Greeley Greeting
Monday, March 18, 2024
A Message from the Principal
Dear Greeley Families,
I hope you are all well and gearing up for Spring Break! Although the countdown has begun for students, please know that our focus remains on academic, social, and emotional learning this week.
We also have a number of special events for families this week. This includes our district's monthly "Coffee with Kelly" event, a Winnetka Parent Institute centered on middle school children, and a deadline to have your voice heard through our state's annual 5 Essentials Survey. Details for all of these can be found below.
With warmer weather and increased special events on the horizon, it is important to also revisit our safety protcols for parent visitors. In an effort to support D36 security protocols, we want to remind you that IDs are required to enter the building, regardless if we know that adults that are visiting. Your ID must be held at the front desk, even if it has already been scanned. We thank you for your continued support in keeping Greeley a safe environment.
Lastly, whether traveling far, traveling near, or simply staying at home (all are great options for rest!), I would like to wish you a safe and rejuvenating Spring Break.
Sincerely,
Joshua Swanner
Principal
After School Sports (3rd and 4th Grade)
Hello 3rd and 4th grade families!. We are excited to announce that we will be offering a Spring Session for After School Sports.
Registration is now open and will close on Friday, April 19.
The activities will include Kinetic Wellness's favorite games and new exciting activities specific to this class. We will meet each group once a week after school for ten weeks. This class will run on Wednesday for 4th grade and Thursday for 3rd grade from 3:15-4:00 p.m. We look forward to another fun session!!
Spring Dates
4th Grade Dates:
4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22, 5/29, 6/5
3rd Grade Dates:
4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6
This month’s “Coffee with Kelly” will center on the topic of Reading Aloud with Your Child at Any Age. Dr. Tess will be joined by Crow Island second grade teacher Missy Parks and Washburne Special Education teacher, Chris Joob for a conversation on:
The value of listening to a story out loud and the neural connections this helps to build,
The opportunities that are opened up for conversation and connection by sharing a story together,
learning about how staff and families feel linked or out of synch with each other and their schools through literature,
and reflecting on how developing a love for reading doesn't have to happen independently.
This is an opportunity to converse, connect, learn, and grow together!
Guests are invited to:
Read either of these two articles on the benefits of reading aloud:
and/or come as you are, excited to engage with your childrens’ teachers, your neighbors, and your school leaders!
Wednesday, March 20 from 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
The Skokie School Community Room,
520 Glendale Ave., Winnetka
Please RSVP by Monday, March 18.
All staff, caregivers, and parents (including grandparents!) are welcome. You do not need to be a Skokie family or staff member to attend. Coffee will be served!
IAR Assessment Dates- Grades 3-8
In early April the district will administer the state-mandated assessment, Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The IAR includes complex tasks in reading and math that require strategic reasoning, extended investigation, and writing.
The IAR will be administered to students in Grades 3 through 8 from April 3 - 19th. Greeley students specifically will test April 9-11th (with makeup sessions on subsequent days). District curriculum, which is aligned with the Common Core and Illinois State Priority Standards, exposes students to the content and skills presented on the IAR throughout the school year. In the weeks before the tests, teachers will familiarize students with the computer platform and question format used in the IAR test platform to ensure that students feel comfortable with the test interface.
Information regarding IAR can also be found on the District website. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact your principal.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics.
Click here for the Winter/Spring 2024 schedule. Up next:
Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child
March 21, 2024
10:00 AM
SK Community Room
Join Principal Cooney and Assistant Principal Joynt (The Skokie School) and Principal Fenton and Assistant Principal Horwitz (Carleton Washburne School) for an informational session focusing on the ins and outs of the growing middle school child. We will spend time exploring both the academic and social-emotional needs appropriate to 5th-8th grade children, how they change over that four year span, as well as the neurological changes that contribute to these needs. Parents with current middle schoolers, or soon-to-be middle schoolers, are encouraged to join us for an engaging, encouraging and educational hour together.
Interested: RSVP here
Parents: Please Complete the 5Essentials Survey
You are invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can inform school improvement efforts. We do not receive results from the survey unless at least 20 percent of parents/guardians respond by March 29. The more responses parents/guardians provide, the more we will know how to focus our efforts. Please help us to improve by completing the survey.
Go to: the 5Essentials Survey website to take the survey
Select “Parent Survey.”
You may enter your email address if you would like to receive confirmation of your submission, but it is not required.
Then enter “COOK” into the county field and type in your student’s school.
New Episode!
WINNETKA VOICES Season 2, Episode #5: Women in Leadership
March is Women’s History Month! Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent, is joined by three impactful women in our school community: Denise Dubravec, Winnetka Campus Principal/Assistant Superintendent at New Trier High School; Winnetka Public Schools alum Norah; and Marena Rudy, a Winnetka Public Schools Board Member. The women reflect on how they have been inspired and encouraged in order to lead with confidence. As Norah recognizes, “We have a lot of forward momentum.” We hope this episode serves as a glimpse into how we can support women and girls in their leadership ventures by modeling self-advocacy, curiosity and empathy.
Listen here:
Single-Subject and Grade Level Acceleration
The Accelerated Placement Act requires Illinois public school districts to adopt and implement policies on acceleration that provide opportunities for single subject and grade level acceleration. To learn more about District 36’s acceleration policy implementation, click here to view an infographic and click here to visit our updated webpage. The request form is now open; the window is February 26-March 22. If you have questions about the policy, please contact the Asst Supt of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, Dr. Becky Mathison, at beckymathison@winnetka36.org.
Homework and Executive Functioning Parent Survey
The Homework and Executive Functioning Network, composed of teachers, interventionists, and administrators, is currently working to develop District Guidelines for Homework (grades 5-8) and Executive Functioning (grades K-8).
In order to make an informed decision, the Network would greatly appreciate your honest response to this brief, ANONYMOUS survey so that we can better understand our current practice and perceptions around these two topics. Responses are due by March 13. The information we collect from teachers, students, and parents, paired with research, will guide the Network in developing:
A qualitative, single-point rubric for Executive Functioning that details descriptors in the following areas: Organizing & Planning, Initiating Tasks and Staying Focused, and Managing Emotions.
Executive functioning impacts each student’s growth, development, and achievement. These are essential skills for students in school and life, and are often strong indicators of future success.Guidelines for grades 5-8 Homework Practices to aid in establishing consistent classroom-to-classroom expectations for students, increasing vertical alignment within our system and between levels, and identifying supports in preparing students for “what’s next”.
We understand that experiences may vary by grade level so please complete one survey per grade level and school that your student(s) are in.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/huKAKKvtR4kSv1bV9
A Message from the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation
Winnetka Public Schools Foundation reached 80% of the fundraising goal during the annual Phone-A-Thon! Thank you to the loyal donors and the new donors. We're looking to close the gap and want to fund the amazing grant requests coming in from teachers across District 36. The grants in the pipeline affect each and every student at all five schools. They involve funding for robotics, audio/visual equipment, small group learning resources, SEL, targeted literacy and math resources and so much more. Every dollar donated makes a difference to bring these grants to life! Help us meet the goal 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
- Thursday, March 21: Birthday Lunch with the Principal (Grades 1-4)
- March 25-29: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
- Friday, April 5: Spirit Day!
- Friday, April 12: Institute Half Day; 11:20 am dismissal for grades K-4
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
Facebook: facebook.com/Winnetka36
Twitter: @Winnetka36