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Together We Soar 10-02-2026

Posted Date: 10/02/26 (05:05 PM)


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Together We Soar

October 2nd, 2026

autumn photo
 

Principal's Message

Happy October, Hawk Families. 🍂 

We have a lot of exciting things happening this month, and we are looking forward to a wonderful month of learning, community, and fun!

October is filled with important events and activities:

  • Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTC): We look forward to connecting with families and sharing your child’s progress and growth. 
  • Conferences are:
Thursday, October 8th: 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 
Friday, October 9th: 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. 
Conference sign-up is through ParentSquare and closes on October 5th. 

  • National Bullying Prevention Month: Throughout October, we will be highlighting the importance of being an upstander—someone who speaks up, supports others, and helps create a safe and welcoming school community. We will be encouraging our Hawks to look out for one another, show kindness, and support their classmates.
  • Halloween: We will end the month with some Halloween fun! 🎃 More information about our classroom Halloween parties on Friday, October 30th. Details for families will be coming in the next Together We Soar newsletter. 
We are excited for all that October has in store and appreciate your continued partnership and support. We will share more information about upcoming events and classroom parties as we get closer.

Together We Soar!
Ferial Atto, Ed.S.| Principal
 

Morning Arrival & Tardy & Drop-Off Reminders

We want to share a few important reminders to help make morning arrival safe, smooth, and efficient for everyone. 

School Hours:
Students are escorted into the building at 8:37 a.m. daily. School on Mondays runs 8:40 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and Tuesdays-Fridays are 8:40 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. 

When the weather is nice: 
Students may be dropped off at the playground beginning at 8:30 a.m. Our teacher assistants are on site supervising at 8:30 a.m. Students will enter through the playground doors with their teachers at 8:37 a.m. Students should be in their classrooms and ready to learn by 8:40 a.m. 

When it is raining: ☔
Students should enter through Door #3 on Payne Street starting at 8:30 a.m. Our staff will be ready to welcome students and help them get inside safely.

Tardy to School: 
If your child arrives at school after 8:40 a.m., you must escort your child into the main entrance and sign them into school for the day. The sign-in sheet will also include the reason for the tardiness. 

A reminder about the drop-off lane:
Please note that the lane by the school is designated for drop-off and go only. It is not a parking area. For everyone's safety and to keep traffic moving smoothly, please do not park your car or leave your vehicle in the drop-off lane. We also ask that families say their goodbyes before arriving at the drop-off area, rather than stopping for an extended period.

When cars remain in the lane for several minutes, it prevents other families from being able to pull forward, and that creates unnecessary congestion. Keeping the lane moving helps us ensure that all of our students can arrive safely and on time.

Thank you so much for your cooperation! 
Together We Soar! 
 

Together at the Table: Family Lunch

We are excited to welcome families to school for a special opportunity to share lunch and spend time together! To help make this experience enjoyable and safe for everyone, please review the following expectations.

Each family may have one family lunch per month per child. We kindly ask that there be no more than 1-2 guests per student.

Please Register in Advance
  • Registration will open at the beginning of each month. 
  • Visitors should register at least 1 day before coming to school for lunch.
  • Advance registration helps us maintain an accurate list of visitors in the building.
Before Family Lunch
  • Please sign in at the designated check-in location when you arrive.
  • Visitors should wear their visitor badge while in the building.
  • Please arrive on time and wait in the foyer area until your child’s class is called or you are directed to the lunchroom.
During Family Lunch
  • Please no restaurant food.
  • Please encourage your child to follow regular school lunch expectations.
  • Students should remain in the designated lunch area unless given permission by school staff.
  • For the safety and privacy of all students, please do not photograph or record.
  • Parents cannot purchase or provide food for other students.
  • Keep conversations and interactions appropriate for the school setting and mindful of the students and staff around you.
Food & Allergies
  • Families may bring lunch from home for themselves and their child
  • Be mindful of food allergies and dietary restrictions.
At the End of Family Lunch
  • Please encourage your child to follow regular school lunch expectations and clean up after themselves. 
  • When the lunch period ends, families should say goodbye and follow staff directions for exiting the lunchroom/building.
Most Importantly…
This is a time to connect, enjoy a meal, and make a special memory with your child! Thank you for helping us create a welcoming, safe, and positive experience for all of our students and families.
Family Lunch Form

Parent/Guardian Perception Survey: We Want to Hear From You

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, Skokie 68 is conducting Perception Surveys to gather feedback from students, families, and staff about their experiences in our schools.

Your parent/guardian feedback will help us identify areas for recognition and improvement and support the goals of our 2026–2031 Strategic Plan. Survey results will also establish baseline data and help us measure our progress, including our goal of strengthening the sense of belonging among students, families, and staff.

The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Complete the Parent/Guardian Perception Survey:

Please note that students in Grades 3-8 will also complete a Student Perception Survey during the school day. The student survey is also anonymous and will not ask students for personal information. 

Parents/guardians may review the survey below to see what students will be asked.
Review the Student Perception Survey:

Thank you for sharing your perspective and partnering with us as we listen, learn, and use feedback to make meaningful improvements for our students, families, and staff.
 

The Hawk Nest Chili Fest is Back!

Hey Chili Fans!

Chili Fest is almost here: Thursday, October 22nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and we’ve got a sizzlin’ deal just for families (or extra-hungry chili lovers!):
The Family Flight Pack – just $25!
That’s 10 chili samples (2 full flights) for one discounted price — available exclusively as a pre-order!

-Budget-friendly
-Perfect for sharing
-Skips the lines on festival day
 
Want to get the most flavor for your buck? This is your golden (and spicy) ticket. Snag yours before they sell out! 


Let’s spice things up, Highland-style!

 

Save the Date: PTA Restaurant Night 10/28

Restaurant Night at Lou Malnati's on Oct. 28

The next Restaurant Night is Oct. 28 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Lou Malnati's on Lake Avenue in Wilmette. This location is pickup or delivery online, so be sure to use the code GPFUND26 when ordering.
 

HIGHLAND FAMILY BOOK CHAT

Families with students in third, fourth, or fifth grade are invited to join us at our Family Book Chat at Highland School Library!

We will ensure each family has a copy of the book. Your student and any adult family member will read the book on their own at home.  At the book club meeting on the dates below, we will discuss the book and eat snacks.  

Thursday, November 19, 2026 (6:30 - 7:30 pm)
Thursday, January 28, 2026 (6:30 - 7:30 pm)

Please RSVP to Lisa Talbert (ltalbert@skokie68.org) or fill out this form.  We hope you'll join us!
 

Upcoming Events

Please mark your calendar! 

  • October 5th: 4th & 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Lessons begin.
  • October 8th & 9th Parent-Teacher Conferences 
  • October 9th: No School for Parent-Teacher Conference 
  • October 12th: No School for Indigenous Peoples' Day 
  • October 20th: PTA Meeting from 6:30 p.m.  to 7:30 p.m. at Highland Library 
  • October 22: PTA Chili Fest from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
  • October 28: PTA Restaurant Night from 4 to 10 p.m. at Lou Malnati's 
  • October 30: Halloween Parties 
 

Important Links

Please click on the links below to access important resources.

 

Contact Information

Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.