McClure Message Week 18
January 9 - 13
Happy New Year!
I'm excited however, to get back to business on Monday! As we look at the stretch of time between January and March, it is the most uninterrupted time we get in the school year. In our year-long classes, we've built relationships and procedures that will allow teaching and learning to pick up speed as we head into 3rd quarter.
As we head into this time of high expectations, stress is a topic to think about. How can you help your child navigate stress in a healthy way?
- Make sure your expectations are clear and realistic for your child. The perceived pressure from parents for kids this age can be a looming weight. Do you expect all A's on all assignments? Do you expect to see growth from early formative work? Do you expect to see self-advocacy steps like reaching out to the teacher when they stumble on an assignment? Do you expect them to give their best effort?
- Protect time and space to do work. Do they have a space free of distractions? Does their afterschool schedule have time built in for schoolwork?
- Set up good sleep habits. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours each day and teenagers aged 13–18 years should get 8–10 hours.
- Keep an eye on school work. Checking PowerSchool every 1 to 2 weeks as a parent is recommended (typically not more often than that). This gives you a heads up if homework is not being completed or formative assessments are low. Then you and your child can discuss if they've already taken steps and decide together what should be done.
- Help them talk it out. This age is known for being self-conscious and insecure. Admitting something is tough - academically or socially- is often hard for middle schoolers. Finding moments of down-time to check in can help them reach out to you if needed. I've found that adage about talking to them while in the car to be effective!
Upcoming Dates
Monday, January 9 ____ School resumes - regular hours
Tuesday, January 10 ___ LT Foreign Language Department presenting to 8th graders (10th period)
Wednesday January 11 ____ Spring Musical information and sign up meeting after school
Wednesday January 11 ____ Homebase day
Monday, January 16 ___ No School, MLK Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 17 ___ Math MAP testing (testing in the morning, classes after)
Wednesday, January 18 ___Reading MAP testing (in ELA classes)
Wednesday, January 18 ___ LTHS Class of 2027 Registration Webex (see the class of 2027 website at LTHS.net for the most current information)
January 18 and 19 ___ Musical auditions (callbacks on Friday 1/20)
Tuesday, January 24 ___Homebase Day
Wednesday, January 25 ___ Late Arrival, School begins at 10am
Wednesday, January 25 ___ LTHS Class of 2027 Future Freshman Night
Upcoming MAP Testing
Math tests on the 17th will occur in 10th period class groups and will be done in the morning all together, followed by classes. Reading tests will occur on the 18th and will be done in ELA classes.
Some items about testing the we will review with kids and you can go over at home about MAP testing:
What's the purpose?
Teachers use this information for instructional planning and student goal setting.
McClure also uses this assessment data to make sure our school is on track in offering learning experiences that match our students’ needs.
This test is designed to figure out what students are ready to learn next, and therefore, the test is designed for students to only get 50% of the questions right.
Sometimes the test is going to feel easy and sometimes it’s going to feel difficult. If the test feels hard, it’s okay to read the question carefully, simply guess, and move on. This means that students shouldn’t spend more than 60-90 seconds on a question.
The test is not a race. Just because others have finished does not mean that you need to finish - each student should give their best effort.
You should go on to the next item if you don't know the answer to a question (remember that some questions are supposed to be too hard!) If you don't finish in the time given, you'll have more time. Usually this is just 30 extra minutes to finish the test.
The Musical is coming!
For students interested in being a part of the cast (singing, dancing, chorus), there is an informational meeting after school on January 11. Auditions will be held January 18th and 19th with callbacks on Friday the 20th.
There are many opportunities to be a part of this production. In some years the majority of the 6th grade class formed choral parts of the show! No prior musical training required. If your student has any questions about this opportunity, please reach out to Mrs. Kelly Kruiswyk (kkruiswyk@d101.org).
Sign ups for stage and lighting crew sign up will happen closer to the performance date. Spots are limited on those crews.
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A Culture of Appreciation
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our efforts to build a culture of appreciation sharing a note for a staff member. If you would like to pass along a kind word or message of gratitude, please fill out a quick form using a link below and I’ll make sure your kind message finds its way to its recipient.
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Community Events
From the Lyons Township High School Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science (GEMS) club. GEMS was founded to support girls in the community with an interest in engineering, math, and science through mentorship, career guidance, and real-world experience. On Saturday, February 11, 2023, we would like to invite your students to our event, “Introduce a Girl to STEM Day”, which will grant your passionate girls a lens on STEM in High School. Girls who attend will participate in two STEM sessions, hear from high school girls aspiring STEM women, and finish the afternoon reflecting on their experience. We hope to get as many middle school girls involved as possible. Online registration will be available from December 5, 2022, until February 1, 2023. Please see this flyer for additional 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