HIGHCREST HEADLINES
August 30, 2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
We have been so impressed this week with our students as they have learned the routines for walking in the hallways, have learned about their iPad expectations, and have engaged positively with their peers and classmates at school.
In addition to their regular classes, students have had orientations to the Learning Commons, have been meeting with their Grade Level Administrators to review HAWKS (Honest, Accountable, Welcoming, Kind, and Safe) expectations for school, and have enjoyed exploring the recess options like the Lego Wall and the Outdoor Classrooms. Last night we welcomed our fifth grade families to Curriculum Night, and look forward to doing the same for our sixth grade families next Thursday. It has been a great week at HMS!
Please enjoy this long weekend, and take some time to relax and soak in the last few moments before the "official" end to summer!
Have a good long weekend,
Kelly, Linda, & Susie
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
EMERGENCY ASTHMA MEDICATION PROGRAM:
This serves as notification that Highcrest Middle School is participating in the State of Illinois Undesignated Emergency Asthma Medications Program.
This program authorizes our school nurse to administer asthma medication (Albuterol) to anyone experiencing respiratory distress while at school. This program is available to all students, even those who do not have a formal asthma diagnosis. Albuterol is very safe and effective, it opens up the airways allowing air to move in and out of the lungs making it easier to breathe. It will be administered according to the guidelines established by the Illinois State Board of Education and any parent/guardian of a student receiving the medication will be notified immediately.
If you need additional information or you do not want your child to receive Albuterol during a respiratory emergency at school, please notify our school nurse, Mary McLone, BSN, RN at mclonem@wilmette39.org.
Curriculum Night - SIXTH GRADE
Sixth Grade Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 5. The evening starts at 6:00 PM for any families who are interested in learning about the Band, Orchestra, and Choir programs. At 6:20, parents will begin in their child's homeroom and will change classes throughout the evening. HERE is the basic schedule for the night.
Parents will receive a schedule specific to their child in the homeroom class that evening, so all you need to know is your child's HOMEROOM teacher, and we will take care of the rest!
LATE BUS
As in years past, Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High have a late bus that takes students home from after-school activities at no cost to the families.
The bus picks up at Wilmette Junior High at about 4:40 and comes to HMS at 4:45 PM to bring students home. The students choose the bus for their area of Wilmette, share their address with the bus driver, who will then get them within a few blocks of their house.
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
District 39 Safety Reminders
District 39 partners with students, staff and families to provide a safe environment at school. As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. Our schools have comprehensive safety plans in place that are reviewed and updated annually in partnership with the Wilmette Police and Wilmette Fire Departments. We are extremely proud of the strong, collaborative relationship that we have with both the Village of Wilmette and our Wilmette Police and Fire Departments.
As part of these plans, please know that all exterior doors are locked at all times and visitors can only enter our school buildings by being buzzed in through the main entrance. In addition, review and training of our plans and protocol is an ongoing and critical part of our annual work. For more information and valuable resources on school safety and security measures, please visit our School Safety and Security page. You may also watch the recording of our first parent education event of the year, “Feeling Safe in District 39 Schools.” In this presentation, our District administrative team, in partnership with the Wilmette Police Department and other local community partners, provided an overview of our safety measures and shared responsibility for safety.
We also ask for your support in promoting school safety at home. This can be done by:
Having a conversation with your child(ren) about the importance of keeping their school community safe, which includes watching out for dangers, caring for our friends, and seeking help or making a report when needed
Downloading our Safety Starts with Me information sheet
Contacting a trusted adult when help is needed or something seems suspicious
Reminding our students in grades 5-8 that they can use our HAWKS (Highcrest) and WOLVES (WJHS) reporting forms to report conflict and harassment incidents in addition to suspicious people/incidents around the school
Encouraging them to use Safe2Help Illinois to seek help if they see someone in need or something that doesn’t feel right within the schools
Educating them to call 988 in cases of suicidal thoughts or someone in emotional distress or 911 in case of an emergency
Additionally, it is impermissible for a student to bring a weapon or a lookalike weapon onto school grounds (including buses and after-hours school activities) or to make a threatening statement, even in a joking manner, either online or in-person.
Our commitment to supporting a safe and supportive school community in which every student and staff member feels a sense of belonging calls for us each to take responsibility and care for one another. School safety is a collective responsibility. We sincerely appreciate your support and partnership in helping to ensure our schools and communities are safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all.
Parent Education Event - Safety in D39 Schools
As referenced above, District 39 held its first Parent Education event of the new school year, “Feeling Safe in District 39 Schools,” this past Wednesday. We encourage all families to watch the recording of this presentation to learn more about how we work together to maintain a high level of building security and work with community partners to create a feeling of safety for all.
Student Lunch Account Information
Adding money to your child(ren)’s lunch accounts is done through the PowerSchool ParentPortal. After logging into the portal, click “Balance” and then “Make a Payment.” You will be directed to RevTrak, where you will see the names of the students linked to your account. You can make a one-time deposit to a child’s account, or you can login to your RevTrak account and set up auto-replenish. Keep in mind that each child has their own balance which must be maintained separately. Please visit our Food Services webpage for more information.
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education came together on Monday for a public meeting on budgets before transition into its monthly business meeting. During this meeting, The Board approved FY25 budgets for both District 39 and the Wilmette Community Special Education Agreement (WCSEA) and was presented with D39’s response to the Community Review Committee’s (CRC) final report titled “Harnessing the Power of Free Play to Advance Educational Outcomes.” The Board also heard committee reports and conducted a first reading of several Board policies. The agenda and accompanying materials for this meeting are available online.
Looking For Fulfilling Work? Join Our District 39 Team!
As we continue to make our final preparations ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, we are looking for caring and qualified individuals to join our D39 team. We are accepting applications for paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, a substitute nurse, and maintenance/custodial associates! If you are interested, or know of someone who may be interested in working as part of a dynamic team in a vibrant and welcoming setting, please visit our D39 employment webpage.
Mark Your Calendars for TrevFest!
New Trier High School and the New Trier Parents Association are proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Trev Fest will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Clarkson Park in Northfield. Trev Fest is a special parent-only event featuring live music by local favorites Along the Drive, Chris Karabas, Silver Age, and Steely Dad—comprising New Trier parents and alumni. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow parents, enjoy great music. Please visit the New Trier Parents Association webpage for more details.
Spiritwear!
Missed last week’s swag sale? Not a problem. You can show your Hawks pride with a variety of spiritwear options available online at Humankind!