Mechanics Grove School

Please note that Mondays and Fridays are our big school spirit days! We love to see how much blue we can see on these days!

September 5th is Lead the PACK shirt Day!

Our 3rd graders and our new 4th and 5th graders will be getting a BLUE Lead the PACK shirt from MG early next week.

We are asking that ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF wear their Lead the PACK shirts on Froday, Spetember 5th.

Morning Drop Off and Arrival

Please remember that student arrival is at 7:50am. If you drive your child to school, you need to wait until a staff member is outside and begins the arrival process. Students who walk to school should not be arriving before 7:50am. We do not have staff to supervise them until arrival time.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

Sign up for a library card at Fremont Library! Library cards are important for students to have. One of the fantastic perks is that students can log on to tutor.com and take practice tests, work one-on-one with a tutor, or receive homework help. It is a fantastic resource that is completely free, and available in both English and Spanish.

Meet Officer Dunn!! Our New D75 School Resource Officer!

Please welcome Officer Roger Dunn to the D75 family. Officer Dunn is a member of the Mundelein Police Mundelein and officially began his new role as School Resource Officer (SRO) this week. While our SRO helps the district navigate safety and security, the school/SRO partnership extends beyond that and strives to build connection with students and families in a positive and supportive way.

SMART WATCHES AT SCHOOL

Please note that cell phones are not allowed at school. If students need them for before or after school, they are to remain turned off and in backpacks. Please note that if a stduent has a smart watch on and is scrolling on it to use as more than a watch, they will be reuired to also put it in their locker and turn it off.

MHS Student Tutors

MHS student tutors will host Tutor Time at Fremont Public Library once-a-month from 6-7 pm starting Wed., Sept 10. English and Spanish-speaking tutors will be available to help students of all ages. Please see the flyers below.

A Note from our Social Workers

As children get older, many parents start to feel like they are losing their child to screens and peers. As kids grow, they naturally start reaching for independence. But it can leave us parents feeling sidelined—like we’re losing our chance to guide them or we’re losing a special place in their lives. However, a parents’ connection with their child is what keeps you a positive influence in their lives. When that bond is strong, your child is more likely to listen, open up, and let you guide them through the ups and downs of growing up.

Starting a new school year is always full of jitters for parents and kids. Both are wondering how they will like their teacher, what their favorite subject will be, and will they make new friends? Instead of dwelling on the unknowns, we can focus on the adventures awaiting them. Instead of asking closed questions like: “Did you have a good day?” or “Did you learn anything interesting?”, where the answers are most likely going to be “yes” or “no”. We ask open ended questions like: “What are you most excited to learn about?” or, “What are your biggest wishes for this school year?”

To guide your child towards embracing the upcoming school year with optimism, we have attached a visual to assist with an example of what your household’s manifesto might or could look like. It's a little reminder for kids to learn from mistakes, grow each day, make new friends, and always be proud of who they are. Of course, feel free to create your own manifesto and goals towards this school year. Use this resource as inspiration or print it for your household.

Display this manifesto anywhere your child will see it in the mornings before school begins.

Back to School Manifesto Visual

A NOTE FROM OUR SPECIALS TEACHERS

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 working through a simple “Wikki Stix” Surfboarder art project. Each student has signed an Art Room Agreement that explains how they are responsible for using kind words and actions as they share, take care of 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.

Discovery Den

In the Discovery Den, we’ve been reviewing class expectations and checkout procedures. Book checkout also started this week. Please remind students to be proactive by taking good care of their books - especially around water bottles and to put their books in their backpack the night before they visit the library so others will have the opportunity to read the books. Over the coming weeks, we will be studying library skills such as identifying genres, alphabetizing, and doing research. We also will learn about digital citizenship and poetry. During the year, there are times that assistance is needed labelling new books. If you would be interested in volunteering to help with this, please email me at rwashburn@d75.org and I will reach out to you when help is needed.

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 as they experience rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, and form. Students are encouraged to explore their own musical ideas. These ideas are used as springboards for further creative pursuits such as improvisation or composing original music. Students will spend the year playing singing games, performing on instruments such as xylophones, tubanos, and other percussion instruments, learning about the musical traditions of other cultures, and collaborating with classmates to create their own compositions. All grade levels will also perform in a grade level concert! Please see below for dates:

5th Grade: December 10th, 2025

4th Grade, Ms. Huddlestun, & Ms. McKeown: March 18th, 2025

3rd Grade: April, 29th, 2025

I am looking forward to an amazing year in the music room! Please reach out if you have any questions!

PE

We are off to an exciting start in PE this year! Our students have jumped right in with energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm. To begin the year, we’ve been building connections and confidence through ice breaker games, developing movement skills in kickball, and will soon transition into flag football. It’s been great to see students working together, learning new skills, and having fun while staying active! To ensure that all students have a safe, respectful, and successful year in PE, we are introducing a PE Student Contract for Accountability. This contract sets clear expectations and helps students take ownership of their behavior, effort, and sportsmanship. We are looking forward to inspiring student leaders as well as promoting health and wellness!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The D75 Registration webpage has been updated to include a Financial Assistance tab, which outlines the different options available for families to apply for assistance. See the documents below for detailed information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please see the flyers below for Tiger Truck Fest and Back to School Skate Night.

A Note from the PTO

Spooky Boogie Bash:

Spooky Boogie Bash is creeping up on October 10th! To conjure an evening of ghoulish fun and frights, the PTO needs a few good ghouls to help us plan. Please email mg@mundelein75pto.com or fill out this Form to offer your creative juices.

Box Tops:

September is almost here and we have earned $180.50 as of August 26th. We are well on our way to our goal of $1,000 this year and we would love to crush it. Extended to September 30th, anytime you refer a friend and who then makes a qualifying purchase, you will earn 50 Bonus Box Tops for our school and so will your friend! Don't forget to enroll in the Monthly Challenge! Haven't joined Box Tops yet? Download the app and enter code PNKN0SEQ or find District 75 PTO Mundelein and start scanning today!

Fall Events at MHS

Friday Night Lights
We are looking forward to welcoming the community back to the MHS Stadium under the lights! These games provide a great opportunity for our younger students to experience the excitement of high school athletics in a safe and spirited environment.

Friday, September 5 - Senior Night for Cheer, Dance, and Football at approximately 6:30pm, Red Rage Theme - RED OUT

5:00pm - Varsity Girls Flag Football v. Grayslake Central High School *our first home game for pilot year of Girls Flag Football*
7:30pm - Varsity Football v. Niles West

Friday, September 12 - Homecoming, Red Rage Theme - BLACK OUT

5:00pm - Varsity Boys Soccer v. Zion-Benton
7:30pm - Varsity Football v. Zion-Benton

Friday, October 10 - Senior Night for Marching Band, Red Rage Theme - NEON

7:00pm - Varsity Football v. Lake Zurich

Friday, October 17 - Community Night, Red Rage Theme - WHITE OUT

5:00pm - Freshman Football v. Waukegan
7:30pm - Varsity Football v. Waukegan

Red Rage Student Section
Our student fan leaders (“Red Rage”) are promoting themed nights throughout the football season. A t-shirt store is available so students and families can match the game themes and show their Mustang pride.

Community Nights
This fall, we are hosting several special Community Nights to celebrate youth participation and provide a connection to our programs:

Girls Volleyball – Thursday, September 11
Boys Soccer – Thursday, September 25 (community cookout flyer attached)
Football – Friday, October 17

We will share additional promotional flyers and details with you soon so you can pass them along to your school community.

Safety & Game Day Policies

Unaccompanied minors: Please remind families that all K-8 students must be accompanied and actively supervised by a parent or responsible adult.
Clear bag policy: For the safety of all guests, only clear bags will be permitted inside the stadium.
Online ticketing: All tickets for Friday events must be purchased through GoFan.

Important Dates

9/17- PTO Meeting (7:00pm at CSMS)

9/19- SIP Day- 1/2 Day for Students (Students dismissed at 11:05am)

9/23- Board of Education Meeting (6:00pm)

9/30 and 10/1- 5th Grade Camp Duncan Trip

10/2- NO SCHOOL

10/10- SIP Day- 1/2 Day for Students (Students dismissed at 11:05am)

10/10- Spooky Boogie Bash (6:00-8:00pm at MG)

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.