Mountain Lion Memo

Hello Mackeben Families,

We've made it through our first full week of school. I'm so very proud of the students learning their routines and expectations around the building and in their classrooms.

Within the next weeks classrooms teachers will begin our benchmark assessments. These assessments include beginning literacy, math and social emotional learning. Mackeben teachers will be administering our Satchel Pulse social-emotional screener. This will happen twice this year. The screener focuses on the 5 Competencies, self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. See this letter for more information and for an opt out link.

Presence Is Your Power - Show Up and Shine!!! Attendance is extremely important!!! Students are learning vital classroom procedures and developing foundational skills each day. Please be aware of district attendance regulations and Chronic Absence percentages.

Over the next two weeks, the kindergarten classes will be learning about colors. We will be talking about a specific color each day. Please dress your child in the specified color to help us celebrate color week.

As always, this is an optional activity. Please do not feel the need to buy a new clothing item if your child does not have one of the colors in their wardrobe.

Mrs. Renee Burnquist

Mrs. Burnquist is a paraprofessional in our special education self-contained classroom. Prior to that she was also a Lunch/Recess Supervisor.

Mrs. Burnquist is the most easy going, calm and soft spoken person. She is also kind and very funny. She is amazing with the students and the beacon of calming waves. She's firm but gentle; loving but has boundaries. She is approachable, open, and sees the best in everyone. She knows how to connect with students, how to speak with them and how to help them. She does all this with a zen aura. We are so lucky that we all get to work with her every day.

When Mrs. Burnquist is not being our calming guiding light, she is enjoying her time in the sun, boating, on the beach and listening to country music.

We are all very appreciative of Mrs. Burnquist, her love for students and her passion for inclusion and support.

Grandparents Day / Lunch with a Loved One - Lunch/Recess Visit.

• You may choose only one day - Thursday, September 5th or Friday, September 6th
• All visitors must complete this form prior to Tuesday, September 3rd This RSVP survey will be closed at 11:59pm on Monday, September 2nd. https://forms.gle/MLUHbwGLPJf4B9fRA
• Visiting sessions are during the lunch/recess times. If there are students in multiple grades, you may choose to visit them, but you need to complete a form for EACH student.
• A confirmation email will be sent to those that have RSVP'd by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Now that we have gotten through our first full week of school, we need to streamline our morning drop off. We want to ensure all students and families safety in the morning and throughout our school day.

• Please limit your walking to the front door to drop off your child. The use of the crosswalk limits our ability to keep a steady flow in our Car Rider Line.
• Please use the car rider system to drop off your child in the morning instead of walking up to the school to drop them off.
• Please remain in your car, as staff members will assist your child in getting out. You can also practice having your child open the door for themselves.

At Mackeben, as well as the other school's in Huntley School District 158, we prohibit the use of electronic devices. Students that bring cell phones or smart watches to school will have to place those devices in their backpack during the school day. If students are witnessed using these devices, the device will be confiscated and parents will need to pick up the device in the main office.

Please see the policies about Electronic Devices from our Elementary Handbook.

Personal Electronic Items - Toys, Games, Cell Phones

Below is a list of items that may not be visible or accessed during the school day. Students choosing to bring these items to school must store them in backpacks in the “off” position. Please be aware the school is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items.

• Toys (electronic or other)

• Games (electronic or other)

• Cell phones, MP3 players, Smart Watches

Smartphones, e-readers and other educational electronic devices may be used for instructional purposes when the teacher deems appropriate.

Students will not be allowed to make phone calls during the school day except as permitted by a staff member. Students generally are not called to the telephone from classes except for emergencies.

Starting in September of school year 2024-25, all elementary schools (grades K-5) will be serving school breakfast in the cafeteria. See below for details:

• Breakfast is optional, but will be available to all students. Students will be charged for school breakfast.

• Breakfast will be served daily when school is in session from 8:20 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. (Chesak, Leggee, Conley, and Mackeben) and 7:50 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. (Martin)

• Breakfast will be a cold item kit consisting of a bowl of cereal or cereal bar, an additional grain, fruit juice and milk.

Food Service / Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

Starting in September of the 2024-25 school year, breakfast and lunch will be available to all D158 elementary, middle and high school students. Breakfast is new this year at D158 elementary schools (grades K-5) and will be served in the school cafeteria. See below for elementary breakfast details:

• Breakfast is optional, but will be available to all students.

• Breakfast will be served daily when school is in session from 8:20 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. (Chesak, Leggee, Conley, and Mackeben) and 7:50 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. (Martin)

• Breakfast will be a cold item kit consisting of a bowl of cereal or cereal bar, an additional grain, fruit juice and milk.

The cost of meals is based on a student’s fee status. Standard meal prices for the 2024-25 school year are as follows:

• Breakfast: $1.75

• Lunch: $3.25

Meal applications and fee waivers must be filled out annually. See links below to access these documents electronically. Paper copies are also available at the District Office. For more information, please contact Michelle Escudero at mescudero@district158.org or 847-659-6155.

• Meal applications: Free and Reduced Meal Applications are available online. Note: Meal applications must be submitted prior to submitting a fee waiver form.

• Fee waiver forms: Fee waivers are available for eligible students once a meal application has been submitted. Applications for fee waivers can be downloaded from the Forms page (see Food Services) of the District website. Forms can be dropped off at the District Office (Attn: Food Service Department, Michelle Escudero).

Families can set up (or continue to use) a MySchoolBucks account to manage food purchases. MySchoolbucks allows you to make online payments, monitor account balances and student purchases, and replenish accounts. To learn more about MySchoolBucks, visit the D158 website.

• 24-25 Huntley 158 Calendar
• September 2nd - No School - Labor Day
• September 5th & 6th - Grandparents Day / Lunch with a Loved One *please complete this form by Monday, September 2nd*
• September 7th - Huntley Hootenanny
• September 11th - Patriots Day Assembly 9:00am *Please Complete the Patriots Day Visitor Form*
• September 17th - PTA Meeting 6:00pm
• September 24th - Early Release
• September 27th - Fall Picture Day

Address - 800 Dr. John Burkey Dr. Algonquin, IL 60102

Main Office Phone Number - 847-659-3400

Attendance Number - 847-659-3411

Marcie Marzullo - Principal

mmarzullo@district158.org

847-659-3401

Abbe Colantonio - Assistant Principal

acolantonio@district158.org

847-659-3402

Jessica Palmer - Special Education Coordinator

jpalmer@district158.org

847-659-3573