HCMS November Newsletter
November 2025
- 1-5 Teacher Institute - No School
- 1-7 Hot Lunch - Athletic Boosters
- 1-14 Hot Lunch – FSP
- 1-16 End 2nd Quarter
- 1-19 Holiday - No School
- 1-21 Hot Lunch - Education Foundation
- 1-21 Spelling Bee 4:30 p.m.
- 1-23 Report Cards
- 1-28 Hot Lunch - FSP
Dental Exam reminder: We are still in need of IL Dental Exam forms for many of our 6th grade students. These are required per the state. School dental exams must be completed within the 18 months prior to May 15th, 2026. Dental forms can be found on the district website. Please submit these soon.
Vision screenings are underway for all 8th grade students. If you do not want your child to be screened, please email the school nurse at tbush@fsd157c.org.
Many times, we hear the students say they didn’t have time to eat breakfast or brush their teeth because they are rushing in the morning. Please help your child develop routines that have them getting a good night's sleep to ensure all their morning responsibilities are completed.
If you still need to bring in medical forms or medications, please let us know. All forms can be found on the district website.
8th grade parents- it's not too early to get the IL Health Exams for high school completed. This is required per the State of Illinois, and schools may ask for this during registration in Spring 2026.
"There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and sitting in front of the fire on winter evenings." Leo Sayer
To celebrate fall and winter, we have drenched our library in color with artwork made by our Adaptive Fine Arts class. Be sure to tell your students to stop by the library to check out the displays.
The last two years we have moved the FSP Book Fair into the library. This always brings lots of excitement and energy into the space. I want to send a shout out to all the students and families that made this Fall’s Book Fair the most successful Hickory Creek has ever had! Thank you!
We are smack in the middle of our Caudill book challenge. The upcoming school breaks are perfect times to catch up on reading. All 20 titles can be found on the Destiny Discover page. Don’t forget an entry must be submitted for each book read. The link to do this can be found on all ELA teacher’s TEAMS pages.
Stay warm!
Goal Setting – A Fresh Start to a New Year
Middle school is a pivotal time for students to begin building habits that shape their learning and confidence. Starting a new school year is a great time to introduce your child to the idea of setting goals. Setting goals can help build independence, improve focus, and boost confidence. Below are some simple goal‑setting steps you can use at home.
- Start with one clear goal and keep it specific and age‑appropriate.
- Make the goal measurable. Decide how you’ll track progress (days, minutes, pages, etc.).
- Set a short timeline. Try 2–4 weeks for an initial goal which is long enough to build a habit, and short enough to stay motivating.
- Break it into steps. List 2–4 small actions that move them toward the goal.
- Plan when and where. Attach the goal to a routine (after dinner, before bed, during study time).
- Review weekly. A 5–10 minute check‑in helps determine if the goal needs to be adjusted.
- Celebrate small successes along the way to keep motivation high.
When children learn how to set and achieve goals, they build confidence that carries over into school and life.
