WELCOME TO THE FAST 5
A compilation of "snackable" news, announcements, and important reminders!
What's Happening in District 65? The Fast 5 is sent weekly in English and Spanish to staff, families, and community members. Don't want to receive the Fast 5? Unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. Happy Reading!
1
D65 Librarians Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month!
The celebration of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month continues! Our D65 Librarians have crafted curated lists of books by award-winning Latinx authors and they are sharing them with our community! The librarians selected books that represented the many different experiences and perspectives within the Latinx community. In an effort to continue to bring marginalized voices to the forefront, the librarians also chose books that had authors from underrepresented groups who wrote about their own experiences. There’s a lot of reading to complete - so we won’t hold you too long. Happy reading!




2
8-Bit Challenge - Begins October 17!
Do you have a student who is an avid video-gamer or one who is fascinated with creating fun and challenging video games? We have an exciting event that will definitely be on their radar! In collaboration with Evanston Public Library, MetaMedia, Family Focus, and Northwestern University, D65 will host the 8-Bit Challenge, an online, citywide event taking place this Saturday, October 17. All 4-8 grade students are encouraged to design and code their own video arcade game, due by December 5. No experience is necessary and students can get support to complete their personalized game via online tutorials, along with a weekly livestream session held each Saturday at 10 AM. Amazing prizes will be raffled for all entries at the virtual Citywide Showcase on December 12 to feature the fun and creative games and their designers!

3
PEP Town Hall Meeting - October 21
On Wednesday, October 21, join parents and caregivers across District 65 in learning more about the ONE FUND initiative! The PTA Equity team will host an informative virtual town hall to share more details about this initiative and how it will support students across the district. The PTA Equity Project (PEP) was founded in 2016 on the basis that all students and families in District 65 should have equitable access to the important enrichment and community-building opportunities that PTAs provide, regardless of the school they attend.
4
King Arts PE Educator Breaks Record for Powerlifting Event!
Congratulations are in order for King Arts PE educator, Ms. Jessica Springer (pictured below), on breaking “The Showdown’s” record for heaviest deadlift weight! Ms. Springer competed at “The Showdown”, an invitation-only powerlifting meet held in Kansas City, Missouri on September 26. Events such as “The Showdown” host what some consider the nation’s strongest powerlifters. Regarding the event, Ms. Springer stated that she “was excited and nervous at the same time. I wanted to challenge myself and I knew going into this meet was going to be difficult.” Nevertheless, she persisted! Facing her biggest challenge of deadlifting 585 lb., Ms. Springer beat the record by 15.8 lbs, lifting 600.8 lbs! Ms. Springer came in third place overall in the competition, but walked away breaking a record for the event. Way to go, Ms. Springer!
5
Free COVID-19 Testing at Evanston Township High School - October 26-27
The City of Evanston is once again partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to host free COVID-19 testing at Evanston Township High School. Testing will be available on October 26-27 from 11 AM to 3 PM. As a reminder, testing is available to all Evanston residents, regardless of symptoms. Residents should bring their insurance card, but will still be tested even without insurance. Those tested will be called with their test results in four to seven days.

Curbside Meal Pick-Up
Now Available!

Breakfast and lunch will be available to every child during Remote Learning. Meals may be pre-ordered (by Fridays) and picked up curbside for the week on Mondays at several locations. For more information and details, click HERE.
Join our #D65ReturntoLearn Hashtag Challenge!

Celebrate the start of the new school year by sharing your photos and videos and including the #D65ReturntoLearn hashtag on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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Evanston/Skokie School District 65