October 3, 2025

Hello Hawk Families,

This week, we had a great time celebrating our custodians for National Custodian Appreciation Day! We are so grateful to our custodial team, who work each day to make sure our school is ready for learning. We truly could not do this work without them! Featured in the photo is our Head Custodian, Mrs. Clara Flores (right), and our D39 Electrician, Mike Stella (left).

In this week's newsletter, we focus on:

• Upcoming Events: Picture retakes and more.
• Notable Notes: MESH Assessment, Nurse Notes, and more.
• HMS PTO Updates: Hawk Hut, Freaky Friday, and more.
• D39 Updates: Ed Foundation, Parent Ed Events, and more.
• Community News
• Hawk Handbook Highlights

We hope that you all have an amazing weekend ahead!

Go Hawks!

Anthony, Linda, + Susie

Dear Highcrest Families,

We’re excited to invite you to Highcrest Day at Northwestern Baseball on Sunday, October 19, for an afternoon of fun and community spirit!

• Game Time: 1:00 p.m. – Northwestern vs. University of Chicago
• Special Access: Starting at 12:30 p.m., Highcrest families will enjoy exclusive access to Northwestern’s practice facilities.

Students are encouraged to bring their creativity! They can design signs to cheer on the Wildcats, and the winning sign will earn a baseball signed by the entire Northwestern team.

This event is part of our ongoing partnership with Northwestern University Baseball, now in its second year. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen connections between our schools and create meaningful opportunities for students.

In the coming months, Northwestern players will visit homerooms to share tips on:

• Balancing academics with other interests
• Setting and achieving goals
• Managing time effectively
• Succeeding in middle school

We’re thrilled to continue this growing partnership and look forward to more unique experiences ahead. Stay tuned for updates—and we hope to see you at the game!

Go Wildcats! Go Hawks!

• Tuesday, October 7 - Hawk Hut [PTO Sponsored] during student recess.
• Thursday, October 9 - Picture Retake Day at Highcrest
• Wednesday, October 14 - Last day to submit 6th Grade Health Forms without exclusion.
• Friday, October 17 - High Five Friday with the Wilmette Police Department during arrival.
• Friday, October 17 - Freaky Friday [PTO Sponsored] from 5:00 - 6:30 PM
• Friday, October 31 - SIP Early Release Day for Students [8:37 - 11:46 AM]

Beginning October 6 and running through October 17, students in grades 5-8 will be participating in the Panorama MESH (Mindsets, Essential Skills and Habits) assessment of social-emotional competencies and school environment. The MESH consists of a series of questions that cover the areas of Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Emotion Regulation. It also looks at Supportive Relationships at school, School Safety, Sense of Belonging, and Valuing of School.

This assessment aligns with the SEL competencies taught using our Wayfinder curriculum, and results from the assessments are used to help us as we continue to gauge the effectiveness of our social-emotional supports and programming in the district. For more information about the social-emotional objectives at your child’s grade level, and other general information about SEL in District 39, please visit the D39 Social Emotional Learning Website.

If you have other questions beyond the website, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.

This is an ongoing challenge throughout the school year here at Highcrest! Check out our booklists for this school year:

• 5th Grade Reading Challenge List
• 6th Grade Reading Challenge List

We are excited to have students participate in the challenge this school year!

6th Grade Families, please ensure that you submit your updated health forms by October 15. That day, we must begin excluding students who have not updated their health information and records. Please contact Mary McLone at "Nurse-HMS@wilmette39.org" with questions you may have.

Are you in 6th grade? Do you like math competitions? Do you want to represent HMS at the regional MathCounts competition on Saturday, February 7th, 2026? Then try out for the MathCounts team.

For our first few meetings, members will work on problem solving using Mathcounts-specific problems. Then, in December, students will have the opportunity to tryout to become one of 14 members to represent HMS at the District Competition. Tryouts for the team will be on Tuesdays from 3:45 - 4:45. There will be 3 tryout dates: December 2, December 9th, and December 16th. The tryouts will take place in Room 224, unless there are too many people registered.

By Friday, December 19th, you will be told whether you have earned a spot to represent HMS at the district MathCounts competition which takes place on Saturday, February 7th, 2025 at Oakton Community College, Skokie Campus. If you make the team, additional practices will be held on the following Tuesdays: January 6th, January 13th, and January 20th, January 27th and February 3rd. You must be able to make at least 4 of the 5 practices to compete.

All 5th and 6th graders are invited to compete in the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle School competition (MOEMS). Students will meet after school (3:40 - 4:40pm) once a month from October to April.

The club dates are Oct 27, Nov 10*, Dec 8*, Jan 12*, Feb 23*, March 16* and April 13. It is important for students to attend all starred dates as these are the dates of the competitions.

Parents, please fill out this form by October 20 if your student is interested in MOEMs. The first club date is Oct 27 when the rules of MOEMs will be discussed and students will practice a past competition.

Please email Jess Radcliffe (radclifj@wilmette39.org) or Laura Prorok (prorokl@wilmette39.org) if you have any questions.

Next Tuesday, October 7th, students can shop at the Hawk Hut during recess. All items are under $2. CASH ONLY! This is a fun way to raise money for the PTO, and students love choosing treats and treasures!

Note: Parent volunteers are needed for future Hawk Hut shopping days! Be on the lookout for the SignUp Genius or email hawkhut2324@gmail.com if interested in helping with the Hawk Hut.

Get ready for Highcrest's most spirited night of the year!

October 17

5:00-6:30pm

Held outdoors at Highcrest

$25 / ticket before October 10

Giant inflatables, thrilling games, creative crafts, a live DJ and dancing, an over-the-top popcorn & candy bar, a photo booth, and more!! Don't miss this awesome night! Open to all current HMS students!

Tickets are AVAILABLE NOW for $25. After October 10, tickets will be sold at the door for $30 (where an adult must be present to purchase). Wristbands will be distributed in student homerooms the day of Freaky Friday. You must be logged into the PTO website to purchase tickets!"

Freaky Friday is only possible with the support of volunteers to supervise students and run stations, ensuring all of our Hawks have a safe, fun, and unforgettable night! VOLUNTEER HERE.

Support Highcrest’s dedicated staff throughout the year! The PTO stocks the staff lounge with snacks and drinks throughout the year. Each House takes a turn purchasing requested items from the sign-up or donating to fund purchases.

This month (October), it is Grade 6/House 1 turn.

Grade 6/House 1: Zorger, Alperstein, Brisky, and Macfadden

Next month (November), it is Grade 6/ House 2.

Grade 6/House 2: Jansyn Gust Dubs Espinoza

Please visit the SUG to contribute items or visit HERE to donate.

Principal Appreciation Month

October is Principal Appreciation Month and we are proud to honor our building leaders in District 39! Being a school administrator is both rewarding and challenging, yet our leaders rise to the opportunities every day. Our group of principals, assistant principals and grade-level administrators are the anchors of our learning community and work tirelessly to create environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally and staff feel supported and valued. We thank them for their leadership, dedication, care, and flexibility as they work to ensure that every student has the opportunity to excel. Please take a moment to thank your child(ren)’s building administrators for all they do.

Introducing the District 39 Educational Foundation’s Innovative Educators Award!

The District 39 Educational Foundation is proud to announce a new award to highlight innovative excellence in our buildings. The Innovative Educators award will recognize teachers who demonstrate excellence in innovative teaching and learning practices in their classrooms and who model the characteristics of the D39 Educational Foundation’s mission.

Nominees for the Innovative Educator Award are educators who think beyond traditional teaching methods and programs. Some descriptors of Innovative Educators are listed below:

• Try new practices and approaches to reach and teach students.

• Create an environment of innovation within their classrooms.

• Show leadership among their peers and share their innovative practices for the benefit of all students.

• Provide new and innovative opportunities for students in their varied interests and talents.

• Innovative in building a welcoming community within their classrooms where every student is valued for unique abilities, background, and talents.

Nominations for this award will open on Nov. 3 and we will share more information on the nomination process in the weeks ahead. Families are encouraged to nominate qualified faculty/staff as we seek to showcase our amazing D39 educators!

Parent Education Events

Earlier this month, District 39 held its first Parent Education event of the year, titled “Navigating School Safety Scenarios: How Would You Respond?” A recording of that presentation is now available. This event was held in partnership with the Wilmette Police Department, Be SMART, Family Service Center and the KEY Coalition. Please click the links for more information from our contributors.

Mark your calendar for our next Parent Ed presentation, “Generative Artificial Intelligence for Parents and Caregivers,” set for Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 pm. Amanda Bickerstaff from AI for Education will be our presenter for this evening event held virtually via Zoom. Registration for this event is open now. Please visit our Parent Education webpage for our full schedule of events as well as archived recordings of past events.

Additionally, PASS39 (Parent Association of Student Services) is partnering with the Wilmette Public Library for an event titled “Navigating 504 and IEP Plans.” This in-person event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 6-7:30 pm at the Wilmette Public Library and aims to provide families with clarity and support as you explore educational options for your child(ren). Online registration is open now.

Join Our District 39 Team!

District 39 is looking for caring and qualified individuals to join our D39 team! We are accepting applications for paraprofessionals (also known as teaching assistants) and substitute teachers. The hourly rate for paraprofessionals starts at $20.78 per hour with an approximate work day from 8 am-3:30 pm. If you are interested, or know of someone who may be interested in working as part of a dynamic team in a vibrant and welcoming setting, please visit our D39 employment webpage.

The Wilmette Rotary plans to resume our Big Book Drive this fall, October 1 through November 14, 2025. They request donations of gently used books (excluding textbooks, old atlases, encyclopedias, and dictionaries) for our Book Drive in the fall. Check out the Big Book Drive page for more details.

Donations can be made to the HMS Book Drive Box beginning October 1. Our Bin(s) will be located in our main lobby for students to drop them off until November 14.

Ahead of the school year, it may be helpful to take a moment to review the following handbooks:

• HMS Student Handbook
• D39 Parent + Family Handbook
• D39 Mobile Learning Handbook

In particular, we emphasize taking time to review the following from the HMS Student Handbook:

• HAWKS Expectations
• Smartwatches + Personal Devices
• D39 Disciplinary Measures + Restorative Practices
• HMS Health & Safety

As a homework assignment, we request that students sign and return the letter of agreement and D39 Mobile Learning Contract. We appreciate your family reviewing these with your child this school year.

Hawk Headlines will be sent weekly on Fridays!

Next Edition Scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2025