BUILDING 73.5
News and information from our district and schools
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Building 73.5
Let's talk about our schools!
Let’s talk about our schools! Our classrooms simply weren’t built for today’s students. Classrooms are outdated, spaces are tight, and it’s taking a toll on learning.
Come see for yourself how our school facilities impact learning—and be part of the conversation about their future.
Tuesday, May 20
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
McCracken Middle School
You’ll hear from teachers, see real examples from our schools, and share your thoughts on how we should move our schools forward.
Everyone is welcome, even if you missed the first session. Hope to see you there.
Learn more: SD735.org/Building735.
Follow Building 73.5 on Instagram for info & updates
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.
FOOD PANTRIES & PROGRAMS DURING SUMMER BREAK
The Greater Chicago Food Depository maintains a database of food pantries and programs in Cook County and the Chicago area. Check this quick list for locations that are within 5 miles of zip code 60076, serve Skokie/Niles Township, and are available during summer break.
Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food to search for additional locations that offer free groceries or a hot meal at a food pantry, soup kitchen, shelter, or mobile distribution.
In addition, Skokie Public Library and Niles-Maine District Library offer free lunch for kids during summer break.
PTO NEWS
Join the PTO at the next REGULAR MEETING on Monday, May 19, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. online only at Google Meet: meet.google.com/jzc-mvsk-mht.
PTO Board Member elections will occur during this meeting. If you would like to join the PTO Board, please reach out to [email protected]. The PTO has regular online meetings twice per month.
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].
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! The Meyer Parent Leaders (MPL) invite all Meyer families to the Meyer End-of-the-Year Bash!
Friday, May 23
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
FIELD BY THE PARKING LOT
There will be lots of fun activities, food, music, and crafts.
The MPL needs volunteers to help make the Bash a success! Please scan the QR code in the flyer or CLICK HERE to sign up.
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.
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.
KINDERGARTEN VISIT TO MIDDLETON
MEYER DATES
MEYER SUPERSTARS
Ms. Mpistolarides' & Ms. Zaccone's Kindergarten Superstars
Ms. Nahhas' Preschool Superstars
BACKWARDS DAY MONDAY! Middleton students earned 1,500 Pride Paws as a whole school, and will be celebrating with a BACKWARDS DAY on Monday, May 19! Wear your clothes inside out and backwards!
1st-2nd GRADE RUNNING CLUB
Middletons 1st-2nd Grade Running Club’s 5K(ish) race is this weekend! The race is on Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. on McCracken's field! Come cheer on our 1st and 2nd grade 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!
CHICAGO BEARS MINI MONSTERS
The Chicago Bears Mini Monsters will be at Middleton with 2nd-5th graders on Friday, May 23! Please turn in your student waiver if you haven’t already, and reach out to your child’s classroom teacher if you have not already!
CONGRATULATIONS BAND STUDENTS!
Congratulations to all of our 4th and 5th grade band students on an incredible concert this week at Niles North! Your hard work and dedication were on full display this week, and you should be very proud of yourselves!
MIDDLETON COUNTDOWN
Starting next week on Tuesday, Middleton will be counting down to the end of the school year! See the attached flyer for Middleton Spirit Days, planned for by 5th grade student council!
Our 7th grade students and staff had an amazing time in Burlington, Wisconsin at Camp MacLean this week! Families were provided with arrival information and daily updates with some fun photos capturing a few of the moments on this special trip. We hope students experienced new outdoor activities with peers far removed from their digital devices allowing them to truly immerse themselves in the moment with nature. The warm weather and outdoor activities will hopefully lead to some deeper sleep over the weekend. Special thanks to all of our McCracken staff chaperones who planned activities and supervised 7th grade students during this special trip!
ON TO 6th GRADE INFORMATION
Our administration and 6th grade team enjoyed connecting with our incoming 6th grade families last week during our “On to 6th Grade” Parent/Guardian Information Night at McCracken. 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 welcomed our incoming 6th grade students with their 5th grade teachers when they took a field trip to McCracken on Thursday, May 15. They heard from middle school administration about programming and exciting opportunities, listened to our student ambassadors answer their burning questions about middle school, and took a tour of the school with a 6th grade teacher.
Please access all of our On to 6th Grade digital resources on our school 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 lockers, 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!
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.)
McCRACKEN 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.
SUPERSTATE & ALL BANDS CONCERT
On Friday, May 9, the Symphonic Band performed at the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival at the University of Illinois. Thank you to families and guests making the trip to watch the performance as well as to all of our staff and families for tuning in to view the performance via live stream. Our Symphonic Band was selected last year as the honor band performing at this year’s festival. Bands are not eligible to be selected the following year. The students performed beautifully under the direction of Cesar Mendoza and we are incredibly proud of their effort, maturity, and dedication to the band program at McCracken. Thank you to Chip DeStefano and Cesar Mendoza for their continued contributions to our program.
We also celebrated our Skokie School District 73.5 band program with a final All Bands Concert at Niles North High School on Monday, May 12. Middleton and McCracken students performed in front of families and guests to showcase their incredible growth and achievement over the 2024-2025 school year. We look forward to another successful year ahead in our music program!
McCRACKEN DATES
Click the postcard for a very special invitation!
McCRACKEN GAMES
McCracken Games have concluded for the 2024-2025 school year.
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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