6th grade has been very busy getting ready to start our first units in both Studysync and World History.  

In ELA we did some activities about "Why Language is an Art", began our study of word parts, introduced StudySync, and attended a presentation from PHPL on the 2023 Rebecca Caudill Book Nominations.

In Social Studies, we started investigating our Historian's Toolbox, reviewing why we study History. 

Each year, our Student Senate organization arranges for a special breakfast for our students that are new to MacArthur and D23. This past week, we hosted almost 20 new Marauders in addition to some very experienced Student Senate volunteers to help make more connections to our school.

One of the busiest weeks at MacArthur is Safety Week! We intentionally plan all of our drills on one day because it helps to see how they are all different and how they apply to the specific situations. Thursday, all of our students participated in drills to respond to a fire, an outside weather disaster (shelter-in-place), and an active threat in the building. Students also reviewed school bus safety with our First Student drivers and then evacuated the bus during their PE class period. Our PE team also ran the kids through additional safety lessons and how they apply to the unique setting of the gym or being outside for instruction.

Additionally, our teachers also met with our safety consultant, Joe Crimmins about our updated plan. He was also available to answer questions to make sure we all know how to execute the plan.

One of the big projects in 8th grade Family & Consumer Science class is mock interview. In the Careers unit, students develop a resume and prepare for a job in the community that are typical for a teen. Typical favorites are Target cashier, a Starbucks barista, caddy or lifeguard. The mock interview is a chance for our students to practice for those interviews with a host of interviewing specialist. This first round of interviewers consisted of teachers and administrators from around the district!

Thank you for being a part of our recent Parent Nights last week! I appreciate all of the feedback on the recent changes to the format and am glad you are all finding it to be a great time to better connect to your child's teachers! I am also grateful for the time you took with our community partners. They had so much information to share about our technology and parent resource, PH public library, D23 PTO, Next Generation Engineers, and Link Together. If you have any additional questions, please let me know!

We had our annual Safety Poster competition this morning. Each advisory made a poster presentation about some element of safety. Thank you to the guest judges from our PH Fire department and our D23 Admin team! There were some great posters out there this year and here are the winners!!

For Most Creative:

In 8th grade, Mr. Sultan's Advisory for School Safety.

In 7th grade, Mrs. Moon's Advisory for Opening Messages on Safety.

In 6th grade, we have a tie, Mrs. Trekas's Advisory for Be Aware of What you Share and Mrs. Ritter's Wild Ritts, safety around wild animals

For Most Effective:

In 6th grade, Mrs. Mailloux's Advisory for Thunder Rolls

In 8th grade, Mrs. Arvidson and Mrs. Kraus's Advisory for Parking Lot and Blacktop Safety

In 7th grade, for practicing safety drills All Too Well, Mrs. Kevil's Advisory for T-Swift and Safety

Thank you for all that participated and always look to make your days safe at MacArthur and in Prospect Heights!!

8th Grade Parents! You found the special place for your transition to high school in this area throughout the year.

More information about 8th grade placement testing in the next newsletter!

-Institute Days: 10/16, 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: 9/25, 2/16, 4/1

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

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