The Skokie Home Scoop

January 15, 2024

Dear Families:

Upcoming Events:

January 8th-January 19th: AimsWeb Math and Reading testing

Thursday, January 18th: Math MAP Testing

Thursday, January 18th: Cadet Band and Jazz Ensemble Concert in the Skokie Auditorium (7:30 pm)

We hope you are staying warm during this snap of cold weather. We are off to a great start today, and will be inside for recess and breaks while the weather is cold. Please encourage your children to wear hats and gloves as they come and go from school.

Exploring Skokie

Literature Integrated with Technology (LIT): students are synthesizing information that they have researched on concepts that would create a successful colony on Mars. Students created a digital visual diagram that demonstrates an idea of Mars housing/weather, food production, rover transportation, health, and safety.

Technology Communication Design (TCD): Students are focusing on graphic design elements including color, arrangement, and style of images. Also, students are exploring a variety of effects with fonts including type, style, shadows, reflections, and how those changes/ can impact a message.

Clubs

Climbing Club sessions for February will go live on the webstore on Tuesday, January 23rd at 9am.

Reminder: Practice Remote Learning Activity on January 25, 2023

As we may experience additional inclement weather this winter, we want to ensure our students are prepared for potential remote learning. With this in mind, we have planned a proactive practice activity for students. This practice session is an important step in ensuring that our students remain connected and ready for learning should multiple days of inclement weather occur.

Remote Learning Practice Activity:

• Date for Device Take-Home: On Thursday, January 25, all K-8 students will bring their school-issued iPads home.

• Objective: To connect their device to home Wi-Fi and access educational tools (How-to guide can be found here). This is purely for preparedness and will not be graded.

• Help/Support: If you run into any issues with connecting your student’s device or in accessing materials, please complete this Google Form so that we can follow up with you.

• Device Return: Please return the devices to school on Friday, January 26.

This practice activity is a crucial step in ensuring our students can seamlessly transition to remote learning if required.

Brief on Inclement Weather Policy:

• In the event of school closures, communication will be made through Blackboard (phone, email, text), our website, and the Emergency Closing Center.

• The first inclement weather closure will be a traditional snow day, with subsequent closures moving to remote learning.

For more information on our full inclement weather policy, please refer to our previous Principal newsletter communications. We appreciate your support in these preparations.

Stay & Play Registration

Kindergarten students who are not currently enrolled in Stay & Play will have the opportunity to register for the 2nd half of the year after 8:00 am January 8th through this link. Please note that the registration period ends January 31, 2024 and will remain closed for the remainder of the year. The rates are prorated below. If you attempt to register before the 9th, you will receive an Item Unavailable message. After purchasing Kindergarten Stay & Play registration, your child will be able to begin their attendance in the program the following Monday so the schools can plan accordingly.

Online Pre-Registration for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2024/2025 School Year has begun.

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2024/2025 is now open. 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. We ask that parent(s)/guardian(s) complete BOTH steps of pre-registration BEFORE January 12, 2024.

Step 1: Complete the online pre-registration form; Step 2: Visit the District Office (1235 Oak Street) to provide the following:

1. 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.

2. 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. Click here to begin the online segment.

Save-the-Date for the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Carlson Event

January 30, 2024

6:30-8:30 P.M.

Location: Skokie School

Join WPSF at their free annual event to learn about findings from the literacy pilot and to see a showcase of recently funded grants in D36. Teachers will be participating in a panel discussion on reading education. Don't miss this opportunity to learn firsthand from faculty and district leaders and to see #grantsinaction.

2023/2024 Calendar

To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, 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

Sincerely,

Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt

Principal and Assistant Principal

The Skokie School