HMS Headlines
February 17, 2023
A Message from Our Administrative Team
This weekend marks a three-day weekend where we will celebrate President's Day. Tuesday is also a day off of school so staff can enjoy a day of Professional Development. During Tuesdays sessions, teachers and staff will learn about social-emotional learning approaches, supporting behavior in a positive way, they will engage in discussion around mathematics and encouraging risk-taking, and they develop new strategies around independent reading in the classroom and how to intervene and support all learners. Days like Tuesday provide us time to learn from one another, as well as from experts in the educational community. We appreciate the opportunity to grow as professionals, and we look forward to implementing newly-learned strategies and approaches into our classrooms.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kelly, Linda, and Susie
IAR TESTING
SECOND SEMESTER CLUBS 2023
There are still some clubs being planned, so bookmark this list, and re-visit it frequently! Mrs. Jackson will have an announcement about the clubs on the broadcast on Monday, so get ready to hear more details then!
WHMS LIVE BROADCAST! TUNE IN EVERY MONDAY!
DISTRICT 39 UPDATES
Student Registration for 2023-24 Academic Year
Registration remains open for the 2023-24 school year. For returning students, please visit the PowerSchool parent portal, click on the registration link and follow the instructions. For students who will be new to D39, including incoming kindergarteners, www.wilmette39.org/enroll provides detailed instructions on the registration process. Parents with incoming kindergarten students are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible to reserve your spot. More information on the KEEP39 program is available on our website.
Reminder: Student Report Cards Available
Student report cards are available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. After you log in, select the “2022-2023 Semester 1 Report Card” icon from the navigation menu on the left to view/print your child(ren)’s report card. If you are viewing the report card on a mobile device, choose the "Exit to Main PS Site" item and then expand the navigation menu on the left by tapping the right-facing arrow. On a mobile device, you must use a browser; report cards are not available through the PowerSchool app.
Information on 2023 Summer Enrichment Program
The District 39 Summer Enrichment Programs (SEP) 2023 website is open with information, tools, and timelines. The program brochure is now available with registration opening on Monday, Feb. 20 at 9 am. This year’s Summer Enrichment Program will take place from June 29-July 28, with no classes on July 3-4, and offerings include our extended school year, review & reinforcement, academic classes, and hobby/themed courses. Letters were being sent home this week to families of students who qualify for Review & Reinforcement courses.
Parent Education Opportunities
On Wednesday, March 8, District 39 will host the second part of its three-part series titled “Being An Ally: Supporting Inclusivity and Approaching Difficult Conversations at Home.” Registration is open for this event now.
Part three of this series will be an in-person, evening event on Wednesday, April 12 (7 pm) featuring Kelly Jackson, Highcrest Middle School Principal and District 39 Administrator for Social-Emotional Learning and Family Engagement, leading a book study and discussion. Please see the linked flyer for more information on the event as well as information on the two books that will be the focal point of the discussion. Be sure to visit our D39 Parent Education webpage to learn more about our parent education program and find recordings of past presentations.
Additionally, the Family Action Network (FAN) has also hosted several excellent, virtual events this month. They recently hosted a session focused on “Gun Safety in Our Communities” and earlier this week hosted a session titled “Understanding and Treating Social Anxiety and Refusal.” (recording of this event will be posted soon). On Thursday, March 2, they welcome Lisa Damour, Ph.D. for a presentation titled “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” This will be an in-person event held at the Loyola Academy Performing Arts Center and will also be streamed live. No registration is required for this event. More information on FAN events can be found on their website.
Community Review Committee (CRC) Is Looking For Feedback
This year’s topic for the District 39 Community Review Committee (CRC) is “A Culture of Connectedness: An Empathic and Inclusive Community for Neurodivergent Students." The Committee is asking families to complete this short survey to help us learn about parent understanding of neurodiversity and how teachers and staff can best partner with families to create an equitable learning environment for neurodivergent students across all grade levels. Thank you for your participation. The survey will close on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Shine on 39
This week’s edition of “Shine on 39” highlights our outstanding group of paraprofessionals! Please visit our Shine on 39 webpage to view all of our terrific “Shine on 39” pieces.
COMMUNITY NEWS
LINK: http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
Wilmette Historical Museum presents MEET THE LINCOLNS on Sunday, February 19 from 2:00-3:00 pm.
Wilmette Park District seeks residents input and feedback to help create a clear vision for parks, facilities, and recreation to meet the needs of residents for play, health, wellness, open spaces and nature places. Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities. Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/wilmetteparkdistrict
Wilmette Baseball Association Spring House League registration is open for K-8th grades. www.wilmettebaseball.org
Loyola Youth Lacrosse Program is taking registrations for students in Kdg-8th grades. Contqact Greg Sprenzel for more information.
New Trier Township offers a Food Pantry 10am - 4pm weekdays for families that live/work in the township. NT Township also offers Emergency Financial Assistance, Legal Aid Clinic, property tax assistance, social service referrals and other available resources. Go to www.newtriertownship.com for more information.
Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
HMS/WJHS: For 6th - 8th grade girls
SKATE FOR GIRLS aims to decrease the gender gap in STEM by teaching math through figure skating. Girls can skate weekly for FREE at Centennial Ice Rink on Sundays, January 15-Feburary 19, 1:00 - 3:30 pm. Register at www.skateforgirls.org
For 6th, 7th & 8th graders:
Family Service Center Leadership & Resilience Builder Program (LRBP) is accepting applications for 6th, 7th, & 8th grae students. Program is held on Mondays, 6:00-7:00 pm from March 13-May 22. Call 847-251-7350 for more information.
YOUR PTO IN ACTION: Teacher & Staff Valentines Breakfast
The Highcrest PTO thanked our teachers and staff this week with a Valentine’s breakfast. A HUGE thank you to Carrie Phillips and Erica Cordier for organizing this and setting up.
SEEKING 2023-2024 WJHS PTO BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS Make friends. Be in the know. Make a difference. Support our teachers and staff. Enrich our student’s school experience. There are so many reasons to serve on the PTO. Please consider sharing your talents as a volunteer for the 2023-2024 WJHS PTO. For more information, please email president@wjhspto.com.
IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO VOLUNTEER MORE? The HMS PTO Needs YOU!
The HMS PTO is looking for volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year - there are so many great ways to get involved at the school to fit your schedule. Please reach out to Jennifer Englehaupt at jennifer@englehaupt.net to learn more - we would love to have you.
WINTER AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
ACES DEBATE CLUB - Friday Intro to Debate still has a few openings, register here!
High Five Junior Choir – Registration is open!
The Wilmette High Five Junior Choir provides a safe 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 physical and mental disabilities. This club is based off of 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! For more information: Email Jana Martin, martinj@wilmette39.org.
Club dates/times: Thursdays 3:45-4:45pm on the following dates: 3/23/23, 3/2/23, 3/9/23, 3/16/23, 3/23/23, 4/6/23, 4/13/23, 4/20/23, 4/27/23.
Club fee: $150
PASS 39 NEWS: UPCOMING EVENTS!
Want to learn more about what is going on at PASS 39? HERE is the PASS39 January/February Newsletter.
Special Olympics Track and Field
Tuesday practices at McKenzie School from 4:00pm - 4:45pm
February 14th - April 11th
Highcrest provides bus transportation to McKenzie School
Spring Games at Prospect High School on April 15th and April 16th
Please email Coach Joe Taylor for more information and to sign up! taylorjo@wilmette39.org
GREEN CORNER
Trex Plastic Recycling Challenge – From Bag to Bench
The Trex Plastic Recycling Challenge is ongoing! Thank you to all that collect their difficult to recycle plastic film items, such as produce bags, bubble wrap, and plastic mailers (see list) and bring them to HMS. One bin is located at the entrance of the school office, one in the front lobby, and one in the teacher’s lobby. The Environmental Affairs Committee will weigh, collect, and bring the plastic film to the collection sites.
Sap’s Rising
Date & Time: Sun, Feb 25 • 10:30 am and Sun, Feb 26 • 1:30 pm
Location: River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave, Northbrook, Phone: 847-824-8360
Walk in the sugar maple forest to learn about the sweet process of making maple syrup.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call River Trail at 847-824-8360.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many ways to get involved at Highcrest! See links below to sign-up:
School Store - Sign-ups are available on Wednesdays during lunch.
Lunch - sign ups for help during lunch period for both 5th & 6th grade