Dear Crow Island Families,
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. We are looking forward to moving into December and the winter season. Included in the newsletter below is more information about our Winter Performance and families are welcome to attend. Please make sure you RSVP using the form linked below.
We also wanted to celebrate two Crow Island student groups. Our Girls on the Run club had many students run a 5K on November 13th and we want to celebrate their hard work and training. In addition, the Crow Island Chess team placed in 2nd place on November 12 in the Kumbaya Chess Tournament at Niles North High School. This tournament is an officially recognized tournament by the United States Chess Federation, the governing body of chess in the U. S., and we are really proud of our players!
Have a great week!
Luke Livingston
Principal
- Wednesday, November 29th: Crow Island Book Fair (3:30–8:30 PM)
- Thursday, November 30th: Crow Island Book Fair (8:00–10:00 AM)
- Thursday, December 21st: Winter Sing-a-Long (parents invited!)
- Friday, December 22nd: Sack Supper Project
- Monday, December 25th: Holiday Break Begins
- Monday, January 8th: School Resumes
Monday Spirit Days:
As a reminder, every Monday is considered a Crow Island Spirit Wear Day. Staff and students are encouraged to participate.
Winter Sing Performance:
We are looking forward to seeing you at this year's winter performance, "Winter Is..." on Thursday, December 21st! This year, the winter sing will have both singalong elements, and performances by students.
Performance Times:
9:00- Last Name A-G
10:30AM- Last Name H-O
1:00PM- Last Name P-Z
In October, students read "Winter Is..." by Ann Dixon and Mindy Dwyer. Upon reading the story, students brainstormed what reminds them of winter. Their responses prompted varying themes for each grade level- playing in the snow (Kindergarten), treats and treasures (1st Grade), coziness and beauty (2nd Grade), gathering (3rd Grade), and community (4th grade). Students used these themes to curate song lists, and vote on songs for the performance. Students will keep Crow Island's strong singalong traditions alive by inviting families to sing for some songs, but students will also demonstrate their work in the music program through performance. Children will perform at each performance time, but as always, students may sit together with their families during their family's performance time (below). We can't wait to see (and hear) you there!
Arrival Reminders:
- The performance will take place in the auditorium.
- All visitors need to pre-register using the google form: RSVP Form.
- The form will close on December 18th, Any visitors who do not pre-register will need to show their ID at the door and go through our typical arrival system.
- Please plan to arrive fifteen minutes before the planned show time.
- If you have a child in grades K-3 you will pick them up at their classroom before going into the auditorium.
- 4th graders will come down to the auditorium on their own and parents do not need to pick them up.
- Staff will also be available to help students find parents or point you in the right direction in the hallway.
Online Pre-Registration for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2024/2025 School Year Now Open
Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2024/2025 will open on November 13, 2023. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2024, are eligible to enroll. Questions related to School Admissions and age requirements are addressed in School Board Policy 7:50 School Admissions and student Transfers to and from Non-District Schools.
Please note: There are two steps to completing new student registration. Step 1: Complete the online pre-registration form; Step 2: Visit the District Office (1235 Oak Street) to provide the following:
Proof of residency. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements. For your convenience residency documents may be uploaded during online registration.
Original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID.
Completing both steps (online and in-person) is required for your child(ren) to be enrolled as new students.
Why are both steps necessary? In January of each year, the District begins preparing its budget and staffing plan for the upcoming school year. For grades, other than Kindergarten/1st grade, the staffing plan is based on the assumption that all current students will return and matriculate to the next grade level. For kindergarten and first grade students, the District forecasts enrollment based on those students that have both the in-person and online forms submitted. These early enrollments impact the staffing plan by determining the number of kindergarten/1st grade sections and student services needed. For this reason, we ask that parent(s)/guardian(s) complete BOTH steps of pre-registration BEFORE January 12, 2024. As an added incentive new students that have completed the two step pre-registration process by January 12, 2024, will receive a credit of $40.00 toward student fees for the 2024/2025 school year.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure that the District is able to retain and/or attract the best educators for our students.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here.
Literacy Pilot: How District 36 Educators are Testing Literacy Programs and Practices
December 6, 2023
9:30 A.M.
Location: Skokie Community Room
As a part of the current literacy curriculum review cycle, approximately 59 teachers across the district representing each grade level are piloting a variety of evidence-based literacy programs and practices. The pilot allows teachers to apply current understanding of literacy instruction through the test of items vetted by the Literacy Leadership Committee.
Interested:
Following the event a link will be provided to the recorded presentation on the website.
F
Recordings of previous sessions:
Literacy Pilot Underway
Last year the District strategic plan goal to realign the K-1 literacy program was updated to entail a full curriculum review of literacy programming K-8. The goal of the curriculum review is to ensure there is a guaranteed and viable literacy curriculum based upon current research and the science of reading which builds from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Throughout the 2022/2023 school year the School Board received regular communication regarding the process for curriculum review, including the selection of materials. To review the background information about how the process resulted in the current pilot, please click here.
Follow us on Social Media!
Please follow the District via the following social media platforms in order to see day-to-day happenings and more.
Facebook and Twitter: @Winnetka36
Instagram: @WinnetkaPublicSchools
Contact Us
Email: christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Twitter: @CrowIslandD36