
Greeley Greeting
Monday, March 6, 2023
A Message from the Principal
Dear Greeley Families,
Last week, a parent contacted me asking for advice on finding time (and the best time) to read with their children. As we were talking, I couldn't help but feel slightly hypocritical. If I am honest, this is something that we have been wrestling with in my own home. Rather than "telling families what to do", I thought it best to share some of the lessons I've been learning as an educator and parent of a two-year-old and seven-year-old.
- Families that struggle with bedtime (like mine) may find it helpful to read right before children go to sleep. This creates a routine while also eliminating screen time before bed, as screen time before bed may negatively impact sleep.
- The best time to read may vary by family. If reading right before bed is difficult, perhaps reading after an afternoon snack or dinner would be a good option.
- Having books on a phone or tablet is certainly convenient for adults. It is also beneficial for children to see their parents reading printed books. I learned that my children are perceptive, and even if I may be reading a book on my phone, that may not be understood by my family. Modeling reading printed books may help your child build a healthy reading life and demonstrate that screens are used in moderation.
- If a child is still working on being an independent reader or maintaining their attention while reading, there are many positive benefits to parents/caregivers reading to children. This is particularly true for younger and/or pre-k children.
As a parent or caregiver, it is incredibly important to reframe any self-criticism you may have about family reading routines. Everyone is doing the best they can when raising children, and it is important to exercise just as much grace with ourselves as we do with our children.
Sincerely,
Joshua Swanner
Principal
Do you have an incoming Kindergarten student? Kindergarten Parents for 2023/2024 School Year
If you have yet to pre-register your kindergartener and turn in all required paperwork, we are asking that you do so ASAP in order to properly plan and staff kindergarten classrooms for next year. Communications will be shared during the next several weeks to families that have registered regarding parent input forms, open house and schedule for kindergarten connection that you won’t want to miss.
WPSF Phone-A-Thon Fundraiser Is Coming Soon!
On March 12th, Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF) Board members will be reaching out to D36 parents and community members by phone, text and email in order to secure donations for the coming year. Every donation can make a difference in our schools and for our community! Donate online by March 11th to “Beat the Call!” With your support, WPSF can continue to provide our teachers with the resources they need to bring creativity to the curriculum while enhancing the learning experience for all Winnetka D36 students.
What is the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation (WPSF)?
WPSF is a non-profit volunteer organization which raises funds from District families and the community. Those funds are used to provide grants to D36 educators which enable them to go above and beyond what is possible with tax dollars alone. This year, WPSF provided over $111,000 in grants to Crow Island, Greeley, Hubbard Woods, Skokie and Washburne.
What People Are Saying About WPSF
“The Foundation continues to be a vital partnership that supports [our] work, allowing us to consider resources that we may not otherwise have immediate access to, while also continuing to promote the creative and innovative instructional design that our district has historically celebrated. We are immensely grateful to the Foundation for its commitment to our schools, students and staff, and excited about the possibilities in the year ahead.”
Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent Winnetka School District 36
WPSF Funded Greeley Grant Highlight: Chick Life Cycle Study
Greeley has a long history of hatching chicken eggs in first grade. Last year, kindergarten students joined this tradition as they studied life cycles through the Chick Life Cycle Study. This project was made possible by a WPSF grant providing each kindergarten classroom with the necessary equipment to successfully raise 5 - 8 chicks over a three-week period. Greeley students will be able to build upon their kindergarten experience by allowing them a deeper dive into chicken behavior, anatomy, and more as they matriculate to first grade.
"The chick study is the perfect way to end a school year. In a way, the chicks remind us that eventually whether we want to or not, we all grow up. Learning about chicks goes beyond the science of life cycles, chick biology and egg development. It allows children to develop a sense of compassion and empathy, which helps shape adults who embody these values in our society.”
Jessy Zaia, Kindergarten Teacher, Greeley School
Acceleration Policy Information
Winnetka Parents Institute
UP NEXT:
From Washburne to New Trier: (Paul Waechtler, Principal)
A D36 Parent's Guide to the New Trier Transition
March 7, 2022 (confirmed)
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Carleton Washburne School, 515 Hibbard Rd.
Paul Waechtler, Principal at the New Trier High School Freshman
Campus, and Lori Worth, 8th Grade Transition Faculty, will discuss the New Trier freshman placement process and the efforts made to ensure a smooth transition to high school. A Q & A will provide an opportunity for parents to learn more about how to best support their child(ren) as they prepare for their New Trier experience.
Interested: RSVP here.
Learning the Mood Meter- District Implementation of RULER
(District 36 SEL Coaches)
March 14, 2023
Location: Washburne RC
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM
The Mood Meter is a tool that helps build awareness of emotions in ourselves and others. This tool aids us in understanding how our emotions influence our thinking and behavior, empowers us to recognize and label our full range of emotions, and assists us in developing strategies to learn how to work more skillfully with our emotions.
Interested: RSVP here
D36 K-8 Math Programming: An Overview
(Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of ITL and District Math Teachers)
March 21, 2023
Location: Washburne RC
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM
During this session Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, alongside a team of math educators from the District will provide an overview of D36 math programming K-8 including an upper grade course map, explain how the approach aligns to progressive education and the portrait of a graduate, and ways to support your student at home. This session will feature a panel of D36 math educators.
Interested: RSVP here
Differentiation: What is it? What does it look like in D36?
Dr. Becky Mathison (Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning)
April 19, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: SK Community Room
During this session Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, alongside a team of educators from the District will provide an overview of what differentiation is, how it is implemented in D36 classrooms, explain how the approach aligns to progressive education and the portrait of a graduate, and ways to support your student at home. This session will feature a panel of D36 educators.
Interested: RSVP here
Winnetka Voices Podcast Episodes
Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.
NEW! Episode #4:
Recruiting & Retaining Incredible Educators
In this episode Dr. Kelly Tess discusses the national teacher shortage with The Skokie School Principal, Michelle Cooney; Jeff Knapp, Assistant Superintendent of Professional Learning and Human Resources; and Daniel Walsh, Interim Dean of the School of Education and Associate Professor at North Park University. The guests reflect on the landscape when they initially began their careers in education, the need to enhance recruitment and retention practices, and what makes this a unique era in terms of hiring the next generation of teachers. The guests reflect on how these factors may specifically impact our practices in Winnetka. According to Principal Cooney, "In order to do hard and important work, we need to be in a community where we support one another." Listen the full episode to learn more about this timely topic.
Listen here:
Working in Winnetka 36
Winnetka 36 is always looking for great candidates when there are openings and we appreciate referrals encouraging them to apply. Here’s a link to our current openings: https://www.applitrack.com/winnetka36/onlineapp/default.aspx
We also get questions about the necessary steps on how to become a substitute teacher and thought we would share how to do that on the bottom of the document: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/how-become-sub-teacher.pdfAdventures in Learning Summer 2023
Adventures in Learning 2023 runs from June 14th-July 19th, 2023.
No camp on June 19th or July 4th.
A decades-long tradition, this summer program includes classes as varied as Athlete's Club, Razzle Dazzle Science Magic, Recyclable Art,Basket Weaving, Camping Adventures, Make Your Own Music Video, Adventures in STEAM, Archery, Computer Animation, Greek Mythology Drama, Coding, Yoga for Kids, AIL Action News (New for 2023), Animal Care,and Spa-Liscious to name a few!
Students in grades 2-8 may choose up to four classes from over 60 options. Younger children (pre-Kindergarten through grade 1) will explore our progressive educational concepts through guided play and outdoor activities.
This year's program will again be held at Washburne for the 2nd-8th graders and Crow Island for the Pre-K (4 years old by June 1st, 2023)and K Primary program (5 years old by September 1st, 2023).
2023 Fees
General (base cost*) and Primary Program
$675 Winnetka residents
$725 Non-residents
*Some General Program classes have an additional supply fee (will be noted in the catalog).
Registration begins March 8th for Winnetka residents.
Elementary Math Core Values in Winnetka D36
Deep Conceptual Understanding
Children have the ability to think deeply and build a rich understanding of mathematics as a whole. It is important for students to understand not just how a process works, but why that process works, and how it relates to a larger understanding of the number system and mathematics in general. This challenging work promotes higher-level thinking. Having a deep conceptual understanding of fundamental concepts learned in the early years, builds a solid foundation for students as they learn more advanced topics. Depth of understanding allows students to make sense of various situations and apply what they have learned. Our hope is for our students to truly understand mathematical ideas so that they are empowered mathematicians who are confident and capable. In the long run, depth of understanding is more important to student performance than going further, faster. We strive to challenge and engage students through rich problem-solving activities and opportunities for strategic, flexible thinking that will prepare them for the future.Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):
For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.
FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE ALLIANCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD:
READ: Alliance’s Fall/Winter Newsletter
READ: Alliance’s Let’s Play Guide 2022-2023 and NEW Let’s Play! Information
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
- Thurs. 3/9: STEAM Night @ Greeley School; 6:00pm
About Us
School Hours:
8:30am | Doors open
8:37am | School promptly begins
2:10pm | Kindergarten dismissal
2:45pm | Early Release (MONDAY ONLY)
3:15pm | Grades 1-4 and Stay & Play Kindergarten dismissal
Email: GordonSchreiber@winnetka36.org
Website: https://www.winnetka36.org/greeley
Location: 275 Fairview Avenue, Winnetka, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 446-6060