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Hawk Highlights Friday March 6, 2026

Posted Date: 03/06/26 (04:00 PM)


Hawk Highlights

Friday, March 6, 2026

The entrance to Highland School, a modern building with a welcoming facade.
 
Colorful graphic with the text 'MARK YOUR CALENDAR' and calendar illustrations.
  • Sunday, March 8 - Daylight Savings Time Don't forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour.
  • Thursday, March 12 - Highland Family Book Chat 6:30 - 7:30 pm.
  • Tuesday, March 17 - Highland PTA (Parent/Teacher Association) Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Highland Library. All are invited to attend.
  • Thursday, March 19 - Board of Education Meeting at 9440 Kenton Ave. or via YouTube; 7 pm all are invited to attend.
  • Friday, March 20 - NO SCHOOL - Eid al-Fitr.
 

Mission Moment

A young boy wearing a maroon sweatshirt with 'comic ideals' printed on it and a black kufi cap.
In Mrs. DeAnn Saykawlard's Art class 3rd - 5th graders are learning to sew.
A young person in a grey hoodie holds a yellow and white striped fabric with gold unicorn patterns.
Yusuf and Jojo display the pillows that they made in class.
 

Illinois 5Essential Survey

You are invited to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
 
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:

  •  Effective Leaders
  • Collaborative Teachers
  • Involved Families
  • Supportive Environments
  • Ambitious Instruction
 
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials. 

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.  To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
 
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu
 

Open Positions at Highland

At the end of this month, we will say goodbye to Ms. Vakharia, our Health Clerk, who has accepted a position with the State of Illinois. We are grateful for the care and dedication she has shown to our students and families, and we wish her all the best in her new role.

As we begin the search for her replacement, we would appreciate your help spreading the word. The Health Clerk is an essential member of an elementary school team and interacts regularly with students and families. This role includes maintaining student health and attendance records, supporting health compliance requirements, and contacting families regarding student health or attendance. The Health Clerk also provides care for minor student injuries and communicates with families when more significant concerns arise.
(Please note that, unfortunately, parents of current Highland students are not eligible for this position.)

If you know someone who would be a great fit for this important role, please encourage them to visit the district website for application information or to contact Dr. Bradley directly to learn more.

We are also currently hiring for two additional positions:
Teacher’s Assistant – This role supports students in the classroom under the direction of a teacher and helps facilitate learning and classroom activities. (Please note that, unfortunately, parents of current Highland students are not eligible for this position.)

Playground and Lunchroom Supervisor – This position helps ensure student safety on the playground and maintains an orderly environment in the lunchroom between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day. This role can be filled by a parent of a current student.
Interested applicants can find more information and application details on the district website.
 

Outstanding Arts Recognition !


CONGRATULATIONS !!
The following students have had their art chosen for the 2026
Skokie Outstanding Arts Recognition show at
Oakton Community College (Skokie location).


Taha M., Lucy F, Chavez W., Caleb B., Allison P., Katy C., Serena S., Zarah H., Charlie R., Logan S., Leaf H., Canon W., Joziah T., and Everett C
 

"Under the Sea" Art Exhibit

Third, Fourth, and Fifth grades from Mrs. DeAnn Saykawlard's Art classes were invited to contribute artwork to the SD68 "Under the Sea" art exhibit at the Skokie Public Library. The work will be displayed in the Activities Room from March 1 - 31, 2026.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students!!

3rd Grade: Lily, Domenica, Candace, Liane, Emerson, Noah, Zarah, Aden, Serena, Amyrah, Karina, Matthus, Umar, Vida and Amelia

4th Grade: Ryne and Ashley

5th Grade: Caleb, Piper, Adam, and Aiden
 

Spring session Clubs Registration Information

A colorful flyer details after-school clubs at Highland Elementary School, listing activities by day and session.
Please note that Hip Hop Dance Party is now called K-Pop Hip Hop Dance Party.
Information about D68 After School Club registration, including schedule and snack details.
ONLINE Registration Form
 

PTA Corner

TEACHER FUNDRAISER RAFFLE

THE RAFFLE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!

Thank you to all the parents and students that participated in the raffle. Your support helped make this successful, raising over $1,000! Winners will be announced in Monday's morning announcements.
 

HIGHLANDPALOOZA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!!


This event cannot be a success (or might not evan happen) without parent volunteer participation.

This is a great way to get involved in your school community, at any level you are comfortable with.

Email ptahighlandschool@gmail.com to sign up
 
Poster for "Highland Tech Connect" featuring "The Anxious Generation" book and healthy tech habits discussion.


Click here to sign up for event.

Helpful Preparations for Meetings:


 

Skokie Public Library Connections


The BookMobile at Highland School

The BookMobile is at Payne Street and Keystone Avenue every Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Every Highland student has a Skokie Public Library barcode for book checkout in coordination with the school.

Skokie residents can get a library card on the bookmobile. The library also offers free WiFi outside the bookmobile while it is parked at each community stop. You can come on board and browse books.

Holds pickup is also available if you requested "bookmobile” when you placed the hold on the Skokie Public Library website.

The Skokie Public Library has these and other family-friendly events this March. 

Video Game Coding
Tuesday, March 10, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Design your own video game using Scratch, an online block-based coding system. Create a hide-and-seek game as you level up your coding skills. For children in grades 3-5.

Story and STEAM
Wednesday, March 11, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Enjoy a picture book read aloud, followed by a fun STEAM project related to the book. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult in the library during the event. For children in grades K-2. 
 
9700 Crawford Avenue, Skokie, IL 60076
Phone: 847-676-5001
Fax: 847-676-5099