Greeley Greeting

Dear Winnetka Families,

Our schools will soon be engaging in the class placement process for the 2023-24 school year. As always, our staff wishes to review parent reflections as part of our larger placement process. Please click here to access the electronic Parent Reflection Form that invites you to share your thoughts about your child and their school/home experiences. This form must be completed by Monday, April 24th in order to be considered during placement.

For students entering the fifth grade at the Skokie School, please click here for information on Skokie’s placement process.

Both teachers and families have valuable input regarding a child’s placement. Each member of our school community understands a child’s educational needs, often in different ways. A considerable amount of thought and time goes into forming positive, balanced classroom learning communities. Teachers approach these conversations with a deep understanding of their students as learners and class members. This thorough process is outlined below.

1. We invite families to fill out the above form and share insights about their children. This can include anything that would be important for us to consider. You may write about a particularly significant experience that is happening in your family, give a description of social dynamics that are top of mind, highlight the strengths and needs of your child, and/or describe the type of environment in which you feel your child thrives. Given the many needs that must be balanced and our goal of fair and equitable treatment of all families, these reflections do not guarantee placement with certain teachers or friends.

2. As a next step, our student support team reviews the needs of individual or small groups of students across the learning and social-emotional continuum that may impact placement. With this information, grade-level teams meet to begin forming groups of students. As we group students into heterogeneous classes, we consider the following factors:

• Academic strengths and needs

• Social dynamics

• Communication styles and attributes

• Behavioral and social-emotional needs

• Balanced class sizes and needs

• Student services and special education programming

• Variety of classmates in regards to previous years’ groupings

3. Based on our knowledge of our classroom teachers, we determine the best teacher match for each group of learners.

4. Class lists are then shared and reviewed with teachers. Adjustments may be made throughout the summer and any new students added to our classes. Lists are finalized by the building principal in mid-August.

Additionally, there are a few questions that seem to come up each year around placement. Please click this link to see some FAQs. As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions that may arise.

In Partnership,

Beth Carmody, Principal, Hubbard Woods School

Luke Livingston, Principal, Crow Island School

Joshua Swanner, Principal, Greeley

It’s time to order your 2022-23 Greeley Memory Book! Please use the link below. Order now through May 1. If you have any questions, please email Greeleymemorybook@gmail.com .

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1013847996811365

Please click here for information regarding the transition from Greeley to Skokie School next year.

This April, building social workers and/or classroom teachers will implement state-mandated sexual abuse prevention education during one 20-30 minute session in each classroom. Parents have the option to opt their children out of the program as they deem appropriate by completing this form by April 14. For more detailed information about Erin's Law, including curriculum content and zoom opportunity with social work staff, please refer to the Erin’s Law page of the District website, this parent letter or by contacting our school’s social worker, Katie Kalogriopoulos.

Starting Monday, April 17th, we'll be collecting books for two weeks (from April 17th - April 28th) to support Bernie's Book Bank. Together we are going to see how many times we can fill the empty bookshelf that will be placed near the front office! All books collected will be donated to Bernie's Book Bank. All new and gently used children's books, ages birth through 6th grade are accepted. Please no workbooks, activity books, textbooks, reference books, or religious books. Click Here to See Book Drive Details

If you have further questions please reach out to the committee chairs Carolyn Clark @ cfusfeld@gmail.com and Cheryl Taglia @ taglia.cheryl@gmail.com

Updated information for all families

Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open for all students (returning and pre-registered). Email notification was sent to the primary contact on record with the District March 17, 2023. Additionally, families will receive notification via regular mail. Contained within the notification is a unique “snapcode” that parents will need to login. Please contact District Registrar, Margie Karabas via email (Margiekarabas@winnetka36.org) or phone 847-446-9400, with any questions. Additional information and login to the portal can be found on the District Website - Parent Registration

For anyone visiting our school buildings during school hours, we will now be requiring a driver’s license or state ID to be left at the front desk until your guest lanyard is returned. This decision was made in accordance with other safety procedures we are enhancing for the security of our students and staff.

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.

Progressive Education: 100+ Years Strong in Winnetka

Dr. Kelly Tess speaks to School Board President Emily Rose, Crow Island Kindergarten teacher Melissa Brody (both of whom are alumni of The Winnetka Public Schools) and Tom Flemma, Head of School at North Shore Country Day, a private school in Winnetka with a unique shared history in progressive education. Throughout the episode, learn about the unique legacy of Progressive Education in Winnetka, and how our public and private institutions uphold our commitment to experiential learning. “I hope we continue to push ourselves to be a lighthouse of a District….the future is bright,” says Ms. Rose.

Listen here:

Apple Podcast

Amazon

Spotify

Google

In recognition of Earth Day, the District’s Green Team has planned themed days the week of April 17-21 to help raise awareness of the ways that the Winnetka community can positively impact the environment and Earth with some small intentional acts. To view more information on each themed day, click here.

The District offers an array of upcoming educational sessions for families and community members. Click here for a complete list of session dates and more information.

UP NEXT:

Differentiation: What is it? What does it look like in D36?

Dr. Becky Mathison (Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning)

April 19, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: SK Community Room
During this session Dr. Becky Mathison, Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning, alongside a team of educators from the District will provide an overview of what differentiation is, how it is implemented in D36 classrooms, explain how the approach aligns to progressive education and the portrait of a graduate, and ways to support your student at home. This session will feature a panel of D36 educators.

Interested: RSVP here

Adventures in Learning 2023 runs from June 14th-July 19th, 2023.

No camp on June 19th or July 4th.

A decades-long tradition, this summer program includes classes as varied as Athlete's Club, Razzle Dazzle Science Magic, Recyclable Art,Basket Weaving, Camping Adventures, Make Your Own Music Video, Adventures in STEAM, Archery, Computer Animation, Greek Mythology Drama, Coding, Yoga for Kids, AIL Action News (New for 2023), Animal Care,and Spa-Liscious to name a few!

Students in grades 2-8 may choose up to four classes from over 60 options. Younger children (pre-Kindergarten through grade 1) will explore our progressive educational concepts through guided play and outdoor activities.

This year's program will again be held at Washburne for the 2nd-8th graders and Crow Island for the Pre-K (4 years old by June 1st, 2023)and K Primary program (5 years old by September 1st, 2023).

2023 Fees

General (base cost*) and Primary Program

$675 Winnetka residents

$725 Non-residents

*Some General Program classes have an additional supply fee (will be noted in the catalog).

Registration begins March 8th for Winnetka residents.

www.winnetka36.org/adventures

This spring, a traffic study will be conducted on and around Crow Island Elementary School’s campus in order to determine the most efficient traffic flow when construction is underway during both the Stormwater Improvements Project and work related to the referendum, which commence in spring 2024. The traffic study will utilize cameras on poles set up at these Crow Island-area locations (between Glendale and Locust; and Mt. Pleasant and Cherry Streets) during the first two weeks of April. Further information on recommended traffic pattern changes, possible road closures, and other relevant information will be shared with residents prior to the launch of these projects.

Winnetka 36 is always looking for great candidates when there are openings and we appreciate referrals encouraging them to apply. Here’s a link to our current openings: https://www.applitrack.com/winnetka36/onlineapp/default.aspx

We also get questions about the necessary steps on how to become a substitute teacher and thought we would share how to do that on the bottom of the document: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/how-become-sub-teacher.pdf

For upcoming events, access FAN’s website here.

• READ: Alliance’s Fall/Winter Newsletter

• READ: Alliance’s Let’s Play Guide 2022-2023 and NEW Let’s Play! Information

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

• Week of April 10: IAR Testing (Grades 3-4)
• Tuesday, April 18: All District Chorus Festival; The Skokie School; 7:00pm
• Friday, April 21: Greeley Spring Family Night; 5:00-7:00pm
• Wednesday, April 26: 1st and 2nd Grade Spring Sing; 6:00-7:00pm
• Friday, April 28: April Birthday Lunch with the Principal (Grades 1-4)

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

For anyone visiting our school buildings during school hours, we will now be requiring a driver’s license or state ID to be left at the front desk until your guest lanyard is returned. This decision was made in accordance with other safety procedures we are enhancing for the security of our students and staff