Our Highcrest lunchtime and after-school clubs are in full swing! We have a lot of fun offerings that students can choose from to engage in new and different ways during lunch. Clubs like Craft Club, Green Team, and Baking Club offer students some creative ways to interact with one another in a more structured setting, while clubs such as Lego Club, Tinker Club, and Model Magic Art Club offer students time to freely use materials to build, create, draw and explore in ways they may have never thought of before.

An action step for this year's D39 Strategic Plan, based on last year's CRC Report: Harnessing Free Play to Advance Educational Outcomes is to Expand student connections through creation of flexible recess opportunities. Through offering open-ended club opportunities at lunch, we are offering Highcrest students an opportunity to connect with others through free play, and allowing for creativity and wonder to emerge as students explore different areas of interest.

Be sure to check out another free play experience at next week's "Let's Play" district-wide family event. Monday's event will be tailored to Highcrest students and provides an opportunity for students to engage in free play in creative, imaginative ways. This experience is designed for families and children to explore a variety of fun-filled activities while flexing “play muscles” and connecting with others. This event takes place at HMS from 3:50 PM - 4:50 PM on Monday, October 28. More information is available in the District Updates section below!

We hope you have a chance to enjoy some free time this weekend! We will see you Monday.

Kelly, Linda, and Susie

Please click here to see when and where clubs are offered during the week at HMS.

Below are some club descriptions to help you and your child discuss which clubs they might attend! Most clubs follow a drop in structure, so there is flexibility if they decide a student decides they don't like something or want to try something else at the same time.

This coming Thursday is Halloween at Highcrest, and we are excited for some special assemblies on our half day of school. Students ARE allowed to dress up for Halloween, however, MASKS and MAKEUP are not allowed. Students will be asked to leave any masks or other props in the office for the day and can pick them up at the end of the day if they bring them. If students have face paint, they will be asked to wash it off. THANK YOU!

If your child missed our original photo day, plan for makeup pictures on November 11. We will have the photographers here in the morning and will make sure to get their school picture for this year!

We are so grateful for our many volunteers who help our school...especially during lunch. While we know how enlightening it can be to be a part of our lunchroom and other school events, we want to ask that you refrain from taking photos while in our school building of students, unless otherwise indicated. We want to make sure that we maintain the privacy of all of our students and their families during the school day and at school events. Thank you for your help!

As we look to November we look forward to the many holidays that occur duing this upcoming season. Monday, November 1 begins the Indian holiday of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Happy Diwali to all of our families celebrating.

Thanksgiving, which occurs later this month, is a wonderful time to celebrate our families. The theme that we observe in November across the district is “Our Families are Important.” We encourage our students to share about their families, their family traditions, and what makes their family special to them.

Families and the community are also a crucial part of the social-emotional development of our students. While we have lessons about understanding our emotions, building relationships, understanding others’ perspectives, and making good choices and decisions, these lessons at school alone, are not as effective as they are when supported at home by the families that surround our children. Spend time as a family over this month celebrating one another, and engaging in activities that are fun! The Wilmette Public Library has regular events for families, and check out this list of opportunities to spend time together by catching a show, apple or pumpkin picking, heading to a museum and more!

Pre-Order Yearbooks! Price will Increase October 31

Take advantage of early bird pricing for the 2024-25 yearbook. The price will increase on October 31. To purchase your yearbook, log on to the PTO website and then visit the Back-to-School 1 Stop Shop tab. If you're unsure if you've already ordered your yearbook, check Previous Orders under My Account.

McKenzie Fall Frenzy Looking for Kid Volunteers

McKenzie is having their annual Fall Frenzy this Saturday, 10/26 from 1-3pm and they are looking for older kid volunteers! In exchange for their time, they will receive 10 free tickets to purchase baked goods, games and face painting. Sign-up here: https://www.mckenziepta.com/fall-frenzy

Thank you to all the Freaky Friday Volunteers and Attendees!

The Highcrest PTO wants to express our deep gratitude to all who attended and volunteered at Freaky Friday. This beloved event is only possible because of the hard work and dedication from the Highcrest Community. The PTO is forever grateful to the numerous parent volunteers, and staff members who included Kelly Jackson, Eric Resis, Valerie Gabuzzi, Kelsey Treon, Lisa Pines, Julio Martinez, Armando Palomares and Maria Abad. We would also like to thank the Freaky Friday committee members who went above and beyond to make this the best Freaky Friday yet. Thank you to Melissa Dahm, Janet Choy-Hubbard, Janet Cavanaugh, Meghann Kohli, Laura Butts, Julie Hanson, Jen Curchin, Katie McCarthy, Beth Marks, Erica Sanbria, Kathyrn Schmidt, and Noela Scarano.

Spiritwear - Available at Humankind!

Questions? Reach out to PTO President Laurel Nelson: president@highcrestpto.org

See you next week!