HIGHCREST HEADLINES
December 6, 2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear HMS Families,
We have had a busy week getting back into the school routine! Fifth graders have been multiplying decimals in math class, and are starting to dig into life in Colonial Times in social studies class. Sixth graders have been working on researching ingredients and developing recipes for nutritional bars in science for their metabolism unit, and some have spent time examining word parts in their ELA classes while others have been participating in creating defenses and arguments for the Trial of Spongebob. We are looking forward to wrapping up these next couple of weeks together as we keep the learning going strong and continue to grow as students.
There are quite a few special events on the horizon, so please read carefully below so you can be prepared! It's going to be a great December!
Take care,
Kelly, Linda, and Susie
Arrival and Dismissal Times
As weather gets colder, we wanted to remind our families that band, choir, and orchestra begin at 8:00 AM, and general outdoor supervision outside begins at 8:25 AM. Students dropped off before 8:25 AM will not be able to wait in the building, so if they are dropped off early, they will be outside unsupervised until 8:25 AM. The bell rings at 8:45 AM to let students in the building for their homeroom class.
Please be mindful when planning morning drop off, and encourage your child to dress appropriately for the cold weather.
Students are dismissed daily at 3:35 PM, and the office closes at 4:15 PM. Please plan to pick up your child by 4:15 PM daily. If they are at an after-school club, they may take the late bus home at 4:45 PM.
BUNDLE UP!
We all know how winter in Chicago can be balmy one day and frigid the next, so be sure your child is prepared for all weather conditions. Gloves, hats, and coats are a must, especially because we go outside for recess, even on cold days (Real Temp or Feels Like 10 degrees or more). Make sure your child has everything they need to enjoy some fresh air during the school day!
Spelling Bee
Bzzz, Bzzz! It’s that T-I-M-E of the year again to prepare for our D39 Spelling Bee! Between December 9-19th, HMS Homeroom teachers will conduct classroom bees, the first round of the Spelling Bee. That means 32 HMS students will advance to our district bee on Friday, January 24th at WJHS! Study lists for the classroom bees have been posted in your child’s Schoology Lunch course. Bzzz, Bzzz, have fun S-T-U-D-Y-I-N-G!
*Please note that students have the option to opt-in or opt-out of the classroom bees.
SEL NEWS - DECEMBER
December often finds us in a season of giving and offering gratitude for the things that we are thankful. Practicing gratitude with our children is a wonderful way to help them build empathy, support the development of their relationship skills, support finding creative solutions to conflict, and can help kids make positive choices when they interact with others.
This month as we all reflect on the past year and look forward to a fresh start in 2025, try one of these simple ways to practice gratitude as a family…even the simplest acts can make a big difference in the lifes of others…as well as your own!
As you tuck your child in bed at night or as you converse at the dinner table, ask your child, “What were you thankful for today?” Share your own as well! This will help to reframe even the negative thoughts (i.e. “Ugh…the snow…”) to positive thoughts (i.e. “The snow today made everything look clean and bright outside.”) and by sharing your own thoughts of gratitude, you serve as a model for your child.
Write thank you notes…but not only for gifts! Gratitude can be expressed to others (teachers, grandparents, siblings, etc.) with a simple note of thanks for anything! See if you can get crafty and creative as you send notes to others expressing your thanks.
Create a family gratitude jar. After creating the jar, put it in a special place in the house where you add to it on a regular basis with little slips of paper. You can use questions such as, “Who makes you laugh?” or “What are the things that made you happy this week?” to prompt thinking about gratitude, or just keep it as a spot for family members to add regularly. Open it and look through it every few months, to see how many things in our lives have created a sense of gratitude.
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
Parent Education Event
Make plans to join us on next Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 11 am for our next Parent Education event titled “Youth Substance Use Trends Parents Should Know About.” This presentation explores the latest substance use trends among youth (including alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis), using visual aids, to help parents know what to look out for when it comes to vaping devices, misleading packaging, and stash compartment items. The presenters will include prevention strategies and tips that parents and caregivers can implement at home. This is presented by PEER Services and the Knowledge Empowers Youth (KEY) Coalition. Families are encouraged to join us in-person at the Mikaelian Education Center, but can also participate virtually via Zoom. Registration for this event is now open. Please visit our Parent Education webpage for our full schedule of events as well as archived recordings of past events.
Save the Date – Registration for the 2025-26 Academic Year
With the end of the calendar year rapidly approaching, we wanted to share that registration for the 2025-26 school year will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. District 39 is excited that it will be offering full-day kindergarten for all families beginning in Fall 2025! Additionally, our school calendar committee is currently busy building next year’s school calendar. The committee expects to present a draft of the 2025-26 Academic Year Calendar to the Board of Education on December 16 and to receive final approval of the calendar at the January 27th Board meeting. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
Weather-Related School Closures
Winter weather is quickly approaching, or already upon us, depending on your perspective! Although we always hope to avoid school cancellations, the safety of students and staff is our top priority and occasionally requires consideration of school closures. Weather conditions (including temperature, wind chill and snow accumulation), street conditions (both in Wilmette and in surrounding municipalities), school building conditions, and bus conditions are all considered when evaluating the effects of weather for school.
If inclement weather conditions warrant cancellation of school, District 39 parents and guardians will receive an email, automated call, and text message from the school by 5:30 am on the morning of the school closing. Additionally, school closure notifications are posted to our district website and are communicated to all major Chicago radio and television outlets. When extreme weather conditions exist, parents are encouraged to check email, cell phone messages or the district website for information regarding school closures.
This school year, the first weather-related closure will function as a traditional “snow day,” with all classes canceled for the day. As communicated earlier, that day may be made up as a remote learning day on Presidents’ Day (Monday, Feb. 17). For additional information, please visit our D39 webpage regarding emergency closures.
Last Chance to Donate to the Teacher and Staff Holiday Gift Fund - Closes Today!
'Tis the giving season! There's nobody more deserving than our incredibly hard-working HMS teachers and staff.
If you haven't already, please consider donating to the Teacher and Staff Holiday Gift Fund. The suggested donation of $25 per student ensures every HMS teacher and staff member is gifted by the student community this holiday season. Donate here.
Please consider donating to the Highcrest PTO
You can donate in a couple different ways:
IGNITE - The Highcrest Ignite fund pays for ALL enrichment activities including visiting authors, field trips, assemblies, outdoor learning environments, athletic equipment and more. Suggested donation amount is $85.
HAWK FUND -. This newly created fund supports students and teachers at HMS in any area needed - in improving facilities, purchasing equipment, and adding activities for the students. The Highcrest PTO works closely with teachers and staff to identify the needs of the school, and budgets to meet those needs. A donation to the Hawk Fund is tax deductible, with 100 percent going to improving the school.
Snacks Needed!
We need continued help stocking the teachers' lounge for our awesome staff! We need a lot more sign-ups for January! Please click here to sign up!
December: Grade 6, House 4 (Bishop, Resis, Everhart, Flanigan)
January: Grade 5, House 1 (Sarich, Essary, Dubnow, Konicek)
Spiritwear - Available at Humankind!
Spirit wear makes great holiday gifts! Available online at Humankind!