Skokie Home Scoop
April 29, 2024
April 29, 2024
Dear Families,
We have exciting events for 4th and 6th grade students and families this week. 7th Grade Orientation is at Washburne on Tuesday for 6th Grade parents and then 6th grade students will participate in a Shadow Day at Washburne this Friday. More details on both these events are below.
We will also be hosting 4th grade students and families at Skokie on Wednesday for 5th Grade Orientation, and 5th Grade Shadow Day will follow on May 24th.
Our current 5th grade families can provide input on 6th grade class placement by completing this survey form.
KW Uniform Ordering Information
All rising 6th , 7th and 8th grade families! The PTO and the KW teams at Skokie and Washburne are excited to continue our partnership with New Trier's One Stop Trev Shop! Like last year, we will be ordering KW uniforms through the One Stop Trev Shop, an innovative job training/life skills program for New Trier’s Transition Program students. Please click here for more information on how to order your KW uniform.
Please note:
Putting in your order as soon as possible really helps our friends at One Stop Trev Shop! Orders will be fulfilled starting in May.
The One Stop Trev Shop offers home delivery for $5. This is a very easy way to get your uniform in a timely manner and provides excellent job opportunities for Transition students.
Once you place your order, you will receive an email letting you know that your items are ready for delivery or pick up. If you have chosen to pick up, please pick up your order from the Glencoe shop promptly once you've received the email. Pick up will only be available at the Glencoe shop this year!
If you have any questions, please reach out to beckysanderson@hotmail.com
Climbing Club
The next four sessions of the Climbing Club are live on the District Web Store. Sessions begin this week.
Artists Benefiting Cats and Dogs (ABCD)
The Skokie School Gallery and South Gymnasium
*Please enter through the West side blacktop doors
Thursday May 16, 2024 5-7pm: Exhibition and Raffle
(Stick around for the Spring Cadet Band and Washburne Jazz Ensemble Concert from 7:30 – 9:00 pm in the Skokie Auditorium!)
Skokie School Artists are holding an art benefit to support animals in need.
Find event details and purchase raffle tickets HERE.
View our online showcase HERE.
No purchase necessary to attend the event!
Spring Band Concert 7:30 pm: featuring the 5th grade Cadet Band and Washburne Jazz Ensemble in the Skokie School Auditorium.
Reporting Strep Throat to the Skokie Health Office
Parents, thank you for your time in reporting to the Health Office when your child has strep throat. This can be done through phoning or email, or through our “Report an Absence” link.
This is a serious illness that can bring complications if untreated. Since it has varied symptom presentations, we appreciate knowing when this illness is occurring within our Skokie family. Based on our understanding, the local pediatricians’ group are seeing more cases among Skokie students than are being reported to us by parents. Also, we ask that you abide by our 24 hour rule, in keeping your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours following a strep diagnosis. This is in keeping with our Health Guidelines which can be found on our district website. We value our partnership with you in keeping Skokie School the healthiest it can be!
Welcome to Washburne for current 6th Grade Parents - April 30th - 6:30 PM
All Skokie 6th grade families are invited to join Dr. Fenton and Mr. Horwitz in the Washbune Little Theater on Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30pm to learn more about Carleton Washburne School and the transition to 7th grade. Parents will have the opportunity to hear about the structures and school experience for Washburne students and ask questions about the school. 6th grade families can Click Here for more information on the transition to Washburne.
Opportunity to Share Placement Feedback
As part of our parent orientation, we will share information about a survey so that you can tell us more about your child. 6th grade families can provide feedback on advisory/team placement by completing this survey form. We are eager to learn as much as possible about your children so we can make the best placement for them. Your thoughts and observations regarding your child are important to us. In order for your submission to be considered for class and advisory placement you must complete the online form by Friday, May 17th.
6th Grade Washburne Shadow Day
Washburne is looking forward to welcoming our 6th graders for Shadow Day on Friday, May 3rd. Please see the updated menu for 6th grade lunches at Washburne on this day.
Spring 2024 Parent-Teacher Conferences–SURVEY CLOSES MAY 3!
Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 14-15, 2024. This shift from October provides an opportunity to redefine how fall conferences are utilized. Conferences should serve as an opportunity to provide information about how a student is learning and what is next to support continued growth. Please complete this brief survey by May 3. The results will be used to structure the November 2024 conferences.
Artificial Intelligence and Education
Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of Schools, invites you to our third “Coffee with Kelly,” a community conversation hosted at our schools! Staff, families and community members are welcome to join Dr. Tess, Mr. Patrick Dawson (Director of Innovation, Teaching & Learning) and Mr. Matt Boyer (Technology Integration Specialist at Skokie) for a co-facilitated discussion on the growing world of Artificial Intelligence, what we are learning about it and how parents can stay informed. We hope to provide an opportunity to learn more about how it intersects with the world of education, as well as offer participants a first-hand, guided experience with AI and offer ways parents can talk about this with their children.
“Coffee with Kelly” in April
April 30, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
The Skokie Community Room
All staff, caregivers, and parents (including grandparents!) are welcome. You do not need to be a Skokie School family or staff member to attend. Coffee will be served!
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics.
Click here for the Spring 2024 schedule.
Up next:
What Do These Reports Mean? (Greeley Staff Members and Principal Joshua Swanner)
May 15, 2024
9:30 A.M.
Location: Washburne Cafeteria
Families receive important information regarding their child’s growth and achievement at three distinct times in the school year. This includes progress reports, benchmarking reports, MAP assessment reports, and IEP trimester updates. This informational session is available to families of elementary students enrolled in the Winnetka Public Schools and will provide an overview of how to read and interpret the triannual data provided to families. Join staff members from Greeley School as they detail the purpose of these reports and how they are used to inform instruction.
Interested:
If you missed our spring sessions, watch the videos here:
From Washburne to New Trier: (with Paul Waechtler, Principal)
A D36 Parent's Guide to the New Trier Transition
Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child
Digital Citizenship in Winnetka (with SEL Coaches and Technology Integration Specialists)
Spring Benchmarking
Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They can also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths. Benchmark assessments are an important component of progressive education, which recognizes that students learn in different ways and at different rates. By using benchmark assessments to inform instruction, teachers can provide a more individualized approach to learning that supports each student's academic growth and personal development.
Academic benchmark assessments for literacy and math will occur three times this year for students in grades K-8. The Spring Benchmark Assessments start on April 29th and conclude on May 17th. There are three platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, and NWEA MAP. Benchmarking reports will be mailed home on Wednesday, May 29th.
Assessment may be found on our district website in the Benchmark Assessment Section of ITL under Parent Communication on Student Learning. If you need further information on your child’s testing session, please contact your building principal.
Health Forms for the 2024/2025 School Year
This is a friendly reminder that all medical forms required by the State of Illinois are due before the first day of school. You can find additional copies of the forms on the district website here.
Please see the information below:
State of Illinois Health Examination: Kindergarten & Grade 6
Eye Examination: Kindergarten
Dental Examination: Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 6
Please use the links on the district’s health page to upload your child’s completed forms.
From Our Partners at The Alliance for Early Childhood:
Let's Play! Sandcastles and Seagulls
Saturday, May 11, 10am - noon
Gillson Park and Beach, Wilmette, IL
Pre-Registration link
Build sandcastles, explore the bird sanctuary, and play in nature with The Alliance for Early Childhood in partnership with Wilmette Park District and BackYard Nature Center. Bring your sandcastle building tools and sense of adventure and enjoy a morning of play and exploration at The Beach!
Sincerely,
Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt
Principal and Assistant Principal
The Skokie School