Hubbard Woods Update
September 26, 2023
Principal Update
Hubbard Woods Families,
I hope that you had a lovely long weekend. It was wonderful to see everyone at Go To School Night last week. Thank you for your partnership with our schools! Next up, Parent Teacher Conferences. Your teacher will be in contact soon with directions on how to sign up!
The above pictures are from a classroom visit to the Potterfield's Garden. We are so very fortunate to have this so close to Hubbard Woods. April Potterfield runs The Backyard Flower Lab. It is an amazing non-profit organization and has different volunteer opportunities available throughout the year.
I wish you all a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Beth Carmody
Smartwatches
In a continuing effort to incorporate appropriate use of technology in our schools, it is important to address "smartwatches". Although students do not typically carry personal cell devices in elementary school, we have noticed an increasing number of students with smartwatches. While we welcome the use of watches for the purpose of telling time, it is important to revisit our schoolhouse expectations for technology.
In order to ensure student engagement and their participation in our community of learners, the use of smartwatches during school hours for the following activities is prohibited:
Texting
Sending photos
Playing Games
Making phone calls
Please remind your child that if their device is used inappropriately, they will be asked to put it into their backpack. If these issues continue, that child will need to leave the device at home. Please remember that the school is not responsible for lost personal items. Thank you for your continued partnership in creating the best possible learning environment for all of our students.
Nurse J. Update
Dear Parents,
Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted at Hubbard Woods starting on Thursday, September 28. The following students will be screened as mandated by the State of Illinois.
Required Annual Screenings by Grade/Group
Kindergarten* – Vision and Hearing Screenings
1st Grade – Hearing Screening only
2nd Grade – Vision and Hearing Screenings
3rd Grade – Hearing Screening only
Special Education – Vision and Hearing Screenings
Teacher Referral – Vision and Hearing Screenings
Transfer Students – Vision and Hearing Screenings
*Kindergarten vision screening is not required if an Eye Exam was completed within the previous 12 months and the signed report is on file with the school.
Before a vision screening is conducted, the State of Illinois requires written notification that states: "Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months." (Section 27-8.1 of the School Code)
You will be notified if your child did not pass a screening test. If your child wears glasses, please make sure that they have the glasses with them on the day of the screening test.
If you need further information, please contact the school health office. Thank you for your cooperation in support of our commitment to excellence in education.
Sincerely,
Ashley Jaskowski
Hubbard Woods School nurse
District Updates
D36 Green Team
The D36 Green Team is ready to kick off the school year but we need help from each school to make a tangible difference. Here are some ways that you can be involved:
Attend our monthly meetings! Our first meeting is scheduled for October 6, 8:45-9:30 a.m. over Zoom. Meetings will take place the first Friday of each month at 8:45 a.m., all over Zoom. Email Patrick Dawson if you're interested in attending, even if you can't make it every month!
Sign up to empty out our plastic bags collection boxes! Can't make our meetings? Prefer to have more of a behind-the-scenes role? Sign up HERE for a month or two at your building to empty out the plastic bags collection. We ask that you complete it at the end of the month unless the box is full before that. You're only responsible for emptying it that one time in a month! If the end of the month comes and it's still not full, please do still empty it though.
Interested in helping with a project? Contact Liz Kunkle and we'll keep you in mind as projects arise!
Transportation Safety
In order to prevent traffic-related incidents from occurring in our community, it is important to be vigilant as a bike rider, pedestrian, or driver when traveling through town. Our principals review bike and pedestrian safety practices with students at the start of the school year. We ask that you also take a moment to review the following information with your family:
Illinois law prohibits the use of cell phones or other electronic devices while driving in a school zone, even if it's hands-free. It is dangerous and is enforced as a moving violation by the police.
Please do not use pick up and drop off time to check texts, etc. This potentially endangers others.
Please remind your students that they should not be using cell phones or other electronic devices while biking.
Crossing guards are present at busier intersections near our schools to assist with safety. Please respect the authority of the crossing guards and follow their directions
Please talk to children to ensure that they understand the importance of using caution and following all traffic signals.
Note that there are not stop signs at every intersection, especially on Oak and Elm Streets, which are heavily used thoroughfares to Crow Island, Skokie, and Washburne.
We STRONGLY recommend that all students who bike, skateboard, or scooter to school wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Students should bike on the sidewalk wherever possible, and be respectful to pedestrians. Also, children are expected to walk their bikes through crosswalks and while traveling in Winnetka business districts.
When riding on sidewalks, students should be cautious approaching driveways to be sure there is not a vehicle exiting.
In order to prevent theft or damage, please encourage your child to securely lock their bike to the bike racks available at school.
Each elementary school also has specific traffic procedures and parking restrictions that are enforced by police. We encourage you to review these procedures and contact your building administrator if you are unclear.
The speed limit in our school zones is 20 miles per hour during school days. For the safety of all, please follow the posted speed limit.
Recommended safe routes to each neighborhood school are as follows:
2023/2024 Calendar
To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.
Fall 2023 Safety Bulletin
The Winnetka Public Schools, Village, Police, and Fire Departments work to proactively refine safety practices on an ongoing basis. We are grateful for our collaborative partnership, and have worked together to compile a Fall Edition of our Safety Bulletin as we begin the 23/24 school year. You’ll find general information on a variety of safety-related topics and resources to support the safety of our entire community.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here. If you were unable to attend “The Winnetka Experience: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and Progressive Education”view the session here.
Coming Soon:
District 36: Benchmark Assessments
October 19 2023
9:30 A.M.
Location: Skokie Community Room
Join Dr. Becky Mathison, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, to hear about the standardized academic assessments administered in the areas of reading and math. Learn about what skills are assessed at each grade level, how staff use this information, and when parents can expect to receive assessment results following each of the three benchmarking periods (fall, winter, and spring)
Interested:
Following the event a link will be provided to the recorded presentation on the website.
Monthly Observances
As part of Winnetka School District 36’s ongoing commitment to equity by fostering connection and belonging, the District will take time each month to recognize the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds. The goal of these monthly observances is to provide resources and support for teachers in order to bring awareness and appreciation to the diverse population of students in our community. Observances will look different at all schools and even at different grade levels. Some activities might include art, music, book studies, research projects, sharing cultural holidays and celebrations, and other school activities. As materials are developed for these observances, we will make them accessible.
September 15- October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
October: Disability Awareness
November: Native American Heritage
December: Human Rights
January: MLK Jr. Day
February: Black History
March - April 15: Women’s History Month
April 15-May 15: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage
May 15 - June 13: Jewish American Heritage
Want to monitor your child's school device at home? Set up the JAMF Parent App!
If your student brings their school device home (grades 4-8), consider setting up the JAMF Parent App! The JAMF Parent app will allow you to allow & restrict apps, enable an app lock, set device and location rules, etc. All you need is the JAMF Parent App on your device (Apple/Android) and your student's iPad in front of you. Follow the instructions in this brief tutorial from JAMF on how to set it up and interact with the platform. Additional resources can be found here.
Bus Registration is Reopening
If you have not registered and paid for the bus yet for this school year there is still time to do so. Registration for bus service will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 18th at this link.
Elementary Strings at Hubbard Woods
It is NOT too late to sign up for strings. Lessons are offered on Violin, Viola and Cello for all 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Please fill out this form as soon as possible for your child to be a part of the program this year at Hubbard Woods.
Introducing The Winnetka Public Schools App
Download the District’s app by searching “The Winnetka Public Schools” on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app will serve as a convenient way to report absences, view and manage your school calendars, and see at-a-glance District news.
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
Important Dates to Remember
Thursday, October 12 - No student attendance (Conference/ Reporting day)
Friday, October 13-No student attendance (Conference/ Reporting day)
Wednesday, November 1st - Institute Day ( No Student Attendance)
Hubbard Woods School
8:30am | Doors open
8:37am | School promptly begins
11:30am-12:20pm | Lunch
2:10pm | Kindergarten dismissal
2:45pm | Early Release (MONDAYS ONLY)- Kindergarten Stay and Play/Bridge Care and all 1st-4th students
3:15pm | Tuesdays through Fridays Grades 1-4 & Stay and Play/Bridge Care Dismissal
Email: jenniferhartlett@winnetka36.org
Website: https://www.winnetka36.org/hubbardwoods
Location: 1110 Chatfield Road, Winnetka, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 446-0920