Carleton Washburne
Monday Memo - November 4, 2024
Washburne Families,
The seasonal time change often brings with it a time to reflect on the past few months. As we enter the last few weeks of the first trimester, we look forward to the continued academic and social growth of our students. We are so proud of the work our students are doing each day, and how they continue to demonstrate the qualities listed in our portrait of a graduate. We are also thankful for our Washburne staff who had the opportunity this past Friday to participate in their own professional learning around Belonging and Inclusion, Artificial Intelligence, Executive Functioning, Literacy, and a number of other topics.
We have been fortunate so far this fall in regards to the temperature, we know that cold temperatures are just around the corner. Please remember that students are allowed to enter the building at 8:20 AM each day unless there is extreme, severe weather. Students should be dressed appropriately for cold weather.
Take Care and Be Well,
Andrew Fenton & Ben Horwitz
Carleton Washburne Principal & Assistant Principal
Fall Conferences
The parent portal is open to schedule fall conferences. Click HERE to access the scheduling website. As a reminder, families received login information for their children on October 24th. The scheduling website will remain open to families until Monday, November 11th at 3:00pm.
Families will have the opportunity to schedule five-minute conferences with each teacher on their child’s trimester 1 schedule.
In-person conferences will be offered from 8:30am-3:30pm on Thursday the 14th and 10:30am-12:30pm on Friday the 15th.
Zoom conferences will be available from 3:30pm-5:30pm on Thursday the 14th and 8:30am-10:30am on Friday the 15th.
What’s Happening in Related Studies
In this section we will be shining the spotlight on our Related Studies program and all the wonderful opportunities available to our Washburne students.
This is the inaugural trimester of Creative Reading! Students are exploring different ways to interact with books while supporting a habit of reading for pleasure in and outside of the classroom. Students have shared characters, influential books, and are currently working on bookstagram posts to advertise book recommendations on the library’s Instagram page. Here are a few photos of students working on their designs in Canva and a finished product.
Cardio/ Resistance Training Club:
Cardio/resistance training club registration is open. Cardio club is a time for students to improve their fitness training, going beyond what is done in Kinetic Wellness. The Club will meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30. Students may attend when their schedule allows. As a member of the cardio/resistance training club, students will receive 3 hours a week in the fitness room, supervision from a certified KW teacher, and a chance to perform their own workout. The club will start on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and will continue until March 21, 2025. All students are welcome to join us as we set goals, work on personal training habits, and work on another wonderful lifetime fitness activity.
Registration opens at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 29th via the District Web Store.
If you have any questions, please call or email Mrs. Florance at 847-446-5892 ext. 3179 or candiceflorance@winnetka36.org
Healthy choices start today!
Attention Mathematics Enthusiasts!
Does your child have a passion for MATHEMATICS? They should join our district MathCounts Team! MathCounts is a competition where students Grades 6-8 compete for a chance to go to the State, and even the National Math Competition. Each week we will learn new skills, play games, and do challenges to prepare for the competition. This club will meet on Thursdays from 3:45-4:45 pm at Carleton Washburne School Room S204. The regional competition will be on 2/1/25. Hope to see you on November 7th, 2024.
The Math Counts Club is live on the District Web Store under Washburne Non-Sports.
Registration opens at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 29th.
From the Winnetka Police Department
8th Grade Graduation - Save the Date
Monthly Observances and Celebrations - November 2024
The Dimension of Belonging featured in November is “welcomed” and monthly observances include Native American Heritage Month, Diwali, Veteran’s Day, and Thanksgiving.
Learn more by reading the Belonging Means… Newsletter which features contributions from Hubbard Woods and the Department of Human Resources/Professional Development.
Important Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, November 5th: No School, Election Day
- Thursday and Friday, November 14-15th: No School, Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Tuesday, November 19th: D36 School Board Meeting @ 7:15pm
- Monday - Friday, November 25-29: No School - Thanksgiving Break
District News
Winnetka Parents Institute
The District offers regular sessions for families to learn more about a variety of topics. View the entire 2024/2025 schedule here.
Up Next:
AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 5-8
November 13, 2024
9:30 A.M.
Location: Carleton Washburne School RC
UNESCO, in their 2021 report entitled AI and education: Guidance for policy-makers stated that:
- “AI is said to be a key enabler of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0)…A recent global estimate suggests that 30% of work activities could be automated by 2030. Up to 375 million workers worldwide could be affected...Meanwhile, however, AI and other frontier technologies are increasing the range of high-skill jobs that require unique creative and analytical abilities and human interactions. In short, many workers’ jobs might disappear, and they will need to develop new skill sets – upskilling or reskilling – to enable them to enter the new occupations made possible by AI. Education ministries and training providers need to anticipate these changes, equipping today’s workers and preparing new generations with the necessary technical and social job skills, to smooth the transition to a world dominated by AI, while ensuring social sustainability.”
Artificial Intelligence is “out of the toothpaste tube” and is not going back in. In response, we’ll share with parents the steps we’re taking to increase the literacy of our students of Artificial Intelligence and how we’re preparing them to be responsible users of this tool.
Interested:
If you missed it, view videos from past sessions:
Insights on K-8 Literacy Programming in The Winnetka Public Schools
Remote Learning Practice Day
Practice Remote Learning Activity on November 7, 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, November 7, 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 the necessary tools and platforms.
Return of Devices: Please ensure that the devices are returned to school with your child on Friday, November 8.
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.