McClure Message Week 28
March 20 - March 23
Internet Safety
Some of the headline messages for kids were:
- No one should make you feel bad about yourself online and no one should make you do things you know are wrong.
- The 3 P rule is a great guide for anything you say or post online - If you showed it to your Parents, Pastor, or Principal, would they think it was a good idea, or would they worry about how it would affect your safety or reputation?
- Under Illinois law, there is no ownership of devices or privacy for kids online...Parents are owners of all devices and responsible for their child's actions online. Parents having access to devices, being able to unlock the device, and knowing passwords to social media is important so they can safeguard their child.
- Many kids begin social media accounts before they are 13 and legally allowed to have an account. To do this, many kids use 2000 as their birthdate, which makes them 23 years old in the eyes of the company and removes the protections built into systems that make 13 - 17 year olds "unfindable" by strangers on social media platforms. Changing the date to put them in the 13 - 17 year old range is safer.
For parents:
- His advice for parents when talking to kids about how to behave online, is to avoid messages to kids such as "If you ever ... you'll be in so much trouble/grounded forever/never have a phone again, etc." The goal is to help kids know that if/when they make a mistake they will have support in trying to fix it. Opening that door to kids helps them come to parents when something serious has happened.
- Detective Wistocki relayed that there is a "vault" in Snapchat where kids keep chats and photos. He has seen this as a place where kids store photos they might not want parents to see. It is called: My Eyes Only. To access it, swipe up from the camera screen to open Memories, then swipe left to the My Eyes Only tab. If there is a number pad there, then the there is something stored and your child set up a password. They need to unlock it. If you use settings to reset that passcode everything in the "vault" will be erased.
D101 Referendum
As you know, D101 has a very important tax rate question on the upcoming April 4 ballot. A group of current and former D101 parents has researched the issue in depth and created the following website to share the information they think all D101 parents and community members should know on the topic: www.d101ref.com
They also hosted a Public Forum on the referendum in late-February.
Please click on their site to learn more about the referendum, informational videos (and slide deck) that overview the presentations made at the Public Forum, and voting information for the April 4 election.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of the hosts of the forum:
Marleen Coglianese marcoglianese@gmail.com
Amy Avakian aavakian@bhhschicago aavakian@bhhschicago
Jason Lee jdlee41@gmail.com
Kurt Frehner kjfrehner@gmail.com
Amanda Taglia aloutag@gmail.com
Mary Hays mmvhays4@gmail.com
Upcoming Dates
Friday, March 17 ___ Elective selections due (6th and 7th grade only)
Wednesday, March 22 ___ REGULAR schedule (changed from a Homebase schedule)
Thursday, March 23 ___ Last day of 3rd quarter
Friday, March 24 ___ Spring Break Begins
Monday, April 3 ___ School resumes
Tuesday, April 4 ___ IAR testing begins (Testing scheduled for April 4, 5, 6, 11, & 13. Makeups to follow)
Elective Selections - Due today!
D101 Parent Volunteer Opportunity!
Illinois 5 Essentials Survey (last chance!)
The Parent Survey is currently available until March 31, and can be accessed by clicking HERE.
We are up to 24% of our parents completing the survey, but I'd love to take that percentage higher!
McClure on the Mic
Subscribe to the podcast, listen to the latest episode, or review past seasons HERE.
Counseling Corner
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Parent Council Corner
Looking Ahead: Get involved in '23-'24!
The McClure Parent Council Executive Board is hard at work making sure our fabulous programs for students, teachers, and parents continue into the next year! Please take a minute to indicate your interest in participating using the form linked here. Please don't hesitate to email mcclurepc@gmail.com if you have any questions!
A Word from WSFEE
Has your D101 elementary student had the chance to use the new 3Doodle pens? Currently the elementary buildings have 3D printers used by upper elementary students and this grant makes 3D creations accessible to younger students. The possibilities for creation are endless and teachers can integrate the 3D pens into their STEAM curriculum. Remember to keep in touch with WSFEE by visiting wsfee.org or follow WSFEE on Facebook or Instagram (@wsfee_d101) to hear about recent grants, events, sponsorship, and donation opportunities.
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Community Events
Music Man
Click here for the flyer.
Tower Trot Volunteers
What: Western Springs Tower Trot 2023 volunteers
Race details: Tower Trot Website (if you volunteer, no need to register. A staff t-shirt will be provided)
When do we need volunteers?
#1 Friday prior for Packet Pick up - At the Grand Avenue Gym (Location has changed since 2019!) -Friday May 26th: 8am-6pm (will split this into shifts based on volunteer availability)
#2 Race Day- Meet at the Grand Avenue Gym -Saturday May 28th: 7:30am-10:30am
What will volunteers be doing?
Friday prior: Passing out t-shirts, helping people register via kiosks, collecting registration money, selling raffle tickets, helping the rec center with anything else they might need.
Day of: Day of registration, Raffle stations, parking control, water/ cheer stations, finish line/ food donations, gear check, etc.
Reach out to:
Carolyn Hart
Healing Hearts for Ashley Foundation-Secretary
Tower Trot Lead Volunteer
708 268 4168
Want more science?
A local parent who works at Argonne National Laboratory has shared these upcoming opportunities to explore science at the National Lab:
Quantum Realm on Mar 22 (in-person & online) - The quantum realm portrayed in the recently released film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” may be fantastical, but it’s no more bizarre than the quantum realm of our own universe. Dig deep into how quantum is represented in film. What’s realistic? What’s fantasy? Will scientists be able to create the scenarios depicted in film?
https://www.anl.gov/event/into-the-quantum-realm
https://saturdaymorningphysics.fnal.gov/
April 11 – Science Careers in Search of Women @ Argonne National Laboratory
https://www.anl.gov/science-careers-in-search-of-women
May 20 – Argonne Open House (all ages) tour of the lab (first open house in over 6 years):
Model UN
As a veteran Social Studies teacher at Saint Ignatius College Prep and Director of the Saint Ignatius Model United Nations program, Victoria Haleas (also a former D101 parent) has witnessed firsthand the long-term benefits of student participation in Model United Nations and Debate activities. Students develop excellent communication, negotiation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills as well as understanding of international relations, current events, and the complexity of global problems. Students are invited to attend one of the summer camp sessions being offered in the Western Suburbs, with one session held at McClure. At the camp, students (ages 11-15) will be immersed in the exciting and interactive world of international diplomacy through current events briefings, debates, and role-playing simulations. See the flyer for more information.
Assistant instructors are veteran Model UN delegates who have won many awards, including winning the National Championship out of 150+ schools in 2022, and many are McClure grads.
See the flyer for more information.
Contact Us
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
Dean of Students Thomas Sturm: tsturm@d101.org