Mechanics Grove School

Think WIN-WIN Food Drive at MG

Student Lighthouse Council is moving on to their next great act of kindness for our community. They have designed a non-parishable food drive to support our local Mundelein families in need. After the drive is complete, we will bring all of the items to our Welcome Center to support families. PLEASE NOTE: This is an optional event. Not all students need to participate.

Why call this the Think WIN_WIN Drive? Because it's a win-win situation. Students and staff at MG win because they can participate in a wonderful cause and help families in need. In addition, our families in Mundelein will win by receiving support where needed.

We will collect items from December 1st through December 12th.

LIST OF EXAMPLE ITEMS

Please see the attached information from our Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Jamie DiCarlo.

In the event the rumor of a threat or the direct observation of a threat occur in any of our schools, the school team immediately initiates an investigation and involves law enforcement as warranted. Our school officials are trained in the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, widely recognized in school systems as CSTAG.

While the threat is investigated, the person(s) identified as making the threat are sought out, isolated and supervised early in the process.

REPORT CARDS AND IAR SCORES

Last week report cards were sent home along with the student IAR score reports for 4th and 5th graders. If you are looking for more information on the IAR assessment or the new proficiency scores and benchmarks, please see this link to the assessment page on our website: D75 Assessment Information

The D75 Spiritwear Store is OPEN!!

Use THIS LINK to visit the spiritwear store. It will be open until December 1st. Orders will be ready for Hanukkah and Christmas!

A Note from our Social Workers

Due to the Government shut down, many federal programs are at a standstill or are not functioning the way they normally would. Many of our families in our community have lost their SNAP benefits. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This is a federal program (formerly known as food stamps) that provides low-income households with monthly benefits to purchase groceries. Staying on a budget is difficult enough as it is for many people, but no one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

The Welcome Center, located at 1500 West Hawley, is a donation-based boutique operated by Mundelein High School and open to the surrounding community. The Welcome Center offers a food pantry and clothing items free of charge for the community. Due to the current economic status of our community, more families are seeking assistance. Donating items or money is a wonderful way students and families can embrace Habit 4- Think Win Win, Habit 5- Seek to Understand, Then to be Understood, and Habit 6- Synergize. When we come together as a community to support one another and work together, everyone wins. If you would like to donate money, follow this link https://omella.com/i8ibp. If you would like to donate food or non-food items, here is a list of items to consider. Food: canned beans, cooking oil, oatmeal, cereal, juice, snacks, flour, pancake batter, jelly, pasta/pasta sauce, coffee, mayonnaise, ketchup, sugar, lentils, cookies. Non-Food: Dish soap, bath soap, laundry detergent, diapers, wipes, toothbrushes/toothpaste, paper towels, cleaning supplies, gently used or new clothing and shoes, new socks and underwear (all sizes), grocery store gift cards.

The power of social media also comes in handy as well. Rebecca Chobat leads a Youtube channel titled Dollar Tree Dinners. Her goal is to share recipes that can feed a family with limited funds. Her channel has videos of her recipes and links to the recipes she buys ingredients for. Here is her youtube link https://www.youtube.com/@DollarTreeDinners. You can also follow her on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. If you follow this link https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/dollar-tree-dinners, it lists her recipes and her amazon storefront. All the recipes are free to view.

A Note from our Specials Teachers

PE

We’ve had an exciting and active fall in PE! Students have been working hard to improve their skills while also focusing on living out the 7 Habits. Especially Habit 1: Be Proactive. Being proactive means taking responsibility for our actions, showing good sportsmanship, and giving our best effort whether we win or lose. Students are learning that leadership starts with themselves, both in PE and beyond. Over the past few weeks, we wrapped up our soccer unit where students practiced teamwork, communication, and control through dribbling, passing, and small-sided games. We are now transitioning into lacrosse and frisbee, where students are learning new skills such as stick handling, cradling, throwing, and catching, while continuing to build cooperation and respect for others.

Art

In art class, students have been showing their creativity and problem-solving skills, as they experiment with different art materials and processes. In third grade, students are learning about the art of printmaking. Students created an original design on a foam plate and used ink or markers to make several relief prints. Students are experimenting with different ink amounts and discussing with other students what makes a successful print. In fourth grade, Students have been working hard on creating an original mask made out of construction paper. While adding many details to their masks, students have been focusing on symmetry, creativity and craftsmanship. Fifth grade students finished up their oil pastel projects, and will be using their color theory and painting skills to create an original whimsical winter watercolor landscape.

Music

In music this month, 3rd grade has been hard at work improvising on xylophones using the books, “Bedtime At the Swamp” and “Creepy Carrots.” We learned that “improvising” means to make something up on the spot, whereas composing is when we have time to create and edit a piece of music. 4th Grade spent the month learning about a stick game called “Tititorea” that originates from the Māori culture. Students learned 5 different stick tapping patterns. Two patterns even involved throwing or flipping their sticks with a partner! This led us into learning a new musical symbol called a “time signature.” Students identified that our Tititorea patterns were grouped in beats of three. They then identified the time signatures of several other pieces of music. 5th Grade has been hard at work on their upcoming music concert, “We Shine Bright.” Their concert will feature songs about all things that shine. Our concert is on December 10th, 2025. Please check your email or the flier that was sent home for more specific information!

Discovery Den

First off, thank you to all who supported the Book Fair during conferences by volunteering and shopping! Purchasing books to read at home helps fund more books at MG.

If you have a fourth or fifth grader at MG, you might remember your students talking about Pumpkinstein, the pumpkin we closed up in a jar and observed as it decomposed. By the end of the year it sprouted and we now have 17 pumpkins as a result! We are putting one of Pumpkinstein’s pumpkins in another in a jar to observe the process again. Third grade heard the book Pumpkin Jack to prepare for this, and affectionately named the pumpkin Cheeseball. Over the past few weeks students have been collaborating on activities. Fourth and Fifth graders created towers out of three pieces of paper and tape. The towers needed to support as many books as possible. One group’s tower supported 20 books! Last week, fourth and fifth grade students listened to the Scariest Campfire Story You’ve Ever Heard by Ron Keres. In this book, two boys and their father go camping and are scared by noises outside their tent. Ask your student about the surprise ending!

A Note from our Reading Teachers

Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment at home

Fostering a love for reading begins at home. By creating a literacy-rich environment, parents can significantly influence their children’s reading skills and lifelong learning habits. Here are some suggestions to help you cultivate a space that encourages and nurtures reading.

Dedicate a reading space-Create a cozy reading space that invites your child to spend time reading. This does not need to be a large space but a comfortable place with good lighting and easy access to books.
Keep a variety of reading materials-Always have a variety of reading materials accessible. Make sure to include non-fiction and fiction. These materials can include books, magazines, audio books, etc..
Set a routine- Establish a routine that fits naturally into your family's schedule. Some suggestions include winding down before bed or a quiet morning start. Parent involvement in reading shows improved proficiency but also shows your child that reading is an important part of everyday life.
Lead by example-Children imitate the behaviors they see. Let your child see you reading books, newspapers, or magazines. Discuss what you’ve read at meals or share interesting facts with them. Your engagement with reading material demonstrates its importance and enjoyment, encouraging your child to develop similar habits.
Celebrate reading achievements-Recognize and celebrate your child’s reading milestones, whether it’s finishing a particularly long book or mastering a new word. Positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivate them to take on new reading challenges, creating a more reading-friendly home environment.

Our District is Hiring Paraprofessionals and Guest Teachers

Please visit the district website for more information on how to join our amazing D75 Team!

A Note from our PTO

Box Tops (flyers attached)

Box Tops is still going strong. We are currently 43% ($437.50) towards our goal of raising $1,000. In November you can earn bonus Box Tops when you buy Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cheerios, Annie’s, Progresso, and Old El Paso products. Be sure to join the Monthly Challenge for additional Bonus Box Tops.

OPEN GYM

Venture Athletics is hosting an open gym exclusively for D75 K-8th students on Saturday, December 13th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Tickets for this event can be purchased through the QR code on the flyer for only $10. Venture Athletics will donate 15% of sales back to the PTO.

Gift Card Purchases

Purchase gift cards from RaiseRight.com and help the District 75 PTO earn money! See the flyer below.
With over 750 popular brands participating, you can earn money for the PTO by getting your morning coffee, dining out with the family or getting TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFTS.

Return order to school by 12/8.

Cards will be ordered on 12/10 and will be delivered to schools before 12/18

Dine Out

With Thanksgiving days away, who wants to cook? Join the PTO at Taqueria Los Perez on Tuesday, November 25th for a Taco Tuesday Dine Out! Flyers will be coming home soon.

Thank you

The PTO Board would like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped plan, organize, donate, or volunteer time to make our events possible.

Important Dates

11/20- Thursday After School Clubs

11/24- MG SPIRIT DAY

11/25- Wear Fall Colors

11/26, 11/27, 11/28- NO SCHOOL

12/9- Tuesday After School Clubs

12/10- 5th Grade Music Concert (6:00pm and 7:00pm at MG)

12/11- Thursday After School Clubs

12/12- Early Release (students dismissed at 11:05am)

12/17- 5th-8th Grade Band Concert (7:00pm at MHS)

12/18- Last Day of School before Winter Break

1/6- TUESDAY -School Resumes for Students

Do you want more information about your student?

Text the word YES to 79041 to receive text message notifications from their school. Click here for more information.

Find Information HERE

RevTrack: this document has details. For help with payment and balances, please contact Patty DeLozier, pdelozier@d75.org or 847-949-2700 ext. 2014.
PowerSchool: directions for parent accounts is HERE If you have any questions, contact Diana Solis via email dsolis@d75.org.
Teacher contact info: our staff list is on our WEBSITE.