Weekly Field Principal Message 8/28/26

August 28, 2026

Dear Field Families,

We officially made it through our first full week of middle school at Field Middle School!  It almost feels like the students never left!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Curriculum Night this week. We hope you enjoyed getting a small taste of the daily sprint your kids navigate as they transition from class to class! It was wonderful seeing our halls filled with supportive parents and guardians, and our teachers loved having the chance to connect with you and share their plans for the year ahead.

Looking Ahead: NWEA MAP Testing
Next week, we will begin our NWEA MAP assessments. You can help set your middle schooler up for success with a few simple steps:

• Rest: Ensure they get a solid night of sleep before testing days.
• Fuel: Send them off with a healthy, nutritious breakfast.
• Encouragement: A quick, positive pep talk in the morning goes a long way!

Reminder about e-bikes: 
Students are welcome to ride their bikes or non-electric scooters to school as a healthy and environmentally friendly way to travel.  However, to ensure safety and compliance with local laws, electric bikes and electric scooters are NOT permitted on school grounds.  Students who ride to school should bring a personal lock and secure their bike or scooter at the designated racks. Please note that the District is not responsible for any lost or stolen property.  To ensure the safety of pedestrians, all individuals must walk their bikes or scooters to the bike racks once they are on Winkelman or Field school property.

Reminder: No School Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day. 

Please read below for upcoming dates, dress code information, how to access ebooks and audiobooks from your local library, and NWEA MAP testing. Thank you for your partnership and incredible support right out of the gate. We are privileged to work alongside you and look forward to an amazing year together.

Have a wonderful, restful weekend!

Sincerely,

Nino Alvarez, Principal
Keith Dunn, Assistant Principal

Personal Appearance and Dress
Field Middle School students are expected to use good judgment when dressing for school. Good grooming on the part of students is a factor in developing a desirable classroom climate and aids in promoting growth, pride and service, establishing self-esteem and developing respect in themselves and in our school. A student's dress is expected to not be distracting, unreasonable, immodest or unkempt. Any student whose dress or conduct is disruptive to the educational process or could constitute a threat to the safety, health, or welfare of self or others will cause school officials to deal with his/her situation individually.

The wearing of buttons, badges, or clothing bearing pictures, slogans or sayings shall be permitted as a form of expression, unless such buttons, badges, sayings on shirts, etc., are inappropriate for school. Examples of inappropriate forms of expressions are those that offend other students, faculty or staff members, contain ethnic or racial slurs, or are obscene. The determination as to the above standards will rest solely with the administration.

While in attendance during the school day, students may not dress in an unacceptable manner. Though not limited to the following, this list provides examples of unacceptable attire:

• Clothing which depicts, advertises or promotes drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, tobacco, violence, drugs, gangs, nudity, obscenity or profanity.
• Clothing that contains messages that are vulgar, offensive, obscene or libelous: that denigrate others on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability
• Clothing or accessories that may pose a potential danger or threat, be readily used as a weapon, or pose a safety or health concern such as spiked jewelry, wallet chains, studded belts or unusually large chain necklaces, etc.
• Clothing which could reflect gang membership, gang activity, or gang affiliation or gang look-alike
• Shirts and tops should cover undergarments. 

If a student were to wear clothing which is inappropriate based on these guidelines, he/she would be asked to change into more appropriate clothing. This may include a sweater to cover a shirt or changing into a gym uniform for the day. Chronic violations may be subject to discipline in accordance with the Field Middle School Behavior Plan. Keep in mind, if you are in doubt whether or not your outfit is appropriate for school, it is probably not. When in doubt, don't wear it out. Students whose dress causes a substantial disruption of the orderly process of school functions or endangers the health or safety of the student, other students, staff, or others may be subject to discipline.

Upcoming Dates: 

District Calendar

• Tuesday, September 1 through September 4
  • NWEA Testing
• Monday, September 7
  • NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
• Tuesday, September 8 through September 11
  • Safety Week
• Monday, September 14
  • Social-Emotional Screening begins
• Wednesday, September 16
  • Picture Day
• Friday, September 18
  • No School - Teacher Institute Day
• Monday, September 21
  • NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur

Field Information and Updates:

• Note from our district librarian...Students at Field now have access to audiobooks and ebooks from the Northbrook and Glenview Public Libraries via Sora (soraapp.com). Sora is a digital reading website and application created specifically for schools by OverDrive. Sora allows students to borrow ebooks and audiobooks using their school email address. Sora does not require students to have an active library card. District 31 students formerly had access to public library audiobooks and ebooks through Boundless. Boundless shutdown last December due to Baker and Taylor going out of business. Students in 6th grade will have access to the Juvenile collection and students in 7th and 8th grade will have access to both the Juvenile and the Young Adult collection. Field students are learning about accessing Sora during ELA classes. If you have any questions about Sora replacing Boundless, please reach out our librarian Katie Ryan at kryan@district31.net
   
• Fall MAP Testing 6th and 7th grade only.  Field Middle School students will be taking the NWEA MAP Growth test for reading and mathematics the week of September 1. The NWEA MAP Growth test is unique, and it adapts to your child’s responses to measure your child’s skill level. Students take this assessment on their Chromebook. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn, as well as provide norm-referenced information on whether these skills are on, above, or below their expected grade level.

Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it is easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly. In addition, this data is also one component used for our Advanced Learning Program identification criteria as well as one component used to identify students needing academic support through our MTSS process.

Individual student data will be shared with families at the end of September. For more information on the NWEA MAP Growth test, please see the NWEA Family Toolkit. 

• Picture Day at Field is Wednesday, September 16.  All students will have their picture taken. There is no payment is needed at this time.  For more information click here or see below.
   
• Homework Hub begins on September 2. Students are welcome to stay after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the Learning Resource Center to work on homework from 3:40-4:40. Students who stay must understand that this is for academic purposes only. An activity bus is provided for students who stay for Homework Hub or other after-school activities that end by 4:40. The activity bus departs by 4:50.

Worth Repeating:

• Message from our Choir Director....... Hello Field Parents!  Your students will be receiving a sign-up form for Field Choir in their email on Monday.  This ensemble does not require an audition, and all who sign-up are welcome.  Field Choir meets Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in the music room until 4:40PM, and students have access to a free bus for transportation.  This year we are excited to add a new performance with GBN on Tuesday, November 17th!  If your child is interested in auditioning for our musical this year, this group is a great way to prepare for their audition!  Our performance dates can be found in the parent letter here, and if your child wants to get a head start on signing up the sign-up form is here.
   
• REMINDER: Parents Entering the Building- For the safety of our staff and students, all Field parents must check in at the Field front office by door A. Please provide a valid ID. Parents should NOT be entering the building to escort their students to class. Thank you for understanding. 

• Health Services Note - reminder to our families that any medications or paperwork can be dropped off at our school office. 
  
  For more information about health services, including required medical forms,  please visit our district website. 
  
  Jenny Sancya, Field Nurse jsancya@district31.net or 847-272-4452

• Student Backpacks and Lockers Students may carry backpacks during the school day, but we ask that they choose a smaller size— no larger than 16 inches high—so backpacks can fit under desks and keep classroom aisles clear.  Please note:
• • Backpack size: Must be able to hold a Chromebook while staying under 16 inches high.
  • Locker storage: Hallway lockers must be used for lunch bags, gym shoes, and extra personal books (students should keep only one free-reading book in their bag).
  • Backpacks are for carrying daily essentials between classes, not for replacing hallway lockers.

• Family Handbook
  The Family Handbook provides parents/guardians and students with important information regarding District policies and school procedures. The handbook describes school policy, practices, rules, and regulations, and summarizes the Board policies governing the District. In addition to the family handbook, we have additional handbooks related to safety and student services. We invite you to review all handbooks here.

2026-2027 Standards-Based Grading Workshops and Dialogue Sessions
Parent Workshops & Support Opportunities

We believe families are essential partners in their child's learning, and we invite you to join us throughout the year for a series of workshops, drop-in Q&A sessions, and community conversations focused on Standards-Based Grading. To make participation convenient, we are offering both in-person and virtual options, along with opportunities to ask questions during key school events. Sessions have been thoughtfully scheduled around important milestones—such as back-to-school events, parent-teacher conferences, and report card periods—so families receive timely information and support when it matters most. Whether you are new to Standards-Based Grading or looking to deepen your understanding, these sessions are designed to answer your questions, provide practical information, and strengthen our partnership in supporting every student's success.

Check out the options below! For any questions, please reach out to Lauren Lipsey (llipsey@district31.net) or Nino Alvarez (nalvarez@district31.net)