Mechanics Grove School
Weekly Wolf Update
October 2nd, 2026
Julio Iglesias
Want to help with the Spooky Boogie Bash?
A Note from our Specials Teachers
PE
We are off to an exciting start in PE this year! Our students have jumped right in with great energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm. We’ve started the year by building connections and confidence through fun icebreaker games, developing movement skills through kickball, and we’ll soon be transitioning into flag football. It has been great to see students working together, learning new skills, challenging themselves, and most importantly, having fun while staying active! To help ensure that all students have a safe, respectful, and successful experience in PE, we are introducing a PE Student Contract for Accountability. This contract outlines clear expectations and encourages students to take ownership of their behavior, effort, attitude, and sportsmanship. We will continue to build student leaders, promote teamwork and positive character, and encourage healthy, active lifestyles!
Art
We’ve had a great start to the year in art class! Students have been very attentive and respectful as we have been learning rules and procedures while creating a relief sculpture focusing on different types of lines made with construction paper strips. We’ve discussed how students are responsible for using kind words and actions as they share, take care of art materials, stay engaged, and try their best. I am looking forward to having fun and building relationships as we dive into our grade level projects. Students will learn about art concepts, experiment with different art materials and have many opportunities to express their unique abilities and creativity.
Music
We have had an amazing start to the school year in music! In just a few short weeks, students have been singing, moving, playing, composing, and improvising. In the music room, Students are active participants in music making, and are encouraged to explore their own musical ideas. 3rd Grade spent the first few music classes composing rhythms to the book “All Are Welcome”. 3rd Grade is currently working on adding hand drums to the song, “Double Double”, as well as reviewing the solfege, “Do, Mi, So, La” through the song “Apple Tree”. 4th Grade just finished up the song, “Starting a New Year Together”. They composed body percussion patterns and added instruments such as hand drums, cabasas, triangles, and guiros. 5th Grade began the year by learning the song, “Autumn Leaves”. Students added xylophones, and composed their own autumn rhythms that were added to the song. Overall, it has been an amazing start to the year. I am looking forward to seeing what else this year will bring!
Discovery Den
We jumped right back into library activities here in the Discovery Den with previewing some new series that arrived over the summer. Grades 4 and 5 have been practicing alphabetical order and third graders started a scavenger hunt to learn where books are located in the Den. In addition, the students have been voting on a name for our new Discovery Den mascot. The final results should be in next week! Book checkout has also started and students are so excited to be able to select books. Please note that there is an automatic email that goes out the day a book becomes overdue, which is usually the day after their book check out. Students can return these overdue books directly to the Den or keep them until their next library day and put them on the book return cart. I’m looking forward to a year of fun activities in the Den.
A Message from our School Social Worker and Counselor
Before students can learn coping skills, build healthy friendships, solve conflicts, or make responsible decisions, they need to understand themselves first.
They need opportunities to identify their emotions, recognize their strengths, explore their interests, and understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect.
Self-awareness is the conscious ability to recognize and understand your own thoughts, emotions, behaviors, strengths, and how you impact the people around you. Self-awareness is one of those foundational skills that supports everything else we teach.
Some simple ways to help build self-awareness with kids are:
Helping kids identify and name their emotions.
Teaching the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Encouraging reflection on strengths, interests, and personal goals.
Creating opportunities for kids to share about themselves and get to know one another.
Reinforcing a growth mindset and helping kids recognize that mistakes are part of learning.
Using creative activities that help kids explore their identities, values, and experiences.
Ways parents can support kids at home with self-awareness are:
Model how to express emotions and thoughts, and own mistakes.
Daily check-ins before school, after school, and before bedtime.
Use stories and media to discuss characters and their situations.
By creating opportunities for self-reflection at home, parents can empower children to understand themselves deeply—giving them the confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence needed to navigate relationships and life's challenges.
Digital Suggestion Box
Linked below in the section titled "Helpful Links and Information" is a new feature called our digital suggestion box. Parents and families are an important part of our learning community and we want to hear from you! The form that is linked is completely anonymous and you can share celebrations, suggestions, and feedback. You can answer only the questions that apply to you.
On a regular basis, our school leadership team will review the entries and use the feedback in the most meaningful way possible.
SPIRIT WEAR!!!
BIG NEWS, DISTRICT 75 FAMILIES!
We are thrilled to launch our brand-new Spirit Wear collection with an exciting new look for Lincoln, Washington, Mechanics Grove, and Carl Sandburg!
Whether you're cheering on the Lions, Eagles, Wolves, or Tigers, it's time to show your school pride with some awesome new styles!
Our Custom Design Shop is officially OPEN!
- Shop: https://shopcottonandink.com/
- Password: D75_Spirit
- Shop Closes: Wednesday, October 7th
- Delivery: Items will be sent home with students in November
Check out the attached flyer for a sneak peek at some of the new gear and all the details. Head over to the shop and get ready to rep your school in style!
Questions? Contact hello@shopcottonandink.com
Financial Assistance
The Board of Education of Mundelein Elementary School District 75 is committed to ensuring all students have access to educational and co-curricular opportunities. To support this goal, the district will waive all school fees and fines required for participation if a student’s parent or guardian qualifies for assistance. To be considered for a waiver of registration and beginning-of-year fees, returning families must submit their application by October 15, 2026.
Applications submitted after this date will apply only to future fees. New families have 30 days from their student’s first day of school to apply; if approved within that window, registration fees may be waived. After the 30-day period, assistance may still be requested, but it will only apply to future fees.
Read the attached letter from the district to learn how to apply!
Every Day Counts: Building Our Dream Team Together!
Attendance Matters
At MG we consider our students to be the heart of a championship team. Just like any great team, every single player matters. When one teammate is missing, the whole group feels it. As our students navigate these crucial upper-elementary years, building a foundation of consistent school attendance is the single most powerful strategy we have to unlock their potential.
Third through fifth grade is a period of massive academic and social development. This is where reading to learn takes center stage, math concepts become more abstract, and deep peer friendships solidify. When students miss a day, they do not just miss assignments; they miss the collaborative discussions, hands-on science experiments, and social connections that make learning stick.
The data strongly supports what we see in the classrooms every day. In a peer-reviewed study published by Bahar and Auletto (2025) in the Northwestern Collaborative for Applied Research in Education, researchers analyzed data from over 66,000 elementary students. The study conclusively found that attendance rates are a strong and consistent predictor of academic growth in both math and reading. Simply put: showing up is the catalyst for growth.
We know that life happens—illnesses occur, and family emergencies arise. However, our goal as an attendance team is to partner with you to make every regular school day count. Let's look at attendance not as a chore, but as a shared daily celebration of learning. Thank you for being our most valuable partners. Together, we are coaching this amazing student body toward a bright, successful future!
PTO Updates
PTO Meeting Join us for our October PTO Meeting on October 14 at 7:00 PM in the Carl Sandburg MPR! We’ll share school and PTO updates, discuss upcoming events and committees, and continue organizing our PTO Board and committees for the year. All D75 families are welcome—we’d love to see you there! Show your D75 school spirit! Our new Spirit Wear collection features designs for Lincoln, Washington, Mechanics Grove, and Carl Sandburg. The shop closes October 7, and orders will be delivered in November. Password: D75_Spirit D75 PTO Discount Cards – $20 Save while supporting D75! Our 2026–2027 Discount Card features 26 local businesses and is valid through September 1, 2027. Purchase Your Discount Card(s) Here! Learn more about the Discount Card October is a great month to earn Box Tops for D75! National Box Tops Week is October 12–18, and families can also participate in the October Monthly Challenge for opportunities to earn extra Box Tops. If you haven't already, download the Box Tops app, search for District 75 PTO Mundelein, and use code PNKN0SEQ. October Box Tops English Flyer October Box Tops Spanish Flyer The D75 PTO is always looking for families who would like to help with events, fundraisers, committees, and more! Complete our short Volunteer Interest Form and let us know how you'd like to get involved. Our 2026–2027 PTO-sponsored events are now listed on our website. Mark your calendars and join us throughout the year!
Spirit Wear – Order by October 7!
Box Tops for Education
Want to Get Involved with D75 PTO?
D75 PTO-Sponsored Events
Staff Celebration
Upcoming Dates/Events
10/7- School Improvement Day (Students dismissed at 11:05am)
10/9- SPORTS DAY! Big Bears game this weekend :)
10/9- BratFest (5:00-7:00pm at CSMS)
10/12- NO SCHOOL
10/14- PTO Meeting (7:00pm at CSMS)
10/16- PTO Spooky Boogie Bash (6:00-8:00pm at MG)
10/20- School Board of Education Meeting (6:00pm at District Office)
10/22 and 12/23- 5th Grade Camp Duncan Trip
10/27- Picture Retake Day
10/30- Halloween Parade at MG (2:00pm)- Details to come
Helpful Links and Information
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.
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.
Leave us a Note in our Digital Suggestion Box
Mechanics Grove Website
Check out our school website!
Community Events
Learn more about what's happening in our community!
Social Media
Follow us on our facebook page: Mechanics Grove School
Follow us on TikTok @principal.be.kind
