Jaguar News
Family Newsletter of John R Lewis MS - October 12, 2026
- October 13, 2026 - After School Clubs begin!
- October 13, 2026 - 6/7 Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts begin
- October 15, 2026 - Medical Exclusion Date - All physical and immunization requirements must be complete!
- October 16, 2026: DANCE DANCE DANCE - 4:30 to 6:30 PM - to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Details below!
- October 19. 2026: GPTO Virtual Planning Meeting at
- October 21, 2026: Early Release Day - Students Dismissed at 1:15
- October 21-22, 2026: Parent-Teacher Conferences from 4:30 to 7:30 PM
- October 23, 2026: No School due to PT Conferences
- October 28, 2026: Let's Learn About the ACCESS - Parent Presentation, 6 - 7:30 PM • Lewis MS Library
- October 30, 2026: Wear your Halloween Costume to school - details below :)
- November 3, 2026: No School - Election Day
- November 9, 2026: Picture Re-takes - New Date!!
- November 11, 2026: No School - Veteran's Day
Athletic Schedules:
TBD: Boys Basketball - Tryouts begin this week. See below.
Students must have an adult with them to attend Middle School athletic events.
Lewis Middle School students are required to have up-to-date school physical and/or immunizations. Students who do not have up-to-date physical and/or immunizations will be excluded from school on October 15th. Let's schedule our appointments now!
Parents and students who are not yet compliant should expect to receive letters at home and periodic texts/email with additional information regarding what is needed to be up-to-date! Please contact Nurse Meyer for additional information - ameyer@wps60.org.
Thank you for your help!
Here is a link to the Virtual Meeting: meet.google.com/mxp-hftf-fez
During the month of October we are focusing on Bullying Prevention. Bullying Prevention Awareness Month was established to shed light on the issue of bullying and encourage individuals and communities to take action to prevent it.
The month underscores the importance of fostering safe and respectful environments for everyone, especially young people. For more information on bullying you can visit the Mental Health America website at https://mhanational.org/bullying-tips-parents.
Bullying can also take place on social media or through messaging. Make sure to monitor what your child is doing on their phone. If you have more questions about cyberbullying you can find more information on the Stop Bullying website at https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it. Schools throughout District 60 will also recognize Bullying Prevention Month and there will be a series of activities and lessons throughout October to support this mission.
Remember that if your child is being bothered at school, you can make a report at the following link, See Something, Hear Something, Say Something
Student Services will also be presenting to students in their Science classes on Erin's Law which mandates that we implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program in schools. These presentations will be on Tuesday October 13th or Wednesday October 14th. The Waukegan Public School District sent out a letter with more information. Please make sure you read this letter if you have additional questions.
Lewis MS will be hosting a Student Dance to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on October 16th from 4:30 to 6:30 at Lewis. Come to dance! Or enjoy games and activities! ALL are welcome to attend!!
Parents, we could use your help to decorate and supervise. Please consider volunteering!! Volunteer hours are available for this event :) Please email Ms. Schaefer or Ms. Myers to let us know you can make it :)
We will be starting after school clubs this week!
Over one hundred students have enrolled in after school clubs!! All parents should have received an email confirming club enrollment. Due to high demand, some clubs filled quickly. Students who were unable to be enrolled should reach out to their counselors for other options.
Club bus routes will not start for a couple of weeks. All students staying for after school clubs must be picked up at 4:30 after clubs.
After school clubs will meet each date noted below . We will be offering After School Clubs - Session 2 after Winter Break.
Dates for the first 8 Week Session:
- Monday Clubs - 8 Sessions: Oct 19, 26; Nov 2, 9, 16, 30; Dec 7, 14.
- Tuesday Clubs - 8 Sessions: Oct 13, 20, 27; Nov 10, 17; Dec 1, 8, 15.
- Thursday Clubs - 8 Sessions: Oct 15, 29; Nov 5, 12, 19; Dec 3, 10, 17.
Lewis MS will begin offering Homework Help and Tutoring after school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 - 3:30, with the start date on Monday, September 21. Homework Help and Tutoring is recommended for students currently below a 2.0 GPA.
Parents may sign students up for regular sessions of Homework Help/Tutoring here. Students are also welcome to drop-in as needed for assistance. School transportation is not provided for students participating in Homework Help/Tutoring. All students attending must have a way home at 3:30 PM.
Each week, students should complete two “My Path” math lessons in math and two “My Path” reading lessons with a score of 70 % or above outside of their regular Math, ESL, or ELA classes to improve their reading and math skills!
Parents can greatly help support their student’s progress by making sure Students log into i-Ready and complete these lessons each week.
To encourage Students to log in and successfully complete lessons, Students will be given the following extra credit points in their Math or ELA/ESL classes:
1st Lesson completed at 70% or higher= 2 extra credit points in Math and/or ELA/ESL class
2nd Lesson completed at 70% or higher= 3 extra credit points in Math and/or ELA/ESL class
8th Grade Parents - it is time to start thinking about Promotion! We will be collecting promotion fees throughout the school year in an effort to spread out the expenses for our 8th Grade families.
We will be collecting promotion fees on Fridays in October. Teachers will collect payments and issue receipts during Advisory Classes.
Required promotion fees are $35 and include the promotion gown, certificate cover, Lewis MS 8th grade T-Shirt, promotion dance and 8th grade picnic. Parent should expect additional costs near the end of the school year for the optional 8th Grade Great America trip and the school yearbook.
The College of Lake County presents free hands-on science, technology, engineering, healthcare and math sessions for girls in grades 6-12 who want to explore STEM programs.
Saturday, November 7 • 9AM to Noon • College of Lake County!
13th Annual STEM Day for Girls!
Link is open and taking registration. A great event for our GIRLS - sign up now :)
2026 Jaguar Fall Sports Week of 10/5-10/10
Winter Season 1 Sports
Week of 10/13-10/16
6/7th Grade Boys basketball tryouts will be held on Tuesday 10/13 2:30-4:00 P.M. Thursday 2:30-4:00 P.M, Friday 2:30-4:00 P.M. 8th grade will be the following week 10/19-10/23. Mr. Cook will be the coach for 8th grade and Mr. Kasten will be 6/7th grade coach.
8th Grade Coach Mr. Cook wlcook@wps60.org
6/7th Grade Coach Mr. Kasten nkasten@wps60.org
Lewis MS cell phone policy for the 26-27 School Year:
Recent studies have indicated that cell phones and the social media accessible through them is bad for learning and a student's mental health.
Lewis MS Student Cell Phone Policy for the 26-27 SY is:
Cell phones, earbuds, head phones and other personal electronic devices are permitted to be carried to and from school. During the school day, all personal electronic devices must be stowed in the student's locker and may not be used, including during lunch and passing periods. Parents needing to contact students should do so via the Lewis Main Office.
Students who violate the Lewis MS Cell Phone Policy will turn over their phone to Lewis staff. Only parents/guardians will be able to pick up cell phones from the Main Office.
Please see more about this and other school expectations in our Lewis MS Parent/Family Handbook.
Students being dropped off by a parent should arrive at school between 7AM and 7:15 AM.
Student drop off and pick up is in the South Loop only.
Please pull all the way forward when dropping off and picking up.
Please be patient when waiting to turn into the South Loop.
NO DROP OFF OR PICK-UP IS ALLOWED ON LEWIS AVENUE.
All Waukegan Middle School Students are required to maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA in order to be safely promoted to the next grade level.
Parents and Guardians can do a lot to help their students be successful:
- Ensure students attend school every day on time unless they are sick.
- Help your child get enough sleep: 11-14 year olds should have at least eight hours of sleep each night.
- Communicate with teachers or the school counselor if your child is struggling with grades or behaviors.
- Provide a quiet place for your child to complete school work at home.
- Talk to your child about school and encourage them to always do their best
English Video and Spanish Video are available. Please help your students maintain at 2.0 GPA so they can successfully move to the next grade level!
Remember to check your student's grades each week in the IC Parent Portal - call or email the MAIN OFFICE if you need support. 224-303-2560 or Lewis_parentsupport@wps60.org.
Parents and Guardians,
If your child is being bothered at school or if you would like to report an unsafe situation, please use the link below. We want to ensure ALL of our students feel safe and valued at school.
THANK you for your help!
John R. Lewis MS
Email: Lewis_parentsupport@wps60.org
Location: 600 South Lewis Avenue, Waukegan, IL
Phone: 224-303-2560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lewiswaukegan/