We also had a station set up in the lobby for feedback on our communication practices. One of our Strategic Goal areas is Communication, and we want to hear from you! Specifically, we are gathering data on your thoughts and feedback on our building and district communication along with the communication method(s) you find most useful. As we have looked at our data, we see that our principal newsletters are opened by over 90% of our families. That's great! Still, we continue to enhance our communication to make sure important messages about learning and safety make it home to you. We have a short survey that will be open through the end of November. Thanks, as always, for your feedback and active participation. Together, we are #PROUD2BD23! 

Speaking of the MacArthur lobby, anyone that came through the front lobby on Halloween was treated with a pop-up concert with Chamber Orchestra! Our kids are awesome!

Speaking of awesome, if you would like to nominate a staff member who you feel is doing an outstanding job serving the students, families, community, and makes you #PROUD2BD23, we ask that you please click on the following for "Hitting a Home Run": LINK

Algebra students just finished their unit on Equations of Linear Functions. They expanded their knowledge from the commonly used slope-intercept form to include standard and point-slope forms of linear equations. Students used linear equations to model real life relationships from data sets to estimate outcomes. Algebra students have also been learning how to develop their own review materials for chapter tests.

Pre-Algebra students are learning about linear equations. They are now graphing linear equations using slope-intercept form. Students have been quizzing each other in activities to see if they can recognize slope and y-intercepts from equations, and if they can recognize linear equations from a graph.

MacArthur’s Physical Education classes have been busy staying fit these past few weeks. Students have been working out in our fantastic Fitness Room. The Fitness Room has a variety of lifetime activities such as the treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, resistance bands, balance and weighted balls, machines, and more. All PE classes will visit the Fitness Room and implement a personal fitness goal that each student can work towards. Basketball skills are improving at each grade level from shooting to lay-ups. Students have started playing games and incorporating dribbling, shooting, and passing into the competitive games. Keep up the great sportsmanship Marauders!

MacAllies in a new student group at MacArthur. They are picking up the work from our pre-COVID days, leading the way in modeling and teaching healthy life choices and leadership opportunities. Last week, they made videos for the morning announcements about various ways to stay healthy around prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and alcohol.

Last Thursday and Friday, MacArthur Middle School showcased the musical, Junie B. Jones. Our amazing directors Megan Murray and Katrina Peterson choreographed the entire show. And also a shout-out. to Mrs. Seiler, Ms. Sutter, and Mr. Chavez for leading students in lighting, sound, and scenery.

We had some moments when we thought, ”I don’t think we are ready to run the show for people Ms. Murray.” But we pulled our show together and did an amazing job! One funny moment that I won’t forget is when Mary Carlson and I had to come early for practice to finish the choreography for a song called “You Can Be My Friend.” We had to practice "grrring" at each other and we could not stop laughing! It was a practice where we really did not get much done! This musical was my favorite musical at MacArthur and my last one. Thank you everyone who came and watched us! ---Bennett Rasar (8th grade)

And who could forget the good cheer throughout the aftershow party?!

On October 11, six classes of 6th graders from MacArthur Middle School gathered and processed seeds with the guidance of the Prospect Heights Natural Resource Commission. Science teachers walked an energetic group of students to the ComEd Prairie near Somerset Park, to learn about native prairie plants and their seeds. Students gathered Bee Balm, Rattlesnake Master, and Gray-headed Coneflower and later processed the seeds to separate them from the chaff. The field trip wrapped up with a stop at the dry and wet prairie patches behind MacArthur to learn about the work being done to restore those areas and rid them from invasive plants. 

The 7th graders have been busy creating their advisory pumpkins for the annual contest. Each advisory creates a pumpkin theme using no more than four pumpkins, done in secret. Only Mr. Kaper and I get to see the designs ahead of time. On Tuesday, everyone got a chance to see all of the entries and vote on their favorites. Our two winners this year were Mrs. Dolwick's Advisory (student pick) and Mrs. Valladares's Advisory (staff pick).

Basketball began this week and our girls have had two home games! This also means that we also have the premiere of our poms and cheer routines! Next week, our boys get the home games. All home game and shows can be found on our YouTube channel. Only girls have played at home so far. We are excited to see the boys play a home game next week.

Student Senate is also busy organizing social events for the rest of the school. Tonight we hosted the PajamaJam and Activity Night! We had over 200 students dancing and playing games at MacArthur. The students are motivated to raise funds for their "Student Lounge". This a concept they are developing in the lobby of the Theater. Some of the members have even met with our furniture designers to work on a layout that is flexible, fun, and totally what they are dreaming of!

Huge thank you to Mr. Behun, Ms. Arvidson, Ms. Harris, Mrs. Kalaras, Mrs. Ritter, Ms. O'Connor, Ms. Menczywor, Ms, Kyeon, Mrs. Avaro, and Mrs. Kutcher for running all the stations and a special shout out to all the parents that helped supervise!

December 7th

Class of 2028 Elective Night

@ your home school

(JHHS or (WHS)

Winter Weather Guidelines

November 10, 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As we enter the winter months, we would like to update you on some of the factors that contribute to decisions related to closing school in the event of inclement weather, when you can expect to be notified, and indoor/outdoor recess guidelines.

Over the course of the past year, we have been engaged in collaborative discussions with District 214 as well as our neighboring districts. Together, we are committed to a process that ensures decisions are made wisely and in a timely fashion regarding the safety and well-being of our entire school community.

District 23 has an approved e-Learning Plan on file which allows us to close schools, but maintain a day of attendance through the use of remote instruction. The specific circumstances of each weather event, especially timing, will influence the use of e-Learning Days or the full closure of schools and programming. Prospect Heights 23 will follow these general guidelines when shifting to e-Learning or closing schools for weather-related closings:

• Schools will be closed if there is a forecasted sustained wind chill of -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, or when the actual temperature is a sustained -15 degrees Fahrenheit or colder between the travel times of 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and/or 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The District will use forecasts provided by the National Weather Service.

• For snow, ice, or other weather-related closings, the District will monitor the current conditions, the forecasted conditions between the travel times listed above, the ability of our staff to plow parking lots and sidewalks, as well as the ability of local municipalities to plow and make streets passable. The District will also be in contact with our transportation company to assess their ability to safely run buses. Lastly, we will consult with our neighboring districts and local police departments.

• If the District is able to make the determination to shift to e-Learning or close school the night before, we will contact you between 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. If the decision cannot be made the night before, we will make the notification by 5:30 a.m. the day of the closing knowing that you may need to arrange for childcare or other schedule changes.

Prospect Heights 23 will inform students, families, and staff via the following methods:

• The District will utilize our automated phone and email system to notify families of weather-related shifts, closures or cancellations until 9:30 p.m. Typically, we do not send out a telephone notice after 9:30 p.m.
• However, in the event the decision to close school is made after 9:30 p.m., the District will wait and send out the telephone notice by 5:30 a.m. the following morning.

The District will update its website (www.d23.org), Twitter (@PHSD23), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PHSD23 and the Emergency Closing Center website (www.emergencyclosingcenter.com) as soon as a decision has been made. These avenues will be updated in real time as a decision is made.

Prospect Heights 23 will follow these general guidelines regarding indoor/outdoor recess:

Elementary students have outdoor recess whenever possible. Students perform better when they get outdoors, even if only for a few minutes.

• Outdoor Recess: 10 degrees F and higher (including wind chill)
• Inside Recess: below 10 degrees F (including wind chill)

Students must have boots, gloves, and snow pants to play in the snow. Those who don’t must stay on the blacktop area. Parents should assist children in preparing and wearing appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.

As always, the safety and security of our students and staff remain a top priority of PHSD23 and our community. The building principal and central office administration will make all decisions regarding weather-related shifts to e-Learning, closure or cancellation of activities. It is important to remind you that Illinois School Code and District policy allows parents to call their student(s) out as excused in the event that the district keeps schools open because, as a family, you have concerns about your child safely traveling to or from school.

Sincerely,

Donald S. Angelaccio, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

-Institute Days: 1/8, 4/2

-School Improvement Days: 5/10

-Holidays: No School

-Thanksgiving Break: 11/20-11/24

-Winter Break:12/25-1/5

-Martin Luther King Day: 1/15

-Presidents' Day: 2/19

-Spring Break: 3/25-3/29

-Memorial Day: 5/27

-Additional Non-Attendance Days: 2/16, 4/1

-8th Grade Promotion (tentative): 5/24

-Last Day of Student Attendance (if no emergency days used): 5