HMS Headlines
February 18, 2022
A MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Dear HMS Families,
As our families prepare for the three-day President's Day weekend, the staff at HMS is looking forward to Monday as a day of learning and collaboration. Among the different items planned for our teacher learning are opportunities for vertical (across grade levels) planning and collaboration, learning about best practices in ELA, science, and math instruction, and discovering new strategies to use for supporting our students with SEL and executive functioning.
Days like this offer us all a chance to take a break from our normal routines. Whether it is our students who may sleep in or play an extra video game on Monday, or our staff who will be growing in their knowledge and practice, these opportunities are important for self-care and the well-being of our entire community. We hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Take care,
Kelly, Linda, and Susie
Check out the Roller Skating at HMS!
Kids Heart Challenge 2022
Math Resources
Our math team has compiled some great online resources for your child to utilize when practicing concepts and reviewing math work throughout the semester. Check them out and encourage your child to explore these resources when they have a few extra minutes!
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
There will be a special meeting of the Board of Education next Tuesday (Feb. 22) at 7 pm at Wilmette Junior High. The Board is scheduled to finalize and approve the District 39 Reduced Mitigations Plan during this meeting. Following approval of this Plan, the Board will direct its implementation, which could be as early as Wednesday, Feb. 23. The agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting (which contains registration information) will be posted online, with supporting documents posted tomorrow morning. Community members may participate either in-person or via Zoom. Anyone who wishes to attend Tuesday’s meeting in-person must register in advance. Ticket registration will open at 4 pm today.
Parent Education Information
Thank you to everyone who participated in Wednesday’s Parent Education event “Raising Resilient Children in a Highly-Competitive, Digitally-Driven World.” Click here to access a recording of this event. Our next parent education event – “Dear Parents, This is What You Should Know About Social Media” – is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 at 11 am. Click here to register. Parents can participate in-person at the district office or live via Zoom. Additionally, a recording of the presentation will be available after the event.
Submit Your Child(ren)’s Vaccination Information
If you have not done so already, please upload your child(ren)’s vaccination status through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Having accurate, up-to-date data is important in our consideration of mitigation revisions. Current vaccination rates of our schools are available on our D39 Metrics page.
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 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.
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 & '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.
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…Purchase tickets now!
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!
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!
Highcrest After School Clubs
There is still space available in select After School Clubs at Highcrest… CLICK HERE to register!
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.