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Greeley Greeting
Monday, 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
Ghost Dance - Tomorrow!
Similar to today's showcase event, we will send out a communication to families tomorrow morning if we have to cancel the Ghost Dance due to snow. We will monitor the forecast and weather carefully in the next 24 hours.
Picture Retake Day
Picture Retake Day is Friday, November 3. If you would like to have your child's picture retaken, please email Ms. Park (meredithpark@winnetka36.org) and Mr. Schreiber (gordonschreiber@winnetka36.org) so we can see they get to the photographers for a retake. We also have a list of children who didn't get their picture taken so if your child was absent on Picture Day we will also see that they have their portrait done that day.
Reminder - New pick-up procedure for Right At School Electives/Clubs
Pick-up Time is 4:20 pm Daily (Mondays - Taekwondo at 3:50 pm)
Pick-up Location: Our pickup location is Door 2 next to the staff parking lot. The Right At School program manager will be there to help with the pick-up process. Please refrain from going to the main entrance to pick up your child as the office staff leaves by a certain time and will not be able to let you in. You will sign your child out via our Elective/Club sign-out sheet on our parent table by Door 2. Children must be signed out by an authorized pick-up.
Please be prompt for pickup from Electives, as the main Right At School program is also running during this time. Late fees will be added on if late pick-up is persistent.
Bullying Prevention Conversations
1st grade: 11/8 11-11:30
2nd grade: 11/2 9-9:30
3rd grade: 11/2 2-2:30
4th grade: 11/3 12:30
Please contact our social worker, Katie Kalogriopoulos, if you have any questions about these brief presentations.
Reminder - Greeley Ghost Dance & Halloween Details
Students are invited to bring their costumes to school on Halloween Day. In order to maintain a positive learning environment throughout the day, all costumes will be put on following lunch (exceptions with kindergarten may apply). The following expectations are in place for costumes:
- Masks and head covering are prohibited (aside from medical masks)
- Any weapons, including facsimiles, must be left at home. In the event that these are brought to school, the teacher will hold onto them for the duration of the school day
- All costumes should be age-appropriate for elementary school (per school board policy)
- Please consider your child's mobility when selecting a costume; we encourage students to wear articles of clothing that are not overly cumbersome
Our annual Ghost Dance will also occur on Halloween (weather permitting)! Our Ghost Dance will be performed by first- through fourth-grade students. Families are invited to attend and watch our students' performances, which will begin at 1:00pm.
Please note the following:
- We recommend arriving at 12:45pm to get situated
- Families line up on the sidewalks surrounding the playground
- The playground area itself is for students and staff only
- Students will promptly return to their classrooms following the performance
- An email will be sent to families should the Ghost Dance be canceled due to inclement weather
4th Grade Families: The Deadline to Purchase Books is TODAY
Dear Fourth Grade Parents,
Next week, all fourth graders will be attending an author visit with local author, Keir Graff. Graff is out promoting his new collaboration with James Patterson, Minerva Keen's Detective Club. Especially interesting to students is Graff's account of how he became a writer in 5th grade (a funny and encouraging story for our budding writers). After his presentation, Graff will be signing books.
If you'd like to pre-purchase any of his books for personalization (they make great gifts and can be personalized to whomever you wish), follow this link https://bit.ly/3SbZpgg and follow The Book Stall's instructions. There is zero obligation to buy books. All Graff's books are available for checkout from the Greeley Library.
After School Playground Use
If you have ordered a hot lunch on a day that your child will not be at school, you may pick up that lunch at the front desk. Please notify the office (847) 446-6060 by 10 am, and we will hold the lunch at the front desk for you to pick up after 12 pm.
If your child is coming back from or heading to an appointment before/after lunch and you'd like them to bring the food home or your child is leaving at lunchtime for the rest of the day, notify the office by 10 a.m. When a hot lunch is ordered on the same day a home lunch is brought, your student will still receive their hot lunch.
If you do not notify the office, your child's hot lunch will be donated.
Please note: For allergy purposes, any donated lunch given to a child who does not have lunch that day will need approval from the parent to receive this.
Please contact Jen Felderman (jennifer.felderman@gmail.com; 773-513-9444), the PTO Lunch Volunteer Coordinator, with any questions.
Important: Adventures in Learning Temporary Pause and Location Change for ESY Over Summer 2024 Announced
From the Superintendent: SURVEY OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 18
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-friendly” 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 A.M.
Washburne RC
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
Literacy Pilot Underway
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.
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
- Monday, 10/30: Pumpkin Decorating Showcase
- Tuesday, 10/31 (weather allowing): Ghost Dance 12:45 pm (parents gather on the sidewalk)
- Wednesday, 11/1: No School (Institute Day)
- Friday, 11/3: Photo Retake Day
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