Mountain Lion Memo
Family Newsletter - October 2nd, 2026
From the Principal
It is the mission of Huntley Community School District 158 to educate and empower all students, always. In order to accomplish this, teachers and staff regularly monitor student learning through formal and informal assessments of their reading, math, and social emotional skills.
Three types of district-wide formal assessments are AIMSWeb (K-3), Renaissance STAR (2-5), and Satchel Pulse (PreK-12). These assessments are used as a universal screener. A universal screener provides data that supports the decision-making around levels of instructional support. All three assessments measure your student’s progress or growth in school. You may have a chart in your home on which you mark your child’s height at certain times, such as on his or her birthday. This is a growth chart. It shows how much he or she has grown from one year to the next. Similarly, AIMSWeb, STAR, and Satchel Pulse measure your child’s growth in reading, math, and social emotional skills.
In recent years, our local and state assessments have updated their normative data and cut scores. If you are interested in learning more about these changes, click here for additional information.
At this time, AIMSweb (K-2) data is being sent home. STAR is administered in grades 2-5 and that data can be found in the web-based version of Powerschool under the test score display option. These assessments are used along with classroom assessments and observations in order to determine instructional support. Adjustments are continually made to the educational program for all students as teachers learn what each student needs over time. Satchel Pulse will be administered later in the fall and additional information will come home at that time.
As a school staff, we are excited about our ability to know where all of our students are on their path to being successful learners. We hope that you are excited as well!
Celebrations 🙌
We’re Crushing It! 🙌
So far, we’ve logged 18,539 minutes *exceeding our goal of 10,000 minutes* and raised $12,288 toward our goal of $15,000. Don’t forget to share your reader’s Read-A-Thon page so friends and family can donate! Let’s keep reading toward our goals, which allows us to attend field trips, have assemblies, enjoy new books in our library and support rigorous instruction in our classrooms📚
Our TOP CLASSES are:
Mrs. Wilkinson - $1,350.00
Mrs. Holterhaus - 1,841 - Minutes Read
There is still time to support Mackeben and have your child earn prizes!!!
Use the link below to activate your student's Reader account:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/rDDnUG/1?utm=emailWeek At A Glance 📅
Book Fair
Welcome to the Jungle Literacy/Math Night
Welcome to the Jungle
Literacy/Math Night
Thursday, October 8th
5-7pm
No School
Monday, October 12th
Announcements & Reminders 📣
Help supply our Prize Cart
Students use their PAWS to "purr-chase" items
Thank you for your support
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3K18HUBFPZ9AM?ref_=wl_share
PTA News 👪
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES:
SQUARE BARN SHUFFLE!! :
🎉 We Have Our Square Barn Shuffle Fundraiser Winners! 🎉
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped make our Square Barn Shuffle fundraiser such a success! We are so excited to celebrate our top fundraising classrooms:
🏆 Mackeben: Ms. Gore’s Class
🏆 Conley: Ms. Jacob’s Class
Both classrooms will be receiving a special classroom prize! 🎉Our highest-earning students will be announced at each school next week! Thank you to all of our students, families, teachers, and supporters for helping make this fundraiser such a success! We couldn’t do it without you! ❤️
UPCOMING EVENTS
TRUNK OR TREAT!!!
Our Trunk or Treat will take place on Friday, October 23 from 5-7PM in the Mackeben/Conley Bus Lot. Follow the link below to reserve your spot as a trunk host!!
Trunk or Treat Trunk Host Sign Up
MEMBERSHIP: We met our goal of 100 members by September 18th!! We will have Mackeben’s “Pie The Principal” today, Friday, October 2nd! The classroom at Mackeben with the highest number of parents with paying memberships was a 3 way tie! Congratulations to Ms. Gore, Ms. Haas, and Ms. Scholl!! Their classrooms will receive an indoor recess game of their choosing.
MEETINGS: Join us for our next community meeting!
Where: In Person: Conley Elementary Library (B103) Childcare Provided! (ages 3 and up). Children are welcome at our meetings too!
Online : https://meet.google.com/hvw-wehs-miw
Time: 6:00PM
When: Thursday October 15th
CONTACT US: squarebarnpta@gmail.com Square Barn PTA Website
District News 🪧
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join Us on 10/13 for NEW Huntley 158 Movie Night
When: Tuesday, October 13
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Where: Heineman Middle School
Register HERE
Grab a blanket and get comfy for Huntley 158’s first sensory-friendly movie night open to all ages! The featured movie, Out of My Mind (rated PG), is an inspiring story about a young girl with cerebral palsy who finds her voice and challenges others to see what she is capable of. With powerful themes of friendship, inclusion and perseverance, it’s the perfect film to bring our community together.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the movie begins at 6:15 p.m. Come dressed for comfort and bring a blanket for floor seating; an accessible seating area will also be available. We’ll provide snacks and water, or feel free to bring your own. Stop by our “selfie station” and enter for a chance to win a prize!
The evening will wrap up at approximately 8 p.m. Students under age 13 must attend with a parent or guardian.
Questions? Contact Ina Hall, Huntley 158 Family Engagement Liaison, at ihall@district158.org.
Thriving Futures Talk on PUNS
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time: 6:30–7:30 PM (45-minute presentation with 15 minutes for Q & A)
Location: District Office, Room 180, 650 Dr. John Burkey Dr., Algonquin
Cost: Free; light snacks will be served
Guest Speaker: Jen Rowzee, Services Inc.
During this session, Huntley 158 families who have a student with an IEP will learn about the timeline to follow when applying for disability-related benefits for their child. The presentation will highlight PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services), providing an overview of the potential benefits available when families plan early.
As a follow-up to this, families can make a 30-minute appointment on Monday, October 19 to meet one-on-one with a Services Inc. representative who will walk them through the PUNS registration process, answer questions, and provide guidance on what information is needed to complete the application. Visit the website for more information about both events.
MPAC Meeting & Family Reading Night
Join us on Monday, November 2 at Martin Elementary for an evening of learning, connection, and family fun! From 6:00–6:30 p.m., our MPAC (Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee) meeting will focus on an overview and discussion of District data. Pizza will be served, and childcare will be provided during the meeting.
Following MPAC, stay for our MPAC-sponsored Family Reading Night from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Families will have an opportunity to enjoy reading activities, explore resources, and learn strategies to support literacy at home.
📍 Martin Elementary, 10920 Reed Road
We hope to see you there!
Mackeben Quick Links 🔗
Questions / Feedback❓
Virtual Bulletin Board 🎯
Mackeben Information
Address - 800 Dr. John Burkey Dr. Algonquin, IL 60102
Main Office Phone Number - 847-659-3400
Attendance Number - 847-659-3411
Marcie Marzullo - Principal
847-659-3401
Katie Aumann - Assistant Principal
847-659-3402
Jamie DeYoung - Special Services Coordinator
847-659-3573