HCMS November Newsletter

Thank you for taking time to read this monthly newsletter. One of our goals is to ensure that our families have all of the information needed to help support your children as they make the most of their middle school years! In addition to our building monthly newsletter, each grade level team will send a weekly newsletter on Friday afternoons.

Our doors are always open should you have questions, compliments or concerns. We know that in order to provide the best education for the "Whole Child" our partnerships with caregivers and parents are essential. You will find our email addresses below.

Sincerely,

Tricia Dotson - Principal (tdotson@fsd157c.org)

Jason Crockett- Assistant Principal (jcrockett@fsd157c.org)

Tyler Sinclair- Assistant Principal (tsinclair@fsd157c.org

Academic Goal:

• We will continue to provide rigor and opportunity for academic growth to all students in grades 6th- 8th.

Social/Emotional Goal:

• We will support staff and student social and emotional needs and enhance the opportunity for growth in relationships with one another.

Communication Goal:

• We will increase opportunities for family engagement both during the school day and through extra-curricular activities.

Safety Goal:

• We will provide a safe learning environment for staff and students in our learning community.

• 3-2 8th Grade Student Government Day
• 3-4 Hot Lunch - Athletic Boosters
• 3-9 thru 3-13 FSP Bookfair
• 3-11 Hot Lunch - Chorus Boosters
• 3-12 & 3-13 LWSRA Popsicle Sales at lunch
• 3-12 LWSRA Game at HCMS 6:30 p.m.
• 3-12 FSP Bookfair open during LWSRA Game
• 3-13 Student Council Dance 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• 3-17 Remote Learning Day HCMS ONLY
• 3-18 Hot Lunch - FSP
• 3-19 & 3-20 IAR Testing Reading
• 3-24 & 3-25 & 3-26 IAR 8th Grade Testing Math & Science
• 3-25 Hot Lunch - LWSRA
• 3-27 Early Release 1 hour - 1:10 p.m.
• 3-30 thru 4-3 Spring Break

As a reminder- Students may only have lunch dropped off by a parent or guardian. We are unable to accept food from others, including Uber eats or deliveries.

• Any dropped off food must be for an individual student, not for friends or lunch tables.
• Any dropped off food must not have drinks that have straws- screw tops only please.

Students who plan to participate in extracurricular activities must be in attendance at school for at least 1/2 a day. The Hickory Creek 1/2 day time is 11:00 A.M.

Due to Hickory Creek being a polling place on March 17th- We will hold an E-Learning Day.

• The campus will be closed for all HCMS students.
• Grand Prairie and Chelsea will hold in-person learning, as normal.
• The HCMS E-Learning Schedule can be found below.

Hickory Creek will be administering the IAR ELA and Math assessments to all 6th-8th graders on the dates below. Eighth grade students only will take the ISA (Illinois Science Assessment).

Please be sure to avoid scheduling appointments or other absences on these dates.

ELA Assessment

• March 19, 2026
• March 20, 2026

Math and Science (8th grade only) Assessments:

• March 24, 2026
• March 25, 2026
• March 26, 2026

Students will be invited to shop at the FSP Book Fair during their ELA classes and before and after school on March 9th- March 13th.

Families are welcome to stop in and shop at the FSP Scholastic Book Fair from 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. on March 12th, during the Wheelchair Basketball game.😄

This month, we will continue viewing Tiger TV episodes on Mondays, W.I.N. Days on Wednesdays, and Teambuilding Days on Friday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays this month, our SEL lesson focuses on conflict and making amends. We will also have two Lincoln-Way Special Recreation lessons that are building up to our district wide event, LWSRA Wheelchair Basketball game (Thursday, March 12th @ 6:30 pm). There are several days in March that advisory will be shortened to accommodate the IAR testing schedule.

This month, 7th grade classrooms will continue SEL lessons in Second Step on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. These lessons will be geared towards keeping calm during conflicts, different perspectives, and resolving conflicts. Students will participate in a Digital Citizenship lesson about fair use when using technology. Monday’s will still be dedicated to Tiger TV, Wednesday’s will be W.I.N. (what I need) days, and Friday’s will be Team Building. During the week of IAR, students may have adjusted schedules during those days to accommodate testing. Lastly, we will also have two Lincoln-Way Special Rec lessons as well that will tie along with our annual Wheelchair Basketball game! We hope everyone has a great month!

This month, we will continue viewing Tiger TV episodes on Mondays, W.I.N. Days on Wednesdays, and Teambuilding Days on Friday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays this month, our SEL lesson with focus on Stress—how it can help us grow, strategies to manage stress, and getting help. We will also have 2 Lincoln-Way Special Rec. Lessons. Lastly, we will have our last Digital Citizenship Lesson, which will focus on Breaking News and how to respond to it.

Dental Exam reminder:

• We are still in need of IL Dental Exam forms for many of our 6th grade students. Please are required per the state. School dental exams must be completed within the 18 months prior to May 15, 2026. Dental forms can be found on the district website. Please submit these soon.

8th Grade Vision Screenings:

• We are finishing up 8th grade vision screenings; referrals will be going home soon for students that did not meet the minimum criteria.

Be sure set health routines:

• Many times, we hear the students say they didn’t have time to eat breakfast or brush their teeth because they are rushing in the morning. Please help your child develop routines that have them getting a good night's sleep to ensure all their morning responsibilities are completed.

Medical Forms:

• If you still need to bring in medical forms or medications, please let us know. All forms can be found on the district website.

8th grade parents- it's not too early to get the IL Health Exams for high school completed. This is required per the state of Illinois, and schools may ask for this during registration in spring 2026.

Track Season

• Track season is here; students must have a current physical file to try out. Please call the front office if you have any questions.

Medical forms for the 2026-2027 school year are now available on the district website.

Keeping names on inhalers and epi-pens

• Make sure your child’s name is on their inhalers and epi-pens if they are authorized to self- carry**

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ----- George R.R. Martin

New books have arrived and will be processed and out on the shelves soon. They include a great selection of fiction and non-fiction, graphic novels and manga. Be on the lookout for these in the next two weeks.

A reminder to all families that the Hickory Creek Library is open for one hour after school – until 3:15. Students needing to do homework, sit and read, meet with friends, Help Mrs. G put books away 😊, etc.… are welcome.

An “ANT” is a thinking pattern that doesn’t match reality. When you notice that you are having one, you can begin to train your mind to ignore them. Here are a few ways to help manage an “ANT”:

• Notice the thought and label it as untrue.

• Challenge the truth of the thought with evidence and fact.

• Remember that positive emotions undo negative thinking.

• Distract yourself with something happy.

Always remember, Thoughts are JUST thoughts. They are NOT facts. YOU ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS.

We encourage all students to get involved with extra-curriculars at Hickory Creek!

Throughout the year, we will provide all sign-up information through our Tiger Time Advisory Teams page to students. There will be announcements on Power School and Tiger TV to notify students of when new activities are starting up.

• Please be sure to look at the list below with your child and encourage them to keep their ears out for upcoming activities that they may want to be a part of this year.

Band and Orchestra

• February was another fun month for our Band and Orchestra program. The orchestra performed at Lincoln-way East on their annual Strings Extravaganza, and many of our students participated in the IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest at Mokena Jr High. This month the Symphonic Band and Advanced Band will be performing at the Lincoln-Way East Band Concert on March 3rd. The Jazz Band will be performing at the Lincoln-Way East Fish Fry on March 20th. We have a lot to look forward to!

Chorus

• Congratulations to the 27 vocal soloists and ensembles that performed at the IGSMA Solo-Ensemble contest in February – all events received Division I “Superior” ratings! The HCMS Varsity Chorus, Advanced Choir, and Show Choir will be performing at the IGSMA District Choral Contest on March 7 – HCMS is hosting the event. We will finish the day with a celebration at Medieval Times. Some of our talented vocal soloists and ensembles will also be performing at the LWE Fish Fry on February 27. In addition, rehearsals for this year’s spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie” are in full swing! Busy times in the choral department!

Student Council

• Since returning from winter break, the HCMS Student Council has been very busy!
• In January and February, Student Council proudly partnered with the Frankfort Lions Club for a school-wide personal care item drive. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our students and families, hundreds of items were collected to support individuals and families in need within our community. We are so proud of the compassion and leadership our students have shown.
• Wasting no time, Student Council members and sponsors immediately began planning one of the most anticipated events of the year — our annual all-school dance! This year’s dance, themed “A Night in Paris,” will take place on March 13th from 6:00–8:00 p.m. It promises to be a fun, festive, and memorable evening for all HCMS students.

Best Buddies

• March is officially Best Buddies Month! With that, we will have plenty of special activities around Hickory Creek to continue to promote inclusion. We will have a special episode on Tiger TV, as well as having a Spirit Day on March 12th. Our next meeting will be on Monday, March 2nd!!

Cheerleading

• We are so proud of both of our HCMS cheer teams for competition at the IESA state competition in February. We are looking forward to our cheerleading intramural in the spring!

JV Girls Volleyball

• Congratulations to our 7th grade girls' volleyball team on taking first place in their conference tournament! They earned the win in two sets, 25-7, and 25-16 against Martino. They are currently sitting in first place going into regionals during the first week of March. Go Tigers!

Varsity Girls Volleyball

• The volleyball team finished conference play undefeated and proving their hard work and dedication every step of the way. Through relentless effort in practice, strong team chemistry, and a commitment to supporting one another, they dominated every conference matchup. Their determination and resilience carried them into the conference tournament, where they rose to the challenge and captured the Conference Championship title. This incredible accomplishment reflects not only their talent on the court, but their unity, leadership, and pride in representing their school. We are looking forward to the post-season in March!

Track

• Spring is just around the corner, and that means track and field season is almost here at HCMS! Track is open to all three grade levels and offers a wide variety of events, giving athletes of all experience levels the opportunity to find their best fit.
• Tryouts will begin the week of March 16th. Seventh and eighth graders will try out on Monday and Wednesday, while sixth graders will try out on Thursday and Friday. Specific event information for each day can be found on the flyer posted at school, on the “This Week at the Creek” Teams page, or on the registration page in your Snap Manage account through the athletics website.
• All athletes must have a current physical on file by March 9th in order to participate.
• If you have any questions, please contact Coach Nemeth at enemeth@fsd157c.org or Coach Stein at mstein@fsd157c.org.
• We’re looking forward to another great season at Hickory Creek and can’t wait to get started!

Tiger TV

• Tiger TV production continues to be successful. It has been exciting to watch our students step up and take ownership of their roles. Their commitment, creativity, and teamwork continue to elevate the club each time we gather. They are the driving force behind every broadcast, and we’re eager to see all they accomplish as the school year continues.
• A select squad of Tiger TV reporters hit the road to "paws" and ask some important questions! They traveled to Grand Prairie and Chelsea to interview younger students about the materials provided by the Education Foundation.
• Armed with microphones and plenty of curiosity, our crew dug in to get the “write” answers and spotlight how these resources are making a difference. From thoughtful responses to a few camera-shy giggles, it was a newsworthy adventure from start to finish!
• Our live streaming efforts have also gotten off to a strong start. A number of Tiger TV members have generously given their time to stream school events, making it possible for families to watch from home. We’re grateful for their dedication and plan to keep expanding our live coverage whenever possible.
• We’re also looking ahead with enthusiasm as we prepare to train on new equipment that will be introduced next school year. There’s a lot to be excited about for the future of Tiger TV!

Fitness Room

• Open Monday-Wednesday-Thursday after school until 3:15. Be sure to have a current physical and sign up on SNAP to join in on the fun!

Bowling

• Bowling is gearing up to select members that will be a part of the HCMS competitive bowling team. These select individuals will compete at a couple extra tournaments and the IESA sectional tournament and hopefully qualifying for the IESA state finals

NJHS

• NJHS this month focused on the character pillar this month. Members reflected on the service they would like to complete in 2026 and created a Service vision board. Look for the display coming soon near the library that will reflect on all the activities NJHS members hope to conquer this year. To end the month of February, they will focus on Kindness around the school and have a heart lollipop sale during lunch.

Chess Club

• Hickory Creek’s Chess team will round out their season with a trip to Peoria, IL to contend at State. 20 players from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will throw their hats in the ring. We know the outcome will be impressive! We’ve been working on openings, mid-game attack, and clinching the game. Our thoughtful players are sure to exhibit great control of the board and fine sportsmanship! Congratulations to all on our biggest season yet!

Scholastic Bowl

• The Hickory Creek Scholastic Bowl team kicked off their season with a commanding win over Hilda Walker in February. In March, Hickory Creek will test their scholastic abilities against Manhattan, Summit Hill, and Homer Hadley scholastic bowl teams. All three of the March games are home events, with 3:45 p.m. start times, in the library. We are so proud of the 2026 team of students, who represent Frankfort Hickory Creek, in these highly competitive weekly matches. You can find these students using their spare time, researching and memorizing trivia in the areas of science, social science, history, math, literature, language arts, art, music, and pop culture. After placing fifth in state last year, this amazing group of competitors is determined to be prepared for the tournament series in late April. Go Tigers!

Dungeons and Dragon Club

• Dungeons and Dragons wrapped up their sessions on the last week of February. Look for next years sign-up on this Week in the Creek!

Student Government Day

• Student Government Day will take place on March 2. In preparation, students have been meeting with Mayor Ogle, Event Coordinator Sue Lynchey, and Village Clerk Katie Schubert to learn more about local government and community leadership.
• Students are looking forward to their upcoming field trip, which includes visits to the Frankfort Village Hall, the Fire District, the Police Department, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aurelio’s, and the Public Works Facility. They have also been preparing for a mock village board meeting and exploring the various governmental roles that support the Village of Frankfort.
• We are proud of their hard work and enthusiasm as they gain firsthand insight into how their local government serves the community.

Technology Club

• It’s been an exciting year in Technology Club at the Creek! Students have been diving into hands-on projects, exploring coding, robotics, game design, and emerging technologies. From collaborating on creative builds to solving real-world challenges, members are learning new skills while having a great time together.
• The energy in the room is contagious as students experiment, troubleshoot, and celebrate their successes. Whether programming their latest project, designing digital creations, or testing out new tech tools, our Tech Club members are truly building the future—right here at the Creek!
• We’re proud of their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.
• We meet every Wednesday throughout February and March!

Board Game Club

• Students continue to come every Tuesday for friendly board games, competition and social time amongst peers; board game club will continue to run thru March, from 2:15-3:15 after school in Mrs. Gatsios’s classroom, 1710; anyone welcome to come join at any time...feel free to bring your own board game if you want (games are available at school too).