Greeley Greeting

Dear Greeley Families,

I hope the extra hour gained this weekend led to some additional rest for many of you.

Thank you to all of our families who were able to attend our annual Ghost Dance, especially with such chilly weather. It was great to see students in their costumes and demonstrating the dance moves they have learned in KW. A special thank you goes to Kate Wilkinson and Patrick Dunafin for organizing the event.

Sincerely,

Joshua Swanner

Principal

With the cooler months approaching, we would like to remind everyone to please place your name placard in your car so it is visible from the sidewalk. This will help our Greeley pickup line run quickly and efficiently. Thank you for your continuing cooperation!

All families are able to use the Greeley playgrounds during after-school hours. Please note, however, that our after-school care program, Right at School, does require the use of our playground throughout the week. When Right at School staff are using a particular section of the playground, we are unable to have other students/families present in that specific area due to safety, supervision, and staffing considerations for Right at School. Thank you for partnering with Greeley and Right at School on this matter.

The Greeley Resource Center, in conjunction with The Book Stall and the Greeley PTO, is excited to bring author visits to the Greeley this year. This week, John Gallagher, the author and illustrator of the Max Meow series will be coming to Greeley and meeting with our 2nd - 4th graders. After his presentation, Gallagher will be signing books. If you'd like to purchase his new book, it will be available at The Book Stall on Tuesday. There is zero obligation to buy books. All Max Meow books are available for checkout from the Greeley RC (though, due to popularity, there may be a wait).

Congratulations again to our Greeley students on surpassing our goal of donating items for our Greeley Fall Food Drive benefiting the New Trier Township Food Pantry! In honor of your success, we will have an all-school PJ day on Thursday, November 9th. Mark your calendars for a cozy day!

Get excited and show your school spirit by sporting your Greeley gear or school colors this Friday! In addition to wearing our Greeley gear, this week’s spirit day will focus on gratitude in honor of Thanksgiving. Students will write something they’re thankful for, or their favorite thing about our wonderful Greeley community. We will then hang their Thankful Leaves on the painted tree in Greeley’s entry way for all our community to enjoy! Any questions, please contact mlegenos@gmail.com.

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.

Please take approximately 12 minutes to view or listen to the District’s Fall 2023 Biannual Report. The message provides an update progress made toward the goals outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, Annual Goals for the 23/24 school year, District and School Improvement Plan for 23/24, and the implementation of our Portrait of an Educator. Additionally, here is an infographic highlighting areas of progress toward our Strategic Plan and Annual Goals.

Please take approximately five minutes to provide your feedback by Friday, November 18. Last year’s survey findings led to numerous improvements in the areas of curriculum & instruction, communications and human resources. It is my hope that our responsiveness will continue to be witnessed in our efforts to provide the very best educational experience for the students of The Winnetka Public Schools and excellence for the community-at-large.

Last year the District strategic plan goal to realign the K-1 literacy program was updated to entail a full curriculum review of literacy programming K-8. The goal of the curriculum review is to ensure there is a guaranteed and viable literacy curriculum based upon current research and the science of reading which builds from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Throughout the 2022/2023 school year the School Board received regular communication regarding the process for curriculum review, including the selection of materials. To review the background information about how the process resulted in the current pilot, please click here.

The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. Please view the fall schedule here.

Literacy Pilot: How District 36 Educators are Testing Literacy Programs and Practices

December 6, 2023

9:30 A.M.

Location: Skokie Community Room

As a part of the current literacy curriculum review cycle, approximately 59 teachers across the district representing each grade level are piloting a variety of evidence-based literacy programs and practices. The pilot allows teachers to apply current understanding of literacy instruction through the test of items vetted by the Literacy Leadership Committee.

Interested:

RSVP for this event here

Following the event a link will be provided to the recorded presentation on the website.

Feedback Link

Recordings of previous sessions:

• The Winnetka Experience: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of an Educator, and Progressive Education

• District 36: Benchmark Assessments

Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, it is recommended that a person isolates for at least 5 days from symptom onset if symptoms are present or 5 days from positive test date if no symptoms. Day 1 starts the day after symptom onset/positive test date. They can return on day 6 if fever, vomiting, and diarrhea cease for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms. It is recommended to mask day 6-10.

To view the calendar for the 2023/2024 school year, please click here.

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

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

• Friday, November 10: Greeley Spirit Wear Day
• Monday, November 20 - Friday, November 24: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)
• Friday, December 1: Greeley Spirit Wear Day
• Tuesday, December 5 - Thursday, December 7: Greeley Book Fair (details to come)

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