Dear Crow Island Families,
We are looking forward to a great week of fun and learning at Crow Island. This week will conclude with our kindergarteners participating in their butterfly migration and performance. As you know, this work is the culmination of their studies on the butterfly life cycle, raising butterflies, and engaging in art and music projects related to butterflies. The integrated butterfly unit is a wonderful example of progressive education, as students engage in hands-on, experiential, and collaborative work.
As a reminder, students should enter school by 8:37 a.m., and we have noticed many cars arriving after that time. We would appreciate your help in ensuring that students arrive and are ready to enter the school by 8:37 a.m. Students are encouraged to arrive anytime after 8:20 a.m. so they can run around and play with their peers before coming inside. Most importantly, the day of learning begins right away, and we don’t want students to miss out.
Have a great week,
Luke
October:
- Monday, Octobe 21st: PTO Make a Difference Drive (all week)
- Friday, October 25th: Kindergarten Butterfly Migration
- Wednesday, October 30th: Bus Evacuation Drill
- Thursday, October 31st: Halloween Parade and Ghost Walk
November:
- Friday, November 1st: No School, Teacher Institute Day
- Tuesday, November 5th: No School, Election Day
- Wednesday, November 6th: Picture Day Retakes
- Thursday, November 7th: Practice Remote Learning Day
- Friday, November 8th: Tornado Drill
- Thursday, November 14th: No School, Parent Conferences
- Friday, November 15th: No School, Parent Conferences
- Monday, November 25th–Friday, November 29th: No School, Thanksgiving Break
Monday Spirit Days:
As a reminder, every Monday is considered a Crow Island Spirit Wear Day. Staff and students are encouraged to participate.
Halloween at Crow Island:
You can find information about the Halloween Celebration at Crow Island here: Halloween 2024.
PTO Make a Difference Drive:
This week, donate travel size toiletries, NEW socks and NEW underwear to help Chicagoland students fight hygiene insecurity! Items will be collected during morning drop-off at both the circle and Glendale Avenue drop-off points Monday, October 21st through Friday, October 25th. Click HERE to learn more about The Grace Network.
Questions? Email the Community Outreach Committee: Chrissy Pelleriti christina.pasquale@gmail.com or Kristin Ziebarth ziebarth.kristin@gmail.com
Leader Round Table Follow-Up
Thank you to those families who were able to join our leader round tables, hosted at all five buildings. We’ve included a link to the slides as well as a link to a feedback form including questions that were asked at the event. Feedback will be synthesized and shared out in an upcoming principal newsletter. We will then follow-up leading up to Fall Conferences in a subsequent newsletter with ways we are being responsive to the feedback. Crow Island Slides andGoogle Form
Safety Month in The Winnetka Public Schools
Thanks to our First Responders who have been working with Director of Safety & Security, Ray Finnerty, and our schools to practice drills and join us for “High Five Fridays” this October. Please review the Fall 2024 Safety Bulletin, produced in collaboration with the Village, for important safety-related information.
Otus for Families
This week families received an email that included information about how to log onto Otus.com in order to access benchmarking data. If you did not receive your child’s code, please email help@winnetka36.org. For more information click here to access information about how to navigate Otus and click here to view a recording of the Winnetka Parent Institute about Otus.
Message from the School Nurses
During this time of year, we are seeing an increase in illnesses including strep, colds, flu, and other viral infections. Additionally, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), pneumonia, and strep are prevalent in the community right now.
Here are some steps we can take together to help keep our school community healthy:
Stay Home When Sick: If your child is experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, please keep them home and consult a healthcare provider. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff. You can reference our district Health Guidelines here.
Encourage Good Hygiene: Remind your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom. Using hand sanitizer can also be effective when soap and water are not available.
Promote Cough Etiquette: Teach your children to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly and wash hands afterward.
Your support in reinforcing these practices at home is invaluable. Together, we can help ensure a healthier school environment for everyone.
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.
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. Parents can expect communication from their homeroom or advisory teacher by 8:00 a.m.
Student Experience: Remote learning will follow the typical school schedule, combining synchronous and asynchronous methods. For our K-4 students, related arts teachers will now join their homeroom teacher’s Zoom so that our younger students do not need to manage leaving and joining different Zoom sessions.
Special Education Services: Students receiving services will have these services provided to the greatest extent possible, coordinated by the case manager or service provider.
Remote Learning Schedule: The schedules that will be used for remote learning can be viewed here.
Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated as we prepare for the possibility of inclement weather. Thank you for your continued support.
From Winnetka’s Volunteer Center
Celebrate Make a Difference Day on October 26th by donating new and gently used baby and toddler items to Share Our Spare. Drop off items at the Indian Hill Train Station in Winnetka on 10/26 from 9am-12pm. Check out www.shareourspare.org/donate-items/ for more details. Please contact laurenswift10@gmail.com with any questions.
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
Contact Us
Email: christinedemas-hall@winnetka36.org
Website: https://crowisland.winnetka36.org/
Location: 1112 Willow Road Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847)-446-0353
Twitter: @CrowIslandD36