Greetings Mead Community,
Our students continue to work hard each day, and we are proud of the focus, effort, and energy they are bringing to their classrooms. It is hard to believe there are only a few weeks left in the trimester!
Please take a moment to review a couple key updates for the coming weeks:
Fall Ball (10/30): We are looking forward to a fantastic event! Please make sure to sign up your student soon. As a reminder, digital permission slips must be completed by Monday, 10/26. Full details and links can be found below.
PTA Reflections Projects: Information regarding this year's PTA Reflections projects is available in the PTA section of this week's memo. Please keep in mind that the submission deadline is Friday, 10/30.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support of our school community. Have a wonderful and restful weekend!
Sincerely,
Tricia Leong, Principal
Alex Csuk, Assistant Principal
School News
Fall Ball 10/30
It’s time for the FALL BALL! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 30th from 5:00pm-7:00pm. We will celebrate the season with BINGO, dancing, a photo station, and karaoke! Students can come in their casual fall style (think flannels, jeans, and cozy vibes)-- no costumes! Transportation must be arranged to and from the ball. Students should enter the building through Door 5, they cannot leave until they are picked up at 7:00pm. In order for students to attend the Fall Ball, guardians must complete a digital permission slip linked below. The online permission slip will close at the end of the day on 10/26. Students with a completed permission slip on file will receive a wristband Friday before leaving school and will need the wristband to be admitted.
Yearbook Ordering Information
Don't miss out on capturing this year’s memories! Yearbooks for Mead Junior High are now available for purchase for $25. To place your order, simply visit ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter the school code 15458227. Be sure to order before the deadline on March 21, 2027, to guarantee a copy for your student. Please reach out to Mrs. Reimel at ameliareimel@sd54.org with any questions!
Late Fall Sports Sign Up
Sign up for our late fall sports is now open! This includes Cheer, POMs, and Boys Basketball (all of these are cut sports). Tryouts will be the week of 10/19, sign up via Infinite Campus must be completed for your student to tryout. A current physical also needs to be on file.
Cheer:
Cheerleading season is almost here! The cheer clinic will be Monday, October 19 from 2:20–4:00 PM, followed by tryouts on Tuesday, October 20 from 2:20–4:00 PM. Students must attend both days in order to try out and must sign up in Infinite Campus by Friday, October 16. Information packets, including a calendar for the season, will be available outside room 209. Reach out to Mrs. Thomas or Ms. Pineda for more details.
POMs:
Calling all dancers! Interested in being a part of Mead's Poms team? Join us at our 2-day tryout!
Day 1: Clinic
When: Thursday, October 22nd (2:15-3:50pm)
Where: Mead Cafeteria
What: Learn the routine that will be performed at tryouts
Day 2: Tryouts
When: Friday, October 23rd (2:15-3:50pm)
Where: Mead Cafeteria
What: Perform clinic routine in front of judges
Please note: students are required to attend both days if they would like to be considered for the team. Reach out to Mrs. Ahn or Mrs. Marks for more information.
Boys Basketball:
Tryouts will take place the week of October 19. Reach out to Mr. Bautista for more information.
Sports Sign Up Portal Directions
High School Information- 8th graders only
District 211’s comprehensive guide for the Class of 2031 provides families of current 8th-grade students with key information, including details about placement testing. Each high school has its own version of the guidebook, which is also available on the District 211 webpage for incoming freshmen. Printed copies of the Class of 2031 Guidebook will be mailed to families on Friday, September 25.
The incoming freshman placement test will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Starting with the Class of 2031, students will be administered a paper version of Pre-ACT. If you are interested in learning more about the PreACT, please visit the ACT website.
7th and 8th Grade Health Rotation
In accordance with our Illinois State Board of Education mandated Health Standards, junior high students will complete a required health curriculum. Our first health rotation begins on 11/2. District 54 will be using our long-standing curriculum. This year’s health rotation includes the following units of study:
Unit 1: Health Triangle (Food Triangle)
Unit 2: Nutrition
Unit 3: Body Image
Unit 4: Girl Talk, Boy Talk (Reproductive System)
Unit 5: Decisions about Sexual Health
Unit 6: Communicable/Non-Communicable Diseases
This course will be taught by your student's PE teacher. If you would like more information regarding these units or if you do not want your child to participate in a particular unit, please reach out to your child’s teacher and me (tricialeong@sd54.org) .
Club Corner
See below for clubs that are available for signup.
Please note that some clubs have a limited number of participants and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis according to the submission order of the digital permission slip. Once a club is full, it will no longer show up on the permission slip as an option.
The digital club permission slip (linked below) MUST be completed for your student to participate in a club. The form needs to be filled out for EACH club that your student wants to participate in, so you will need to submit multiple entries for multiple clubs.
If you have questions regarding any of the clubs, reach out directly to the club sponsor.
Club Unify (Sponsor- Mrs. Ravanesi/Mrs. Rialla)
Mead’s Club Unify is in its 11th year of serving students. Club Unify is a leadership club that has Mead students with diverse abilities building friendships, making connections, creating school-wide and community-wide projects while growing our reputation as a Unified Champion School. Club Unify meets once a month and all are welcome!
Club Unify Meeting Dates:
Thursdays- November 5th, December 3rd, January 7th, February 4th, March 4th, April 1st, May 6th
Field Trip Date: Friday, February 19 @ Poplar Creek Bowl
E-Sports Competition Date: Thursday, March 11th @ Mead Jr. High
Club meetings will meet on the first Thursday of each month after school in room 103, Mrs. Ravanesi’s room, starting in October. Please understand that if you want to join the Field Trip in February, you have to attend at least three meetings.
Disc Golf Club (Sponsor- Mrs. Bobren)
Description: Disc golf is a sport where players throw discs (frisbees) at targets, aiming to complete a course in the fewest throws possible, similar to traditional golf. No experience needed.
Location: Room 102 and then we’ll walk to the local course on Biesterfield
Dates: Tuesdays: Oct.20, Oct.27
Esports and Gaming Club (Sponsor- Ms. Gerlinger)
Level up your game with the Esports and Gaming Club! Whether you're into competitive video games, strategic board games, or casual card games, we offer a welcoming space for gamers of all skill levels to connect, play, and compete. Meetings will be held every Monday starting November 2nd through March 15th in Ms. Gerlinger’s room 211! Reach out to Ms. Gerlinger with any questions! (This club is limited to 30 students)
Soccer Intramurals (Sponsor- Mr. Hirshfeld/Mrs. Varchmin)
Soccer Intramurals gives students (boys and girls) the opportunity to compete in friendly, competitive matches. Matches have begun and will continue through the end of October. We then start again in the Spring, after Spring Break and running through the month of May. The Fall session meeting days will typically be Monday and Thursday.
WE Club (Sponsor- Mrs. Perales)
WE Club provides a welcoming space for students to build community, celebrate diversity, and promote belonging and acceptance. Through discussions, activities, creative projects, and student-led opportunities, students will explore identity, learn about different experiences and perspectives, build connections with others, and help create a school community where everyone feels valued and included.
Participation in WE Club is flexible. Students are welcome to come to one meeting just to check it out, attend when their schedule allows, or join later in the school year after another club, sport, or activity ends. Students do not need to choose WE Club instead of other activities they are interested in — WE Club runs throughout the year, and new students are welcome at any point after a digital permission slip is completed.
All students are welcome.
Meeting Dates: Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Mar. 11, Apr. 8, & May 13
Time: 2:15–3:50 PM
Location: Room 710
PTA News
Hot Lunch & Treat Day: Order by Sunday, October 18
Two more reasons to order this month! Steak 'n Shake Hot Lunch is Thursday, October 29, and Menchie's Treat Day is Monday, October 26. All orders are due by Sunday, October 18, and must be placed in advance, so don't wait.
Reflections: Submissions Due Friday, October 30
Does your 7th or 8th grader have a story to tell through art? This year's theme is "What My Culture Means to Me." Students can enter Visual Art, Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Film Production, or Dance. Two weeks left to get started!
District News
Digital Citizenship Week
District 54 is joining school districts across the nation in celebrating Digital Citizenship Week October 19-23. Each day at school next week, students will receive reminders to Be Inclusive, Be Informed, Be Engaged, Be Balanced and Be Alert online with the goal of keeping themselves and others safe.
Coats for Kids
Schaumburg Township is hosting its annual children's winterwear drive for District 54 students, "Coats for Kids," October 19-23. Donations of new winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats and gloves can be dropped off at the Township Offices, 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates. Contact mrogenski@schtwn.org for more information.
Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC)
Do you have a child who is learning English? Are you interested in learning more about how they are receiving English Language support? Join us on Wednesday, November 4, from 5-6 p.m. at the District 54 Early Learning Center (ELC) Multipurpose Room (520 E. Schaumburg Rd. - DOOR 1).
We will share information about literacy instruction in District 54 and how support is provided for students who are learning English. We will also discuss how you can encourage reading at home to help your child grow as a reader. Additionally, the Schaumburg Public Library will share resources for your family.
To sign up for the session, please complete the registration form by Monday, November 2. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Gujarati, and Japanese. If you have any questions regarding the meeting, please contact the Department of Language and Culture at (847) 357-5150.
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, October 17: HS PreACT test
Friday, October 30: Fall Ball @ 5-7pm
Tuesday, November 3: NO School
Friday, November 6: Half Day (10:40 Dismissal)
Wednesday, November 18: Half Day (10:40 Dismissal)
Wednesday, November 18 & Thursday, November 19: Conferences (more info to come)
Monday, November 23 - Friday, November 27: NO School