Mustang Memo
Back to School Preview 7/31/23
A Quick Note from Admin
We hope that you have had time to connect with loved ones and do all the things that help you feel refreshed this summer. We are looking forward to a smooth transition back to school and are so excited to see you all!
This issue of the memo is meant to provide some general back to school info. In the coming weeks, another memo will be shared with additional specific information regarding the return to school.
In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to either member of the Admin Team for any support.
See you soon,
King Arts Admin
First Day of School
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2023, 08:00 AM
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School
School Supplies
Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, an instructional supply fee will be issued in addition to annual student fees. The District will use these funds to purchase the needed school supplies for all K-8 grade students. To ensure all students have the supplies they need for a successful school year and to help reduce the burden on families, there will be no supply lists or need to purchase items this summer.
Instructional supply fees for grades K-8 are:
- $50 per full paying student
- $25 per student qualifying for reduced-price meals
- $0 per student qualifying for free meals
Please note that for the past two years the district used pandemic relief funding from the federal government to purchase school supplies for all students; this funding is no longer available.
Guardians will receive a notification this summer with their student’s applicable fees. Applications for free and reduced price meals will be available on the district website in early August. Student fees will be due by the beginning of the school year. Please stay tuned for more information.
Some teachers may ask for sanitizing wipes, tissue or paper towels. We ask that you send your scholar(s) to school with the following, each day:
Backpack
Reusable water bottle
Fully charged device and charger
Class Assignments and Schedules
Grade Level Meet Ups Hosted by PTA
- Middle Schoolers: Friday, August 4, 6 - 8pm, Lee Street Beach, Bad Boys movie.
- Rising First Graders: Saturday, August 12, 10 - 12 pm, King Arts playground
- Kindergarten: Saturday, August 12, 10 - 11 am, King Arts playground
- Rising Fourth Graders: Sunday, August 13, 1 - 3pm at Central Park Avenue, Kids vs. Adults kickball
- Middle Schoolers: Friday, August 18, 6 - 8 pm, South Blvd Beach, Little Giants movie.
- Rising First Graders: Sunday, August 20, 1 - 3pm, Penny Park
Kindergarten: Sunday, August 20, 2 - 3pm, King Arts playground
Rising Third Graders: Sunday, August 20, 3 - 5 pm at Ridgeville Park, BBQ
*Still working to confirm meet-ups for Rising 5th Graders.
Curriculum Night
Meal Information
Meal Options
Breakfast and lunch are available at all D65 schools. This means a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from, as well as hot, cold, and vegetarian meal options. There is also milk available daily as an a la carte option. Menus will be available on our website soon.
Middle school students (6-8 grades) have the ability to purchase a la carte items if they do NOT carry a negative account balance. Change for cash purchases will not be given; instead, the balance will be applied to the student’s lunch account for future purchases.
Meal Prices
For the 2023-2024 school year, meals will be priced on a tiered scale based on free and reduced-price meal eligibility. Meals are offered at no cost for those who qualify for free meals.
Meal prices are as follows:
Breakfast (available at all schools)
Full-price: $2.25; Reduced-price: $.30)
Elementary Lunch (K-5)
Full-price $3.50; Reduced-price: $.40)
Middle School Lunch (6-8)
Full-price: $3.75; Reduced-price: $.40)
Milk (purchased a la carte at all schools)
$.60 (price for all individuals when not part of a complete meal)
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
All families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits! The process is very simple and can be done online beginning on August 1, 2023. More information and a link to access the application will be sent soon! Completed applications will be processed within 10 days. Approval and denial letters are emailed to the address on file.
There are students who will qualify for free meals without an application. If you receive an email from us confirming your student’s meal status for this school year, you DO NOT need to submit a meal application for the upcoming school year. Your student(s) will automatically receive free meals. Please ensure that each of your students are listed in the emailed letter that you receive. If you notice a discrepancy, we ask that you call our office as soon as possible to rectify the situation.
There are many benefits beyond meals such as free or reduced-price student fees, summer camp, internet access, and more. Please hold on to your approval letter for future use in accessing these benefits.
If you or someone you know needs help with an application, please call the Nutrition Services office at 847-859-8130.
Pay for School Meals Online
Did you know school meals can be paid for online? Please load funds onto your student's account via MySchoolBucks. To sign up for a new account, you’ll need your child’s Student ID and date of birth. Don't forget to set up low balance reminders while you're there! There are helpful tutorials found here. If a student does not have funds on their account, we will still provide them with lunch, but we ask that you regularly manage their account to avoid large negative balances down the road. Negative balances carry over from year to year, so please bring your accounts to current before school starts.
Negative Account Balance Notifications
This school year, we will send negative account notifications on a regular basis. If you need help making a payment or need more account details, please contact our office via email at nutritionservices@district65.net.
Other Important Information
Meal Accounts - Every student in D65 has a meal account, even if you’ve never used MySchoolBucks.
Lunch Orders - Elementary students place their lunch orders in their morning homeroom classes. Middle schoolers make their meal choices as they come through the lunch line in the cafeteria. If you do NOT wish for your student to purchase meals at school, please communicate that expectation with them. For our younger learners, it may also be beneficial to express your wishes to their teachers.
Family Communication - The Nutrition Services team will never deny a student in line a meal, nor do we have knowledge of your wishes. We just want to keep students fed and ready to learn! Communication will help prevent unknown account balances from accruing. Setting up a MySchoolBucks account will also help with this.
Thank you for the privilege of feeding the students of District 65. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We can be reached at nutritionservices@district65.net.
Health and Wellness
Please see this note from the district's health service team:
We are quickly approaching the first day of school and are sharing this reminder regarding the State of Illinois health requirements for the beginning of the school year. If you have not done so already, please submit the completed requirements to your school health office, drop them off at the JEH Administration Building or you can direct them to: Sheiba Oats at oatss@district65.net.
Kindergarten Students and New Students to the District:
● State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination with complete Immunization Record Certificate of Child Health Examination_English
Certificate of Child Health Examination_Spanish
● An eye exam completed within one year prior to starting school and due no later than October 15th of the school year.
● A recent dental exam - completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.
Second Grade Students
● A recent dental exam - completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.
Sixth Grade Students and New Students to the District:
● State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination with complete Immunization Record
Certificate of Child Health Examination_English
Certificate of Child Health Examination_Spanish
● Proof of receiving one dose of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4) on or after 11 years of age ; three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine and one dose of Tdap vaccine on or after the 11th birthday.
● A recent dental exam - completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.
Feel free to call the Health Services Department if you have any questions at (847) 859.8122.
Childcare
We know that families need flexibility and support beyond the regular school day. We are pleased to offer parents/guardians with two options for before and after-school childcare for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. These include our D65 School Age Child Care (SACC) program and Right at School (RAS) childcare. Both offer high quality programming, flexible care options, and competitive pricing.
Programming for both options is available at all D65 elementary and magnet schools. For convenience, both programs are offered onsite so that students may seamlessly transition before and after the school day. Please note that transportation is not available for either program.
Please visit the district website as enrollment is open now!