HMS Headlines
February 25, 2022
A Message from the Administrative Team
"Masks are optional, but kindness is mandatory." --5th grade student
This week has brought about a big change with masking for our students and staff, and as we have leaned into these changes, we have had many discussions with our students about what HAWKS means to us: Honest, Accountable, Welcoming, Kind, and Safe.
Our classroom teachers have discussed the changes now in place, shared how these changes will look in their different spaces, and have focused the discussions on how to respect one another's choices and treat one another in a positive way, even if we disagree. While there have been bumps in the road this week, we are overall impressed with how our students have handled, once again, a new change in requirements related to the pandemic, and how they are focused on making the community one that is supportive and caring. Our No Place for Hate team even created an acronym that we have posted around our school to remind students that when they think about a MASK, they should:
Make
All
Statements
Kind
While the changes in masking have gone smoothly, we have seen an uptick in unkind words and online posts directed at others in recent weeks, unrelated to the changes in masking. We have seen and heard of students using homophobic slurs, swearing, and using unkind words to poke fun at others' looks and actions. As our students continue to interact with one another in this in-person post-pandemic environment, we are aware that there are often situations where they may be frustrated or upset, and they use inappropriate ways to express feelings. We are working together with them to give them positive ways to express those feelings, interact with one another, and problem solve when conflict arises so that they do not feel the need to resort to disrespectful language or actions. All of our classrooms are implementing more lessons and activities focused on building relationship skills, responsible decision making, and social awareness/perspective taking...some of the important social-emotional skills we are focused on throughout the year.
As we move forward into yet another new normal, we encourage you to partner with us to have these conversations at home as well. Ask about your child's perspective on the environment at school, and have them share what is going well, or may not be going well as it relates to the school community. Offer suggestions with how they might be able to navigate these challenges from your perspective and with your support. Below you'll find a couple of resources to help you with these conversations.
Thank you for your help in these efforts...by working together, we will make our HAWKS community the strongest it has ever been!
Have a good weekend,
Kelly, Linda & Susie
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES:
- Responsible Decision Making Tip Sheet for Parents (from CASEL)
- A Book List for Parents and Social Emotional Learning
- Social Emotional Learning Parent Resources (Edutopia)
- Social Emotional Changes in Pre-teens and Teenagers
- Technology and Youth: Protecting Your Child from Electronic Aggression (CDC Tip Sheet)
- Social Emotional Learning in District 39
Order a Student Council Tee Shirt or Hoodie!
Ordering closes on Tuesday 3/1
Kids Heart Challenge 2022
CHICAGO BULLS COURT OF DREAMS EXPERIENCE:
Join American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge participants, family and friends for a legendary group outing with the Chicago Bulls.
Register Here: http://www2.heart.org/goto/highcrest
Fundraise $100 Receive a discounted ticket offer to four Bulls home games:
Fundraise $250 Receive a discounted ticket offer to attend a Bulls home game and participate in the Court of Dreams event on April 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.
A ticket to one of the four games is required for Court of Dreams entry.
REGISTER FOR THE 2022 SEP PROGRAM!
REGISTER YOUR CHILD(REN) for the 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR
Registration remains open for the 2022-23 academic year. For returning students, visit the PowerSchool parent portal, click on the registration link and follow the instructions. For new students to D39, visit www.wilmette39.org/enroll for instructions on the four-part registration process. We encourage parents with new kindergarten students to enroll as quickly as possible. Additionally, D39 is offering its KEEP39 afternoon enrichment program for kindergarten students. Click here for more information. You can register your child for KEEP39 at the same time that you register for kindergarten.
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
Tuesday’s Special Meeting of the Board
On Tuesday evening, our Board of Education hosted a special meeting to finalize and approve the District 39 Reduced Mitigations Plan. This plan was implemented the next day, Wednesday, Feb. 23, and we are happy to report that we have experienced a relatively smooth transition to a mask-optional environment within our schools. We would like to thank our entire community for their engagement and support throughout this transition, and for continuing to promote kindness and respect for one another. We have, once again, witnessed our community coming together in support of one another and this has been a truly wonderful thing. Thank you for partnering with us in support of students and staff through this next step. More information on our reduced mitigation plan and our D39 off-ramp can be found here.
Summer Enrichment Registration
That mid-week warm-up has us all ready for D39’s Summer Enrichment Programs 2022! This year, we are very excited to welcome back some of our summer camp options along with our academic programs for our kindergarten through 7th grade students and we intend to open our online registration process on Tuesday, March 1. Be sure to browse our Summer Enrichment Programs website and our new online Summer Enrichment Programs brochure. We hope to see you with us for some summer fun!
Register Your Child(ren) for 2022-23 Academic Year
Registration remains open for the 2022-23 academic year. For returning students, visit the PowerSchool parent portal, click on the registration link and follow the instructions. For new students to D39, visit www.wilmette39.org/enroll for instructions on the four-part registration process. We encourage parents with new kindergarten students to enroll before March 1. Additionally, D39 is offering its KEEP39 afternoon enrichment program for kindergarten students. Click here for more information. You can register your child for KEEP39 at the same time that you register for kindergarten.
Submit Your Child(ren)’s Vaccination Information
If you have not done so already, please upload your child(ren)’s vaccination information through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Current vaccination rates of our schools are available on our D39 Metrics page.
COMMUNITY NEWS
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
In honor of Black History Month, the Village of Wilmette is sponsoring a Black History Month Student Contest. Submit posters, essay, poems and multimedia items relating to the prompt, "Why do we celebrate Black History Month?” Submissions are due Friday, March 4th. See contest rules for details.
PASS39 is hosting a community event for D39 families on March 5th at 4:00 pm at Wilmette’s Valley Lodge. The Trinity Dancers will perform. A private room has been reserved to meet and chat following the performance.
The Village of Wilmette’s Sesquicentennial Celebration includes many fun activities and projects. Donations of $25 and up will receive recognition in the Commemorative 150th Edition of the Wilmette Communicator. See flyer for details or go to http://www.wilmette150.org
The Village of Wilmette & 'Ready Set Wilmette' Comprehensive Planning Team want to hear from Wilmette residents. ReadySetWilmette.com Help ensure Wilmette is welcoming, thriving and vibrant for years to come. A series of polls focused on plan themes, an online comment map, and ideas wall. Provide input at your leisure and as ideas come up: feedback shared to date is highlighted in this recent online post.Check out the Facebook Page
The Volunteer Center is offering many volunteer service opportunities. Kids Against Hunger Event will be held on March 19th. Help pack nutritious meals for over 100,000 starving Nicaraguans.
Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) is hosting Campyardigan Summer Camp options for students ages 5-13 with disabilities. The Spring Guide lists summer recreation programs.
Loyola Academy offers Junior High Enrichment Summer Programs. For more information contact summerschool@loy.org or www.goramblers.org/summerschool
The Trevian Girls Softball Association is adding 8-10 year olds to their spring and summer teams. Contact Kelsey Farmer for more information.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
"Best Step Tutoring” offers free online tutoring for PreK-12 grades.
February 26th Virtual Family Bingo Night…Ticket Sales end at 5pm TODAY!
Need something different to do at home on a winter Saturday night? Join the D39 Educational Foundation from 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, for a virtual Family Bingo Night! We’ll recreate this popular event over Zoom, but the fun — and the prizes — will be REAL! CLICK HERE to register!. A $10 registration gets you the Zoom link, and each bingo card is $10. We look forward to seeing you there!
After School Clubs at Highcrest: Spring Session Registration Coming Soon!
We're happy to offer a Spring Session of your favorite After School Clubs at Highcrest. Registration for Debate, Chess Club, Newspaper Club and Rubik's Cube Club will open on the Highcrest PTO website on Monday, March 7th at 7pm.
There is still space available in some current After School Clubs at Highcrest… CLICK HERE to register!
Spirit wear is now online and ordering is super easy!
Show your Hawks pride with a variety of spiritwear options!
CLICK HERE to get your orders in! Please contact Jen at spiritwear@highcrestpto.org with questions!
It’s time to think 🌷 SPRING with PASS39
Please join us for our next event on March 5th at 4pm to watch the Trinity dancers perform ☘️
Feel free to bring the kids to watch the dancers or leave them at home! Your choice! ❤️
We also have a private room secured for adults to meet and decompress afterward.
See you there!!
Until then, catch up on all our latest news by checking out our February Newsletter!
Appreciation Certificates Available
Looking for a way to say thank you to a special teacher, staff member or administrator? For your $39 donation, the staff member(s) of your choice will be honored with a personalized certificate sent via email and their name posted on our website's virtual Wall of Honor. All donations will benefit our schools by funding the D39 Educational Foundation's Gripp Grant program. Purchase your Appreciation Certificate here.
Order your 2021-22 HMS Yearbook!
CLICK HERE to order today!
Trex Plastic Bag Challenge
The Trex Plastic Bag Challenge is happening from November 15, 2021-April 15, 2022. Students, teachers and families (and the community at large) are asked to dispose of their plastic bags at conveniently located bins by the front office. Collections will be weighed and logged each week and will help HMS to compete against other middle schools nationwide. Plastic MUST be clean and dry. Questions? Please contact EnvironmentalAwareness@highcrestpto.org.
Membership Toolkit
AtoZ Connect is now powered by Membership Toolkit to bring you the best directory experience available. PTO memberships, directories, communications, online store, and more will all run through the newly improved online software. Click here if you haven’t already signed up!
To access the new 2021-2022 Highcrest PTO Directory, please visit https://highcrestpto.membershiptoolkit.com/. Bookmark this site now!
All announcements to be included in Headlines must be submitted via the Communications Request Form by Wednesdays at 2pm.