The Skokie Home Scoop
October 17, 2022
October 17, 2022
Dear Skokie Families:
It was wonderful to welcome families into our classrooms last week for Parent Teacher conferences. Our 6th graders did a wonderful job of leading conversations about their learning! Thank you for your partnership in all that we do. We also wanted to say thank you to the PTO for providing lunch for our Skokie staff on Thursday!
Important Dates:
Unity Week: Week of October 17th
Thursday, October 27: Vision and Hearing Rescreening
Kinetic Wellness Reminder to 6th Grade Families
Kinetic Wellness classes will be pushing outside for as long as we can this fall. As a reminder, sixth grade students should bring extra warm clothes to wear over their Kinetic Wellness uniform. They can leave the extra clothes in their KW locker for chillier days. Remember the expectation is that they do not wear clothes they wore to school to Kinetic Wellness class.
Thanks, Kinetic Wellness Team
Exploring Skokie
Creative Dramatics and Movement (CDM): After studying, exploring, and reflecting on the Elements of Dance (Body, Action, Space, Time, Effort) 5th grade students are learning now about the Actor’s Toolbox (Body, Mind, Voice). Creative dramatic play provides many opportunities for concentration, collaboration and communication. In addition to a suite of improv games, the students explored movement by creating human machines, mirroring a partner, creating tableaux, and improvising variations on our “Brain Dance” warm-up activity.
Ask your student to teach you some tactile, core-distal, cross-lateral, half-body (right/left & upper lower) and vestibular movements. Alternatively, have your student show you how performers communicate, without words, basic emotions (sad, happy, angry, disgust, surprise, and fear) through facial expressions, gestures, and body shapes. Enjoy playing the mirror game together. (Remember to move slowly!) Best of all, put on some of your favorite music and dance around your home together (remember to use levels!)
Technology Communication Design (TCD): In Tech Com, students are learning about different types of communication, including visual, verbal, and written. Students designed visual nameplates using graphics that illustrate their interests. Students also created a digital visual representation that can demonstrate an emotion from our SEL word bank. Students created products using digital tools including animation and music. Upcoming in Tech Com, students will learn about media literacy, fact checking, and selecting credible sources of information.
5th Grade Music: Over the past weeks 5th graders explored music, art, and mood. Students created visual "roadmaps" illustrating their interpretation of the sounds of famous classical pieces. Over the next week students will work on telling Halloween inspired stories through music.
6th Grade Music: Sixth grade students have been hard at work in our piano unit. They learned about melody and harmony, performed duets, and composed their own pieces. This week, students will share their compositions and learn/perform famous songs by the Beatles.
Chorus: Our Chorus year is off to a great start! In the coming weeks we look forward to some Halloween sing alongs in addition to our regular rehearsal plans.
Art: Visual Arts students started the year learning about various ways to create depth and dimension in their work. Please enjoy a few examples including our Halloween pumpkin transformations!
2022 Downsized Capital Improvement Plan: Referendum
As a member of The Winnetka Public School community, we want to ensure you remain informed about the improvements to all five schools as part of the 2022 Downsized Capital Improvement Plan: Referendum, which was adopted as a resolution by the School Board on August 16th and will be on the ballot November 8th. You are invited to attend any of our remaining informational sessions, in person or via Zoom. Please see the image below for details, or visit our website at www.winnetka36.org. If you are unable to participate in an informational session, you may also view the screencast of the presentation here. A final mailing with additional information will be sent to the entire community later this month as well.
Fall Winnetka Parents Institute Schedule
The District is offering an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for session dates and more information. Fall sessions include SEL-related topics and technology tips for parents regarding maneuvering the ever-changing landscape of technology, social media, and phones.
Service Opportunity from the Volunteer Center
The Volunteer Center is hosting its 20th Annual Make A Difference Day that will help 18 nonprofits' clients in critical need. North Shore residents are invited to "upcycle" their new and gently used goods at this one day annual collection drive. The event is Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9am - noon at Winnetka's Indian Hill train station parking lot.
Safely drive thru and drop off! If you have any of the essential items the nonprofits have requested like clothing, food, toys, games, books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl, musical instruments and much more! Please sort, bag and label them with the corresponding nonprofit and bring them over! The list of items requested from each nonprofit can be found here on the VC's website. Only the items on the list will be accepted. Nonprofit reps will be there to receive the essential donations. Volunteers will take them from your vehicle and the nonprofits will drive off with them at the end of the morning.
We also are in need of volunteers from middle school aged youth through adults, to help us take the donations to the corresponding nonprofit and/or help sort the items. Please email if you or your family or service group would like to help or if you have any questions. Contact info@volunteercenterhelps.org.
Parent Education Sessions from District Partner Family Action Network (FAN):
For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.
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
Commemorative Bricks at Carleton Washburne School
Due to wear and tear from exposure to the elements, the bricks formerly on display at the Northwest corner of the Washburne campus were removed for safety reasons. If you or a family member previously purchased a commemorative brick (names are reflected in this list) and would like to retrieve the brick, you may do so between now and November 11, 2022. Simply visit the location on the map below.
Sincerely,
Michelle Cooney and Larry Joynt
Principal and Assistant Principal
The Skokie School
