CSMS Newsletter
September 29, 2023
It's a great day to be a Carl Sandburg Family Member
It’s a great day to be a Carl Sandburg Middle School family member! I hope everyone had a great week. Thank you for your continued support as we worked through our state testing over the past few weeks. Our students did a great job staying focused and giving their best effort on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). We are finishing up makeups this week and appreciate your partnership in helping students stay prepared and ready each day.
It was also great to see our students enjoying their recent trip to the Art Institute, what a fun and enriching experience for everyone involved! I loved seeing all the coolest paintings housed at the Art Institute with the students especially my favorite Nighthawks by Edward Hopper.
As we move into mid-April, we are settling back into a more typical routine. Please note that Thursday will follow a special schedule due to a visit from author Alan Gratz. Students will have an adjusted bell schedule for the day.
Looking ahead, we will begin our final round of STAR assessments next week. More information is included below to help your student prepare.
We are also excited to share that on April 28th, we will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for our new stage, which will include performances from our performing arts students. We look forward to celebrating this special addition to our school with our community.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make it a great week at CSMS!
🐯
Dr. Andrew Vondran
We are excited to share that our students will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual author visit with Alan Gratz at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 23. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to hear directly from a bestselling author about his writing process, inspiration, and experiences.
The session will last approximately one hour. During the first half, Mr. Gratz will share insights into his journey as a writer and the stories behind his work. The second half will feature a live Q&A, where students from across the country can submit questions and engage directly during the event.
To accommodate this experience, we will be running a special schedule on Thursday. Our staff will ensure all students are able to participate during the school day.
We encourage families to talk with their students about the visit and help them think of questions they might like to ask—this is a unique chance to connect with an author in a meaningful way!
Did you miss ordering a yard sign to celebrate your 8th Grader? Good news, we have a limited number of extras. Place your order here, and we’ll follow up with pickup information
A big congratulations goes to five of our National Junior Art Honor Society members for currently having their artwork exhibited at the Adler Arts Center in Libertyville! Their work is being featured in the Youth Art Month Exhibition, "a special exhibit that celebrates the creativity and talent of young artists in our community." If you appreciate the fine arts and are looking for a local art event to attend with your family, consider stopping by! (See the poster for more details.)
There are many activities for your student to enjoy at CSMS. Here is a breakdown of some of the clubs we offer here. We also run an activity bus that leaves school at 4:30. We want our students to be involved here at CSMS. Please keep checking here for updates on clubs.
Gaming and Chess Club will start in October and run on Tuesdays and Wednesday right after school. Please see Mr. Skura or Ms. Quint with any questions: eskura@d75.org or gquint@d75.org.
Homework Club: The club meets in the library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM for a dedicated time when students can get help with homework and projects, or just find a quiet place to work. Students are required to sign a permission slip that they can get the first time they attend the club. Any questions, please see Mrs. Quint: lquint@d75.org.
Art Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday after school. This club start this week. You need parent permission to attend. Any questions, please see Mrs. Shirley: lshirley@d75.org.
Community Service Club is running this year. The club will meet on Wednesdays Please see this flyer for more information. See Mrs. O'Malley or Mrs. Seibt with any questions: jomalley@d75.org or nseibt@d75.org.
Gardening Club aka the Terra Tigers are run by Mrs. Seibt. Please see her with any questions: nseibt@d75.org.
After School Choir Please see Ms. Freeman with any questions: bfreeman@d75.org.
D&D is a tabletop role playing game run by the GM (Game Master, Mr. Fink) and played by player characters (your students)! Together the GM and player characters weave a fantastic story of heroism, adventure, and intrigue. Your students will have to work together building critical thinking and social skills to solve complex puzzles, defeat foes, and save the world from disaster. Playing through a world of my design, your students will gain confidence and life skills as we explore the world of Ruhass. Any questions, please see Mr. Fink or Mr. Spoden: mfink@d75.org or cspoden@d75.org.
There is also the Musical, Dance Ensemble, Band Practice Club, and Color Guard. If you're interested in these clubs, please reach out Mrs. Gupta: mgupta@d75.org.
French Club, a new club this year which will be led by Madame Adrienne Hugo, if she looks familiar it is because she used to teach kindergarten at Washington.. Check out this video from Madame Hugo to learn more about the club
NJHS meets Monday mornings in Mr. Shrank's room from 8:15 - 8:40. Meeting dates are the following:
- April 20th
- May 4th
- May 11th (LAST MEETING)
See Ms. Gigiano bgigiano@d75.org or Mr. Schrank tschrank@d75.org for details.
Turn up the fun—join Mariachi Club!
Join us on Tuesdays after school in the choir room!
Don’t miss your chance to make music that’s full of energy, tradition, and fun! Learn to play instruments like guitars, vihuelas, and guitarrons, jam with friends, and experience the powerful sound of Mariachi. No experience needed—we’ll teach you everything. Just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new!
- Meets: Tuesdays, 3:30–4:45 PM (September–May)
- Directors: Carol Holck, Ashley Oropez, Matt Fink & Lauren White
- Permission slip: Pick up in the MPR or follow CSMS Mariachi Permission Slip Form 25-26 to complete the Google Form
- Questions? Contact Mrs. Holck at cholck@d75.org
Sports update: Here are the links to our current sport schedules:
Track and Field has started. Good luck to our athletes. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Gomez or Mrs. Schaefges.
🎈April 2026
21st - PTO Dine out night at Luke's
23rd - Jazz and Choir Concert
23rd - All Area Art Show
23rd - Alan Gratz Visit
D75 School Lunch Menus - Information
🍎 My School Menus - is now ONLINE
🍎 Step-by-Step Instructional Video
🍎 Mundelein District 75 Online Menus
🍎 Access the RevTrak website to pay for school meals for your child.
