Weekly Field Principal Message 2/13/26

February 13, 2026

Good afternoon Field Families!

• NO SCHOOL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16th IN OBSERVANCE OF PRESIDENT'S DAY
• NO SCHOOL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th IN OBSERVANCE OF LUNAR NEW YEAR

We had another busy and exciting week at Field Middle School! There is always something happening in our building as our students continue to grow, achieve, together.

Volleyball season is on its way, and we are looking forward to seeing our student-athletes represent the Tigers with pride and sportsmanship.

Our 6th-grade students participated in Elyssa’s Mission this week. Elyssa’s Mission focuses on preventing youth suicide by educating and screening on the warning signs of depression and suicide. This important program helps build awareness, encourages students to seek help when needed, and reinforces that no one has to face challenges alone. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement from our students and staff during these meaningful conversations.

We would also like to congratulate our orchestra and horn students for their wonderful performance Wednesday night! They did an outstanding job, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication. A special thank you to Ms. Reiss for preparing the students so well and guiding them toward such a successful performance.

As we head into a four-day weekend, we hope your family has time to rest and recharge. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day with loved ones, friends, or simply take time to appreciate those around you, we hope everyone’s Valentine’s Day is special.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Field Middle School!

Sincerely,

Nino Alvarez, Principal
Keith Dunn, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 16

  • No School - President's Day

• Tuesday, February 17

  • No School - Lunar New Year

• Wednesday, February 18

  • ACCESS Testing Begins

• Tuesday, February 24

  • Graduation Picture Retakes

Field Information and Updates:

• Our district truly values your feedback! The Panorama Survey opens today and will remain open through March 10. We invite you to take a few minutes to share your experiences with Field Middle School and Winkelman Elementary School.   If you have a student at Winkelman AND Field, you can take the survey twice -- once for each school.

Take the Survey

This shorter survey replaces the traditional Illinois 5Essentials parent survey and focuses on school climate, supportive learning environments, and school–family communication. It also offers expanded translation options so every family’s voice can be heard. All responses are confidential.

Your input helps guide our continuous improvement efforts and supports high-quality learning for every student. Thank you for your partnership and thoughtful feedback.

• Student Climate and Culture Survey - Students in grades 6–8 will also participate in a similar survey about their school experience, including whether they feel connected and included, and whether they feel supported and challenged in their learning. Student responses are anonymous. If you prefer that your child not participate, please contact Nino Alvarez, Principal (nalvarez@district31.net)
   
• Join the District 31 Parent CIRCLE! 
  (Community for Inclusion, Resources, Collaboration, and Learning for Everyone) Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 25, from 5-6:30 p.m., in the Winkelman library conference room. Cutting Edge Counseling will join the meeting to discuss setting limits, social media, and when to seek an outside evaluation. Interpreters are available; please RSVP by February 19.
  
  Meetings are open to any caregivers of students in District 31 with an IEP or 504 Plan. Dinner will be served. RSVP Here

Worth Repeating: 

• Attention Parents,
  We cannot have parents picking up students outside of the designated car line areas. This creates a dangerous situation for our students. We have received concerns from the Sheriff’s Office as well as from motorists regarding unsafe pickup practices.
  For the safety of all students, please adhere to our established car pickup lines