October:
- 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.
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.
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.
Season 3 of “Winnetka Voices” Launched! October is National Principals Month and the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) observes Principal Appreciation Week October 20-26, 2024. To highlight the the contributions of our building Administrators, the first five episodes of Season Three of the District’s podcast Winnetka Voices, feature Ms. Ivory Ajavon (Principal of Hubbard Woods School), Ms. Lindsay Kopinski (Principal of Greeley School), Ms. Michelle Cooney and Mr. Larry Joynt (Principal and Assistant Principal of The Skokie School), Dr. Andrew Fenton and Mr. Ben Horwitz (Principal and Assistant Principal of Carleton Washburne School) and Dr. Luke Livingston (Principal of Crow Island School). Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families. Listen here: 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 Cafeteria 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 What to Know About the Otus Parent Portal
Monthly Observances and Celebrations - October 2024
Click here to find October’s edition of the newsletter Belonging Means…
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