tell them, “It’s okay,” and talk about what they learned from the mistake.
These are some things we can say to our children to encourage a growth mindset:
"Say This, Not That" graphic (above): Mindsetworks.com
Visit ingenuityproject.org for more information about growth mindset.
MEYER DATES
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Ms. Solomon's & Ms. Hallerduff's Kindergarten Superstars
Ms. Moshi's AM Preschool Superstars
2024-2025 Middleton yearbooks are in! Extras are available first-come, first-served!
Thank you to everyone who purchased this year’s yearbook! We currently have a limited number of extra copies available for purchase on a first come, first served basis. If you’re interested, please email [email protected]. The cost is $20 (cash or check accepted).
Don’t miss your chance to grab a copy before they’re gone!
1st-2nd GRADE RUNNING CLUB
Middletons 1st-2nd Grade Running Club’s 5K(ish) race will be run on Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. on the track at the McCracken field! Come cheer on our runners! The Kona Ice Truck will be on site for snow cone purchases and a DJ will play the tunes. We hope to see you there!
SAVE THE DATES!
McCracken administration and 6th grade team enjoyed connecting with our incoming 6th grade families this week during our “On to 6th Grade” Parent/Guardian Information Night. We understand the transition to middle school can be both exciting and challenging as families and students may be nervous about going to a new building with new faces and spaces. Our 6th grade team is dedicated to providing a supportive and nurturing environment where students have the opportunity to learn and grow in many ways over the next school year.
We look forward to welcoming our incoming 6th grade students with their teachers when they take a field trip to McCracken next week. They will hear from middle school administration about programming and exciting opportunities, listen to our student ambassadors answer their burning questions about middle school, and take a tour of the school with a 6th grade teacher.
Please access all of our On to 6th Grade digital resources on the McCracken website at SD735.org/mccracken/on-to-6th. Save the date for the Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 19 at 4:00 p.m. when students and parents/guardians can set up their locker, 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!
CAMP MacLEAN
This Wednesday, May 14 is Camp MacLean! Here are a few important reminders for the trip:
- Campers should use the camp packing list, arrive no earlier than 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, and arrange their 2:00 p.m. pickup for Friday, May 16 when we return.
- Make sure to leave the cell phones behind!
Any students not attending the field trip will be expected to attend school on all three days and will follow a special schedule on each day that will feature team-building activities.
8th GRADE GRADUATION UPDATES
Graduation is getting closer and we are excited to celebrate with families and students on Wednesday, May 28. Our students have many events to look forward to over the next three weeks. It is important they are able to stay focused and positive following all academic and behavior guidelines in order to fully participate in these end of year events and celebrations. The parent/guardian letter from April and dates for upcoming events are copied below for reference. Our office has been reaching out to families about any missing forms and teachers have been reminding students about needed permission slips. Please reach out to the McCracken office or administration with any questions at 847-673-1220.
- 8th Grade April Graduation Letter
- 8th Grade End of Year Celebration: Friday, May 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Graduation tickets, gowns, tassels, t-shirts, yard signs, and yearbook distribution: All graduation items will be distributed to students at school on Thursday, May 22
- 8th Grade Clap Out: Tuesday, May 27 at dismissal (last full day of school for 8th grade)
- Graduation Rehearsal at Niles North High School: Wednesday, May 28 (Students will be dismissed to go home after graduation rehearsal when they return to McCracken at approximately 11:00 a.m.)
- Graduation Ceremony: Wednesday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Niles North High School (Students MUST arrive no later than 5:30 p.m.)
NO REFERRAL CHALLENGE
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 9 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 and contributing to a safe and positive learning environment.
SPRING CHOIR CONCERT
The McCracken Middle School Spring Choir Concert for all grades was held on Tuesday, May 6. Students in all choirs performed beautifully for our school community, showcasing all of their growth and hard work throughout the year. Thank you to Amy Keipert for her direction and commitment to our music program. Congratulations to our 43 8th Grade choir students on an outstanding three years of making music at McCracken! We are so proud of you and grateful for your amazing contributions to our choir program.
McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
We're sorry, no events were found for this calendar.
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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