Skokie Home Scoop
December 2, 2024
Dear Families:
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Today marks the beginning of Trimester Two, which means a switch of an elective class for students. This is always an exciting time of year, packed with projects, concerts, field trips and celebrations. Thank you for your continued partnership. We were honored to share some of our stories connected to our Dimension of Belonging: Known for the month of December. Please find the link to the newsletter below!
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, December 10th: Trimester 1 Report Cards available Online
Tuesday, December 17th: D36 School Board Meeting @ 7:15 pm
Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd: No School - Winter Break
Exploring Skokie
Band: This fall, our 5th grade Cadet Band musicians have started exploring music making on their instruments. They have met for weekly small group lessons, learning basic music reading and how to make the instrument work. The before school band sessions have started, getting ready for their Premier Concert coming up on Thursday January 16th, in the Skokie Auditorium. We hope that you can all come and enjoy their first concert experience, with guest artists The Washburne Jazz Ensemble.
In 6th Grade Concert Band, musical games, scale contests, guided practice, sight reading, and taking turns being the conductor have all been part of our experience. We have been studying several major scales and the chromatic scale, along with rhythm patterns. We have just completed a live concert at Washburne, performing The Star Spangled Banner, Canticum, Construction Zone, and Winter Winds. At the same concert, our own Mrs. Warner, Mr. Joynt, and Mrs. Cooney performed admirably on percussion instruments for a piece called “Concerto for Faculty and Band’. Some of our 6th Grade students have joined the Lion Jazz Ensemble, meeting before school on Fridays. Learning two blues scales and working on two pieces for the upcoming April Jazz Night has set the stage for them to engage in jazz improvisation. You can look forward to hearing the Concert Band perform Hanukkah Song and Holiday Assembly Music at the Winter Assembly on December 19th - we will enjoy performing for you!
Save Time by Pre-Registering Your ID Now for December School Events
In advance of holiday events, we strongly encourage all parents/family members to proactively make a visit to your school to get your ID (Driver’s License) registered in our Raptor System or fill out this form at your earliest convenience (one per guest). This system allows the District to conduct an immediate background check on visitors during school hours so we can ensure that all those within our school buildings are safe and clear to be there. This must be done for each event you are attending; previous Raptor registrations will not suffice for future events. By taking care of this in advance of a holiday event, you should experience a more efficient entry process. If you are unable to do this in advance, remember to bring your drivers license or state ID the day of the event and arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the event in order to register.
To expedite the process even further, please fill out this form (one per guest).
The Dimension of Belonging featured in December is “Known” and monthly observances include Human Rights Month, Hanukkah, and Christmas. Learn more by reading the Belonging Means… Newsletter which features contributions from The Skokie School and the Department of Communications, Safety & Security.
Online Pre-Registration for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2025/2026 School Year is Now Open
Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2025/2026 will begin November 18, 2024. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll. Questions related to School Admissions and age requirements are addressed in School Board Policy 7:50 School Admissions and student Transfers to and from Non-District Schools.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. View the entire 2024/2025 schedule here.
Up Next:
Understanding the IEP and 504 Processes: From Referral to Eligibility and Services (with Ms. Denise Matthews, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion, and Ms. Jackie Schwartz, Director of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion)
December 11, 2024
9:30 A.M.
Location: The Skokie School Community Room
This informational session is intended for Winnetka parents who would like to learn more about IEP and 504 services and processes. Parents will be informed about the referral and eligibility process as well the support and services that the District provides to students in grades K-8. This information is intended to assist parents with making informed decisions for IEP and 504 support.
Interested:
If you missed it, view videos from past sessions:
Insights on K-8 Literacy Programming in The Winnetka Public Schools
What to Know About the Otus Parent Portal
AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 5-8
Sincerely,
Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt
Principal and Assistant Principal
The Skokie School