The Skokie Home Scoop
October 30, 2023
October 30, 2023
Dear Winnetka Families,
This school year, our District will be focusing on best practices regarding student attendance. The National Center for Education Statistics released an overview of the importance of students regularly attending school, as well as the negative impacts of missing school. Incorporated in School Board Policy 7:20 are requirements (per Section 105 ILCS/5/22-92 of the Illinois School Code) that all Illinois school districts must establish and submit its Absence/Truancy Program to the Illinois State Board of Education. This requirement went into effect January 2023 and is to be submitted every two years thereafter.
Our wish is to partner with our families in understanding the importance of regular and prompt attendance. To that end, our schools will be sending home a letter to families of students that have passed a threshold of absences at this point in the school year. This letter is meant to draw attention to the number of absences a student has had and offer support should families need it.
We understand that there are times when absences are unavoidable, particularly in the event of sickness or family emergencies. Please do notify our schools if we can help in any way with these matters. Thank you for your continued partnership.
Sincerely,
Beth Carmody, Hubbard Woods
Michelle Cooney, Skokie
Andrew Fenton, Washburne
Luke Livingston, Crow Island
Joshua Swanner, Greeley
Halloween Parties
Thank you so much to the room parents for taking on the planning and organizing of the parties, and thank you to the PTO for coordinating and aligning these efforts!
Just a couple reminders for our Halloween parties:
The parties are on October 31st from 2:30-3:30pm
We are running a Monday schedule so all classes will take place
Room parents, if you have not yet done so, please reach out to your child’s advisor to let them know your party plans by October 27th
We can not have food at the parties, so please do not bring/send food to share
Students do not wear their costume to school, but will have time to put them on over their clothes at 2:30 pm
Costumes can not include anything that resembles a weapon
Exploring Skokie
Spanish 6th Grade: 6th graders started out their year with a story about a boy, Juan, who wants a cat. Through a series of events, Juan takes a friend’s cat, but in the process loses his friends. The students acted, read, and retold this story to maximize comprehension. Students have also been working on El bebé malo, or the Bad Baby story. This gave them their first exposure to the past tense, which will be used throughout the year. The students acted out a hilarious scene in class where the baby refused to walk and ultimately sat down on a pile of fruit! Students have acted, read, and written about this story to best understand it.
Spanish 5th Grade: 5th Graders this year have already completed a story and are working through their second. They started the year with the story Bob y el helado de chocolate, or Bob and the Chocolate Ice Cream. Students acted, read, and retold the story of Bob, who went to several places looking for ice cream. Each class modified the story with their own details, so ask your child what ice cream their class had the main character searching for! Our second story this year is called Litterbug, and the students have been working on different forms of communication to best comprehend it. Students have listened to, written summaries, and seen videos to get a fuller understanding of the story.
6th grade French: In French class, sixth grade students have been learning vocabulary to greet, introduce a friend, ask someone’s age and say goodbye. Each day we practice these important conversational skills. Students have also read some and acted out several stories to acquire language naturally. They really enjoy acting out these funny scenes and hardly even recognize that they are learning all the time!
Important: Adventures in Learning Temporary Pause and Location Change for ESY Over Summer 2024 Announced
The Board approved a temporary pause in Adventures in Learning programming for the Summer of 2024 to accommodate construction and renovation at all five campuses. Extended School Year will continue as planned, but will be hosted at New Trier’s Northfield Campus. The District will be excited to reopen Adventures in Learning in Summer 2025. More details are below.
From the Superintendent: SURVEY OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 18
Please take approximately five minutes to provide your feedback by Friday, November 18. Last year’s survey findings led to numerous improvements in the areas of curriculum & instruction, communications and human resources. It is my hope that our responsiveness will continue to be witnessed in our efforts to provide the very best educational experience for the students of The Winnetka Public Schools and excellence for the community-at-large.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Click here to view a message from Carleton Washburne students.
Bullying affects everyone: those exhibiting bullying behaviors, the bullied, and the bystanders. The District's Bullying Response and Prevention Plan creates awareness of what bullying is with “child-frien
dly” language that illustrates the difference between mean, rude or bullying behavior; establishes and communicates to students, parents and staff methods for reporting incidents related to bullying behavior; develops communication protocols for investigating, notifying and resolving incidents reported; and, builds an ongoing dialog with students on bullying awareness and prevention.
The District 36 approach to bullying is “pro” solution rather than “anti” problem to foster a change of culture through kindness, compassion, respect, reaching out, and helping others. Every October, students discuss bullying prevention in their classrooms/advisories where they are reminded of methods available to them to speak with an adult about their concerns. Students in grades 5-8 are able to report an incident or indicate that they want to talk to an adult from a form on their ipad. Students K-4 are able to report an incident to any adult in whatever form is most comfortable for them. A reporting form is also accessible from the District’s website, along with information on text4help. Click here for additional information.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here.
Coming Soon:
The Middle School Experience, AKA “Why is my child acting like this?” Please help.
November 3, 2023
9:30 - 10:30 A.M.
Washburne Resource Center
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 share the neuroscience behind the changes that occur in 5th-8th grade children, and offer suggestions on how to support children both academically and socially-emotionally as they navigate the middle grades.
Skokie and Washburne families are encouraged to join us for an engaging, encouraging and educational hour together.
Interested:
Recordings of previous sessions:
Understanding Assessment Results
Fall benchmark assessment results have been mailed home. Information to help parents understand the assessment reports are available on the District website. As a community of learners, we are navigating the way through how to best use this information along with the valuable insight gathered on a day-to-day basis in our schools. Thank you for being our partner in this growth process.
Literacy Pilot Underway
Last year the District strategic plan goal to realign the K-1 literacy program was updated to entail a full curriculum review of literacy programming K-8. The goal of the curriculum review is to ensure there is a guaranteed and viable literacy curriculum based upon current research that builds from Kindergarten through Grade 8. In the spring a group of educators that comprised the District’s Literacy Leadership Committee identified literacy programs to pilot this year and 60 classroom teachers volunteered to participate in the pilot. Participating in the pilot means that the teacher has been trained in the program and will select one existing unit in the literacy curriculum to replace with the pilot curriculum. Your child’s classroom teacher may have shared this information during the recent Go To School Night events, as well as through their classroom newsletters. While the student learning outcomes in literacy may remain the same this year, the programming, materials and sequence used may be different in classrooms where the pilot is taking place. More information about the pilot will continue to be shared through District communications and regular updates during School Board meetings. A special thank you to the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Board for approving funding that was used for a large majority of the pilot training that occurred during September.
Reminder of Covid-19 Guidance for Students/Staff:
Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, it is recommended that a person isolates for at least 5 days from symptom onset if symptoms are present or 5 days from positive test date if no symptoms. Day 1 starts the day after symptom onset/positive test date. They can return on day 6 if fever, vomiting, and diarrhea cease for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms. It is recommended to mask day 6-10.
2023/2024 Calendar
To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.
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
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