Greeley Greeting

Monday, January 8, 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear Greeley Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you rested and refreshed for 2024. Transitions from larger breaks can often come with a variety of feelings for all members of a school community. To begin the week, our teachers will thoughtfully transition our students back to the mode of learning at school.

These next two weeks will also include winter benchmarking for all grades and MAP testing for grades 3-4. These assessments will provide staff and families with information on their student's performance thus far. The results will be shared later this month (details below). In the meantime, we encourage all of our families to make sure their children are well-rested so that they can demonstrate everything they have been learning this school year.

Lastly, our forecast is calling for some snow this week. We kindly ask that you partner with us to ensure our students have boots and gloves/mittens, especially if they wish to play in the snow. Snow play can certainly be magical in the moment, and we also know that wet clothing afterward can lead to discomfort and distract from learning. For this reason, we also recommend snow pants, particularly for our younger students. Additionally, this newsletter contains details about a practice remote learning activity in the event of a "snow day." More information can be found below.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and greater school community. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a safe and warm week.

Sincerely,

Joshua Swanner

Principal

Winter Benchmarking

Benchmark assessments are valuable tools that provide a snapshot of student progress at a point in time. These assessments help teachers to identify areas where students are excelling and where they may need additional support. They can also inform instructional decisions by providing data that can be used to tailor teaching to meet each student's unique needs and strengths. Benchmark assessments are an important component of progressive education, which recognizes that students learn in different ways and at different rates. By using benchmark assessments to inform instruction, teachers can provide a more individualized approach to learning that supports each student's academic growth and personal development.

Academic benchmark assessments for literacy and math will occur three times this year for students in grades K-8. The Winter Benchmark Assessments start on January 8th and conclude on January 19th. There are three platforms the district utilizes to gather student learning information; aimswebPlus, mCLASS, and NWEA MAP. Benchmarking reports will be mailed home on Wednesday, January 31st.

Preschool/Kindergarten Family Information Night

Wednesday, January 10 at 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Greeley School

275 Fairview Avenue

Winnetka

This informational session is intended for Winnetka parents of preschool students who will be attending The Winnetka Public Schools. Parents will learn more about the support and services that the District provides to current preschool students attending local preschool programming as well as what is available within our schools once a student enters kindergarten. Families will receive a preview of:

The transition-to-Kindergarten process by Crow Island, Greeley and Hubbard Woods Principals,
The resources available to families of current preschool students from the Department of Student Services, Equity and Inclusion
Details on “Kindergarten Connection” which will take place in Summer 2024
Highlights of a typical kindergarten day in The Winnetka Public Schools

We look forward to meeting new families at this event!

Practice Remote Learning Activity on January 25, 2024:

To ensure our students are prepared for any potential shift to remote learning due to multiple days of inclement weather, we have planned a proactive practice activity. This practice session is an important step in ensuring that our students remain connected and ready for learning should inclement weather occur.

Date for Device Take-Home: On Thursday, January 25, all students will bring their school-issued iPads home.
Objective: The goal is for each student to connect their device to their home Wi-Fi network and ensure they have access to all necessary tools and platforms.
Resources Provided: We will send home resources with your child to guide families through this practice activity in order to make the process straightforward and to troubleshoot any common issues that may arise.
Return of Devices: Please ensure that the devices are returned to school with your child on Friday, January 26.
Communication: Additional communication and reminders, as well as a form to record any issues your student experiences, will be sent closer to this practice event.

As we approach the winter months, it is important to review our district's inclement weather policy. Our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff. We take a comprehensive and thoughtful approach when faced with weather-related decisions such as heavy snow or extreme cold, and work closely with our township and Village partners to plan accordingly.

Deciding When to Close School:
When determining whether to close schools due to inclement weather, we consider several factors:

Safety First: The well-being of our students and staff is paramount.
Travel Conditions: We evaluate the state of area roads and the potential for hazardous conditions that could develop during the day.
Extreme Cold: During periods of severe cold, we consult weather reports and liaise with our transportation providers about the feasibility of running bus routes.
Collaborative Decision Making: We coordinate with New Trier Township superintendents for a unified approach to school closures.

Communication with Families:
In the event of a closure, we will communicate with you through our Blackboard system. This includes:

Phone Call, Email, and Text: Please ensure you've opted-in for text notifications.
Website Updates: Visit our website at www.winnetka36.org for up-to-date information regarding school closures.
Regional Closures: Check the Emergency Closing Center for a comprehensive list of school closures in our region.

Communication Timing: Our goal is to finalize and communicate any closure decision prior to 6 a.m. on that day.

Handling School Closure Days:

First Inclement Weather Day: The first closure day will be treated as a traditional “snow day,” and will require adding an extra day to the school year in June.
Subsequent Days: For any additional inclement weather days, we will shift to remote learning in order to ensure that we do not need to extend the school year further into June.

Remote Learning Details:

Teacher Communication: Email as well as postings in our Learning Management Systems (Grades 5-8 - Schoology, Grades K-4 - Seesaw) will be utilized.
Student Experience: Remote learning will follow the typical school schedule, combining synchronous and asynchronous methods.
Special Education Services: Students receiving services will have these services provided to the greatest extent possible, coordinated by the case manager or service provider.

Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. Thank you for your continued support.

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 8th through this link. Please note that the registration period ends January 31, 2024 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.

Online Pre-Registration for Incoming Kindergarteners & New Students for the 2024/2025 School Year has Begun

Registration for incoming kindergarteners and students new to The Winnetka Public Schools in 2024/2025 is now open. Children who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2024, 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.

Please note: There are two steps to completing new student registration. We ask that parent(s)/guardian(s) complete BOTH steps of pre-registration BEFORE January 12, 2024. As an added incentive new students that have completed the two step pre-registration process by January 12, 2024, will receive a credit of $40.00 toward student fees for the 2024/2025 school year.

Step 1: Complete the online pre-registration form; Step 2: Visit the District Office (1235 Oak Street) to provide the following:

Proof of residency. Click here to view the list of documents that will meet these requirements. For your convenience residency documents may be uploaded during online registration.
Original or certified copy of your child(ren)'s birth certificate and a parent photo ID.

Completing both steps (online and in-person) is required for your child(ren) to be enrolled as new students. Click here to begin the online segment.

Winnetka Parents Institute

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. The Winter/Spring schedule will be shared soon. In the meantime, videos of the Fall 2023 sessions are available here:

Save-the-Date for the Winnetka Public Schools Foundation Carlson Event

January 30, 2024

6:30-8:30 P.M.

Location: Skokie School

Join WPSF at their free annual event to learn about findings from the literacy pilot and to see a showcase of recently funded grants in D36. Teachers will be participating in a panel discussion on reading education. Don't miss this opportunity to learn firsthand from faculty and district leaders and to see #grantsinaction.