Hubbard Woods Update

January 17, 2023

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Reader's Theater Presentation

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Properties of Matter Science Experiment

Principal Update

Hubbard Woods Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and were able to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in whatever way was appropriate for your family. See below for a repeat of information on our month of service learning.

Please note that if we find a child is distracted from learning by something from home that they bring into the classroom, they will be asked to keep it in their backpack. This is of particular note with smartwatches. We ask you not to text or make calls to, or accept calls or texts from, your child during school hours. Please call the school if you have any immediate needs.

Please see the District portion of this newsletter for information on the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation's evening Carlson event on Jan. 26th. It is one of my favorite gatherings and I hope to see you there.

(Repeat)

We look forward to our month of service learning, focusing on community and dignity. In conjunction with this school-wide curriculum, all students will take part in service projects benefiting Cradles to Crayons. In school, students will create “well-wish notes” and drawings of encouragement accompanying each clothing pack distributed by Cradles to Crayons. Secondly, students will sort and quality-check donations. Lastly, grades 2-4 will volunteer in person at the organization’s Giving Factory in Chicago.

Jan 17- Feb 3: Cradles to Crayons Donation Drive at HWS

Week of Jan 30: Students create well-wish notes at HWS

Week of Feb 6: Students sort and quality check donated items at HWS

Feb 14-17: Grades 2-4 volunteer at Cradles to Crayons (*Volunteers needed, sign up HERE)

We need your help!! DONATE new and like-new clothing, newborn thru 12yrs, details here: Click HERE for items that are accepted. Donations can be dropped in marked bins in the entrance lobby.

VOLUNTEER in-person with students at Cradles to Crayons. We need a lot of parent volunteers to support this effort! Dates, times, classroom assignments, and volunteer openings can be found HERE.

Sincerely,

Beth

District Update

Winter MAP 2023 Testing

We are approaching our second testing window for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) test, which will take place between January 17 - 27, 2023. Your child’s school or teacher will inform you of his or her specific testing dates.

Similar to the fall, all students in Grades 3 - 8 will take one reading test and one math test. The MAP Assessment is designed to measure a student’s achievement level at different times of the school year and compute growth over time. MAP is a computer-adaptive test, which means every student receives a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions. This provides a personalized assessment experience by adapting to each student’s learning level.

The purpose of the second testing session is to provide teachers with midyear progress data that will help inform their instruction as they move forward into the school year. Winter student reports are not sent home. Student reports are sent home at the end of the school year with fall to spring growth measures. Additional information on the MAP Assessment may be found on our district website in the Assessment Section of ITL. If you need further information on your child’s testing session please contact your building principal.

Winnetka Parents Institute

The District is offering an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for a complete list of session dates and more information.

JANUARY 2023:

Acceleration in Winnetka 36

January 25, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

The Skokie School Community Room

Director of Innovation, Teaching, and Learning Dr. Becky Mathison will host this information session about the acceleration policy. The content will include a review of the purpose of the acceleration policy and a preview of updated procedures this year. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on specific components including the initial request form.

Interested:

January 25, 2023

10:00-11:00 AM

RSVP here.

Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):

For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.

Elementary Math Core Values in Winnetka D36

Perseverance

In an elementary Winnetka classroom, mistakes are embraced as an essential and expected part of the learning process. Brain research shows that children learn at the highest level when they come to an understanding of their own mistakes. Therefore, mistakes are always seen as an opportunity. This shift in thinking helps cultivate curiosity and reflection, as well as, reduce math anxiety. Perseverance, persistent effort to make sense of a problem, is another value in our classrooms and a key to mathematical achievement. Flexibility, curiosity, and a growth mindset are all components of perseverance we strive to model and cultivate in our students. This goal of our instruction shapes our responses to student work, thinking, and attitudes. Students are often asked to reflect on their work or a classmate’s work, to see if they can understand a different strategy or revise their thinking. A student’s ability to persevere is a key factor for their mathematical growth and achievement in the long run. We strive to cultivate this mindset early on in their journey.

Online Registration Open for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2023-2024 School Year

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2023-2024 is now open on the District website and via https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=30658&culture=en. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll.

The new student registration process is completed in three steps:

Complete new student pre-registration forms online beginning November 16, 2022.
Provide the original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID. The certified copy can be submitted in person at the District Office. If you have the original birth certificate, you may bring it to the District Office to be photocopied. The District Office is at 1235 Oak St., Winnetka.
Provide proof of residency and paper registration forms. For your convenience, all required residency documents may be uploaded during online registration. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements as well as the other forms required for registration (Registration Forms & Information).

Children will not be considered enrolled until both the online and paper portion of registration has been completed and residency documentation is verified. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 847-446-9400.

Winnetka Public Schools Foundation's Annual Carlson Event on January 26

YOU ARE INVITED to an evening you won't want to miss...

Winnetka Public Schools Foundation's Annual Carlson Event

Thursday, January 26, 2023

7pm - 9pm

Winnetka Community House, Garden Room

The annual Carlson Event is a lively, interactive evening that provides an opportunity for D36 parents and community members to see the Foundation grants in action.

The Foundation is excited to host a panel of D36 educators who will speak about significant grants which are funding professional development on two hot topics for all K-8 teachers. K-4 teachers received training from the Reading League on the “Science of Reading”, and 5-8 teachers received training from the Buck Institute on “Project Based Learning”. Attendees will learn about these important training investments and their current impact on students in the classroom.

Join us and bring your friends for conversation, a glass of wine, and delicious hors d'oeuvres! All are welcome for this free community event.

Please RSVP to info@wpsf.org.

For more information about the Foundation, go to wpsf.org

This complimentary event is sponsored by a generous gift left to the Foundation in 2002 by Charlotte Carlson, a long-time educator in the Winnetka Public Schools.

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 9th through this link. Please note that the registration period ends January 31, 2023 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.

Text-for-Help Available to Support Student Safety & Well-Being

Text-for-Help is intended to provide confidential support to students at school. This resource is available 24/7, 365 days a year, completely anonymous, and staffed by fully-licensed counselors on the other end. Based on the students’ needs and preferences, a counselor will then direct the user to further assistance.

For further details about the tool, please review this recent Winnetka Parents Institute Session.

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

TREX PLASTIC FILM CHALLENGE BEGINS

Time to Gather Up Your Plastic Bags...

The TREX Plastic Film Challenge Starts November 15th! Each year Go Green Winnetka and all District 36 schools participate in this program, which enlists schools to collect plastic bags and wrap, which are then recycled and made into alternate wood products. The Challenge runs through April 15, with winners announced on Earth Day. During this time, bins are placed at D36 schools to collect the *plastics listed below.