Carleton Washburne

The seasonal time change often brings with it a time to reflect on the past few months. As we enter the last two weeks of the first trimester, we look forward to the continued academic and social growth of our students. We are so proud of the work our students are doing each day, and how they continue to demonstrate the qualities listed in our portrait of a graduate. We are also thankful for our Washburne staff who had the opportunity this past Wednesday to participate in their own professional learning around our Literacy pilot, Project Based Learning, the progressive education tenet of collaborative community, and a number of other topics.

We have been fortunate so far this fall in regards to the temperature, we know that cold temperatures are just around the corner. Please remember that students are allowed to enter the building at 8:20 AM each day unless there is extreme, severe weather. Students should be dressed appropriately for cold weather.

Washburne students and staff were in the Halloween spirit on Tuesday as the pictures below indicate, and we enjoyed meeting with parents on Friday for the Winnetka Parents Institute on the topic of the development of the middle school child. A recording of the presentation will be available on the district website, and we have included the presentation slides here for your reference.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

Unused Halloween candy can be dropped off at Washburne through Tuesday, November 7th in the main office to benefit Lurie Children’s Hospital. Click this LINK for more details.

In this section we will be shining the spotlight on our Related Studies program and all the wonderful opportunities available to our Washburne students.

7th grade students have been working hard learning about how to describe their school day in French, the classes they have, at what time and how they feel about them.

8th grade students have been learning to speak about shopping, clothing and how to have a conversation with a salesperson in a store.

On Halloween, they all had a visit from the Marquis de Lafayette to learn about the French influences in the American Revolutionary War.

Science. . . . is awesome.

Science Olympiad is back and fully in person!

There will be a short informational meeting for students on Wednesday, November 8th at 3:35pm in Ms. Berna's room (W221N).

Practices will begin on Wednesday, November 15th, and will be every Wednesday from 3:35-4:30pm. Please reach out to Ms. Berna at emilyberna@winnetka36.org if you have any questions.

All students grades 6-8 are welcome! Registration opens at 9:00am on Tuesday, November 7th via the District Web Store.

Calling all you talented vocalists. Washburne Chorus will have its first meeting this Wednesday, November 8th at 3:30pm in the Washburne Chorus room. Washburne Chorus will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00pm. We will perform for the community several times throughout the year. Come sing with us!

For more information, please reach out to Ms. Allison Singer allisonsinger@winnetka36.org.

Parents - We have an exciting opportunity for all 7th and 8th graders. Last year, we held our 4th annual dance marathon for Lurie Children’s Hospital. We had a vibrant, creative group of students who were part of our inaugural Student Steering Committee. They helped plan, promote, and execute a very successful event where students had a blast, and in the process, raised about $84,000! We were the top raising middle school in the country!

That said, we are starting this year’s student steering committee sooner rather than later. We will meet on Thursday mornings at 8:00AM. If your child is interested in joining our Dance Marathon Student Steering Committee, please sign up your child via the District Web Store.

• The sign up will go live at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 31st.

• Registration will close on Wednesday, November 15th.

• Our first meeting will be on Thursday, November 16th.

We are so excited to start this year’s process!

- Tracy Silverman, Melissa Yeoman, and Rachel Hirsh

The Washburne Intramural program is set to begin in December. This is our house league basketball program. It is available for all 7th and 8th graders. We will plan on having 2 skill building days in December (12/9 and 12/16) and will then create teams. The teams will play each other throughout the season. The games will start in January and end before Spring Break with a tournament. All of our activities will be on Saturdays between the hours of 12-2 (games typically last about 45 minutes). This is a fun and exciting time for any student who enjoys playing basketball!

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 14th on the District Webstore.

Please contact AndyBecker@winnetka36.org for any questions.

We are happy to announce that our after-school club, the Cardio/Resistance Training Club, is back. This is a time for students to improve their fitness training, going beyond what is done in Kinetic Wellness. The Club will meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30pm. Students may attend when their schedule allows. As a member of the cardio/resistance training club, students will receive 3 hours a week in the fitness room, supervision from a certified KW teacher, and a chance to perform their own workout.

The club will start on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 and will continue until March 21, 2024. All students are welcome to join us as we set goals, work on personal training habits, and work on another wonderful lifetime fitness activity.

Registration is now open on the District Web Store.

If you have any questions, please call or email Mrs. Florance at 847-501-3179 or candiceflorance@winnetka36.org.

Healthy choices start today!

For planning purposes, please note that Washburne 8th graders will take the New Trier placement test on Saturday, December 2nd. If for any reason your child needs to test on a different day, please reach out directly to New Trier in early October after they send information to families about testing.

Tuesday, November 14th: School Board Meeting - 7:15pm @ Carleton Washburne School

Monday - Friday, November 20-24th: No School - Thanksgiving Break

Friday, December 1st: Last Day of Trimester 1

Please take approximately 12 minutes to view or listen to the District’s Fall 2023 Biannual Report. The message provides an update progress made toward the goals outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, Annual Goals for the 23/24 school year, District and School Improvement Plan for 23/24, and the implementation of our Portrait of an Educator. Additionally, here is an infographic highlighting areas of progress toward our Strategic Plan and Annual Goals.

Please take approximately five minutes and click on this link to provide your feedback by Friday, November 18. Last year’s survey findings led to numerous improvements in the areas of curriculum & instruction, communications and human resources. It is my hope that our responsiveness will continue to be witnessed in our efforts to provide the very best educational experience for the students of The Winnetka Public Schools and excellence for the community-at-large.

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.

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here.

Coming Soon:

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:

RSVP for this event here

Following the event a link will be provided to the recorded presentation on the website.

Feedback Link

Recordings of previous sessions:

• The Winnetka Experience: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and Progressive Education

• District 36: Benchmark Assessments
  

Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, it is recommended that a person isolates for at least 5 days from symptom onset if symptoms are present or 5 days from positive test date if no symptoms. Day 1 starts the day after symptom onset/positive test date. They can return on day 6 if fever, vomiting, and diarrhea cease for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms. It is recommended to mask day 6-10.

To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.

As part of Winnetka School District 36’s ongoing commitment to equity by fostering connection and belonging, the District will take time each month to recognize the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds. The goal of these monthly observances is to provide resources and support for teachers in order to bring awareness and appreciation to the diverse population of students in our community. Observances will look different at all schools and even at different grade levels. Some activities might include art, music, book studies, research projects, sharing cultural holidays and celebrations, and other school activities. As materials are developed for these observances, we will make them accessible.

September 15- October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

October: Disability Awareness

November: Native American Heritage

December: Human Rights

January: MLK Jr. Day

February: Black History

March - April 15: Women’s History Month

April 15-May 15: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage

May 15 - June 13: Jewish American Heritage

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