March 2026

Student Showcase

Our Student Showcase is set for Wednesday, March 18th from 6:00-7:45 p.m.  Our students and staff are ready to show off all of the amazing learning that has taken place this school year.  You will be able to enjoy the following:

• Core Team Activities 
• PE/Exploratory Activities
• The Student Art Show

We hope to see you on March 18th!

PTO Happenings

St. Patty's Game Day

The annual St. Patrick's Day PTO Gameday will be held on Friday, March 13th after school from 2:45-4:15 p.m.  It is $5 to enter or $3 if a student is wearing green.  Snacks and concessions will be available for purchase.    

The PTO is looking for parent volunteers to help at game stations and at the concession stand.  If you are able to help, you can sign-up using this link. 

No Cook Knight

The next No Cook Knight will be held at Culver's in Sugar Grove from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  When you order from Culver's, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to our fabulous PTO.  Volunteers are needed and a signup link will be shared soon.    

End of 3rd Term and Report Cards

The last day of 3rd Term is March 13th.  Report cards will be ready and available to review in Infinite Campus after 4:00 p.m. on March 20th.  Directions on how to view your child's report card will be sent via email on March 20th.  

5Essentials Survey

All students and staff have taken the 5Essentials Survey.  

Parents are also encouraged to take the 5Essentials Survey.  Click here to learn more about the 5Essentials Survey.  

Link to parent survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/  

IAR/ISA Testing

All 8th grade students will take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) on March 17th, 18th, and 19th.  8th grade students will take one test a day.  For more information regarding the Illinois Science Assessment, please click here.    

All students grades 6-8 will complete IAR testing on April 8th, 9th, and 10th.  

We've been working and will continue working with our students on how to navigate the assessments, along with reviewing some of the practice items provided to us.  We want our students to do their best on the IAR assessments and preparing them ahead of time will help.  Please encourage your child to do their best!  

To access important information from Kaneland 302 regarding IAR testing, please click on the following links:

• IAR Parent Video (Spring 2026)
• IAR Parent Night Key Information

  Once we get closer to our testing dates, more information will be shared.       

Student Appreciation Week

Our annual Student Appreciation Week is scheduled for the week of March 23rd.  We have fun activities planned each day to help celebrate and highlight our awesome students.  This annual tradition has become one of our favorite weeks of the school year.    

March Important Dates

March 3 - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Chorus Concert (KHS Auditorium) 6:30 p.m.

March 13 - End of 3rd Term

March 13 - PTO Game Day (Harter gymnasium) 2:45-4:15 p.m.

March 17-19 - 8th Grade Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

March 18 - Student Showcase 6:00-7:45 p.m.

March 20 - 3rd Term Report Cards Available in Infinite Campus

March 23-27 - Student Appreciation Week

March 30 - April 3 - No School Spring Break

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 February 2026

WordMasters Success at Harter 

KHMS achieved Highest Honors in the 39th annual WordMasters Challenge, which is a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students from around the country.  Congratulations to our students and fabulous teachers (Kari Pitstick, Kelsey Miller, Marisa Nichols, Kerri Jass) that oversee WordMasters. 

Kane County Judges Presentation

In an effort to continually help our students further develop and navigate digital citizenship skills, which includes cyber-bullying, KHMS is hosting presentations provided by a Kane County judge and the Kane County State's Attorney for 6th and 8th grade students.  The 6th and 8th grade presentations are different and to avoid repeating presentations, 7th graders will not receive a presentation.  A student's 3-year cycle at the middle school will include a presentation when they are in 6th and 8th grade.    

Both presentations are middle school appropriate and fully align with the Social-Emotional Learning Standards and the Digital Literacy Standards the State of Illinois requires all schools to implement.  Both presentations will be given on February 4th during the school day.      

Scheduling for the 2026-2027 School Year

Students and parents will be emailed information about registering for exploratory classes for the 2026-2027 school year the week of February 2nd.  All current 6th and 7th grade students will register for classes the week of February 9th during the school day.  Please review the information carefully after it is sent.  Students will need to fill out the class registration form and bring it with them when it's their day to schedule their classes.  

IAR Testing

IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) testing will take place on April 8, 9, and 10.  In addition to IAR testing, 8th grade students will also take the ISA (Illinois Science Assessment) March 17-19.   

We have been and will continue to work with our students on how to navigate the assessments, along with reviewing some of the practice items provided to us.  We want our students to do their best on the IAR & ISA assessments and preparing them ahead of time will help.  Please encourage your child to do their best!  Once we get closer to our testing dates, more information will be shared.       

Important February 2026 Dates

Feb 7 - 7th Grade Girls Basketball Harter Invitational 

Feb 10 - 6th Grade Winter Band Concert (KHMS Cafeteria) 6:30 p.m. 

Feb 12 - Current 7th Grade Scheduling Day

Feb 13 - Current 6th Grade Scheduling Day

Feb 16 - No School Presidents' Day

Feb 19 - Current 6th & 7th Grade KIPLA Scheduling Day

Feb 24 - 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert (KHS Auditorium) 7:00 p.m.

Feb 27 - No School Teacher Institute Day

Proud to be a Knight!!!

January 2026

2025-2026 Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  The purchasing deadline is January 30th.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

KHMS is Hiring

Do you or someone you know want to work in an amazing middle school?  Harter Middle School is searching for a paraprofessional and a lunch monitor.  Come join a 4-time designated School to Watch in Illinois and learn more about how gratifying it is to work in our learning community.  Apply today!   

Paraprofessional Link 

Lunch Monitor Link

PTO Happenings

The next PTO meeting is Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m.  It is a virtual meeting and you can attend by using this link.  

The next No Cook Knight will be held at Paisano's (both Elburn & Sugar Grove locations) on January 22nd and they will accept orders all day.  Please mention the KHMS PTO when ordering.  We appreciate your support!  

Bowling: Boys & Girls - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade

As a member of the Illinois Elementary Association (IESA), we have the opportunity for students who participate in competitive bowling to compete at the State level.  Bowers should have a series of 3 game averay of 375+.

At this time, bowling is not one of our interscholastic sports at Harter.  This means we do not have an official team.  There is no daily practice or interscholastic schedule.  We have a volunteer coach who loves to bowl and wants to share the opportunity with our students.  After we determine who is interested in participating (sign-up form), the coach will reach out with additional information and some optional playing opportunities.  

8th Grade Promotion & Dance Information 

As a follow-up from a previous communication, the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony and the 8th Grade Dance are scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026.  This date may change if emergency days (snow or cold days) are used.  Typically, the ceremony and dance are held the night before the last day of school.  More specific information will be shared in April.     

Scheduling for the 2026-2027 School Year

Starting in February, students and parents will be emailed information about registering for classes for the 2026-2027 school year.  All current 6th and 7th grade students will register for classes during the month of February.  Please review the information carefully after it is sent.  Students will need to fill out the class registration form and bring it with them when it's their day to schedule their classes.  

Important January Dates

January 5 - School Resumes

January 5 & 6 - Girls Basketball Tryouts 2:45-4:45 p.m.

January 6 - KHS Open House for Current 8th Grade Students 5:30-

January 9 - 2nd Term Report Cards Available in Infinite Campus

January 19 - No School MLK Day

January 21 - PTO Meeting (virtual link) 6:30 p.m.

January 22 - PTO No Cook Knight at Paisano's (both locations) - all day

January 31 - 8th Grade Girls Basketball Harter Invite 

Proud to be a Knight!!!

December 2025

2025-2026 Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  The purchasing deadline is January 30th.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

KHMS is Hiring

Do you or someone you know want to work in an amazing middle school?  Harter Middle School is searching for a paraprofessional and a lunch monitor.  Come join a 4-time designated School to Watch in Illinois and learn more about how gratifying it is to work in our learning community.  Apply today!   

Paraprofessional Link 

Lunch Monitor Link

PTO Happenings 

The next PTO meeting is Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30 p.m.  It is a virtual meeting and you can join the meeting using this link.  Don't forget that the homeroom with the most parents that attend will win a special prize.

The December No Cook Knight is Thursday, December 18th at Open Range in Sugar Grove.  When you dine at Open Range during the hours of 5:00-9:00 p.m., a portion of the proceeds will be donated to our fabulous PTO.  Thank you for your support!  

i-Ready Testing

All students will take the i-Ready math and reading assessments the week of December 1st.  We have a special schedule that we will follow, but our students will still attend all of their classes each day.  Please take note of the important information below.

• Testing will take place from 8:04-9:04 a.m. each day Dec 1-5.  
• Students should make sure their chromebook is charged the night before each day of testing.
• Students should eat a good breakfast before coming to school. 
• Students need earbuds for the assessments.
• These assessments, along with other criteria, help us place students into appropriate classes (i.e., Accelerated Math, Challenge ELA, etc.).  These tests should be taken seriously. 

e-Learning Information

Now that the winter season is upon us, we wanted to share our plan in case an e-learning day is called in lieu of a non-attendance day.  You can find more information on e-Learning by clicking here.  

Early Release Days

Please note that we have early-release days on Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 19th.  Students will be released one hour earlier than usual (1:40 p.m.).  

End of 2nd Term - Report Cards 

The end of the 2nd Term is Friday, December 19th.  Report cards will be ready for viewing on January 9th after 3:00 p.m.  

Veterans Day Assembly Thank You

We had over 30 veterans attend our Veterans Day Assembly and our guest speaker, Sergeant Major Bryan Goff, shared a special message for our students and veterans in attendance.  Thank you for making this day so special year after year.  #kanelandpride 

Important December Dates

Dec 1-5 - i-Ready Testing

Dec 5-6 - 7th Grade Kaneland Boys Basketball Invitational

Dec 9 - 7th Grade Band/Choir Concert (KHS Auditorium) 7:00 p.m.

Dec 11 - 8th Grade Band/Choir Concert (KHS Auditorium) 7:00 p.m.

Dec 16 - Holiday Jazz Showcase (Harter Cafeteria) 6:30 p.m.

Dec 17 - PTO Meeting (virtual link) 6:30 p.m.

Dec 18 - PTO No Cook Knight - Open Range, Sugar Grove 5:00-9:00 p.m. 

Dec 18 - Early Release Day (1:40 p.m. Dismissal)

Dec 19 - Early Release Day (1:40 p.m. Dismissal)

Dec 22-Jan 2 - No School Winter Break

Jan 5 - School Resumes 

Proud to be a Knight!!!

November 2025

Fall Fundraiser

The pick-up date for all fundraising items from the fall fundraiser is November 5th starting at 3:00 p.m.  All frozen items, no matter if sold online or in person, will need to be picked up on that day unless the customer chose a ship to home product online.  Customers that purchased popcorn online had a choice between paying extra and having them shipped to their home or shipping them to school for free.  Those items sent to school will also be available for pickup at that time.  Please keep in mind that we do not have freezer space to store frozen product.  If you are unable to pick up the items on November 5th, please make arrangements for someone else to pick it up for you.

 An effort will be made to get all physical prizes to students on pick-up night.  

Field trip prizes (Portillo's Limo Lunch & Main Event) will occur sometime in November or December.  Once we finalize the event dates, an email will be sent.  

Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences

Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences will be held on November 5th & 6th.  Please click here to sign up for a conference if you haven’t done so.  The link will close on Tuesday, November 4th.   

Book Fair

Harter's annual Book Fair is here (October 31-November 7).  Students will attend the Book Fair during the school day and it will be open during Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences.  Don't forget to visit the Book Fair in the library while you are here for conferences.  #KanelandReads

Veterans Day Assembly

The KHMS Veterans Day Assembly is being held on Tuesday, November 11th from 8:04-9:04 a.m.  Veterans are invited to attend our assembly and we ask that you RSVP with Ms. Rudo at: 84289@kaneland.org

Your RSVP should include the Veteran's name, branch of service, relation to Harter student(s), and any other special notes you would like us to have.  

As we did last year, we are working with a company to line our school roads and walkways with American Flags.  We are looking for extra help to put up the flags.  You can find the dates and also sign up by using this link.   

KIPLA Informational Night

To learn more about the Kaneland IgKnight Personalized Learning Academy (KIPLA), please join us at our upcoming informational night on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.  More information on the event can be found here.  

2025-2026 Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  The purchasing deadline is January 30th.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

PTO Happenings

The next PTO meeting will be held on November 12th at 6:30 p.m.  It's a virtual meeting and you can join using this link.  

McTeacher Night is back!  The PTO is hosting their annual McTeacher Night on Tuesday, November 18th at the Sugar Grove McDonald's from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  KHMS staff will be in attendance helping in a variety of ways.  Please bring cash to buy some cookies and to tip the Harter staff, which will all be donated to the PTO.  

  

Important November Dates

Nov 5 - Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Nov 6 - Parent-Teacher (Student-Led) Conferences 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Nov 7 - No School

Nov 11 - Veterans Day Assembly 

Nov 12 - PTO Meeting (virtual link) 6:30 p.m.

Nov 13 - 6th Grade Choir Concert (KHMS Cafeteria) 6:30 p.m.

Nov 14 & 15 - Harter 8th Grade Boys Basketball Invite 

Nov 18 - McTeacher Night @ Sugar Grove McDonald's 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Nov 24 - No School for Students (Teacher Institute Day)

Nov 25 - No School for Students (School Improvement Day)

Nov 26-28 - No School Thanksgiving Break

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 October 2025

Fall Fundraiser

The tentative pick-up date for all fundraising items from the fall fundraiser is November 5th starting at 3:00 p.m.  All frozen items, no matter if sold online or in person, will need to be picked up on that day unless the customer chose a ship to home product online.  Customers that purchased popcorn online had a choice between paying extra and having them shipped to their home or shipping them to school for free.  Those items sent to school will also be available for pickup at that time.  Please keep in mind that we do not have freezer space to store frozen product.  If you are unable to pick up the items on November 5th, please make arrangements for someone else to pick it up for you.

 An effort will be made to get all physical prizes to students on pick-up night.  

Field trip prizes (Portillo's Limo Lunch & Main Event) will occur sometime in November or December.  Once we finalize the event dates, an email will be sent.  

PTO Happenings 

• The spirit wear ordered last month is due any day now and will be handed out to students during lunch to bring home before spirit week next week.

• Buck-A-Boos are fun fall vinyl stickers that students can put on their water bottles, book covers, or chromebook. They are fun to keep, but great to share. You can purchase them online and then your student will pick out whichever stickers they like during lunch sales. To buy stickers or volunteer https://www.khmspto.org/home/buckaboo

• Oct 15- No Cook Knight- Culver's  5pm-8pm (volunteers needed) https://www.khmspto.org/home/no-cook-knight 

• We need adult and student volunteers to work concessions during EVERY home game, match or meet. Students can earn KORT hours.
• For basketball games: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ABAE22AAF94-59110778-basketball#/
• For wrestling meets: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ABAE22AAF94-59110578-wrestling#/

• It is time to start getting ready for Parent/Teacher Conference Meals: https://www.khmspto.org/home/ptcmeal

• Oct 22- Parent Meeting - @6:30PM- Our meetings are designed to be a resource to our parents. The October meeting will highlight school communication and tech. The link to join the virtual google meets meeting is: https://meet.google.com/jkg-dvpu-pwf

For all links, please visit our website: www.khmspto.org

2025-2026 Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  The purchasing deadline is January 30th.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

End of 1st Term & Report Cards

The End of the 1st Term is October 10th.  Report Cards will be viewable in Infinite Campus on October 17th.  A separate email will be sent with instructions on how to view and print the report card.

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

Since Parent-Teacher Conferences take place right away in November, we wanted to send out information now.  P/T Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 5th (3:00-7:00 p.m.) and Thursday, November 6th (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.).  Students do attend school on November 5th, but do not have school on November 6th & 7th.  More information, including how to sign up for a conference, will be communicated from your child's team and teachers in the near future.    

We will follow the student-led conference format.  To learn more about this process, an informational doc has been created: Student-led conferences.  Please keep in mind that student-led conferences allow us to schedule all students/families for a conference. 

Halloween Dance

The Harter Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a Halloween dance on Friday, October 17th   from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  All Harter Middle School students are invited to attend and dress in a costume.  Costumes must be school appropriate as outlined in the student handbook and students should not include any toy or fake weapons.  Masks will not be allowed as it is imperative that staff are able to see students' faces.  Face paint is allowed.  

Entry to the dance will cost $5 and students must present their ID.  Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase.  Only Kaneland Harter Middle School students are allowed to attend the dance.  Students from other middle schools, high schools, or elementary schools will not be allowed to attend. 

Halloween Day

Due to the fact we are offering a Halloween Dance, Halloween costumes will not be allowed to be worn at school on Halloween day.  Costumes present a distraction to the learning environment.  Students are asked to attend the Halloween Dance to show off their costumes.    

Knight Spotlight 

Continuing our tradition of highlighting students that exemplify our core values at Harter, students are nominated each month to win our prestigious Knight Spotlight of the Month Award.  Core Cards are reviewed each month to help determine the Knight Spotlight of the Month Award.  Students can earn a Core Card for displaying respect, responsibility, citizenship, integrity, and making a commitment to excellence.  Once a winner is chosen from each team, a Knight Spotlight yard sign is delivered to the student's house.  

Harter Art Events

Harter works with our local communities to share art from our amazing students.  Linked here is a flyer with information on where to find student artwork for the 25-26 school year.   

Important October Dates

Oct 9 - Fall Play (cafeteria) 7:00 p.m.

Oct 10 - End of 1st Term

Oct 10 - Fall Play (cafeteria) 7:00 p.m.

Oct 11 - Fall Play (cafeteria) 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

Oct 13 - No School

Oct 15 - No Cook Knight @ Culver's (Sugar Grove) 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Oct 17 - Report Cards Available Through Infinite Campus

Oct 17 - Halloween Dance (gymnasium) 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

Oct 22 - PTO Meeting (virtual link) 6:30 p.m.

Proud to be a Knight!!!

 September 2025

Beginning of the Year Team/Staff Presentations

Are you looking to meet your child's team and teachers?  Click here to access a document that houses all of the information you'll need to better understand your child's day at Harter.  Rather than receiving multiple emails, we put all links in one document.    

Art Club

Art Club registration begins September 4th and seat are limited.  There will be a Tuesday and Thursday session and both will run from 2:40-4:00 p.m. September through April.  You can register your child on Infinite Campus. 

Snowflake

Operation Snowflake is a leadership organization which focuses on Kindness, Ownership, Respect, Trustworthiness, and building leadership in middle school students.  More information can be found here, which includes the dates Snowflake will be meeting for the school year and the registration form that will need to be turned in no later than September 12th.  

2025-2026 Yearbook

Yearbook orders are being accepted for this school year.  Below is the link to order a yearbook.

yearbookordercenter.com

Harter's school code: 14512

Please don't hesitate to purchase a yearbook if your child would like one.  The purchasing deadline is January 30th.  We typically have upset students at the end of the year when we tell them there aren't extra yearbooks available for purchase.   

PTO Happenings

Our next No Cook Knight will take place on September 18th at Paisano's (both locations) and they will accept orders all day.  Make sure you mention the KHMS PTO when ordering.   A portion of the proceeds will be donated to our fabulous PTO.  

Our next PTO meeting is September 24th at 7:00 p.m.  It's a virtual meeting and you can join by using this link.  

PTO Spirit Wear is here!  Orders are due by September 4th and items will arrive before homecoming.  You can order using this link.

KORT Hours and MobileServe

Did you know that if your child completes 30 hours or more of documented community service in their time here at Harter Middle School, they earn a Knights of the Round Table (KORT) award? Students can earn these hours by doing things at community events, helping out the elementary and middle school parent-teacher organizations (PTO/PTA/PTN), Performing Arts Boosters, and Kaneland Arts Initiative, as well as doing things within the community and neighborhood like working at a food pantry, serving a meal at a place of worship or just helping an elderly or disabled neighbor with yard work or snow removal.

Even more exciting is the fact that KHMS has partnered with an online app called MobileServe to help make tracking these hours easier than ever before.  No more paper forms that can get lost or torn.  Instead, simply have your child log the hours on the app on their phone, include the supervisor’s email address and an email is sent to the organization for verification.  Once approved, the hours will appear on your child’s dashboard so that you know exactly how many hours they have completed.

Signing up is easy, but we do ask that you help your child to ensure that they sign up with the correct code.  Codes are based on a student’s anticipated Kaneland High School graduation year. KORT hours that your child may have logged via a paper form since beginning at KHMS will be uploaded to the platform so that you know how many they have logged, but please be patient as this will take some time to get done.

If you would like to create an account for you child, you may follow the directions below:

Step One: Open the app or go to app.mobileserve.com & select Sign Up.

Step Two: Enter your name, birthday, and create a password. You can skip the Employer / School box.  Please use your Kaneland email address for your email. Select Next.

Step Three: Add an optional photo to your profile or skip. Select Next

Step Four: Enter the 6-digit code that applies to your child:

KHS Class of 2030 - BE3233

KHS Class of 2031 - A9E503

KHS Class of 2032 - 439A0E

Select "Join".

Step 5: Select any activities that you are part of at HMS - Athletics, Student Council, Snowflake, Drama/Music

Step 6: Start logging your activities!

How to Log Hours (video)

How can my child find opportunities?

MobileServe partners with some local organizations to post opportunities. Those can be found on the Opportunities tab on the mobile app or the web app. Additionally, KHMS will send out invitations to students for community service opportunities that are happening at Kaneland district schools, events, etc.  Students will receive those invitations via email and through push notifications on their mobile device where their app is loaded.

Harter Middle School is currently working on getting these opportunities loaded into the MobileServe App

The Lost Boutique aka Lost and Found

We already have a bunch of water bottles and clothes in our Lost Boutique.  If your child is missing anything, ask them to check our lost and found.  

  

Important September Dates

Sept 1 - No School Labor Day

Sept 4 - Art Club Registration Opens

Sept 12 - Operation Snowflake Registration Form is Due

Sept 18 - No Cook Knight @ Paisano's (Sugar Grove & Elburn) - All Day

Sept 24 - PTO Meeting (virtual link)  7:00 p.m. 

Sept 29 - School Picture Retakes 

Proud to be a Knight!!!