The Skokie Home Scoop
December 5, 2022
December 5, 2022
Dear Skokie Families:
Important Dates:
Tuesday, December 6, 7:00: Orchestra Concert in the Skokie auditorium
Thursday, December 8, 3:30-4:30: Hour of Code in the Skokie RC
Thursday, December 8, 7:30: Band Concert in the Washburne gyms
Thursday, December 15, 7:00: Winter Chorus Concert at Skokie
We have had a wonderful return from Thanksgiving as a school community. We are looking forward to our next few weeks together. Last week was our first week of Trimester Two. Please be on the lookout on Friday, December 9th for progress reports. You will receive a digital copy at the end of the day on Friday. You will also find a Skills Checklist in an envelope in your child’s backpack on Friday. Please review this with your child and send the signed envelope back to school.
Exploring Skokie
Literacy in Technology (LIT): Every Monday in Literacy in Technology students experience “choice” activities as part of an integrated curriculum that we call “Monday Menu Options”. These options are both literature and technology-focused, including digital lego building, literature genre sorting, online current event articles, breakout education puzzles, keyboarding skills, origami exploration, and 3D pen creations.
Coming next, students will experience coding activities in coordination with a global event sponsored by the organization Code.org. Students will participate in both online and unplugged coding activities.
Clubs
Chess: Winter Chess Session Information Registration
Science Olympiad: The Washburne Science Olympiad team is open to students at Skokie. 5th and 6th grade families can register for the club using this LINK (it’s listed under Washburne Non-Sports). Only 6th-8th grade students are eligible to compete in the Science Olympiad tournaments; however, interested 5th grade students can attend team meetings and be a member of the club.
Weekly team meetings take place on Wednesdays from 3:35-4:30pm in Ms. Berna’s room at Washburne (W221N).
Please reach out to Ms. Berna emilyberna@winnetka36.org if you have any questions.
Progress Reports: Please Log Into PowerSchool to View
Student Trimester 1 Progress Reports will go live at the end of the school day on Friday, December 9th. Please be sure to log into your PowerSchool account to view your child’s Progress Report.
Hour of Code
All students are invited to join for Hour of Code this Thursday. Participating students should come directly after school at 3:30. Students may dismiss at 4:00 or at 4:30. Hour of Code occurs across the country each year in December as a one hour introduction to computer science.
Online Registration Open for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2023-2024 School Year
Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2023-2024 is now open on the District website and via https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=30658&culture=en. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll.
The new student registration process is completed in three steps
Complete new student pre-registration forms online beginning November 16, 2022.
Provide the original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID. The certified copy can be submitted in person at the District Office. If you have the original birth certificate, you may bring it to the District Office to be photocopied. The District Office is at 1235 Oak St., Winnetka.
Provide proof of residency and paper registration forms. For your convenience, all required residency documents may be uploaded during online registration. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements as well as the other forms required for registration (Registration Forms & Information).
Children will not be considered enrolled until both the online and paper portion of registration has been completed and residency documentation is verified. If you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 847-446-9400.
Elementary Math Core Values in Winnetka D36
Below are the five core values. This month the core value “Hands-On Approach” is featured.
Hands-On Approach
Elementary math education in Winnetka is hands-on! As we know from child development research, learning begins at a concrete level. Children learn best when they make sense of situations in a multi-sensory manner. In our classrooms, we use a wide range of tools to help students explore and deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts. From kindergarten through fourth grade, students use a variety of manipulatives like blocks, models, and drawings to investigate, explain, represent, and reason about mathematical ideas. These experiences are key to building a strong foundation that will serve them well in the future.
Winnetka Voices Podcast Premieres!
Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.
Premiere Episode:
Fostering Post-Pandemic Growth & Resilience for our Children
Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent, speaks with Ms. Carly Andrews, Executive Director of The Alliance for Early Childhood, on how we can best support our childrens’ social and emotional needs, academic growth, and socialization in the wake of the pandemic.
Listen here:
Click here for resources and events from The Alliance for Early Childhood.
Stay & Play Registration
Kindergarten students who are not currently enrolled in Stay & Play will have the opportunity to register for the 2nd half of the year after 8:00 am January 9th through this link. Please note that the registration period ends January 31, 2023 and will remain closed for the remainder of the year. The rates are prorated below. If you attempt to register before the 9th, you will receive an Item Unavailable message. After purchasing Kindergarten Stay & Play registration, your child will be able to begin their attendance in the program the following Monday so the schools can plan accordingly.
Text-for-Help Available to Support Student Safety & Well-Being
Text-for-Help is is intended to provide confidential support to students at school. This resource is available 24/7, 365 days a year, completely anonymous, and staffed by fully-licensed counselors on the other end. Based on the students’ needs and preferences, a counselor will then direct the user to further assistance.
For further details about the tool, please review this recent Winnetka Parents Institute Session.
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District is offering an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for a complete list of session dates and more information. Fall sessions include SEL-related topics and technology tips for parents regarding maneuvering the ever-changing landscape of technology, social media, and phones. Up next:
Developing a Family Charter- District Implementation of RULER
Danielle Klimak (SEL Coach)
In this presentation we will be taking a closer look at one of the 4 RULER anchor tools: The Charter. A Charter is a tool that can be used to help create a positive and supportive social-emotional environment at school or home. A Charter helps to explore how we want to feel and what we can do to ensure that everyone has those feelings more consistently. In this presentation you will learn about the benefits of a Charter and how to create a Charter in the home setting.
December 12, 2022
9:00-10:00 AM
Resource Center at Washburne School (confirmed)
Interested:
Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):
For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.
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
TREX PLASTIC FILM CHALLENGE BEGINS
Time to Gather Up Your Plastic Bags...
The TREX Plastic Film Challenge Starts November 15th! Each year Go Green Winnetka and all District 36 schools participate in this program, which enlists schools to collect plastic bags and wrap, which are then recycled and made into alternate wood products. The Challenge runs through April 15, with winners announced on Earth Day. During this time, bins are placed at D36 schools to collect the *plastics listed below.
Grocery bags
Bread bags
Case overwrap (e.g. water, soda and juice bottles)
Dry cleaning bags
Newspaper sleeves
Ice bags
Wood pellet bags
Ziplock and other reclosable bags
Produce bags
Bubble wrap
Salt bags
Cereal bags
*Please note, all plastics must be clean, dry, and free of food residue.
https://www.trex.com/our-company/news/trex-launches-16th-annual-plastic-film-recycling-challenge/
Contact GoGreenWinnetka@gmail.com with any questions.
Sincerely,
Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt
Principal and Assistant Principal
The Skokie School