McCracken Hornet Highlights

Welcome back to the 2026–2027 school year at McCracken Middle School!

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the students, staff, and families of our wonderfully diverse Skokie District 73.5 school community. Thank you for your continued partnership and support throughout the school year. We enjoyed connecting with many students and families this week during our 6th Grade Meet and Greet, New Family Tour, 7th and 8th Grade Locker Set Up, and Materials Pick Up!

We are excited to introduce our updated Smore newsletter format as another way to keep our school community connected and informed. Be sure to check the newsletter every two weeks for upcoming community events, student celebrations, extracurricular and academic opportunities, family resources, and much more. We look forward to sharing the many exciting things happening at McCracken this year!

Please access the McCracken Family Welcome Letter, which was shared with families on Friday, August 14th and includes important information, documents, and upcoming events to help your family prepare for the start of the school year.

Please see below for a list of important back to school dates and events:

Important Upcoming Dates:

• District 73.5 Back to School Bash ~ Sunday, August 23rd (1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.) at Middleton

• McCracken First Day of School ~ Monday, August 24th (7:50 a.m. student entry)

• 6th Grade: Door 12 entry by bike racks
• 7th/8th Grade: Door 1 Entry by main doors
• Monday Dismissal at 2:57 p.m.

• Labor Day (No School) ~ Monday, September 7th

• McCracken Back to School Night ~ Wednesday, September 9th (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

• Fall Picture Day ~ Thursday, October 1st

Athletic Tryout Reminder: FALL 2026!

As you know, our athletic seasons begin almost immediately with tryouts starting our first week back. Please see important dates and times below. The most important note is the reminder that all students interested in trying out absolutely must have an up-to-date physical on file to do so!

Tryout and informational meeting times are below:

Girls Varsity Volleyball

Wednesday, August 26th, 3:00-5:00 pm

Thursday, August 27th, 3:00-4:30 pm

Girls JV Volleyball

Wednesday, August 26th, 3:00-5:00 pm

Thursday, August 27th, 3:00-4:30 pm

Girls 6th Grade Volleyball

Thursday, August 27th, 4:30-6:00 pm

Friday, August 28th, 3:00-4:30 pm

Boys Varsity and JV Soccer

Wednesday, August 26, 3:00-4:30pm

Thursday, August 27, 3:00-4:30pm

Friday, August 28th, 3:00-4:00pm

Cross Country (no tryout required)

Informational Meeting: August 26th, 3:00-4:00 pm

First Practice: August 27th, 3:00-4:00 pm

We’ll post these tryout times on the school and district calendar.

1. Students MUST have a current physical form on file to try out. There are no exceptions to this rule. Physicals are valid for one (1) year. Please check with our school nurse, Marryann Warda, or your physician to see when their physical expires. Here is the physical form to share with your physician. We’re hoping that the advance notice and summer break will allow families to secure appointments so that student physicals are all up to date.

2. Most McCracken athletic programs are fee and tryout-based. There are no tryouts for our cross country team.

3. Tryouts generally take place over two dates, but student-athletes should know the tryout dates and times.
   

4. Students are not required to attend both tryouts (when applicable), but it is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. The more the coach is able to see a student-athlete in action, the more accurate an assessment will be made regarding skills and abilities related to that particular sport.
   

5. The athletic team roster will be announced the day following the final tryout.
   

6. Not every student will make the team. Sometimes coaches need to make cuts based on multiple factors. We understand this can be disappointing to both students and families, but students will have multiple opportunities to join a variety of athletic and extracurricular activities during their time at McCracken. This is a great read on how parents can approach the whole tryout process with their student-athletes.

Tips for Tryouts:

1. Start practicing a few weeks before tryouts. It’s tough to pick up a soccer ball or volleyball after a long layoff and be good at it!

2. Be coachable. Coaches are paying attention to both athletic ability and attitude.

3. Get a good night’s rest the night before.

4. Stay hydrated.

Please help us to keep our students, staff, families and visitors safe by following our arrival and dismissal procedures. Parents and guardians who drive their student(s) to or from school must use the Circle Drive off of East Prairie Road.

• Students being dropped off or picked up by vehicle before or after school use the McCracken Circle Drive located on East Prairie Road by the main entrance (Door 1) at the front of the building. (6th grade students enter at Door 12 near the bike racks)

• Drivers must enter the Circle Drive traveling south on East Prairie Road.

• Drivers may NOT turn left into the Circle Drive from East Prairie Road heading north. Please enter turning right traveling south only!

• The Drive-Thru is right lane only for pick up and drop off. Do not park in the Drive-Thru lane. The left lane is not for pick up or drop off.

• Students are NOT permitted to cross the street to meet a parent or family member unless crossing at Warren Street with a crossing guard. The driver must enter the Circle Drive and pick up the student from the front entrance to ensure safety.

*Please be aware of upcoming construction on Oakton Street from East Prairie Road to McCormick Boulevard scheduled to begin on or around August 17th. We recommend avoiding Oakton ST during arrival and dismissal.

• In the morning, students have the option to enter the building between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m. through the main entrance (Door 1) to purchase breakfast in the cafeteria or report to the Learning Center to work quietly on assignments.
• Students are discouraged from arriving prior to 7:30 a.m. unless they have a scheduled activity to attend. Outside student supervision begins at 7:30 a.m.
• At 7:50 a.m., the first bell rings and all students may enter the building and go to their lockers and proceed to their Advisory class.
• School starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students are expected to be in their advisory class by 8:00 a.m. Students entering after this time will be marked tardy.
• In the afternoon, students are dismissed at 2:57 p.m. except for Tuesdays, when they are dismissed at 1:57 p.m.
• The Learning Center is open after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 until 3:55 p.m. for students who want to work quietly on assignments.

The Learning Center Before and After School programming will be open starting on Monday, August 31st!

Breakfast starts on Monday, August 24th!

Please remind your student to check in with you after school about any extracurricular activities they are planning to participate in at McCracken. We have a wide variety of clubs and activities for students to choose from throughout the school year. Middle School students are expected to communicate their plans with families and caregivers and arrange for their specific transportation plan. Students have the option to walk, ride the Activity Bus, and/or get picked up depending on the timing of the activity and comfort level of our families. Please communicate and confirm this plan with your child to arrange for safe passage home after school.

Students are NOT permitted to use their cell phone or other personal electronic devices during the school day. Phones must be away for the day stored in lockers or bookbags and kept out of sight and silent until the end of the school day. Students who are observed violating this policy will turn in their phone to staff to be held in the school office until the end of the school day. After the second incident, the cell phone will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Three or more violations may result in an individualized cell phone plan including cell phones kept in the office all day for a specified period of time. Students are allowed to use wired headphones or earbuds only when directed by staff in the classroom. Wireless Airpods are NOT permitted during the school day. The school is not responsible for personal items. We discourage students from bringing these items to school.

Regular attendance and on-time arrival to class are important to student academic and social emotional success in school! Please continue to support your child in attending each class on-time throughout the school day. This will lead to continued increases in student growth and learning throughout the year. In the event that your child is ill and needs to be absent, please remember to call our absence line by 8:00 a.m. at 847-676-8235 or enter absence in PowerSchool. Families may sign in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal account to record their child’s absence! There is more information about this process in the Attendance Monitor Parent/Guardian Guide on the website. Families are discouraged from taking extended vacations on scheduled school days as these are considered unexcused absences and will have a negative impact on learning. Families must contact the nurse and administration to discuss any planned extended absences. Attendance is mandatory and is reported to the State of Illinois. Please access the website for Health Services information and contact the school nurse with any questions. Thank you for your partnership!

• Early Dismissals

• Parents or guardians that need to pick up their student early from school for an appointment should contact the school office or nurse to provide the day and time of the early dismissal. This will help us to plan for the student’s departure in an organized manner. Please contact the school office by calling (847) 673-1220. Parents/guardians or emergency contacts only must enter the school building office to sign out the student for any early dismissals.

E-Bikes and E-Scooters are not allowed on school property due to safety concerns. Students may ride their bicycle to school and use the bike rack located near Door 12. The Village of Skokie Park District has amended the district conduct ordinance regulating the use of the parks and property owned or controlled by the Skokie Park District and now prohibits electric/motorized devices from Skokie Park District parks. (Skokie Park District. (2026, July 24). Ordinance amended regarding e-bike usage. Skokie Park District)

Important Links:

• McCracken Daily Bell Schedule

• McCracken Parent/Guardian Information Packet

• McCracken Back to School Events Flyer

• Supply Lists

• Attendance Reminders/Technology Tips

• 6th Grade Transition FAQ

• McCracken Middle School Website

• Student/Family Handbook

• PowerSchool Parent Portal

• McCracken Safe Walking Route