News and information from our district and schools
Scroll to view District updates and news from Meyer, Middleton, and McCracken!
September 12, 2025
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MEET THE SUPERINTENDENT!
Parents, guardians, and families joined Dr. Kyle for an informal Q&A session at our Meet the Superintendent event on September 11, 2025, at Elizabeth Meyer School. Board of Education President Kelli Nelson was on hand to greet visitors and members of our Multilingual Learners team served as language interpreters. Some of our youngest and littlest learners were present, too, enjoying cookies and quiet time with friends.
The evening was an opportunity for Dr. Kyle to connect with neighbors and learn about what matters most to them about our schools.
BUILDING 73.5
HELP DEVELOP A PLAN FOR OUR SCHOOLS!
Last spring, more than 100 community members came together through the Building 73.5 workshops to begin shaping a plan for the future of Skokie 73.5 schools. This fall, those conversations continue as families, staff and neighbors are invited to come together again to work on the next steps to solve some of our biggest challenges. Together, we can make them safe, updated, and supportive for every student.
Session 3: Building for Tomorrow: Big Picture Decisions and Funding Pathways
October 16, 2025
John Middleton Elementary Gym
8300 St. Louis Avenue, Skokie, IL 60076
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Session 4: Your Voice, Your Schools: Evaluating Specific Options for Building Improvements
November 10, 2025
John Middleton Elementary Gym
8300 St. Louis Avenue, Skokie, IL 60076
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Visit sd735.org/building735 to register to attend. Registration is not required, but RSVPing HERE will be helpful for planning.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Teachers will be available for your choice of in-person OR video conferences on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, October 9th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m
- Friday, October 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Online registration for October conferences opens on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 a.m. and closes on Tuesday, October 7th at 3:00 p.m. Check the PowerPTC Parent/Guardian Guide and visit our Parent-Teacher Conferences page at www.sd735.org/ptc for instructions and more information.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
The week before school started, our Building Leadership Teams (BLTs) from each Skokie 73.5 school convened at McCracken for the kick-off to this year's Leadership Academy.
Leadership Academy is a year-long series of learning experiences to support our teacher leaders in their search for growth. There will be a total of four sessions this year. This first session focused on establishing a foundation of knowledge, skills, and strategies that leaders can begin applying on "day one." Our following sessions will focus on workshopping real and practical leadership challenges. We are grateful and excited for this year's learning in Leadership Academy!
LOST & FOUND LOCKER
School's been in session for only three weeks and we already have a growing collection of lost and found items! Check each school section of The Weekly for items in the lost and found and contact the school office if an item belongs to your child!
MEYER
847-673-1223
McCRACKEN
847-673-1220
MIDDLETON
847-673-1222
PTO NEWS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The PTO is looking for 1-2 volunteers to lead the 2025 Fall Fest. This is a fun district-wide event typically occurring in October or November with crafts, food, and carnival games. The PTO will assist with volunteers, facility (Middleton), and provide funding. Please contact the PTO at [email protected] if interested.
STOCK THE STAFF LOUNGES! Let’s give our awesome staff a boost to start out the year! School staff lounges could use K-Cups, hot chocolate and tea, and individually wrapped snacks (chips, etc.). Donations can be sent to school in kids’ backpacks or dropped off at any school front office. Feel free to use the links below for ordering or additional ideas on what to donate. Thank you!
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
ELL CENTER PROGRAMS
PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM
ELL CENTER CLASSES
AROUND TOWN
September 2025 NTDSE
Family Events
~Ms. Beatrice, Middleton Art Teacher
The MEYER BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT will take place on Thursday, September 18th at Meyer School. Your child's classroom teacher will hold a teacher session with important information about the classroom, and the principal, Dr. Helen Wei, will share information about Meyer School in the all-school principal’s session. This is an adults-only event.
We will provide childcare for a limited number of children, age 1 year and older, during the event. Reservations for childcare are required. Please fill out THIS FORM by Friday, September 12th to reserve a spot for your child. Due to staffing and space issues, we are not able to provide childcare during the event for children without a reservation.
Please follow the schedules below and ENTER AT DOOR #6 (parking lot)::
PRESCHOOL parents/guardians attend 6:00-7:00 p.m.
- 6:00-6:30 Preschool Teacher Sessions (classrooms)
- 6:30-7:00 Principal’s Session (Gym)
KINDERGARTEN parents/guardians attend 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- 6:30-7:00 Principal’s Session (Gym)
- 7:00-7:30 Kindergarten Teacher Sessions (classrooms)
Please see the FLYER for details. We look forward to seeing you there!
PICTURE DAY
Mark your calendars! Meyer’s Picture Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 25th, during the school day. Flyers with more details were sent home in backpacks on September 11th. You have the option of pre-ordering school pictures or waiting until after Picture Day to place your order.
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Online registration for Meyer Fall Enrichment classes for kindergartners is now open! The fall session will run September 23 – December 4, 2025. The Enrich MEYER brochure, with more details on classes and registration, was sent home in backpacks on September 10th, or you can view the information at SD735.org/meyer/enrichment.
PRESCHOOL LIBRARY, MUSIC, P.E.
MEYER DATES
Meyer will conduct our first fire drill for all Meyer classrooms during the week of September 15th. Teachers will prepare students for the drill, helping them to understand procedures and practicing how to exit the building safely and calmly when the fire alarm is sounded.
LOST & FOUND
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS: Thank you so much for all of your patience and support as we worked to revamp our arrival and dismissal procedures. We are grateful for all of our Middleton families! As after-school activities begin, please make sure your child knows where they go after school each day. We have lists in the office and in classrooms, and it also really helps when students know if it’s a SPACE day, Robotics Club, Running Club, Band, etc. Thank you for your partnership.
PAJAMA & STUFFY DAY
Today we celebrated our Bulldogs following expectations with a PAJAMA AND STUFFY DAY! Great job, friends! Check out Mrs. Paulson and Mrs. Parker’s PJS… we’ll share student photos from our fun day today in next week’s Weekly!
LOST & FOUND
The MIDDLETON LOST AND FOUND is already filled with water bottles, lunch boxes, sweatshirts, and more! Please take a look at these photos, and make sure your child checks to Lost and Found regularly for missing items. The Lost and Found is located in the cafeteria, and students have an opportunity every day to check for missing things when they are downstairs during lunch and recess. Check out these photos, and have your child ask to pick up any missing items.
SAVE THE DATES
The White Pines Information Meeting for 5th grade ONLY is Wednesday, September 17th from 6:00-6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
Save the date for Wednesday, September 17th from 6:30-7:30pm for Middleton’s Back to School Night. Families are invited to hear from administration, support staff, and classroom teachers; see spaces in the building, and mingle with one another. Teachers and staff are looking forward to sharing important information with families and making positive connections in support of the academic and social emotional growth of your child. More information will be shared with families about this event in the coming weeks.
Middleton Picture Day is Wednesday October 1st. We can’t wait to see our friends photo-ready!
Thank you to the many school community members who joined us on Thursday evening for our reimagined McCRACKEN BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT event. The purpose of this event is to welcome our school community, form positive partnerships, and share important information with our families. We have included links to the Back to School Presentations below. We look forward to an amazing school year with students and connecting with families in many different ways!
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING UPDATE
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 your student up for one of our great extracurricular clubs or activities at McCracken! Updated registration and fee information is now available. Please view the fall presentation and access the McCracken Extracurricular Brochure below.
8th GRADE PreACT 8/9 ASSESSMENT
The PreACT 8/9 will be administered by District 219 on Saturday, November 1st at Niles North High School. Students will be assigned to a morning (8:00-11:30) or afternoon (12:00-3:30) session. In addition to serving as one data source for placing students into 9th grade courses, the PreACT 8/9 helps to identify which skills to nurture and support for continued success through high school and beyond. More importantly, it identifies areas where students excel, allowing students to explore pathways they may not have otherwise considered.
Individualized test sessions for each student will be sent by Niles North High School to McCracken 8th grade families and shared with building administration and 8th grade teachers so families can plan accordingly. Students will take the test using a Chromebook provided by District 219. McCracken staff work directly with District 219 to ensure any IEP/504/EL testing accommodations are in place for students.
Please reach out to Christine Gonzales, D219 Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, at [email protected] or 847-626-3870 if you have questions or would like additional information. The ACT Website has several resources about the PreACT 8/9. Please review this letter from D219 for additional information.
LEARNING CENTER HIGHLIGHTS
A group of McCracken Library regulars enjoyed a spontaneous read aloud before school this week. An 8th grader read Brave by Stacy McAnulty to an engaged audience of fellow students, proving that we never outgrow a good picture book!
Students are invited to join Mrs. Gammeri on Monday during lunch/recess to be a part of our new Picture Book Appreciation Society.
McCRACKEN REMINDERS
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL SAFETY
Please help us to keep our students, staff, families and visitors safe by following our arrival and dismissal procedures. Parents and guardians who drive their student(s) to or from school must use the Circle Drive off of East Prairie Road.
- Parents and guardians must enter the Circle Drive near the south entrance on East Prairie Road, staying on the right side of the drive for pick-up or drop-off (leave the outside lane open to exiting cars at all times). Do NOT drop off or pick up your student in the left lane.
- The Drive-Thru is for right lane drop-off and pick-up only. Do not park in the Drive-Thru lane. Please help to keep our students and staff safe at all times!
- Drivers should NOT enter the Circle Drive coming north off East Prairie. Please enter the drop off or pick up line driving south on East Prairie Road.
- Students may NOT walk through the back parking lot for any reason due to traffic.
- Students must exit school property immediately following dismissal and may not stay to congregate with peers outdoors unless involved in an extracurricular activity.
- Crossing guards are available to assist students crossing Oakton Street and Crawford Avenue and also on East Prairie Road and Warren Street.
- Students may NOT cross the street at East Prairie Road and Oakton Street unless accompanied by a parent/guardian. There is no crosswalk or crossing guards at this intersection and there is a high volume of traffic.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
- In the morning, students have the option to enter the building between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m. through the main entrance (Door 1) to purchase breakfast in the cafeteria or report to the Learning Center to work quietly on assignments.
- Students are discouraged from arriving prior to 7:30 a.m. unless they have a scheduled activity to attend. Outside student supervision begins at 7:30 a.m.
- At 7:50 a.m., the first bell rings and all students may enter the building and go to their lockers and proceed to their Advisory class.
- School starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students are expected to be in their advisory class by 8:00 a.m. Students entering after this time will be marked tardy.
- In the afternoon, students are dismissed at 2:57 p.m. except for Tuesdays, when they are dismissed at 1:57 p.m.
- The Learning Center is open after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 until 3:55 p.m. for students who want to work quietly on assignments.
AFTER SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Please remind your student to check in with you after school about any extracurricular activities they are planning to participate in at McCracken. We have a wide variety of clubs and activities for students to choose from throughout the school year. Middle School students are expected to communicate their plans with families and caregivers and arrange for their specific transportation plan. Students have the option to walk, ride the Activity Bus. and/or get picked up depending on the timing of the activity and comfort level of our families. Please communicate and confirm this plan with your child to arrange for safe passage home after school.
ACTIVITY BUS
McCracken offers an activity bus for our students who participate in after-school activities. Some important notes about our activity bus:
- The activity bus runs every day after school.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the activity bus boards at 3:55 p.m. in the bus alley.
- On Tuesday (early 2:00 p.m. release day), the activity bus boards at 3:00 p.m. in the bus alley.
- The activity bus runs a limited route that will differ from the morning and afternoon routes and stops. Families can view the stops HERE. All students riding the activity bus need to know what stop is the closest and best stop for them. Students should review this route plan with their families before riding the activity bus.
- Many of our clubs/activities end at 3:55 p.m. Some of our activities run beyond 3:55 p.m. and students participating in these activities should not plan to take the activity bus home. Please arrange for alternate transportation home.
- There is an annual $25 Activity Bus Fee for students to ride the activity bus. Payment is due no later than October 15th. Payments can be made through RevTrak. Once the payment has been received, students will receive an activity bus pass.
McCRACKEN DATES
McCRACKEN GAMES
LOST & FOUND
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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