October 10, 2025

If you haven't already, be sure to tune into our Highcrest Broadcast! Weekly episodes are archived and each homeroom will be showcased over the course of the school year! Typically, the broadcast is featured LIVE on Monday mornings around 8:45 AM.

Hello Hawk Families,

We hope you had a wonderful week! We've been loving the change of season as we head into Fall! To begin, we wanted to give a special shout-out to our first round of Hawks of the Month for September! This group was nominated by teachers around the school. We also wanted to celebrate our HMS Girls Volleyball Team on their successful season! Congratulations to all!

In this week's newsletter, we focus on:

• Upcoming Events
• Helpful Halloween Hints
• Notable Notes
• HMS PTO Updates
• D39 Updates
• Community News
• Hawk Handbook Highlights

We hope that you all have an amazing weekend ahead!

Go Hawks!

Anthony, Linda, + Susie

• 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]

As we prepare for our early release schedule on Friday, October 31, we wanted our Highcrest Families to have some tips for success.

Q: What are the school day hours that day?

A: The school day will run from 8:37 AM through 11:46 AM.

Q: Can students dress up for Halloween that day?

A: Yes! Students can dress up in school and age-appropriate costumes, but there are some limits to consider.

Q: Are there limits or restrictions for costumes that day?

A: Yes! For the school day, students should not:

• Bring props (weapons, toys, light-sabers) for their costumes
• Wear masks or face paint
• Need to prepare and get dressed in any of the costumes while at school, come prepared
• Wear inflatables as they will be in the deflated state throughout the school day

Additional considerations:

• Students should be comfortable and wear shoes that allow them to navigate the stairs and building.

On Friday, October 17, beginning at 8:20 AM to the first bell, Highcrest will be hosting a High Five Friday in partnership with the Wilmette Police Department and Fire Department! Members of their team will be at the back playground, getting to know students and welcoming them into the school! We look forward to seeing them at the end of next week.

Featured in this photo is Officer Val Davis, our incredible School Resource Officer in District 39!

Congratulations to our HMS Girls Volleyball Team on a successful season! They had such a successful season with Coach Brian Cremascoli, who led them to an 8 - 3 victorious season! These athletes played with such heart and made our school community very proud!

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.

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.

PASS 39 invites families of children with 504 and IEP plans to these October events:

• October 10 (Parent only coffee, 9:30-11:30 AM, Panera Bread 1199 Wilmette Avenue)

• October 12 (Informal family playground get together, 3:00 PM, McKenzie Elementary School playground)

October 14 (Parent education event “Navigating IEPs and 504s", 6:00-7:30 PM, Wilmette Public Library Auditorium, register HERE

The PTO has been hard at work on a cafeteria beautification initiative. Phase 1 has been completed, including fresh new paint, bringing brightness and energy to the space. Phase 2 includes installing a sound-absorbing ceiling to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment.

A heartfelt thank you to Kate Shellgren, Erica Sanabria, and Kate Chodrow for generously sharing their design talents, creativity, and thoughtful insights to help bring this vision to life.

Thank you to all the families who attended our Sky Zone event — it was a fantastic success! Funds raised will go directly toward PTO initiatives that support our school community. Current projects include:

• The cafeteria beautification project, which aims to create a more inviting and comfortable space for students.

• A newly established staff project grant, designed to support teachers and staff with the resources they need to bring their creative ideas to life.

A big thank you to Deanna Salerno, Jocelyn Shook, and NCL for their help in making the Sky Zone event run smoothly. We’re so grateful for our dedicated volunteers — your support makes everything we do possible!

Parent Education Events

Mark your calendar for our next D39 Parent Ed event, “Generative Artificial Intelligence for Parents and Caregivers,” set for next 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.

PASS39 (Parent Association of Student Services) is partnering with the Wilmette Public Library for an evening 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 to reserve your spot.

Artificial Intelligence Guidance

District 39 has implemented a new set of guidelines around the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for students, parents, and educators. Our work began with a representative sample of faculty/staff members, parents, and students who gathered in August for a full-day workshop with Amanda Bickerstaff, who will be presenting at next week’s Parent Education event. She helped expand our knowledge of AI, led us through a discussion on ethical considerations, and moved us toward the development of our guidance documents.

These documents are intended to help summarize our philosophy towards AI and provide common language for AI use. With AI developing at a rapid pace, we hope that you take the time to read and discuss with your child(ren) so they are aware of the expectations. You can access these documents here: AI Guidelines for Parents | AI Guidelines for Students.

Join the Fun at the District 39 Educational Foundation Bingo Night!

Get your tickets now for the D39 Educational Foundation’s Annual Bingo Night on Friday, Nov. 14 from 6-8 pm at the Highcrest cafeteria! Excitement is in the air as the cards are covered and everyone is on the edge of their seats ready to yell “Bingo!” Winners select prizes from a table-full of games, toys, and gift cards. This fundraiser is fun for the whole family. Visit the D39 Ed Foundation website for more information and to purchase your tickets.

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!

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 17, 2025