We are looking forward to the Freaky Friday celebration happening NEXT FRIDAY (10/18) from 5:00 - 6:30 PM at Highcrest. Click HERE for information on ordering tickets. Tickets are available for purchase for $17 and online purchases close on 10/17. Tickets are available at the door for $25 CASH ONLY. An adult must accompany a child to purchase a ticket on-site.

This event is a party with fun activities where all students should feel included without pressure of joining a group or having a date. We have heard several discussions of students asking one another as dates to this "dance," and that is not the intention of this event. We want students to come, enjoy the fun, be with friends in an inclusive way. Please remind your child that this is not an event where people should be bringing a "date."

The PTO is also still in need of additional parent volunteers. Please sign up here.

• Students who pre-ordered their tickets will receive bracelets on 10/18 in homeroom. That is their entry for the event. There will be no entry without a valid wristband - A valid wristband should have the student's name and their guardian contact information.

• Freaky Friday takes place ENTIRELY OUTSIDE in the parking lot and surrounding areas on the west side of the school. Students are permitted to wear their costumes, but please keep in mind that there will be inflatables, games, and a dance area. The ground may be muddy and the weather may be chilly, so you will want to help your child dress appropriately.

• COSTUMES ARE LIMITED TO CLOTHING/MAKEUP ONLY. Students who bring along additional props will be asked to leave them at the check in for pick up after the event. It is better to leave these items at home so they do not get lost.

• During the event it is expected that all students stay in the party area, and they stay for the entire event. Students found outside of the party area, acting dangerously or causing a disruption to the event will be required to call home and be picked up immediately. This is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety and positive engagement during the event. Thank you for helping us to reinforce this with your child.
• Similarly, we want to provide safety for our vendors who are working the event, especially the DJ. Students will be asked to stay a distance away from the DJ booth, and will need to adhere to the designated area for dancing, or will be asked to leave.
• Students may only arrive and be dismissed to the Freaky Friday Event by walking or by car. Bike racks will not be available so bike riding is not permitted.

Students will be watching a video Monday morning to outline the expectations of the event, and we will share that video with families next week so you are able to review those expectations together prior to the party.

FOLLOW THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THE SECTIONS BELOW FOR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL INFORMATION.

Students may only arrive and be dismissed to the Freaky Friday Event by walking or by car. Bike racks will not be available so bike riding is not permitted.

Fifth grade students will arrive in the south parking lot/bus lot next to the playground, and will wait on the playground for the doors to open. They will enter the building through the back doors (Door I), and will proceed along the guided route out to the party area.

Sixth grade students will arrive at the main office doors to the school, and will wait under the awning and on the sidewalks before entering through door O. At that point they will proceed through the building and out the side doors to the party area.

There will be check in tables for students to show their bracelets and sign in for the event. All students must show their bracelets to gain entry into the building and out the doors the party area. Students will not be allowed to cross into the parking lot to gain entry to the event through a different route.

Please see the visual diagram below for drop off.

STUDENTS ARE PICKED UP AT THE SAME ENTRANCE WHERE THEY WERE DROPPED OFF. (see map above) Please adhere to these directions, as we often have parents arrive at the incorrect location and they are not able to locate their child as a result.

If you are picking up your child or your child is to go home with a friend, this should be clearly communicated and planned with your child prior to the event.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU ARE THERE AT 6:30 TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD. Our volunteers will need to begin clean up as soon as possible because the parking lot will become dark, so prompt pick up is helpful to make this happen.

On October 17 (Thursday), in accordance with the Wilmette Police Department, Highcrest will be conducting lockdown exercises with students and staff.

The Wilmette Police Department will be present to observe and evaluate the effectiveness of our procedures. Below are a couple of notes about our lockdown activities:

• We will communicate with our students in an age-appropriate manner on what to do in the event of a lockdown situation.

• All building occupants participate in these activities – students, staff, and any visitors who may be in the building at that time.

• School administrators and school personnel may, at their discretion, exempt a student(s) from participating in a lockdown activities.

• There WILL NOT be any simulations, gunfire or otherwise, in these exercises.

Families should be aware of the following provisions detailed in the Illinois School Safety Drill Act, Public Act 102-0395:

• A student may be exempt from participating in lockdown exercises through written notification from a parent or guardian at least 24 hours prior to the start of the exercises.

• Schools are required to provide education and instruction related to lockdown procedures to non-participating students

• Students are allowed to ask questions during the exercises.

As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority and clear communication with our families is paramount. Wilmette Public Schools District 39 continues to have a strong working relationship with both the Wilmette Police Department and Wilmette Fire Department.

Are you in 6th grade? Do you like math competitions? Do you want to represent HMS at the regional MathCounts competition on Saturday, February 1st, 2025? Then try out for the MathCounts team.

On October 22nd, we will go over the program, and solve some Mathcounts practice problems. On October 29th, November 12th, and November 19th, students will take 3 school contests. The 12 top scoring students will be chosen to represent HMS at the regional competition. These 12 students will continue to practice for the regional competition on December 3rd, 10th, 17th, and January 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.

The Regional Competition is on Saturday, February 1st. Please make a note of that now, to ensure that your child does not have a conflict with that date, should they make the team. Students who do well at the regional competition may be invited to the State Competition which is usually one of the first two weekends in March. The four top scoring students from the Illinois State competition will be awarded an all expense paid trip to the National Competition in May.

Parents, please fill out this form by October 15th if your student is interested in Mathcounts. The first club date will be October 22nd.

All 5th and 6th graders are invited to compete in the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle School competition (MOEMS). Students will meet after school (3:40 - 4:40pm) once a month from October to April.

The club dates are Oct 28, Nov 11*, Dec 9*, Jan 13*, Feb 24*, March 17* and April 7. It is important for students to attend all starred dates as these are the dates of the competitions.

Parents, please fill out this form by October 21 if your student is interested in MOEMs. The first club date is Oct 28 when the rules of MOEMs will be discussed and students will practice a past competition.

Please email Jess Radcliffe (radclifj@wilmette39.org) if you have any questions.

Registration for 6th Grade Girls' Basketball is now open. 6th Grade Girls go through tryouts and then will play up on a 7th grade team with WJHS students. Information about basketball is available HERE. You register to participate through Power School as explained HERE.

On Sunday, October 20th, at 1 pm, families are invited to Northwestern’s fall baseball game against Notre Dame. Families are also invited for a special field access pre-game tour at noon. On tour, families will hear from players, tour the lounge and practice facilities, and wrap up by 12:40 to allow everyone to take their seats before the game. Also, students are encouraged to make signs for the game, and the winning sign will get a signed ball from the entire team!

There are no tickets to this FREE event. If you are interested in the tour, plan to meet at the entrance to the baseball stadium (along Ashland Ave) at 12:00 PM. We will hear from a player for a few minutes, tour the lounge, then tour the practice facilities and wrap up by 12:40 to allow everyone to take their seats before the game.

The baseball stadium (Rocket and Berenice Miller Park) is at 2750 Ashland Ave, Evanston, IL 60201. For the noon tour, you can meet at the entrance to the baseball stadium (along Ashland Ave).

Please disregard this message if you have already submitted your student's health forms.

Exclusion day is coming in October! 6th grade physicals and immunizations must be submitted to the nurse, Mary McLone, to ensure that all of the State of Illinois requirements have been completed and documented. Starting Tuesday October 15th, students who have not submitted completed 6th grade State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health forms will be excluded from class until the required form has been submitted and reviewed by the nurse.

Please email Mary McLone at mclonem@wilmette39.org if you have any questions.

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.

October is Bullying Prevention Month, and each year Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center celebrates those who are unified and stand up to bullying by wearing ORANGE. We encourage students to wear orange on Wednesday to show that they want to promote kindness, inclusion, and upstander behaviors.

Freaky Friday-Pre-event ticket sales close 10/17!

WHEN: Friday, October 18, 5-6:30pm. (Rain day is Oct 25).

WHERE: Outdoors at Highcrest

TICKETS: Visit the PTO website for more information on the event and to purchase tickets. You will need to LOG IN to see the ticketing link. $17 online tickets available until noon on Oct 17. (Tickets will be $25 CASH only at the event - students will need to be accompanied by an adult to purchase).

VOLUNTEER: Click HERE to volunteer for this year's event!

Book Fair October 21 - 23 (Food Truck 10/21)!Anderson Book Fair will be coming to HMS Learning Commons!

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.

Spiritwear - Available at Humankind!

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

See you next week!