Carleton Washburne

As we head into the last days of April, we are happy to share all that is happening at Washburne. This week we are excited to host our incoming 6th grade families on Tuesday evening for a Welcome to Washburne informational event. We are also super excited to welcome current 6th graders to Washburne this Friday for our annual Related Studies showcase. It is an exciting time as we welcome a new group of families and students to Washburne, and our 8th graders are getting closer to high school each day.

Take Care and Be Well,

Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz

Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 14-15, 2024. This shift from October provides an opportunity to redefine how fall conferences are utilized. Conferences should serve as an opportunity to provide information about how a student is learning and what is next to support continued growth. Please complete this brief survey by May 3.

The results will be used to structure the November 2024 conferences.

All rising 6th , 7th and 8th grade families! The PTO and the KW teams at Skokie and Washburne are excited to continue our partnership with New Trier's One Stop Trev Shop! Like last year, we will be ordering KW uniforms through the One Stop Trev Shop, an innovative job training/life skills program for New Trier’s Transition Program students. Please click here for more information on how to order your KW uniform.

Please note:

• Putting in your order as soon as possible really helps our friends at One Stop Trev Shop! Orders will be fulfilled starting in May.

• The One Stop Trev Shop offers home delivery for $5. This is a very easy way to get your uniform in a timely manner and provides excellent job opportunities for Transition students.

• Once you place your order, you will receive an email letting you know that your items are ready for delivery or pick up. If you have chosen to pick up, please pick up your order from the Glencoe shop promptly once you've received the email. Pick up will only be available at the Glencoe shop this year!

If you have any questions, please reach out to beckysanderson@hotmail.com

Welcome to Window to Washburne! Each week, we will be highlighting some of the learning taking place in our classrooms.

As supportive as we are about field trips and experiential learning, taking a day trip to Paris just isn’t in the cards right now (although students are encouraged to talk with Mrs. Ambrose about the French trip). Even though the streets of Paris are thousands of miles away, our students were able to walk them virtually last week in 8th grade French class. Using VR headsets, students navigated through the city and used their French vocabulary to communicate with their group mates about what they saw. Students took turns using the headsets so that all students got to be immersed in the city during class.

Kudos to Mrs. Ambrose for finding an innovative way to bring a new experience to her students.

In this section we will be shining the spotlight on our Related Studies program and all the wonderful opportunities available to our Washburne students.

Students in Furniture Making class recently embarked on a new assembly line project. To kickoff this five-week unit, students learned about the history of mass production. They are now in the process of creating their own production flow charts and factory maps. Once this work is complete, we will use it to mass produce over 350 individual pieces that will be used to assemble 35 individual tables for the kids to take home. Two separate sections of the class, a morning and an afternoon shift, are working together seamlessly to achieve their production goals. Pictured below are students engaged in mapping out their production flow charts.

Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during school hours (8:30am-2:30pm on Mondays, 8:30am-3:30pm Tuesday-Friday). We understand that it is challenging for students to avoid checking their phones throughout the day--the technology is literally addicting. However, we want school to be a break from this technology--7 hours a day where they do not need to think about their phones. Please help us with this policy by talking to your child and avoiding texting your child during school hours. If there is ever a need to contact your child during school hours, please reach out to our main office.

8th grade families should have received an informational packet from the Washburne Graduation Committee. This packet contains important information on all things graduation, including tickets, graduation party, and other upcoming events for our 8th graders. Click Here to view the packet.

Graduation tickets are available. Click Here for more information on graduation tickets.

The student designed Washburne 2023-24 Yearbooks are still available for purchase.

Order your Washburne Yearbooks via the district web store by clicking this link.

Online ordering will be available until June 3rd. Check and cash only after June 3rd.

Yearbooks will be delivered to students the final week of school.

Please reach out to Margie Karabas: margiekarabas@winnetka36.org with any questions.

Washburne has again partnered with 1st Day School Supplies so that families have the option of ordering a school supply kit for the next school year. The supplies included the kit have been chosen by Washburne teachers and administration for each grade and should provide your student with everything they need for the upcoming year. The final deadline for ordering school supplies through 1st Day is July 1st. Supply kits will be sent to your home and teachers will let students when to bring supplies into school at the start of the new school year.

Please click here to order your school supplies through 1st Day.

Tuesday, May 7th & Wednesday May 8th: Spring MAP Testing at Washburne

Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of Schools, invites you to our third “Coffee with Kelly,” a community conversation hosted at our schools! Staff, families and community members are welcome to join Dr. Tess, Mr. Patrick Dawson (Director of Innovation, Teaching & Learning) and Mr. Matt Boyer (Technology Integration Specialist at Skokie) for a co-facilitated discussion on the growing world of Artificial Intelligence, what we are learning about it and how parents can stay informed. We hope to provide an opportunity to learn more about how it intersects with the world of education, as well as offer participants a first-hand, guided experience with AI and offer ways parents can talk about this with their children.

“Coffee with Kelly” in April

April 30, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.

The Skokie Community Room

Please RSVP by April 26

All staff, caregivers, and parents (including grandparents!) are welcome. You do not need to be a Skokie School family or staff member to attend. Coffee will be served!

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics.

Click here for the Spring 2024 schedule.

Up next:

What Do These Reports Mean? (Greeley Staff Members and Principal Joshua Swanner)

May 15, 2024

9:30 A.M.

Location: Washburne Cafeteria

Families receive important information regarding their child’s growth and achievement at three distinct times in the school year. This includes progress reports, benchmarking reports, MAP assessment reports, and IEP trimester updates. This informational session is available to families of elementary students enrolled in the Winnetka Public Schools and will provide an overview of how to read and interpret the triannual data provided to families. Join staff members from Greeley School as they detail the purpose of these reports and how they are used to inform instruction.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

Feedback Link

If you missed our spring sessions, watch the videos here:

From Washburne to New Trier: (with Paul Waechtler, Principal)

A D36 Parent's Guide to the New Trier Transition

Not Quite Little Kid, Not Quite Teenager: The Developmental Progression of the Middle School Child

Digital Citizenship in Winnetka (with SEL Coaches and Technology Integration Specialists)

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 Spring Benchmark Assessments start on April 29th and conclude on May 17th. 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, May 29th.

Assessment may be found on our district website in the Benchmark Assessment Section of ITL under Parent Communication on Student Learning. If you need further information on your child’s testing session, please contact your building principal.

This is a friendly reminder that all medical forms required by the State of Illinois are due before the first day of school. You can find additional copies of the forms on the district website here.

Please see the information below:

State of Illinois Health Examination:

Kindergarten & Grade 6

Eye Examination:

Kindergarten

Dental Examination:

Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 6

Please use the links on the district’s health page to upload your child’s completed forms.

It’s time for Teacher Tributes!

For over 20 years the Alliance for Early Childhood has honored teachers of young children and the work they do supporting their healthy growth and development. To honor The Winnetka Public Schools teachers, support staff, and leaders, please follow this link.

Let's Play! Sandcastles and Seagulls

Saturday, May 11, 10am - noon

Gillson Park and Beach, Wilmette, IL

Pre-Registration link

Build sandcastles, explore the bird sanctuary, and play in nature with The Alliance for Early Childhood in partnership with Wilmette Park District and BackYard Nature Center. Bring your sandcastle building tools and sense of adventure and enjoy a morning of play and exploration at The Beach!

Families may now access the calendar for the upcoming school year, also available on our District website.