The Bulldog Bulletin
September 11, 2026
Dear Middleton Families,
Thank you so much to those of you who were able to attend our Back to School Night and our first Parent Workshop! Seeing our community come together was the perfect way to kick off the new school year. Your active presence demonstrates to your children that their education is a shared priority. We deeply appreciate you taking the time to learn about our classroom routines and to discuss practical strategies for supporting student learning at home.
If you were unable to attend the Back to School Night, please reach out to your child’s teacher for any informational handouts or presentation slides.
Thank you once again for your time, energy, and continued partnership!
Warmly,
Danielle Moran, Principal
Photos from our first Parent Workshop
Middleton News & Updates
Safety Drill on September 24th
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, all Middleton students and staff will participate in a required school-wide evacuation drill to practice essential emergency procedures. To ensure everyone is prepared for a real crisis, participants will travel either by foot or by bus to our official off-site safe location at McCracken Middle School. Local police officers and/or school staff will be stationed along the route to manage traffic and ensure safe passage across all major intersections. In the event of inclement weather, the drill will be rescheduled, and any changes to the schedule will be promptly communicated to families. Please contact the Middleton school office or administration if you have any questions.
Picture Day is September 30th
Picture Day is on Wednesday, September 30. You can place your order at mylifetouch.com using the Picture Day ID: EVTQPQ6RM. Order forms have been sent home. Your child can also bring their completed order form with cash or a check on Picture Day.
Picking Up Your Child Early
Please inform your student’s homeroom teacher of any early dismissal arrangements the night before a planned early dismissal. Teachers may not have access to their email during the school day. Students will not be sent to the office for pick-up until their authorized adult arrives at the front office. Please plan and allow enough time for this process.
Enrichment
Join us for ENRICH MD, the after-school enrichment program at Middleton! The enrichment session will begin on Monday, September 28, and will run through Thursday, December 10.
On Tuesday, September 15, we will send home a QR code that links to the Enrichment Club brochure. Please scan the QR code to view the full list of activities and to register for those you are interested in. Paper copies of the brochure will also be available in the office.
Registration will open on Wednesday, September 16, at 5:00 p.m. and will close on Wednesday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Enrich MD Coordinator, Sara Shapiro, at sshapiro@sd735.org, or the Enrichment Assistant, Archana Kasbekar, at akasbekar@sd735.org.
District Updates
At Tuesday night's Board meeting, an update to our Student Family Handbook for the 2026–2027 school year was officially approved. To ensure the safety of all students, staff, and visitors during arrival, dismissal, and school hours, we have established clear guidelines regarding personal transportation devices on school grounds. This includes traditional bicycles, electric bikes (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), and similar personal devices.
Key Highlights of the New Guidelines:
- School Safety & Traffic Flow: Clear restrictions and designated expectations have been set to prevent traffic hazards and protect pedestrian safety around campus grounds.
- Alignment with Local Laws: School safety guidelines now align directly with municipal regulations governing the operation of electric-powered personal devices.
- Student Accountability: Expectations for safe riding, proper storage, and device management while on school property are explicitly defined.
Link to the updated Handbook here (Arrival and Dismissal section)
We encourage you to review the updated section in the Student Family Handbook with your student before they ride any bicycle or electric device to school.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community safe and organized.
Sincerely,
Skokie School District 73.5 Administration
Parent Education Series: September 22 at 6:30pm
All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our new Parent Education Series, organized by our District 73.5 staff! Our second meeting is on September 22nd at 6:30pm in the Middleton Library.
Caregivers Roundtable
- When: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Where: Skokie Public Library (Radmacher Room)
- Contact: 735spedparents@gmail.com
Repeat Information
Become a Middleton Grandfriend!
John Middleton Elementary School is looking for community members to join our Grandfriends Program! Grandfriends spend time in our school building meaningful relationships with students, supporting their academic and social growth, and lending an extra hand in classrooms. Whether you can volunteer regularly or occasionally, your time and presence can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. If you or someone you know would enjoy becoming part of the Middleton community, please contact Ayesha Riaz (ariaz@sd735.org), Kim Scurek (kscurek@sd735.org), or the Middleton School Office at (847) 673-1222 for more information.
Lost and Found
At the end of every month, items in the lost and found will be donated to a local charity. If you have misplaced anything, please make sure to check the lost and found located in the cafeteria hallway or hallway outside the gym. On September 30th, October 29th, November 20th, December 18th, January 29th, February 26th, March 19th, April 30th, May 28th, and June 3rd, the lost and found will be cleared by 8 a.m.
Important Dates & Information
Dates
Sept. 22: Parent Education Series meeting #2 at 6:30pm at Middleton
Sept. 24: Evacuation drill
Sept. 30: Picture Day (retakes will be on November 4)
Oct. 8-9: Parent Teacher Conferences
Oct. 12: No school (Indigenous People' Day)
Oct. 15: Lockdown drill
Oct. 25: Middleton 3rd-5th grade running club 5K
Oct. 27: Parent Education Series meeting #3
Oct. 30: No school (Teacher Institute Day)
Nov. 3: No school (Election Day)
Nov. 4: Picture re-takes
Links
Monthly Calendar and Year-long Calendar
SPACE: before & after school care
September Breakfast and Lunch Menu
🔔 SCHOOL HOURS & BELL SCHEDULE
🎒 MORNING ARRIVAL
- 8:15 AM • Grades 1–2 Soft Start
Early entry for primary classrooms. - 8:20 AM • General Arrival
Doors open for all other grades. - 8:30 AM • Late Bell & Morning Tardy
All doors close. Check in at front office.
🚌 AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
- 3:00 PM • Standard Dismissal
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. - 2:00 PM • Early Release Tuesday
Weekly staff professional development days.
📝 IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- Be on time. Late arrivals after 8:30am must be signed in by a parent in the front office.
- Safety first. Follow designated drop-off and pick-up lanes.
Important Contacts
Click here for an all Staff Directory.
School Office: (847) 673-1222 or mdoffice@sd735.org
Dr. Danielle Moran, Principal: dmoran@sd735.org
Dr. Perry Finch, Asst. Principal: pfinch@sd735.org
Mr. Trevor Dykes, Asst. Principal: tdykes@sd735.org
Sarah Cardenas, Administrative Assistant: scardenas@sd735.org
Heather Rubio, Administrative Assistant: hrubio@sd735.org
Kim Durband, Nurse: kdurband@sd735.org
Sara Shapiro, Enrichment Coordinator: sshapiro@sd735.org
SPACE: (312) 982-1487 or middletonspace@skokieparks.org
IEP/504 contacts:
- For questions related to your child's IEP, please contact your child's case manager.
- For 504 plan related questions, please contact our school psychologist, Marcella Gonzalez: mgonzalez@sd735.org.
- Dr. Kristen Moore, Director of Student Services: kmoore@sd735.org
