HIGHCREST HEADLINES
February 9, 2024
A Message from the Administrative Team
Dear HMS Families,
We are looking forward to the week ahead where we have the opportunity to celebrate Valentine's Day and to kick off Random Acts of Kindness week for 2024 (2/11-2/17). This is a great time of year to remember the K in HAWKS, and to practice using kind words and actions, and having kind interactions with others.
We often find that when the weather is a little warmer (as it has been), and as it gets closer to spring, our students begin to feel comfortable in their community, and occasionally "forget" the K in HAWKS (Kind). We want to use next week to re-focus on the kindness we know is prevalent in this awesome community, so we will be highlighting kind acts all week. Some of our students have already begun to think about kindness as they have created #HighcrestIsKind hashtags and HMS Kindness Recipes. See some examples below.
We encourage you all to find something kind to do for someone in our community or talk about ways that we can be kind to one another at home, during this next week. Students might say a kind word each morning to a sibling, create a card for an elderly relative, or just pledge to say hi to new people in the hallways at school. "The smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest impact."
Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy Valentines Day :)
Kelly, Linda, and Susie
Classroom Valentines
Some homerooms have elected to do Valentine exchanges this year. Your child's teacher will let you know if they have chosen to do this activity. Please remember that there is NO FOOD and NO CANDY permitted in Valentines.
WHMS LIVE BROADCAST! TUNE IN EVERY MONDAY!
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
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. For those families with younger children, you can also register your child(ren) in our Lechner Early Education Program (LEEP) for three- and four-year-old students at this time.
Winter NWEA MAP Reports
We are proud to share that, for the first time, District 39 will be making student NWEA MAP reports available online to our families via the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This is a change from our previous practice of mailing reports home or sending them home with students. All families will receive an email on Monday (Feb. 12) with detailed information on how to access your child(ren)’s reports.
Parent Education Event
Thank you to all of our families who attended Wednesday’s Parent Ed event, “To Rainbow Infinity and Beyond: Cultivating and Celebrating a Positive Neurodivergent Identity.” If you missed the live presentation and would like to view a recording, it is now available. Please note that, at the request of the presenter, this recording will only be available through Sunday (Feb. 11). Additionally, please enjoy these resources provided by the presenter that we think you might find helpful.
Our next event, “School Refusal and Encouraging Positive Attendance,” will take place on Wednesday, March 13 at 11 am. Families can participate in-person at Highcrest or virtually via Zoom. Registration is currently open for that event. Please visit our D39 Parent Education website for our full schedule of events, registration links, and archived recordings.
D39 Summer Enrichment Program Courses Now Available!
Looking for a fun and educational summer experience for your child(ren)? Our District 39 Summer Enrichment Program runs from July 2 - 31 and provides a variety of academic and hobby-based courses for students currently in grades K-7. This year, K-3 courses will be held at Romona Elementary School with grades 4-7 being offered at Highcrest Middle School. Online registration opens February 19 and our most popular courses will fill fast. Visit our D39 Summer Enrichment Program website for more details on this wonderful summer option.
Last Chance to Submit Entry for 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. The deadline for entries is next Wednesday (Feb. 15) and they 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.
New Trier Winter Carnival is Coming
On Friday, February 23 from 5-8:30 pm, the New Trier Senior Class is hosting its annual Winter Carnival, during which the entire Class of 2024 will transform the Winnetka Campus into various carnival attractions for children. Carnival-goers can expect everything from classic games, like Pop-A-Shot and Putt-Putt Golf, to more unique activity booths, such as Glitter World Salon and Human Bowling. Admission at the North main entrance (along Trevian Way) is free and activity tickets are $1 each. This year’s carnival will also feature an optional Magic Show, raffle, and more! Tickets for the Liam the Magic Man Magic Show from 5-5:30 ($10 per family) can be purchased online now. Parking is free, and is available in the lots on the east side of the school as well as in any space marked "New Trier High School" in the Indian Hill lot adjacent to the Metra lot at Winnetka Avenue and Green Bay Road.
All proceeds from Winter Carnival benefit the 2024 Senior Class Service Project, Embarc Chicago, which provides “real-world experiential learning accompanied by a state of the art in-class curriculum to change the trajectories of students’ lives.”
District 39 On FOX-32!
We were very grateful to welcome a crew from FOX-32 Chicago to Central Elementary School this week for World Read Aloud Day! Our faculty and staff, particularly our library educators, across the district did an amazing job of celebrating World Read Aloud Day with our students. Please enjoy this segment from Good Day Chicago as a showcase of their collective work.
SEL NEWS
The month of February is Black History Month. While learning about and honoring the contributions of Black Americans to the history of our country and their impact on our world today, is something we do year-round at HIghcrest, this month is a great time for families also to set aside time to recognize these trailblazers and engage in learning about the contributions of African-Americans...especially in our area. Did you know that the Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago is considered the birthplace of Black History Month?
A couple of family-friendly opportunities include the Chicago History Museum Family Event for Black History Month or the Multiple Events, both musical and historical at the Field Musuem. In Wilmette, children are offered the opportunity to participate in the Village's annual Black History Month contest or visit the Wilmette Public Library for one of their events.
Engaging in these activities as a family supports your child in developing their social-emotional skills as they learn about identity, engage in perspective-taking, and celebrate many various traditions and experiences.
Sign up for Hawk Hut or Lunch Duty!
Desperately needed Hawk Hut volunteers–we did not have Hawk Hut last week!
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
Trustees Needed
Do you enjoy planning fun events, have a knack for marketing or want to find special ways to support students and teachers in District 39? The D39 Educational Foundation is recruiting new trustees for the 2024-25 year and beyond (3-year term).
Join our board of smart, creative, passionate volunteer D39 parents and teachers! Share your talents/interest in event planning, marketing enrichment, graphic design or finance. We’d love to hear from you! Monthly evening meetings September - May. Contact Julie Hanahan at jrhanahan@gmail.com.
2024 HMS Talent Show - Auditions
Get your act ready–the HMS Talent Show auditions are right around the corner.
When: Monday, February 9 @ 3:35-4:30pm or Friday, February 12 from 3:35-4:45
Where: HMS auditorium
What to Prepare: Bring your idea for a song, dance or other act. Acts do not need to be fully memorized/prepared, but be ready to show a preview of what you’ve got planned. Need a little help? No problem! Our volunteers are ready to lend a hand or help an idea along.
Questions? Contact Diana Williams at talentshow@highcrestpto.org.
Last Day for Yearbook Purchase - TODAY!
Today, 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.
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
• Follow this link to the Membership Toolkit for registration - Register here!
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.
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.