HIGHCREST HEADLINES
January 26, 2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
Happy Friday, HMS Families!
Today is a half day for our students as our teachers prepare our first semester report cards. As a reminder, information about our progress reporting system is available to families HERE. We will send details of what you can expect in next week's newsletter.
This morning on the announcements we used our daily moment of silence to think about those lost during the Holocaust. This Saturday (1/27) marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and has been designated by The United Nations as a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
An important part of social-emotional learning in D39 in partnership with our D39 families, is supporting students as they understand various perspectives, develop empathy for others, and learn skills that support their acting as Upstanders in the community. I encourage you to find a few moments this weekend to remember the victims of the Holocaust, discuss this history with your child(ren) and ask them what they know about the Holocaust, or participate in one of the opportunities listed below to learn more about how understanding this history can help to create a more positive, empathetic, understanding environment in the future.
In our local community, the Illinois Holocaust Museum is offering free admittance today, and offers many engaging exhibits including a VR experience where visitors can travel with Holocaust survivors to learn about their experiences in the concentration camps. The Take a Stand Center and the Upstander Galleries are great experiences for our fifth and sixth graders as they highlight the ways they can take a stand against hate in the world, and learn from others who have stood up for human rights. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC will be airing a special episode of their Stay Connected Live series featuring an Auschwitz survivor. This will air live today at 1 pm and will be available on demand via YouTube afterwards.
Thank you for taking the opportunity over this weekend to reflect on and remember these victims, and the impact for our lives today.
Have a great weekend,
Kelly, Linda & Susie
SMART WATCHES
As a reminder, smart watches are supposed to be on airplane mode or off and stored in a locker or backpack during the day. Many students have been texting one another during classes, which is distracting from learning. Please help us to remind your child to keep their watch quiet during the day so they can be at their best for learning during the day.
From the HMS handbook:
SMART WATCHES
Many students now wear smart watches such as the Apple Watch. Smart watches are treated similarly to cell phones. Smartwatches may be worn with their cell service OFF. If students are receiving texts or calls on their watches, teachers will ask that the watch be removed and held on their desk or in the office for the remainder of the day. If parents need to contact students, they should do so through the main office, and if students need to call home, they may use the phone in their classroom or in the main office.
If a student is found with a watch that is on and is interrupting the classroom environment, staff will ask the student to take the watch off, and the watch will be turned into the main office. The student will be able to pick the watch up in the office at the end of the day. A conduct form may be issued, or additional disciplinary measures may take place, depending on how often the situation has occurred, or how disruptive the watch was to the learning environment.
WHMS LIVE BROADCAST! TUNE IN EVERY MONDAY!
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
Calendar for the 2024-25 Academic Year
This past Monday, the Board of Education approved the school calendar for the 2024-25 academic year, with the school year set to start with an early release day on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. The calendar is also available on the D39 website.
Registration for 2024-25 Academic Year
Registration for the 2024-25 academic year is now open. ALL students, including those already attending D39 schools, must register via PowerSchool for the 2024-25 academic year. For returning students, visit the PowerSchool Parent Portal, click on the registration link, and follow the instructions. For students who will be new to D39, visit wilmette39.org/enroll for instructions on the new student registration process. We encourage parents with new kindergarten students to enroll as soon as possible. D39 is also offering its optional KEEP39 afternoon enrichment program for kindergarten students. You can register your child for KEEP39 at the same time that you register for kindergarten. Additionally, you can also register your child(ren) in our Lechner Early Education Program (LEEP) for three- and four-year-old students at this time.
Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education conducted its regular business meeting this past Monday. The Board approved a fee of $3,230 for 2024-25 for KEEP39, the District’s optional afternoon enrichment program for kindergarten students. The Board also approved the school calendar for the 2024-25 academic year and conducted first reading of several important Board policies. Agendas and materials for all Board of Education meetings are posted online the Friday prior to the meeting.
D39 Summer Enrichment Program
Looking for a fun and educational summer experience for your child(ren)? Learn more about our District 39 Summer Enrichment Program! This program runs from July 2-31 and provides a variety of both academic and hobby-based courses for students currently in grades K-7. Please visit our D39 Summer Enrichment Program website for more details. The list of offered courses will be available online this coming Monday (Jan. 29).
Join the Fun for the District 39 Educational Foundation Bingo Night!
Get your tickets now for the D39 Educational Foundation’s Annual Bingo Night on Friday, Feb. 9 from 6-8 pm at the Highcrest cafeteria! Excitement is in the air as the cards are covered and everyone is on the edge of their seats ready to yell “Bingo!” Winners select prizes from a table-full of games, toys, gift cards, etc. This fundraiser is fun for the whole family. Visit the D39 Ed Foundation website for more information and to purchase your tickets.
Parent Education Event
Please make plans to join us for our next Parent Ed event, “To Rainbow Infinity and Beyond: Cultivating and Celebrating a Positive Neurodivergent Identity,” scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 11 am. You may join us in-person at Harper for this event or participate virtually via Zoom. Please register online to reserve your spot and visit our Parent Education page for our full schedule of events, registration links, and archived recordings.
Additionally, the North Shore Coalition for Drug Free Communities is sponsoring a screening of the latest documentary in the “Screenagers” trilogy titled “Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping,
Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age.” This event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 pm at Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook (3080 West Lake Ave., Glenview) and also features a Q&A session after the screening. Online registration is now open for this event.
Village of Wilmette’s Black History Month Contest
The Village of Wilmette’s Human Relations Commission is sponsoring its annual Black History Month contest. This year’s Black History Month theme, “African Americans the Arts,” encompasses the impact that African American artists have had on cultural movements and more. Students are invited to submit posters, essays, poetry, and/or art/multimedia/music entries for this contest. Entries are being accepted now until Feb. 15 and can be sent or delivered to Wilmette Village Hall (attn: Human Relations Commission, Village Manager’s Office), 1200 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. Visit the Village of Wilmette website or click the link above for more information.
SEL NEWS
Happy 2024! The new year is a great time to practice goal setting with your child at home. While we often set academic and even social-emotional goals at school with students, this process can be practiced at home as well (THINK: “My goal is to have my room clean by each Friday during the month of January” or “I would like to be able to pack my lunch by myself.”
When children set goals in their school or home life, it helps to foster self-awareness (knowing what they are good at doing, and identifying areas they want to improve) and self-management (setting plans to reach their goals). It can help build intrinsic motivation as they reach their goals, and offers opportunities to celebrate the many little “wins” along the way.
Here are a couple of great articles that offer tips on goal setting with your child:
High Five Junior Choir - Register Now!
The Wilmette High Five Junior Choir provides an empowering learning environment in which students of all abilities come together to create and experience music, build friendships, and raise awareness against stereotypes of individuals with disabilities. This club was designed after the High-5 Choir that is offered at New Trier High School. The Wilmette High Five Junior Choir aims to share the love of music with peers regardless of abilities, share our voices through music, and have a lot of fun! If you want to better understand what High Five Junior Choir is, please watch this video.
• Club dates/times: Thursdays 3:45-4:45 pm on the following dates: 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, *, 3/21, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2. *3/14 - No rehearsal
• Location: Room 134
• Instructor: Highcrest Music Director, Mrs. Martin
Performances:
- 3/15 - OAKE Music Educator Conference; 10:15AM; Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
- 5/9 - Spring Concert; 4:15PM; HMS Auditorium
- 5/16 - Spring Sing;11:05AM - 12:30PM; NTHS Gaffney Auditorium
2024 HMS Talent Show - Interest Meetings
The HMS Talent Show is happening April 12th. These first few meetings are a chance for the students to ask questions, get some ideas, and just basic information on the talent show. No preparation needed! Students just need to come to one. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact communications@highcrestpto.org.
Monday, January 29th from 3:35-4:30pm - Auditorium
Tuesday, January 30th from 3:35-4:30pm - Auditorium
Want to get involved this year? Click here to see open positions.
2023-2024 HMS Yearbook
Emails were sent to families on Wednesday 1/24 that have not yet ordered a yearbook. They can be purchased through 2/9 via Membership Toolkit. Not sure if you’ve ordered a yearbook? Log into Membership Toolkit and view your order history. Email yearbook@highcrestpto.org with questions.
Join the 2024/25 PTO Exec Board!
Want to have a voice in your child’s HMS experience? Looking for a place to connect with other HMS parents? Join the HMS PTO executive board!
Members of the exec board meet monthly to work with the school principal to help create a robust, well-rounded experience for all students. They oversee events, help raise funds for enrichment programs, and much more.
Next year’s board has openings in a wide variety of positions. Want to learn more? Email communications@highcrestpto.org. We can’t wait to meet you!
Want to get involved this year? Click here to see open positions.
Family Bingo Night is BACK!
Bring the entire family for a night of bingo! Enjoy pizza, snacks, and family fun. Bingo winners get to pick from our prize table featuring exciting options for adults and children. We hope to see you there!
When: February 9 from 6-8pm
Where: Highcrest, Bingo night is back!
Tickets: Go on sale Tuesday January 16, at 10am at d39foundation.org
Lunch and School Store Sign Ups
See links below to sign-up:
School Store - Hawk Hut sign-ups are available on Wednesdays during lunch
Lunch Duty - Volunteer to help with lunch on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays
HMS Spiritwear
Your Highcrest PTO is thrilled to announce our new spirit wear partnership with humanKIND, locally owned by a D39 Alum! Order featured items OR create your own! Local pickup available at no additional cost. Check it out by scanning the QR code below or click here.