News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
MARCH 17, 2023
Updated January 26, 2023
DISTRICT NEWS
We are excited to share and invite your feedback on Version 1 (v1) of the Skokie District 73.5 Strategic Plan!
Please visit sd735.org/strategic-planning for more information and links to the Version 1 Strategic Plan document and the v1 Strategic Plan Feedback Form. The Feedback Form is open until March 31st. The document and the form can be Google translated into several languages.
5Essentials Survey
Teachers, families, and students across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of our schools. To take the survey please visit survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois and click the "Parent Survey" to begin. There are 21 questions and the survey should take approximately 10 minutes. If you have multiple children and they attend more than one school in our district, please complete the survey once for each school.
Your participation in the parent survey will help us better understand our schools and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. The state of Illinois now uses the results of the survey to determine our official school designation at Middleton and McCracken, which is reported on the yearly Illinois School Report Card. If at least 20 percent of families complete this survey, a supplemental report will be generated for each school and will be publicly available. This will allow us to access your valuable feedback.
School Year Calendars
The Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 School Year Calendars at their March 14th Meeting.
For the most up-to-date school calendars at all times, please view and bookmark them on our website:
- 2022-2023: sd735.org/files/calendars/2223/school/current.pdf
- 2023-2024: sd735.org/files/calendars/2324/school/current.pdf
- 2024-2025: sd735.org/files/calendars/2425/school/current.pdf
All calendars of events, holidays, non-attendance days, and meals are always available on our website at sd735.org/calendar.
Department of Student Services
Illinois StarNet Family Workshop
Learning Through Books and Songs: Gracias, Sr. Panda
A Family Event Presented in Spanish
ONLINE on March 20, 2023, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Alina Celeste Hevia and Hamlet Meneses present an hour of early literacy and music for Spanish-speaking families. Join them online as they explore the book Thank You, Mr. Panda/Gracias, Sr. Panda, which teaches children positive social interactions around belonging. This is a simple story of not-quite-perfect gift-giving and an emphasis on kindness.
Visit starnetregionii.org for more information and registration.
Taste of 73.5
TASTE OF 73.5 IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13th! The PTO invites families to help write the Taste of Skokie 73.5 Cookbook. Families can submit multiple recipes either electronically or via a paper submission form. Paper submission forms will be sent home soon. Both the electronic and paper forms will be available on the PTO website.
Fee Waivers
Skokie School District 73.5 waives school fees for eligible families. A "waiver" means that students will not be charged registration fees, school activity/club fees, or field trip fees. A fee waiver application must be completed to receive a waiver, and only one application is required per year. If you have any questions concerning fee waiver eligibility or the application process please contact Karen Hayes in the Business Office at [email protected] or by phone at 847-676-8317.
SD73.5 Priorities
Welcoming Environment. All students, staff, parents, and community members will feel welcome in our District.
Hiring & Retention. Our community's diversity will be represented in our staff and we will create systems to ensure we retain our staff.
Instruction. We will accelerate learning for all students through a strengths-based approach to grow each student from where they are.
Get the (TEXT) Message!
PARENTS, GUARDIANS & STAFF! Snap the QR code or text Y or YES to 67587 to authorize SMS text messages from SD73.5 to your mobile device!
PTO News
APRIL PTO MEETING
Monday, April 3rd
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
Elections will be held
SAVE THE DATES!
April 22nd
Earth Day Celebrations
May 13th
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Taste of Skokie 73.5
McCRACKEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The 8th Grade End-of-Year Celebration Committee is looking for parent volunteers for the decorating team and to chaperone the event on Saturday, May 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sign up to volunteer and help celebrate this amazing 8th Grade class.
Around Town
Little 9 BuzzBot Robotics Competition
Our BuzzBot Robotics Team hosted six other competitors Thursday in the McCracken gymnasium for the Little 9 Robotics Tournament. Congratulations to the team members for their outstanding preparation and performance and thanks to Lisa Repp and Anastasia Barrow for coaching this year’s team. McCracken Team 4 finished in the top 8 with 91 points. Overall, the teams did a spectacular job representing McCracken with discussions about strategy, modifications to their robots, and great collaboration.
McCracken SOAR Art Show
McCracken is well represented at this year's Student Outstanding Artist Recognition (SOAR) Art Show, currently on display at the Oakton Community College Skokie Campus, 7701 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie. Twenty-six works created by 25 McCracken students are on display now through April 4th. The Artist's Reception is scheduled on March 13th from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Meyer and Middleton also have displays of wonderful, original works of art.
Summer School
Summer School will be in session from Wednesday, June 7th through Thursday, June 30th at Middleton Elementary School, 8300 St. Louis Avenue. The program is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday through Thursday (no classes on Fridays). The ELA/Reading class runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and the Math class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Tuition for this year’s summer school will be free. If you are the parent or guardian of a student who has been recommended for summer school, you have received an email with registration information. Please reach out to Marty Behm at 847-676-8234 or [email protected] with any questions. All registrations are due no later than May 12th.
Yearbooks on Sale
The 2022-2023 McCracken yearbook is now on sale. The yearbook staff is hard at work making a fun and creative book for our students. The cost of the yearbook is $20. Students will receive an order form from their advisor. Orders can be placed through the order form or directly online.
To order a yearbook online go to:
- ybpay.lifetouch.com
- use the Yearbook ID Code: 13556323
- orders are due by: April 3, 2023
7th Grade Camp MacLean Information
Camp MacLean will be here before you know it! Just a few weeks to go to get in your Camp MacLean interest forms for your students for this year’s overnight field trip. As a reminder, the Camp MacLean trip this year is from May 17th-19th and the cost is $211 per student. The interest form is due no later than April 7th to allow the 7th grade team to plan for the trip. Currently, we’ve heard back from less than half of the parents and guardians, so we need to hear from you to proceed with planning.
Student Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
- Please drive slowly and carefully when picking up or dropping off students.
- 6th Grade parents dropping off by Door 12 should pull all the way over to the curb on the right and quickly and safely allow their child to exit the vehicle so other cars can continue to Circle Drive. Please use your hazards to alert cars behind you.
- Please do not make U-turns on East Prairie. Use the McCracken Circle Drive to turn around.
- Students cannot cross the Circle Drive in front of cars to get into a vehicle parked on the street. Drivers must pull into the Circle Drive to maintain safety and drop off in the right lane only.
- Students must cross the intersection of Crawford and Oakton assisted by our crossing guards for their safety. Students are not allowed to cross East Prairie and Oakton without an adult before or after school.
- Please be sure to communicate with your child about their after-school plans before school. Are they walking home, taking the bus, or staying after school for sports or a club?
More from McCracken
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING
Here at McCracken, we are proud to offer a variety of student athletic and enrichment programs. These programs allow students to exercise their strengths, tackle areas of growth, and socialize with peers. Be sure to sign up your student for one of our great extracurricular activities clubs or activities! Review the 2022 Extracurricular Slideshow (with videos and important links) and Brochure for information, registration links, and the payment link (for a small number of activities).
STOCK THE STAFF LOUNGE!
Drop off bagged snacks, drinks, K-Cups, tea, hot chocolate packets, candy, mints, and more to the school office throughout the year so we can show staff our support.
Dates to Remember
March 21st
Niles North High School Concert
7:00 p.m.
March 24th
Student Hornet Hangout
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
April 6th
Spring Hangout
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Please check our public calendar on the district website for athletic game times and locations.
Ramadan
If your family celebrates Ramadan and would like accommodations for your student(s) for fasting or praying, please complete this survey by March 17th.
Summer School
Summer School will be in session from Wednesday, June 7th through Thursday, June 30th at Middleton Elementary School, 8300 St. Louis Avenue. The program is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday through Thursday (no classes on Fridays). The ELA/Reading class runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and the Math class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Tuition for this year’s summer school will be free. If you are the parent or guardian of a student who has been recommended for summer school, you have received an email with registration information. Please reach out to Stephanie Larenas at 847-676-8085 or [email protected] with any questions. All registrations are due no later than May 12th.
Last Chance to Order the Middleton 2022-2023 Yearbook!
Pre-order closes Friday, March 24th. Additional copies will be limited, so please pre-order to guarantee a copy is reserved for your family. Place online orders through the Lifetouch website: ybpay.lifetouch.com. The Yearbook ID Code is 13556523. Yearbooks will be distributed in May.
Enrichment Break
Middleton will not have Enrichment classes from Tuesday, March 21st through Wednesday, April 5th. The Garden Club will not meet ONLY during Spring Break. Questions? Please call the Middleton School office.
Speaking of the Garden Club, thank you to Mrs. VanHoose and the Garden Club participants for getting our garden ready for planting soon!
Middleton Musical Dengeos Fundraiser
Dine in or take out with Dengeos all day on Thursday, March 23rd and help support the upcoming Middleton musical, The Little Mermaid Jr.
Present the attached flyer and Dengeos will donate 20% of your order price to the Middleton Musical.
See the flyer for additional information about delivery service orders.
More from Middleton
Dates to Remember
March 23rd
Report Cards Sent Home
March 24th
Rainbow Celebration
- STAFF: Purple
- 5th: Blue
- 4th: Green
- 3rd: Yellow
- 2nd: Orange
- 1st: Red
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
Preschool Screenings for 2023-2024
We are offering preschool developmental screenings for the 2023-2024 school year on April 26th and 27th for District 73.5 families. If you are interested in having your child considered for the Discount Preschool Tuition Program, or if you have concerns about your preschool-aged child’s development, please sign up for a screening appointment or snap the QR code. 
View our 2023-2024 Preschool Presentation for more information about the program.
If you have neighbors and friends who have children turning 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2023, please help us spread the word!
SOAR Art Exhibit
Congratulations to our kindergarten artists whose artwork is displayed at the Skokie Fine Arts Commission’s Student Outstanding Artists Recognition (SOAR) Exhibition in honor of Youth Arts Month. Thank you to Meyer's art/music teacher, Mrs. Castellini, for her hard work with our Meyer Shining Stars. We hope you will stop by to visit the exhibit and support our young artists!
SOAR Art Exhibit
Oakton Community College Atrium Lobby
7701 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie
Park in the lot closest to Lincoln Avenue and enter through Door 21
Through April 4, 2023
Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
5Essentials
Calling all Meyer parents and guardians! Please take a few minutes to complete the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. Please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois and click "Start Here" under the Parent Survey heading. There are 21 questions and the survey should take approximately 10 minutes.
If at least 20 percent of Meyer parents complete this survey, we will receive access to your valuable feedback. Please complete a survey for each child you have in the district. Thank you, again, for your ongoing partnership throughout the school year!
Meyer Moments
More from Meyer
MEYER PARENT LEADERS
The Meyer Parent Leaders meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 23rd has been canceled. Please join us for our next meeting on Thursday, April 20th.
SAVE THE DATE!
Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year will begin for students new to Meyer on Monday, March 20th. Current preschool students going into kindergarten next year will not need to complete any forms and should have received an email from Joann Eisenstein.
Dates to Remember
March 20th
Kindergarten Registration for New Students Begins
March 23rd
Trimester 2 Report Cards Sent Home
March 27th-31st
Spring Break
April 11th
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
McCracken MPR
April 20th
Meyer Parent Leaders Meeting
7:00 to 8:00 pm
April 27th
Meyer Family Sing-Along with Miss Carole
6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
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