News and information from our district and schools
McCRACKEN. MIDDLETON. MEYER. Dates to Know. Meal Menu.
Taste of 73.5
School District 73.5 PTO Invites You to the Taste of 73.5
Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Oliver McCracken Middle School
Join us as we celebrate our district's culture and diversity. Food and activities will feature various cultures and countries. Local restaurants will also provide food samples.
If you are interested in assisting with set-up, parade coordinators and other tasks, please sign-up on SignUp Genius.
Department of Student Services
Summer Reading Kickoff
Please join us at the District 73.5 Summer Reading Kickoff on Wednesday, May 31st from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Bring the family and meet up with classmates and the school librarians in the grassy area next to the Meyer parking lot. Be ready for tons of reading-related fun. We hope to see you there!
SD73.5 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.
PTO News
PTO SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, May 23rd
McCracken MPR
7:00 p.m.
Planning for 2023-2024 school year
Coffee Time!
School Supply Kits
Purple Pride
Purple Pride Week at McCracken occurred last week! We administered the NWEA MAP tests for both reading and math on May 10th and 11th. Our FastBridge CBM testing for math automaticity and reading took place on Friday, May 12th. Any student who was absent for testing will participate in makeups on Monday and Tuesday next week. To best prepare your students for all of our assessments, make sure they are getting a good night’s rest the night before testing, a healthy breakfast the morning of testing, and arrive to school on time and with a charged Chromebook.
On to 6th Grade and 5th Grade Visit
Current 5th grade parents and guardians were invited to visit McCracken Middle School on Thursday, May 11th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. McCracken administration and 6th grade team members reviewed important information to support the successful transition of our incoming 6th grade McCracken Hornets. The team reviewed general information about advisory, student schedules, lockers, August Meet and Greet, PBIS and CHAMPS behavior supports, social and emotional supports, and extracurricular programming. The administration also hosted an optional tour for families at the end of this program. On to 6th Grade information packets will be mailed home to any families who were not able to attend. All of this information is also available on our website in multiple languages. We are looking forward to welcoming 5th grade students visiting McCracken with their teachers during the school day on Thursday, May 18th!
7th Grade Camp MacLean Is Next Week! Info & Packing List!
Camp MacLean is next Wednesday through Friday! Parents and guardians should use this packing list to pull together all the needed supplies for the camping trip (remember, no cell phones! No exceptions!). Remember that students will be dropping off their bags on the morning of Wednesday, May 17th in the MPR. After returning from camp on Friday, May 19th, students should arrange a ride home from McCracken as they cannot ride the bus home with their bags. We are looking forward to a fun, outdoors-filled three days in Wisconsin! Students staying behind from the trip will attend full days and participate in team-building activities.
8th Grade Graduation Parent/Guardian Information
The 2023 McCracken Middle School Graduation Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Niles North High School. Each graduate is given up to five (5) tickets for family members/guests to attend the graduation ceremony. In addition, each graduate was able to request up to two (2) additional tickets using a lottery system. Student graduation gowns, yard signs, and t-shirt orders will be distributed to students on Friday, May 19th at the end of the school day. Graduation tickets will be distributed to students at school on Wednesday, May 24th. Yearbook delivery dates are unknown at this time and will be announced when we receive information from the company.
Students are expected to follow all academic and behavioral expectations through the end of the year to fully participate in graduation end of the year events.
Access graduation information on the McCracken Middle School Graduation page on our website.
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. No student drop off or pick up from the left lane of the Circle Drive.
- 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?
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).
More from McCracken
Dates to Remember
May 15th
All Bands Concert
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
May 17th-19th
7th Grade Camp MacLean Trip
May 20th
8th Grade Graduation End of the Year Celebration
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
May 22nd
Cultural Diversity Day
Orchestra Concert
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
May 25th
8th Grade Graduation Rehearsal
8:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Students will be dismissed after they return from Niles North High School at approximately 11:30 a.m.
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
7:00 p.m.
Niles North High School
Students must report to Niles North no later than 6:30 p.m. Families will gain entry into the auditorium at approximately 6:45 p.m.
June 2nd
6th and 7th Grade Field Day and Hornet's Hive Activities
Last day of school
Please check our public calendar on the district website for athletic game times and locations.
Dinner is Served!
Thank you to the Middleton community for supporting SMENCIL sales. We were able to raise $304 dollars! Middleton Student Council is hoping to raise additional money to purchase a gaga ball pit for the end-of-year gift. Grab lunch or dinner at Dengeos on May 31st, show the attached flyer, and 20 percent of your meal price will be donated to Middleton.
Student Arrival Reminder
Please bring your child to school by 8:25 a.m. each day. Students should line up with their classes at Drake Alley and at Madison Av. If students arrive after 8:30 a.m., please sign them in at the front office.
Second Grade Trip to Emily Oaks
Mrs. Domingo's 2nd grade class recently visited Emily Oaks Nature Center on a sunny spring day!
Tap a photo for a close-up view.
Middleton Musical Memories
Enjoy some "behind the scenes" photos from the Middleton musical courtesy of Justina Lee Photography along with a silly cast photo taken by Ms. Bond!
More from Middleton
END OF YEAR COUNTDOWN
Middleton’s end of the year countdown begins on May 19th. Please encourage your students to join in on the fun! VIEW THE LIST OF FUN ACTIVITIES
The Middleton greenhouse is in need of some repairs, so we are having a Portillo’s fundraiser on May 24th to raise funds for those repairs! Grab lunch or dinner at the Skokie Portillo's, show the attached flyer, and 20 percent of your meal price will be donated to Middleton.
Around Town
SUMMER LUNCHES AT THE LIBRARY
Skokie Public Library will offer free lunches Monday through Friday from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. beginning June 12th until August 11th.
No lunches on Monday, June 19th and the library is closed on Tuesday, July 4th.
Meyer Showcase and Book Fair
We are excited to invite Meyer Families to the Meyer Showcase on Wednesday, May 17th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Meyer School. Students will share their hard work and learning with their families in their classrooms. Feel free to come by anytime between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. and use the main entrance. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Meyer will host a spring Scholastic Book Fair from Monday, May 15th through Wednesday, May 17th in the Meyer Library. It will be open all three days from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., 12:00 to 12:30 p.m., and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Book Fair will also be open from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on May 17th to coincide with the Meyer Showcase! Please use the main entrance to visit the Book Fair. If you come during the school day, please bring a picture ID to check in at the Meyer Office. You can also shop online between May 15th and May 28th at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/meyer.
Author’s Visit
On Friday, May 5th, our Meyer Shining Stars had an Author’s Visit with Mandy Yom, a local children’s book author and former Meyer teacher. Mrs. Yom did some get-to-know-you activities and read her book, Nami’s New Friend. A big thank you to Mrs. Kelley, our librarian, for coordinating such a fun event for our students!
Kindergarten Music "Informances"
Meyer Superstars
More from Meyer
MEYER PARENT LEADERS ZOOM MEETING
Join us for this month's Meyer Parent Leaders (MPL) Zoom meeting. All parents/guardians are welcome! We will discuss the Meyer End-of-Year Bash.
Thursday, May 18, 2023
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Zoom link will be sent to Meyer families the day before the meeting.
Dates to Remember
May 13th
ECA Fun Fair
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Oakton College Acorn Room
PTO Taste of 73.5
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
McCracken Middle School
May 15th-17th
Meyer's Spring Book Fair
May 17th
Meyer Showcase
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
May 24th
On to Kindergarten
(incoming Kindergarten parent/guardians)
May 26th
MPL End-of-Year Bash
3:0 to 5:30 p.m.
May 29th
Memorial Day
No School
May 31st
Summer Reading Kickoff
5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Near the Meyer Drive-Thru
June 2nd
Last Day of School for Students
Around Town
The Early Childhood Alliance (ECA) is hosting an Early Childhood Fun Fair on Saturday, May 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oakton College Acorn Room. See the attached flyer for more information and the QR code to register.
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.