HMS Headlines
March 23, 2023
A Message from Our Administrative Team
Dear HMS Families,
This week we have completed our IAR testing, and have celebrated this accomplishment through Spirit Week and additional fun such as music in the cafeteria at lunch and some all-school trivia gams. When we return from break, we will ease into the return with a Pajama Day and a HAWKS day to highlight our Honest, Accountable, Welcoming, Kind, and Safe expectations as we re-acclimate to our classroom communities for the spring.
We wish you a wonderful break from school, and if you are traveling, wish you safe travels and exciting adventures!
See you soon,
Kelly, Linda, and Susie
APPLE PENCILS
Upcoming Holiday Celebrations
After Spring Break (4/5), many of our families will begin marking the week of Passover with special meals and family celebrations. If your child needs any accommodations during this time, please let us know, and we will be sure to support them as needed.
Also Spring Break begins the Easter season for many families. Good Friday (4/7) is a day off of school, and we know many families will be celebrating throughout the weekend. Please reach out if any accommodations need to be made to ensure your child is able to celebrate this holiday as well.
With all of these holidays, our teachers have been made aware, and know that there may be special needs throughout the school day as well as in the evenings with homework and assignments. We will do our best to make sure all students are able to honor their family holiday celebrations in the fullest way possible.
Parent Resource for iPad Use
At Highcrest, students are issued a school iPad. Their school device has access to the internet and school approved apps. When used appropriately, it is a powerful educational tool. However, it can also be a distraction to students both in school and at home.
As a school/ district we already have the following safeguards in place: The District utilizes the built-in content filter that is provided by Apple. We set the iPad to "Limit Adult Content". We then block specific sites entirely when we know they are malicious, inappropriate, or a distraction. Any additional filtering, or blocking of sites can be implemented by families at home.
If you as a parent/guardian would like to increase your student’s restrictions or monitor their iPad more carefully at home here are a few ways you can do so:
Check their Safari History: This will tell you what websites your child has been visiting and when. Students do not have the ability to delete this. Directions for how to check your student’s Safari History can be found here.
Use Screen Time to Block Websites or Limit App Usage: Blocking specific websites, and setting time restrictions called “Downtime” are things that can be added using Screen Time. You will need to enter a passcode that is different from your student’s passcode. Do not share this passcode with your student, however it is helpful if you share it with their homeroom teacher. Directions for how to block additional websites can be found here. Please be careful about adding "app limits" as this could affect your student’s ability to access certain apps at school if they go over the time limit. Directions for how to set up “Downtime” can be found here.
Temporarily Restrict a Student Access to a Single App Using Guided Access: While using use feature you can disable areas of the screen that aren’t relevant to a task, or areas where an accidental gesture might cause a distraction, disable the iPad hardware buttons, and limit how long your student can use the app. Directions for how to use Guided Access can be found here.
Please note that there is no absolute solution to prevent student distraction, but using these tools can help drastically reduce it. In addition, it is important that students come to school with charged devices. We recommend having your student keep their device in a neutral place (like a kitchen or living room) and making sure it is charging every evening.
BUS RIDERS
Graphic Novelist Jerry Craft Visiting Highcrest
Award-winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft visits Highcrest on Tuesday, April 11th to share his NEW book, School Trip! Students can order the book and Mr. Craft's two companion graphic novels, New Kid, and its sequel, Class Act.
Order the books on this page from The Book Stall and receive a 10% discount. Mr. Craft will also be autographing each book.
Deadline to order books: Thursday, April 6th. Please choose "School Pickup" and we'll deliver your order directly to your child at school on the day of the author visit.
Summer Enrichment Registration!
SECOND SEMESTER CLUBS 2023
There are still some clubs being planned, so bookmark this list, and re-visit it frequently! Mrs. Jackson will have an announcement about the clubs on the broadcast on Monday, so get ready to hear more details then!
WHMS LIVE BROADCAST! TUNE IN EVERY MONDAY!
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
Registration is Open For 2023 Summer Enrichment Program
Registration is open for our District 39 Summer Enrichment Program. This year’s program will take place from June 29-July 28. Please visit our Summer Enrichment Program website for more information, including the link to register online. Should you need assistance with the online registration, please check out our online registration guide. Registration will close on Sunday, April 2.
Parent Education Opportunities
The third part of our series titled “Being An Ally: Supporting Inclusivity and Approaching Difficult Conversations at Home” will be an in-person, evening event on Wednesday, April 12 (7 pm) featuring Kelly Jackson, Highcrest Middle School Principal and District 39 Administrator for Social-Emotional Learning and Family Engagement, leading a book study and discussion. Please see the linked flyer for more information on the event as well as information on the two books that will be the focal point of the discussion. Be sure to visit our D39 Parent Education webpage to learn more about our parent education program and find recordings of past presentations.
Board of Education Meeting – Monday, March 20
The Board of Education held its regular monthly business meeting on Monday night. The Board heard committee reports and conducted the first reading of several Board policies. Follow the link to access the complete meeting agenda and materials.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Wilmette Park District seeks residents input and feedback to help create a clear vision for parks, facilities, and recreation to meet the needs of residents for play, health, wellness, open spaces and nature places. Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities. Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/wilmetteparkdistrict
Wilmette Baseball Association Spring House League registration is open for K-8th grades. www.wilmettebaseball.org
New Trier Township offers a Food Pantry 10am - 4pm weekdays for families that live/work in the township. NT Township also offers Emergency Financial Assistance, Legal Aid Clinic, property tax assistance, social service referrals and other available resources. Go to www.newtriertownship.com for more information.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
For 6th, 7th, & 8th graders:
Family Service Center Leadership & Resilience Builder Program (LRBP) is accepting applications for 6th,7th & 8th grade students. Program is held on Mondays, 6:00-7:00 pm, March 13 - May 22. Call 847-251-7350 for more information.
YOUR PTO IN ACTION: A Round of Applause for Variety Show 2023
The HMS Variety Show, held on 3/17 was a huge success! Nearly 500 people packed the WJHS auditorium to cheer on 22 acts from 5th and 6th graders. Thanks to everyone who came out to support our courageous performers!
This annual show is organized entirely by parent volunteers through the HMS PTO. For the last two years, Sarah Squires-Doyle and her husband Mike Doyle produced and directed the show which was resurrected after the pandemic. It has been a labor of love and brought great joy to all involved. The Doyle’s want to especially thank Allison Allen, Natalie Phillips and Laurel Nelson for being part of their dedicated team and all the parent volunteers who helped make this event shine!
If you're interested in leading the variety show next year, the Doyles will be moving onto WJHS and ready to pass the baton. As they say in the biz, the show must go on and they would be happy to help transition any newcomers. Reach out to PTO president Jennifer Englehaupt at jennifer@englehaupt.net for more information.
REGISTRATION INFO FOR SPRING AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS
Registration for Chess Enrichment and Skyline Studios After School Clubs are open! Aces Debate Club registration opens on 4/5 at 9am. Please see below for information about each club. To register, please visit the HMS PTO website HERE.
Chess Enrichment Program - Registration is open!
Chess- Ed will continue to provide this unique, exciting and dynamic chess instruction which lifts each student to a new level of expertise. Each week students will enjoy an engaging lesson with supervised time to play classmates. Students will grow their knowledge of the game – from the basics through opening theory, middle game tactics and end game combinations. Students’ vocabulary and math skills will continue to advance.
Club dates/times: Thursdays 3:45-4:45 pm, starting 4/6
Skyline Studios: High School Musical 2 Jr. - Registration is open!
What Time is It?! Join Skyline Studios, Highcrest School, and the East High crew for a fun filled spring session! You can be the basketball player, brainiac, or drama queen. Get ready to sing, dance and act in the scene. Sign up now and Get’cha Head in the Game. It’s going to be Fabulous — You can Bet on It!
Club dates/times: Wednesdays 3:45-5:45 pm, from 4/5-6/7
Aces Debate Club – Registration opens 4/5 at 9am
Where you’ll learn to think fast and speak well! Learn research, writing, and oral argumentation. Programs for beginning and experienced debaters, 5th thru 8th grade! All programs consist of weekly class sessions held at HMS for 60 minutes with supplemental debate activities. All programs conclude with a 2-hour session to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their new skills in full debates.
Club dates/times: 8 Week Spring Session begins April 13th – Thursdays 3:45-4:45pm (Advanced Debate), Fridays 3:45-4:45pm (Intro to Debate)
SAVE THE DATE- HIGHCREST BEACH BASH IS MAY 12TH
D39 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION EVENT: CHEERS & BEERS EVENT TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Cheers & Beers Event Tickets are on Sale NOW!
We are excited to announce District 39 Educational Foundation’s annual “Cheers & Beers” event at Double Clutch Brewing Company on Friday, April 28th from 7-10pm. Please join us for an evening of fun, delicious food, and live music featuring local, well-loved bands Antler Chandelier and AM Slingers. Tickets are $100 each and include passed hors d’oeuvres and two drinks. The evening will include a silent auction, filled with goods and services generously donated by local businesses. Purchase tickets HERE.D39 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY TRUSTEES NEEDED!
The D39 Educational Foundation is seeking general board candidates for the 2023-24 year and beyond (3 year commitment required).
Interested in volunteering to support the entire district and working with a smart, creative, passionate group of D39 parents and teachers? Do you have experience/interest in marketing, event planning, enrichment or finance? We’d love to hear from you! Monthly evening meetings (a good fit for working parents). Contact Julie Hanahan at jrhanahan@gmail.com
SEEKING 2023-2024 WJHS PTO BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Make friends. Be in the know. Make a difference. Support our teachers and staff. Enrich our student’s school experience. There are so many reasons to serve on the PTO. Please consider sharing your talents as a volunteer for the 2023-2024 WJHS PTO. For more information, please email president@wjhspto.com.
IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO VOLUNTEER MORE? The HMS PTO Needs YOU!
The HMS PTO is looking for volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year - there are so many great ways to get involved at the school to fit your schedule. Please reach out to Jennifer Englehaupt at jennifer@englehaupt.net to learn more - we would love to have you!
HMS PTO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many ways to get involved at Highcrest! See links below to sign-up:
School Store - Sign-ups are available on Wednesdays during lunch.
Lunch - sign ups for help during lunch period for both 5th & 6th grade
PASS 39 NEWS: UPCOMING EVENTS!
Want to learn more about what is going on at PASS 39? HERE is the PASS39 February/March Newsletter.
Spring Games at Prospect High School on April 15th and April 16th
Please email Coach Joe Taylor for more information and to sign up! taylorjo@wilmette39.org
GREEN CORNER
Trex Plastic Recycling Challenge – From Bag to Bench
The Trex Plastic Recycling Challenge is ongoing! Thank you to all that collect their difficult to recycle plastic film items, such as produce bags, bubble wrap, and plastic mailers (see list) and bring them to HMS. One bin is located at the entrance of the school office, one in the front lobby, and one in the teacher’s lobby. The Environmental Affairs Committee will weigh, collect, and bring the plastic film to the collection sites.