McClure Messages

There is always something happening at McClure and our staff (and some former students!) have upcoming events this spring to plan for!

Most notably, we will be holding McClure's first Career Fair for our 7th graders in April. Planned by our counselor Ms. Beilfuss and seventh grade team leader Ms. King, this will be a unique opportunity for our seventh graders to start thinking about possible futures. We'd love your help for this event, read on below for all the details. Thank you!

Also of note this week, we are finally ready to start a therapy dog program at McClure. It's something that many of our schools are introducing this year, and our elementary partners are already seeing positive benefits. More comprehensive information is below, as well as an opt out form if for any reason this isn't something that is right for your child.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our very first Career Day for our 7th grade students on Wednesday, April 16th. This event will provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore a variety of professions and gain insight into potential career paths. We believe that exposing our students to different careers will help them start thinking about their future goals and aspirations.

As part of this event, we are inviting professionals from various fields to speak with students, share their experiences, and answer questions. Our hope is to engage students with many different industries and the educational paths required for various professions. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing your career experience with our students, we would love to have you join us. We are looking for professionals from a wide range of fields, including but not limited to:

• Healthcare

• Technology

• Engineering

• Arts & Entertainment

• Business & Entrepreneurship

• Education

• Law & Public Service

• Science & Environmental Careers

Each volunteer will have a table space to bring any hands-on/interactive materials/poster boards to showcase their career to students. Students will be placed in small groups (max 4 students at a time) and will rotate in order to spend about 3-5 minutes with each volunteer. Each volunteer will give a short elevator pitch to each small group. This pitch will then be repeated to each group of students as they rotate around the room. Volunteers will not be asked to speak in front of a large group. Volunteers can come for just the morning, just the afternoon, or all day.. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this google form.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to making Career Day an inspiring and valuable experience for our students.

Any questions? Please reach out to Karen Beilfuss at kbeilfuss@d101.org

February

2/14/25 ........ Teacher Institute Day (no student attendance)

________

Corrected dates for Candor Health presentations!

2/18/25 ........ 8th Grade - Teen Sexual Health I - 8:30-10 AM

2/18/25 ........ 6th Grade - Human Reproduction and Embryology - 12:45-2:15

2/19/25........ 7th Grade - SBD: Influencers - 8:30-10 AM

2/19/25........ 8th Grade - Teen Sexual Health II - 12:45-2:15

________

2/25/25........ McClure Battle of the Books 8:15-10:30 in the LLC (periods 7-9).

2/25/25........ Winter Band Concert, 7pm

2/26/24.........LT Jazz Festival and 7:30pm concert at PAC

2/27/25........ Winter Orchestra Concert, 7pm

My apologies, in the last update I had incorrect dates for this year's Candor Health presentations. The correct dates are now both above in the upcoming dates and below in this section.

Each year a portion of the required Illinois Health curriculum in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade is taught through a program from Candor Health (formerly Robert Crown). Each program is delivered by a live instructor from Candor Health to a small group of students. For 6th and 8th grade, girls and boys are assigned into groups separate from each other.

The links below give all parents access to detailed information and video overviews from Candor Health about the content of these programs and how they address Illinois learning standards.

Should you wish for your child to opt out of these programs, please email both our Health instructor, Mark Yena at myena@d101.org and myself at lbroadnax@d101.org

6th Grade

Human Reproduction and Embryology - 2/18/25 Human Reproduction and Embryology - 12:45-2:15PM

Parent Information Page

Overview Video - Password: Premier25

7th Grade

Substance Abuse Prevention: Influencers -2/19/25. SBD: Influencers - 8:30-10 AM

Parent Information Page

8th Grade

Teen Sexual Health I - 2/18/25 Teen Sexual Health I - 8:30-10 AM

Teen Sexual Heath II - 2/19/25 Teen Sexual Health II - 12:45 - 2:15 PM

Parent Information Page

Overview Video - Password: Premier25

We are excited to share some wonderful news with you regarding an addition to our school community that we believe will enhance our students' well-being and support their emotional growth.

In the weeks to come we will welcome therapy dogs, River and Piper, to our school. Both have been specially trained to work as a therapy dog and have completed the Good Canine Certification program

What is a Therapy Dog?

A therapy dog is a trained animal that provides comfort, companionship, and support to individuals. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs work with handlers to assist multiple people, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, and promoting overall mental health and well-being.

How Will the Dogs Be Involved?

River will be present approximately one day per week and will be accompanied by Jessica Meyer (her owner and our school social worker) and Piper will have more occasional visits to McClure, and will be accompanied by Karen Moutvic (her owner and retired long-time McClure teacher). Both Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Moutvic are trained to ensure that River and Piper interact appropriately with students.

River and Piper will be available to support individual students, and groups of students, as well as classrooms. Activities with the dogs will be designed to support relaxation, build positive interactions, and offer emotional comfort.

Benefits for Students

Research shows that therapy dogs can help:

• Reduce anxiety and stress

• Improve mood and emotional regulation

• Enhance social interaction and communication skills

• Provide comfort during challenging times

Safety and Hygiene

The safety and well-being of our students are paramount. River and Piper will undergo regular health checks and will be up-to-date on vaccinations. We will also adhere to strict hygiene protocols to ensure a clean and safe environment for all students. If your child has allergies or fears related to dogs, please let us know (see form link below) so we can make appropriate accommodations.

River is a Newfoundland - Poodle mix (a “Newfy-poo”) and as such is considered a hypo-allergenic dog. Piper is a “comfort golden” which means that she is a mix of golden retriever and cocker spaniel, and she has a bath with special shampoo before she visits a location to reduce any allergens.

Your Feedback and Questions

We understand that this is a new and exciting development, and we welcome any questions or feedback you may have. Please feel free to contact Laura Broadnax or Jessica Meyer if you have any concerns or need further information.

If you would like for your child to not have any interactions with River or Piper, please complete this form.

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we embark on this new journey. We believe that River and Piper will be a valuable addition to our school community, helping to foster a more supportive and caring environment for all our students.

Coming up in late February, McClure Bulldogs will have a chance to Join members of the LT Cyber Defense Club in exploring the critical field of cyber security! In the library for 5 Wednesdays after school. Begins 2/26

The Cyber security workshop sessions will introduce students to cyber security through the resources provided by the Cyber Innovation Center and expertise from knowledgeable LT students. Participants will discover educational and professional opportunities in the field, engage in fun and competitive activities that let them practice their skills, and apply the information they gain to real world events that are affecting people today. Students can sign up in the office if interested in attending.

WYep - we could still use a few more chaperones! Please come join us! Sign up HERE or click the PDF below for more information.

If you have already signed up, THANK YOU!

It is hard to believe, but our 100th day of school is fast approaching. We want to make you aware that 100-day letters will soon be sent out to help inform parents about their child’s school attendance for this 2024-25 school year. These letters are part of our effort to ensure students are attending school consistently and to keep families informed. You can expect to receive this letter if your child has missed 10 or more days (10%) this school year. (A reminder that attendance at McClure is calculated by minutes, not days. It is possible to accrue a day of absence by when minutes missed from several days add up to a full day missed.)

As a reminder, Illinois Public Act 100-0156 requires school districts to monitor chronic or excessive absences. Excessive absence is generally defined as missing more than 10% of the total school attendance days. While we understand that some absences are unavoidable, our goal is to work together to promote regular attendance for all students.

Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically, socially, and emotionally. To support this goal, here are a few strategies you can use to help your child attend school regularly:

• Establish a Routine: Set regular bedtimes and morning routines to make school mornings smoother. For many kids this age, this may include keeping electronic devices out of the bedroom at night.
• Communicate with the School: Let us know if your child is struggling with any challenges that impact attendance, so we can support you.
• Prioritize Health and Wellness: Ensure your child has the tools they need to feel well and ready to learn, such as a balanced diet, good sleep, and regular checkups.
• Schedule Appointments Carefully: Try to schedule non-urgent appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
• Talk About the Importance of School: Encourage your child by discussing how attending school helps them succeed and reach their goals.

We appreciate your partnership in ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed through consistent attendance.

Student Council is selling McClure Madness t-shirts as a fundraising opportunity and to create excitement and promote participation around the upcoming event. March Madness is an event on March 21st where kids can come and play and watch basketball, win prizes in a raffle or enjoy a board game with friends. The staff vs students games are always a good time :)

The t-shirt design is below and are available in both youth and adult sizes. Students can pre-order the t-shirt for $20. In order to get the items in time for the event, t-shirt order forms and money are due by Friday 2/21 at 12pm. Money can be dropped off in the main office in an envelope with the student name on it.

If you own a local business and would like to help sponsor this event and be featured on the back of the shirt, please feel free to reach out to our student council leaders - Dina Castillo (dcastillo@d101.org) and Mark Yena (myena@d101.org).

While 8th grade graduation is still months away, I wanted families to have information early in order to plan where needed. Our graduation ceremony will be held at McClure on our stage in the gymnasium. Having the ceremony in our gym allows our graduates to walk their home stage, and linger and take pictures with family afterwards in the field with the back drop of our century-old stonework.

Graduation:

• Each family will receive 4 tickets to graduation. If your family does not need all 4, you are welcome to pass the extras on to another graduate's family. These will be given to 8th graders in May.
• Tickets are required for entry, guests without tickets will be seated after all other guests.
• Ceremony will begin at 6pm on Thursday, May 29, 2025
• Doors open at 5:30pm.
• We will live stream the event and will play that livestream in an alternate location at McClure for any family who has more than 4 guests.
• Weather permitting, after the conclusion of the ceremony graduates will meet family in the south field. If weather does not permit then the after ceremony meet-up will happen in the lower level.

Awards Night

• Ceremony will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2025
• Doors open at 5:30pm.
• All graduates and their family are invited to attend.
• End of year awards will be presented, alongside recognition of accomplishments that happened throughout the year. Families of all those being recognized will receive an email approximately a week before the event notifying them that we plan to recognize their student.

Other End of Year Dates

The Parent Council committee is hard at work on all the details of these celebration events. Lots more information will come later in the spring.

• Class trip to Six Flags - Friday, May 16, 2025
• 8th grade Dance - Thursday, May 22, 2025

An additional summer activity class has been added!

Click the link below to learn about the executive functioning class being offered to incoming 6th - 8th graders at McClure.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E49AEAF23ABFB6-54472539-executive#/

In an effort to continue to cultivate positive relationships between the Western Springs Police Department (WSPD) and the District 101 community, police officers from the WSPD will be regularly visiting schools on Wednesdays. They'll be talking with students and staff and overall, just being a regular presence in our schools. Hopefully, this will normalize the experience of having officers at school and foster some positive connections for all! We have the names of all officers and will have them check-in as we do all school visitors.

I wanted to share this information in case your child comes home and shares they've been seeing police officers at school--nothing is wrong or dangerous, but rather this is a good thing. How amazing that we are in a community where this is even possible!

Save the Date WSFEE's Golf & Pickleball Event is set for Friday May 16th! We are excited to have the opportunity to host this event on a Friday this year, and are now looking for Sponsors! Want to be part of the fun? Please reach out via contactus@wsfee.org or finance@wsfee.org for more information about sponsorship opportunities. And Follow WSFEE on Instagram (@wsfee_d101) to hear about sponsorship and donation opportunities, and additional events.

There is nothing that feeds a teacher's soul more than a thank you. If at any point you'd like to send a teacher or staff member a note of appreciation, this is one way to acknowledge the way they have positively impacted you or your child's experience at McClure. Click the button below to go to a quick form and the staff member will receive your note on a lovely digital stationary in their inbox.

Ms. Dina Castillo, our 8th grade PE instructor, is also a member of the LT coaching staff. This summer she is running 3 camps that McClure students could participate in:

• Summer Running (Attention: Cross Country Runners)
• Girls Weightlifting Camp (see flyer below) (NEW this summer!)
• Yoga for Athletes (description on the LT website) (NEW this summer!)

Registration opens on Monday 2/17/25 at 12pm

Registration link: https://lths.revtrak.net/rw-summer-activities

McClure Junior High

4225 Wolf Road

Western Springs, IL 60558

Main Office Phone Number: (708) 246-7590

Office Fax Number: (708) 246-4370

Attendance Email: mjhattendance@d101.org

Principal Laura Broadnax: lbroadnax@d101.org

Assistant Principal Thomas Sturm: tsturm@d101.org