Dr. Camron Nystrom
Principal
Mr. Michael Kaper
Assistant Principal
MacArthur Middle School
700 N Schoenbeck Rd
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
T: (847) 870-3879
F: (847) 870-3881
Attendance:
(847) 870-5375
|
|
Principal's Welcome
Welcome to MacArthur Middle School, home of the Marauders!
Who is ready for the start of the school year? While the kids might not all be ready, I am sure many of you are ready for them to go back to school!
Join us at MacArthur to pick up student schedules and walk the halls
We will be open for this later today (8/9) from 2-5pm or tomorrow (8/10) 9-11am.
We have a few new spaces to show off! Just the other day, I caught some teachers meeting in the new library work room, planning Social Studies lessons.
|
We also added a new student collaboration room and enhanced the library with a mural designed by our own, Kaylee Cho! |
While we continue to update our website (d23.org), we will also be sharing information out on social media. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @PHSD23 and @D23MacArthur. While many of our teachers have their own classroom accounts, it is easy to search with the hashtags #d23mac and #MAChasPRIDE.
|
|
Prepared Respect Integrity Determination Engaged
MacArthur empowers all learners to thrive!
|
|
In addition to the facility upgrades and additions to our classrooms and instructional spaces, we also have some new faces to our buildings!
Please join me in welcoming our new Marauders to our staff for the 2023-24 school year!
Camrin Severino joins our Exploratory team and will direct our middle school bands.
Kelsy Cain Nelson joins our Student Services team as our school social worker.
Kaitlyn Arvidson joins our special education team, teaching our SAIL classroom. She is also a graduate of MacArthur and D23!
Karissa Forcone joins our 8th-grade team, teaching in the special education department and co-teaching.
Michael Kaper joins our office team as our new Assistant Principal. This is his first administrative job after many years in social work at various levels.
We look forward to these new staff members making a difference here at MacArthur!
|
|
|
|
|
Important D23 Information |
|
As we are barely into the month of August and eagerly awaiting the start of the school year, you may have a few question coming to mind. Here are some of the common ones we get in the office:
What is the date in October that we don't have school?
How much is a student lunch?
How many notebooks do we need to get for this year?
For what is this technology fee again?
Please check on the following links to our website for answers to these and many other beginning of the year questions.
|
|
Important MacArthur Information |
|
Advisors, Schedule, and Powerschool Access
On Wednesday, August 9th, PowerSchool will open, and students can see their full schedule. For families that don't yet have PowerSchool access, feel free to call the office or ask the office if you for the new student walk through mentioned below.
|
|
Student Walk Through
Wednesday, August 9 & Thursday, August 10
New students and 6th-grade students, along with their parents, can find all the major landmarks . . . the office, the lunchroom, the gym, the Little Theater, and of course, the advisory classroom. This is a chance to learn the layout of the building and feel more confident before the first day of school. Teachers may or may not be in the building at that time; there will be an opportunity for you to meet teachers at the Back to School night.
Join us get your schedule and explore the halls.
Today from 2-5pm and tomorrow from 9-11am.
|
|
Transportation
If you are scheduled to have bus transportation from one of our community stops, you should be getting an email on 8/10. If you do not have that, please check your spam folder.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Business Office.
|
Breakfast Program
A reminder that we are continuing our breakfast program this year. Students may come into the cafeteria when they arrive at school, whether they take the bus, walk, or are dropped off, and eat breakfast. There is a charge for breakfast this year.
|
|
Student Attire and Dress
As students return, a reminder to please help them wear clothing with appropriate coverage and appropriate messaging. Also, we partner with you to help our students wear clothing that expresses themselves positively and helps them show respect for themselves.
|
Physical Education Uniforms
Our students will be changing for PE again this year. PE uniforms may have been purchased during registration and they can be purchased in the office at any time. We will have some samples available on August 9th and 10th.
PE shirts are $8.00
PE shorts are $10.00
|
|
|
Extracurricular Fees
All of our extracurricular activities have a fee of $75.00 (Chorus is $50.00) associated with them. These are due before the first competition or performance.
These fees are collected after all other fees are paid; for questions, including how to apply for a fee waiver, please contact the Business office.
Additional Policies and Procedures
More information about policies and procedures is available in the student handbook and the board of education policies page. Both are available through links at www.d23.org.
|
|
Student Picture Day
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Retake Day
Thursday, October 12, 2023
|
|
8th Grade Promotion Picture Day
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Promotion Picture Retake Day
Thursday, April 4, 2024
|
|
One of the busiest places on our campus at this time of year is the nurse's office. Please use the link to find all necessary forms from the nurse, including, but not limited to: eye exam forms, dental exam forms, and medication administration forms. |
|
All 6th-grade students need to have a physical on file in our nurse’s office to enter 6th grade. This must be in our possession by October 15. Sports physicals must be on file in the nurse’s office before practice (and when relevant, a tryout) begins, starting with Cross Country this fall. For questions about school or sports physicals, contact our nurse (Monika Borkowski) at 847-870-5192 or [email protected]. |
|
Parent or guardian must call the school each day a student misses all or part of his/her school day.
Attendance number: (847) 870-5375. You may leave information on the voicemail system 24 hours a day or contact the office between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Failure to call the school within 24 hours of a student absence may result in an unexcused absence or truancy. Please see the student handbook or the website for complete attendance policies and procedures.
|
|
As the year starts, we want to share practices we have found to be effective for keeping students safe and engaged when using the internet at home, whether they are using the District-issued iPad or a home device, like a phone, gaming console, or tablet. As educators and parents, we know the value and importance of having strong routines and practices, and we hope this information can help you and your household start this new school year off well!
- Take extra steps to protect your child. Encourage your child to use and store the iPad in an open area of your home, such as the kitchen or family room, so you can monitor what your child is doing online. Review the parental controls available to you via your internet provider.
- Go where your child goes online. Monitor the places that your child visits. Let your child know that you’re there, and help teach her/him how to act as s/he works and socializes online.
- Review your child’s contacts list. You may want to limit your child’s online “contacts” to people your child actually knows and is working with in real life.
- Balancing the time your student is on the iPad. While the iPad is a very engaging device, it is important to set reasonable limits for your child.
- Report unwelcome or malicious online threats. Report immediately any online interactions that can be considered threatening.
- Help your child develop a routine. Many parents have found success by helping create a routine for their child’s device use. Define a routine as to how the iPad is cared for and when and where its use is appropriate.
- Familiarize yourself with the apps and programs. It is important that parents have a working understanding of the programs and student work found on the iPad.
|
|
|
|
|
Important Dates for 2023-24 |
|
-First Day of Student Attendance: 8/16
-Institute Days: 8/14, 10/16, 1/8, 4/2
-School Improvement Days: 8/15, 5/0
-Holidays: No School
-Labor Day: 9/4
-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
|
|
6th Grade
Advisory
8:05-8:25
PE and Exploratory
8:25-9:45
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
9:45-11:45
Lunch
11:45-12:15
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
12:15-2:15
GO MAC
2:15-2:55
|
|
7th Grade
Advisory
8:05-8:25
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
8:25-10:25
PE or Exploratory
10:25-11:05
Lunch
11:05-11:35
PE or Exploratory
11:35-12:15
GO MAC
12:15-12:55
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
12:55-2:55
|
|
8th Grade
Advisory
8:05-8:25
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
8:25-10:25
ELA/SS Block or Math/Science Block
10:25-12:25
Lunch
12:25-12:55
GO MAC
12:55-1:35
PE/Exploratory
1:35-2:55
|
|
MacArthur Staff 2022-2023 |
|
6th Grade
Jill Halpin
Heather Jackson
Amy Mailloux
Stephanie Ritter
Lora Robertson
Dina Trekas
Lee Wright
Exploratory
Sam Alvaro
Mike Becker
Filip Dudic
Izabella Gieron
Athena Kalaras
Kelley Kraus
Janet Kyeon
Shelly Kutcher
MaryBeth McWilliams
Megan Murray
Dan Perillo
Camrin Severino
|
|
7th Grade
Kym Brunner
Sandy Cary
Erin Dolwick
Kristen Foley
Meghan Kevil
Samantha Menczyor
Diane Moon
Susan Peckworth
Bryan Quesea
Student Services
Kaitlyn Arvidson
Ela Batura
Monica Borkowski
Kelly Brockway
Kelsy Cain Nelson
Joel Grafman
Dana Harris
Kim Salyards
Carly Sullivan
Denisse Valladares
Administrative Office
Claudia Carpenter
Michael Kaper
Carrie Petrelis
Camron Nystrom
|
|
8th Grade
Kim Basile
Joe Behun
Karissa Forcone
Kasey Godek
Melissa Joffe
Marilyn Nelson
Stephanie O'Connor
Brad Sultan
Jeni Teramoto
Support Staff
Gail Biagini
Carolyn Collins
Pam Jelaca
Melissa Ross
Jessica Seiler
Barb Whiteside
Custodial/Maintainence
Joanne Brant
Bubba Ewanio
Kalvin Guevara
Rafael Romero
|
|
This year we are planning on releasing a curriculum-focused video on August 25th. This will address our learning management systems (Schoology & Powerschool). We will also be introducing teachers, teams, learning experiences, and goals for the upcoming school year. We will follow that up with a less formal, open house-style question-and-answer session on August 28th (6th grade) and August 29th (7th & 8th grade). Join us from 6-7:30pm!! |
|
The Nystrom crew loaded up the conversion van and went to Arizona this summer. We spent the week in Sedona and really enjoyed the hikes and parks that are unique to the area! Whether it was the sheer size of the Grand Canyon or the unique swirls of Antelope Canyon, we don't have these in Illinois. We also underestimated some of our additional stops on the way home at Mesa Verde and Great Sand Dunes National Parks. |
For the first time in our family, we are not all present. This past Monday, we moved Henrik into his dorm at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. It has only been a few days but we already miss his presence. Beth and I welcome any suggestions from those of you that have already been through this process. It definitely hits different than all the other "1st Day of School" pictures! |
This is the start of my 21st year in education and my 13th in school administration. It is another year where I am also a middle school parent; Eva is definitely an 8th grader but I am not sure I am ready for her to be registering for high school classes in Decemeber! While experience is helpful in leading a school and working with families, let me know if there are ways that I can make your experiences at MacArthur the best for you and your families.
If you are not already following me on Twitter, please do at @nystrom5402.
|
|
|
|
|
Many of you may have met me in the spring at 6th grade orientation night but we have would like to share the announcement of a new member to the family!
Colin Thomas Kaper was born on 7/4 and certainly wanted to have a story to remember; while my wife and I were able to get halfway to the hospital, we had to make a quick pivot to call 911, which is where Colin made his debut a mere 10 minutes away from the hospital. Do not fret though, Baby Colin & Bridget are doing amazing, Toddler Claire is on her way to adjusting to her new big sister role, and I have put on my continued development to practice being a more speedy driver. The family is now famous since they were debuted on the Mt. Prospect Fire Department Facebook page a few weeks ago!
|
I am looking forward to meeting all of the students and parents of MacArthur as we begin this exciting year ahead! Please follow me on Twitter @mikekaper. |
|
|
|
|
Please follow us on Twitter to see up-to-the-minute events from MacArthur!
#d23mac
#MAChasPRIDE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
