Mechanics Grove School

On Friday, February 20th you received an envelope with your child's name on it. We are asking everyone to use the letter template included and write your child a note to encourage their effort and hard work on the upcoming IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness). Please write the note, seal the envelope, and then send it back to school. THANK YOU!

Author Aaron Reynolds, best know for his Creepy Carrots, Creepy Crayon and Creepy Underwear books, will be visiting MG and Washington schools on March 2. Mr. Reynolds will talk with students about his career as an author and discuss his books, including his newest release, Unsettling Salad. We look forward to the visit from this funny, creative, talented author!

Is your March basketball bracket already falling apart?

Perfect. You’ll have better odds here.

This isn’t the basketball tournament — it’s our month-long PTO raffle fundraiser supporting Mundelein District 75 students!

Throughout the month of March, we raffle off AMAZING prizes — including electronics, gift cards, family fun adventures, party packages, themed baskets, and more — all while raising funds to support our D75 schools!

Purchase tickets here, now through the end of March:
1 for $10
3 for $25
10 for $100

We go LIVE on Facebook multiple times a week to draw winners, so be sure to follow the PTO page and tune in!

Tickets purchased by 10PM the night before a drawing are entered into the upcoming drawing.

The best part?
Your ticket stays in all month unless it wins — so even if your team gets knocked out… you’re STILL in the game here.

More tickets = more chances to win.
No sports knowledge required.

For information about our sponsors or sponsorship opportunities, visit: Mundelein 75 PTO – March Madness

5Essentials Parent Survey

You received a special email about our 5Essentials survey yesterday. We are hopeful that all families will participate in the survey in order to help us better understand our strengths and areas for growth.

To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.

For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.

Front Office Communication

Need to report an absence? Change your child's transportation? Or, get your child a message?

Email the office at mgoffice@d75.org.

Multiple people will receive your message, and you'll receive a confirmation once the message has been read. We kindly ask that any same day needs are emailed before 1pm. If it is after 1pm, please call the office at (847) 949-2712.

A Note from our Specials Teachers

PE

We’ve had a great stretch in PE and wanted to share some exciting updates with you! Our Kids Heart Challenge event was a huge success. As a school, we raised almost $2,000 to support heart disease research and awareness. Thank you so much for your generosity and support. Our students showed amazing effort, teamwork, and “heart” throughout the event. In PE, we started our popular volleyball unit. Along with traditional volleyball skills, students were introduced to fun and engaging adaptations such as Nitro Ball and Nuk’em. These games help build confidence, teamwork, and fundamental volleyball skills in an inclusive and enjoyable way. Looking ahead, we are excited to begin our racquet sports unit soon and hopefully get back outside with warmer weather approaching. Lastly, our Human Growth and Development lessons will begin in early March, with age-appropriate lessons designed to support student learning and understanding.

Discovery Den

There are a variety of activities happening in the Discovery Day. Third grade is practicing using the table of contents, index and glossary in non-fiction books. Once they are done reviewing these parts of a non-fiction book, they will do a research activity using various books about countries. Fourth grade learned about digital footprints and what the students are and aren’t in control of online. Now, we are reading the Aaron Reynolds’ book Troubling Tonsils, in preparation for his visit next month. This is a silly, creepy story about a young marmot who wants to take his tonsils to school for show and tell! Fifth grade has been studying Superbowl commercials, both recent and older and identifying what advertising techniques are used to attract customers to products. They have really enjoyed many of these commercials, especially Heinz 57 and Doritos!

Music

It has been a great month in the music room! 3rd Grade began January by learning about the Chinese New Year with a song called, “Xin Nian Kuai Le”. They learned about the traditions and celebrations of Lunar New Year while creating a xylophone accompaniment for the song. 3rd Grade is now preparing for their concert based on the book, “Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave.” Over the next two months, students will be hard at work composing, singing, and playing instruments to create a concert that reflects all they have learned in the music room this year. Make sure to mark your calendars for April, 29th, 2026! Since January, 4th Graders have been preparing for their concert, “Sing It Silly”. The concert will feature a collection of silly songs, tongue twisters, jokes, and riddles. We can’t wait to present our concert to our friends and families on March 18th, 2026! 5th Grade started 2026 with a drumming unit, using our tubano drums. Students learned several drumming techniques and games, and incorporated other small percussion instruments such as agogo bells, shekeres, and claves. 5th grade began February by beginning a unit on Jazz and The Blues. Students learned the history of The Blues, and then performed the 12 Bar Blues on xylophones. This week, students analyzed the form of Blues lyrics, and are now writing their own Blues lyrics. We can’t wait to see how they turn out!

Art

In art class, students are continuing to explore new media and materials. In fifth grade, students are working in groups to create their ceiling tiles. Students learned how to use the grid method to draw their designs and will begin to color them next week using chalk pastels. In fourth grade, students are studying the concept of foreground and background while designing an “animal in its habitat”-themed watercolor painting. The third grade students are learning about the design principles of unity and repetition while creating their original robots made out of cut construction paper. Each week I’m impressed with the amount of creative energy happening in the art room!

A Note from our Social Workers

Supporting Independence: Preparing Kids for the Real World

As both parents and educators, our role is not only to keep children safe, supported, and heard—but also to prepare them for the challenges of the real world. Life isn't always easy, and as adults, we know that achieving personal and professional goals requires effort, resilience, and responsible decision-making.

Children need the same preparation. Whether they're getting ready for middle school, high school, college, or entering the workforce someday, the habits and skills they build now will shape their future. One of the best ways to support them is by encouraging independence and responsibility in everyday life.

This means giving them space to try things on their own: helping with household tasks, managing their time, staying organized, practicing self-care, and learning from mistakes. These moments, even small ones, help build confidence, resilience, and reliability. When children learn to trust themselves and take ownership of their actions, they grow into capable, confident individuals ready to take on life's challenges.

One simple but effective way to support your child's independence is by creating a visual weekly schedule at home. A schedule helps children clearly see their responsibilities and builds a habit of following through on tasks. This could be as simple as: hanging a printed schedule in their bedroom, using a whiteboard or chalkboard on the fridge, creating a colorful chart with checkboxes they can mark off, using sticky notes for daily tasks on a wall or mirror, or using digital tools like calendar apps or task apps with reminders.

The goal is to make the schedule visible, consistent, and easy to follow. Include school assignments, chores, personal hygiene, screen time, reading, or any task you want them to manage independently. Over time, this structure helps children take ownership of their time and builds confidence in handling daily routines.

Let’s work together to give our kids the gift of independence—one small step at a time.

SPORTS SUMMER CAMP AT MG

Hi everyone! This is Mr. F, one of the PE teachers at MG. If you’re looking for a fun and active way for your child to spend part of the summer, Mr. G and I are excited to once again offer our annual Summer Sports Camp this June.

The camp is open to incoming 3rd graders and current 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade MG students and will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on June 8–11, 15–18, and 22–25 (no Fridays), for a total of 12 days filled with sports, games, and activity. The cost is a one-time fee of $150, payable by cash or check to MG Summer Sports Camp.

If you’re interested in signing up, please take a look at THIS FLYER, which includes a QR code for easy registration. We hope to see your kids there for a great summer experience!

PIZZA THROWDOWN

Please join the D75 STEAM Foundation on Thursday March 5th at 5:30pm in the MPR at CSMS for our 7th annual Pizza Throwdown! We will have plenty of local pizza establishments donating their delicious pizzas as we once again raise funds for the D75 STEAM Foundation. Tickets are available now by either going to the website listed or scanning our QR code. We can't wait to see everyone on the 5th!

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)

We're getting closer to reaching our Box Tops goal of $1,000.00!

If you haven't yet, you can still download the Box Tops for Education App and start earning for our schools today!

How to Start Earning:

1. Go to your app store and download the Box Tops for Education App
2. Look for District 75 PTO Mundelein (enter code PNKN0SEQ) for bonus earnings
3. Scan a receipt that includes any Box Top eligible item.
4. Have family and friends near and far join.

Don't forget to opt-in for our monthly bonus opportunities! Watch the Box Tops (and $$) quickly add up for our schools as you scan.

February PTO Meeting

Our February 18th PTO Meeting is canceled, and we will send an update detailing the PTO's recent activities.

March Madness (Letter Attached)

The Mundelein District 75 PTO is excited to host our 6th Annual March Madness Fundraiser! What is March Madness you ask, it is a month long raffle!

Important Dates

3/4- 5th and 6th Grade Band Concert (6:30pm at CSMS)

3/6- Report Cards come home

3/11- PTO Meeting (7:00pm at CSMS)

3/13- Early Release (School Improvement Planning Day)- students dismissed at 11:05am

3/16-3/20- 5th Graders take the Illinois Science Assessment

3/17- School Board Meeting (6:00pm at District Office)

3/18- 4th Grade Music Concert (6:00pm and 7:00pm)

3/23-3/27- SPRING BREAK

3/30- School Resumes

4/1-4/9- All students take the Illinois Assessment for Readiness

4/3- NO SCHOOL

4/10- Early Release (School Improvement Planning Day)- students dismissed at 11:05am

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.

Follow Us....
1. Follow us on our facebook page: Mechanics Grove School

2. Follow us on our instagram page: mechanicsgroveschool

3. Follow us on TikTok @principal.be.kind

We are thrilled to present to you our 9th District 75 musical, MOANA JR.! We have 4 shows held in the Mundelein High School auditorium:

Friday, Feb 27 at 7pm

Saturday, Feb 28 at 2pm

Saturday, Feb 28 at 7pm

Sunday, March 1 at 2pm

Please purchase tickets from this website.

"optional promo code" is for our cast only. You can proceed without entering a code.