Chute

We are so proud of our 7th grade media arts students who have their surreal art work on display at the One River School of Art and Design this month. Thanks to Mrs. Kushner, and to all the students, parents, and families who joined us to celebrate the show opening on Wednesday! All are welcome to view the work, on display through April 28th!

Reminder- Graduation fee is now due. Please turn it in by cash or check to the main office.

The Chute 8th grade band and 7th/8th grade orchestra will go on a field trip to perform for Dawes, Oakotn, and Walker Elementary Schools on Thursday, April 17. Students should return the purple field trip form to Ms. Berger or Ms. Wong by Monday, April 14.

The PTA is in need of volunteers to support food sales at the upcoming chess tournament to be hosted at Chute on Saturday, April 26. Volunteer shifts are two hours, beginning at 7:45am, with the last shift ending at 4:45pm. Thank you for your help!

Chute PTA: Chess Tournament

Chute alumni, parents and the entire community are proud to establish a named scholarship in honor of Jim "Mr. Mac" McHolland, in partnership with the Chessmen Club. This scholarship celebrates Mr. Mac's unmatched dedication to generations of D65 children and his lifelong commitment to building a village that supports our kids through high school and college.

Help us create a meaningful scholarship that honors Mr. Mac's legacy and provides funds and mentorship to as many students as possible. Thank you for helping us carry forward Mr. Mac's remarkable legacy. Learn more here: Story

We would love for you to join us in supporting our Northwestern Men's Soccer Wildcats as they take on UIC!

• Date: Saturday, April 12th
• Time: 1:30 PM
• Location: Ryan Fieldhouse (2233 N Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208)

After the game, there will be a meet and greet with opportunities for pictures and autographs with the Northwestern Men's Soccer team. Attendees are encouraged to wear Northwestern gear.

Since the game will be held indoors at Ryan Field House, there's a capacity limit of 50 people. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you're interested in attending, you need to email Ms. Derousse at deroussem@district65.net with the names of everyone in your group.

As we approach the end of the school year, we wanted to provide important information about volunteering for upcoming Spring field trips. Please note that volunteer requirements vary based on your role:

• Parents who wish to supervise a small group of students independently must complete a comprehensive background check (this process takes longer)
• Parents who will be paired with certified staff members can complete a faster approval process

How to Sign Up

Please complete the volunteer form at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeVRi1M6BynYwkEn4ZqqbJpXLOFZ6Z1CyWJ9XJYKaTdiWGAw/viewform

Look for more information or have questions, check out the district page on our Volunteering process. Thank you for your support in making these enriching spring experiences possible for our students!

Our school uses Securly to keep students safe on their school-issued devices. In the SecurlyHome app, you’ll have a real-time view of your child's activity on their school device. There is also a web portal which you can access by clicking here. You'll also get a weekly email from Securly with a snapshot report of that activity.

Key features include:

• Activity Feed showing your child's online activity
• Notifications about potential safety concerns
• Ability to pause internet access on school devices when at home
• Web portal access for desktop viewing

To get started:

1. Download the SecurlyHome app from the App Store or Google Play
2. Open the app and tap "Login"
3. Enter your email address registered with the school
4. Click the verification link sent to your email

Visual directions to help you get started!

(Spanish Version)

D65 Acceleration via Grade Skipping process

Important Timeline:

• April 11, 2025 – Deadline to submit acceleration requests for the 2025-2026 school year
• May 19, 2025 – Families who submit by April 11 can expect a decision by this date
• 2026-2027 Requests – Will open at the start of the 2025-2026 school year

For specific questions about the district’s acceleration process, you can reach out to alternateplacement@district65.net. If you have individual questions about your child’s placement, please contact David Wartowski, Director of Mathematics, at wartowskid@district65.net.

Advanced Music:

Required Events for Advanced Music students

Performing/Singing with the ETHS Choirs

• Thursday, May 1st

• 7:00 PM Performance (More details coming soon)

Advanced Music Spring Showcase

• Thursday, May 22nd

• 5:30 PM Call time

• 6:00 PM Showcase

Choir:

• Congratulations to the Chute Choir on their winter concert and Evanston Sings Event at ETHS

• There is no spring concert for choir.

• Open Sing, will be happening Mondays after spring break. We will sing karaoke and learn music for next Fall’s concert.

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is hosting a Community Safety Workshop for D65
Families. Join our community as we learn how to create community support and solidarity in ensuring the rights and safety of every neighbor. Sanctuary Evanston will be presenting information on

• Your legal rights and how to protect them
• How to prepare safety plans, including temporary guardianship forms, which are essential to ensuring stability for children in the event a parent is unavailable.
• Community resources for families and students

April 16, 2025
6:00 -7:15pm

Washington Elementary
914 Ashland Ave
or
Zoom link - https://bit.ly/3QYdH2p

Childcare provided
Snacks provided

Evanston, IL – Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is excited to expand its Summer Program for 2025, offering youth in Evanston a summer full of learning, creativity, and fun. The program will run from June 16 to July 25, with a Special Field Trip Week from July 28 – August 1. Youth entering grades 2–8 this fall are welcome to join, with free and paid options available based on household income. Registration opens to the community on March 29, with priority given to Y.O.U. families, and early registration is encouraged due to limited space.

This year’s program features creative workshops in art, music, and writing, STEM projects that foster curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math, and weekly field trips to exciting locations around Evanston. Participants will also engage in sports, games, mindfulness activities, and other recreation and wellness options designed to keep them active and engaged. The program fosters community building by providing youth with opportunities to connect with peers and caring mentors in a safe, supportive environment.

Program Details:
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (Field Trip Week: July 28 – August 1)
Location: Oakton Elementary School (Elementary), Chute Middle School (Middle School)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration: Opens March 29, closes May 1.
For more information about Y.O.U. or to learn how to support our programs, please visit www.youthopportunity.org.

Show your appreciation for a teacher who has made a difference in your child’s life by making a gift to Foundation 65 in their honor. The teacher will receive a special note, and your donation will help fund innovative educational programs for District 65 students.

Fill out and return this Honor a Teacher form to Foundation 65 or go to https://www.foundation65.org/honor-a-teacher to fill out the form online.

By July, District 65 will have reduced nearly $20 million from the annual budget in two years, but more work remains. For several years, district leaders and board members have discussed in public meetings the potential need for school closures or consolidations. This is in response to an aging population within our community, declining student enrollment, underutilized buildings, and dated facilities.

While this process will surely be difficult, it represents an opportunity to reimagine and reinvest for the future of public education in Evanston/Skokie. No decisions have been made regarding additional school closure/consolidations. The District is in the early stages of planning, including developing potential criteria. See more information

The goal is to engage parents, caregivers, staff, students, and community members in a transparent process with clear criteria. Decisions must be made with integrity and rooted in data and community voice.

As such, District 65 invites you to attend an upcoming community conversation:

• April 10, 6:30-8 p.m. at Chute Middle School (1400 Oakton St.)

• April 11, 9:30-11 a.m. at Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center (1655 Foster St.)

• April 15, 6:30-8 p.m. at Nichols Middle School (800 Greenleaf St.)

Spanish interpretation will be provided. Can’t attend in person? Share your thoughts virtually by 11:59 p.m. April 15, 2025.

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is hosting a Community Safety Workshop for D65 Families. Join our community as we learn how to create community support and solidarity in ensuring the rights and safety of every neighbor. Sanctuary Evanston will be presenting information on

• Your legal rights and how to protect them
  How to prepare safety plans, including temporary guardianship forms, which are essential to ensuring stability for children in the event a parent is detained or removed.

• Community resources for families and students

When: April 16, 2025 from 6:00 -7:15

Where: Washington Elementary - 914 Ashland Ave

Or

Zoom link - https://bit.ly/3QYdH2p

Childcare and snacks are provided!

MetroSquash is a FREE after school program that specializes in academic support, competitive squash, and enrichment activities. Students attend programming 3 days/week.

We are currently open to students at Chute. (Students must qualify for free or reduced lunch, or be first generation that will attend college.)

Questions? Visit www.metrosquash.org or contact us at erika@metrosquash.org or (773) 241-5150

MetroSquash es un programa extracurricular GRATUITO que se especializa en apoyo académico, squash competitivo y oportunidades de enriquecimiento. Estudiantes asisten el programa 3 días a la semana. Actualmente estamos aceptando estudiantes de Chute. (Los estudiantes deben calificar para almuerzo gratis o a precio reducido o ser la primera generación en asistir a la universidad.)

¿Preguntas? Visite www.metrosquash.org o contacta con nosotros en erika@metrosquash.org o (773) 241-5150.

Join D65 families for an evening of fun at NU Lacrosse!

NU vs. Michigan - Thursday, April 17th @ 7pm

Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium (a.k.a. Lakeside Stadium)

Purchase tickets here for $10. $5 per ticket goes to the District 65 PTA One Fund to support enriching academic opportunities and community engagement for all District 65 students.

For any families where this cost is a barrier, NU and the D65 PTA Council can provide tickets at no cost. Please use this form to request free tickets by Thursday, April 10.

If you would like to cover the cost of a ticket for someone in need, please donate here and indicate "NU Lacrosse Game ticket" in the box for special instructions.

Thank you for supporting our community!

Join D65 families for an afternoon of fun at NU Softball!

NU vs. Washington - Sunday, April 27th @ 1pm

Purchase tickets here for $10. $5 per ticket goes to the District 65 PTA One Fund to support enriching academic opportunities and community engagement for all District 65 students.

For any families where this cost is a barrier, NU and the D65 PTA Council can provide tickets at no cost. Please use this form to request free tickets by Friday, April 18.

If you would like to cover the cost of a ticket for someone in need, please donate here and indicate "NU Softball Game ticket" in the box for special instructions.

Thank you for supporting our community!

Rehearsal Schedule:

• Concert Orchestra (6th Grade)- Tuesdays 3:15-3:50 PM

• Chute Philharmonic (7th/8th Grade) Tuesday/Thursday 7:15-7:50

Concert Tour of the Chute Feeder Schools

• Thursday April 17th

Chute Orchestra Spring Concert

Tuesday, May 13th

• Call Time 6:30pm

• Performance Time 7:00 pm

Café Chute French Club meets on Monday, April 14 after school in room 101. You do not need to be in French class to come! Questions? See Prof. Cope!

Climbing Club meets Tuesday March 11th. Meet in the gym after school.

Please join the Chute Chess Club that runs at 3:15pm-4:15pm every Thursday. If interested, please contact Coach Chris Christmas at chrschess@yahoo.com.

GSA meets on Thursday, April 24 in Room 304. Questions? See Cope, Himebaugh or Mesi

Teen TEE at Chute is recruiting a new round of Black girls to join us for the Spring 2025 cohort. Teen TEE is designed for Black girls to nurture healthy identities and supportive relationships. We will work together to build a courageous space where girls feel seen and valued. Teen TEE will meet for 10 consecutive weeks after school in the library from 3:15-4:30pm. Snacks will be provided. We are currently recruiting 10-12 girls to join us for the spring cohort to start mid-February 2025. To register: https://forms.gle/9s4gwytxqUGpHXNs9

Stage Crew will meet on Tuesday, April 15th in the auditorium, 3:15pm - 4:15pm. Email Ms. McGuire with any questions (mcguirej@district65.net)

Meets Wednesdays!

Is your student interested in performing or what it takes to put on a show? Drama club is open to all students! Students play theater games, talk about plays, and produce a student-driven show for the Spring! Please contact Ms. Dardai at dardaid@district65.net if you have any questions. Students can just show up or stop by Ms. Dardai's room (110) to find out more information. Late bus is available.

Attention students and families!

Chute Middle School's first Star Wars Club meeting will be held on select Thursdays for the rest of the year in room 324. If you're a fan of the galaxy far, far away, this club is for you! To sign up for more information and stay updated, join our Google Classroom using the code "tvlbrlr." We look forward to seeing you there!

Come join Green STEAM Wednesdays 3:15-4:15pm in Room 313! Green STEAM connects Chute's garden with science, technology, engineering, art and math. We do sustainability projects, garden, cook delicious recipes with food we grew, do experiments, and create art. This school year we will be designing and making a mural for our butterfly garden next to the parking lot!